Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Super Takeout Dining for the Patriot/Giants Super Bowl Game

We are now only a few days away from the New England Patriots/New York Giants matchup in Super Bowl XLII, which will be taking place in Phoenix, AZ. And by now, many people already know what they will be doing about food for the game, whether it be items made from scratch, snacks and sweets bought at the market, or takeout food from sub shops and other dining spots.

For those who have not made plans yet and are looking at the latter category, there are many great options for takeout in the Boston area--two many to mention here, of course. But for a sample of excellent dining spots that do takeout (and are easily accessible, including easy parking), please look at the list below, as it may give you some ideas for getting food for the big game:


PIZZA:
Santarpio's, East Boston
Stella's, Watertown
The Paddock, Somerville
Lynwood Cafe, Randolph
Monte's, Lynn
Sal's Pizza, various locations

MEXICAN FOOD:
El Sarape, Braintree
Mexico Lindo, Melrose
Taqueria La Mexicana, Somerville
Taqueria El Amigo, Waltham
Angela's Cafe, East Boston

CHINESE FOOD:
Changsho, Cambridge
Mandarin King, Quincy
Jade Garden, Arlington
Jumbo Seafood, Newton
East Asia, Somerville
Cheng Du, Stoughton

BBQ:
Uncle Pete's Hickory Ribs, Revere
Tennessee's, Braintree
Blue Ribbon BBQ, Arlington and West Newton
Lester's Roadside BBQ, Burlington


Again, this is a very limited list, but it might help folks who are still undecided about where to go for takeout. If you know of a place that does takeout food that might be good for Super Sunday, feel free to post a comment about it here. And, of course, Go Pats!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

House of Blues Coming Back to the Boston Area

The House of Blues is returning to the Boston area.

Several Landsdowne Street clubs across from Fenway Park that are currently being renovated, including Axis and Avalon, will be merged into a huge complex with the House of Blues name attached to it. The clubs should be open by the end of 2008.

The House of Blues used to have a location in the Boston area, in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge. It closed down in September, 2003 after more than 10 years of entertaining music lovers with some of the top blues performers in the country.

Grille Zone in Boston Is Closed

Grille Zone, a burger joint on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, shut its doors on January 26. Only open for about 6 months, Grille Zone had received a number of positive reviews by both dining crtitics and folks who frequent local restaurant forums. Unique in dedication to being a "green" company, Grille Zone attempted to minimize waste by using compostable plates and cups and recycling as many items as possible. They also offered customers healthy, fresh food that was often from local sources, and used oil with no trans fats.

Thanks to the users of the Chowhound Web site for pointing out the closing of Grille Zone...

Latest Review: Denly's, East Weymouth, MA

photo of Denly's, East Weymouth, MAThe latest review that is on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site is an Italian restaurant and pizza joint in the Jackson Square section of East Weymouth called Denly's. Located in a little-traveled part of Weymouth, Denly's (or Denly Gardens, as it is technically called) is a real local joint that is almost completely unknown outside of the neighborhood. This 1930s-era dining spot features excellent old-school Italian pizza as well as a number of Italian entrees and sandwiches. To read more about Denly's in East Weymouth, please click on the link above.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Final Reminder About Favorite Restaurant Dish for 2007 Poll

Just a final reminder about the Boston Restaurant Talk poll for January that asks the question, "What was your favorite specific restaurant dish in the Boston area for 2007?"

If you would like to vote, go to the following page:
http://bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com/2008/01/poll-vote-for-your-favorite-specific.html

Results will be given here around the beginning of February. Thanks again!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Romantic Valentine's Day Restaurants

Don't forget about the Romantic Boston and New England Restaurants page that is within the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site. This pages lists, and briefly describes, a number of restaurants around New England that diners might want to consider for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner. Included with each listing is the address and phone number of the restaurant.

Valentine's Day is still a ways off, but it's probably best to plan in advance, as many restaurants get booked early!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Latest Review: Taqueria El Amigo in Waltham

photo of Taqueria El Amigo, Waltham, MAThe latest review that is on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site is a Mexican restaurant on Willow Street in Waltham called Taqueria El Amigo. Tiny and plain-looking from the outside, Taqueria El Amigo is an outstanding little dining spot with fresh, authentic Mexican cuisine at dirt cheap prices. Workers from nearby businesses and Hispanic couples and families make up most of the clientele at Taqueria El Amigo, though some foodies in the know have also discovered this place. To read more about Taqueria El Amigo in Waltham, please click on the link above.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Maddie's Sail Loft in Marblehead to Close Down

Maddie's Sail Loft, a popular local watering hole in Marblehead, is shutting its doors for good tonight.

In business since the 1940s, Maddie's has been a favorite among Marblehead folks for its decent seafood as well as its sometimes wild bar scene.

According to the Marblehead Reporter, the Boston Restaurant Group has noted on their Web site that the property is available to rent or buy.

To read more about the closing of Maddie's Sail Loft please jump to the Marblehead Reporter link at:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/marblehead/news/business/x1151547991

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Au Bon Pain to be Acquired by New York Firm

Au Bon Pain, a Boston-based chain of fast casual restaurants, will be bought by LNK Partners, according to several news reports and press releases.

LNK, a private equity firm based in New York, is headed by the former President of Staples and CEO of Star Market as well as the former CEO and Chair of Phillips-Van Heusen. Au Bon Pain operates more than 200 cafes around the world, with many of these located in the eastern United States.

Current plans are for Au Bon Pain to further expand through the United States and other parts of the world, with this acquisition helping to accelerate these plans.

Reminder About Favorite Dish of 2007 Poll

A quick reminder that the Boston Restaurant Talk blog has a January poll that asks the question, "What was your favorite specific restaurant dish in the Boston area for 2007?"

If you would like to vote for your favorite dish, please go to the following page:
http://bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com/2008/01/poll-vote-for-your-favorite-specific.html

Results will be given on this site around the beginning of February. Thanks very much for your input!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Taste of Eastie to be Held at the Logan Airport Hilton, Thursday, January 17, 2008

The 12th Annual Taste of Eastie is coming to the Logan Airport Hilton in East Boston. This event will be held on Thursday, January 17 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and will feature more than 30 restaurants from all over East Boston. Tickets are $35.

The Taste of Eastie is a charity event, with proceeds going to East Boston Main Streets (EBMS), a non-profit organization set up to help neighborhood business districts in Eastie. EBMS is a combination public/private partnership initiative of Boston Main Streets, which was established by Mayor Menino.
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Please go to the EBMS link below to purchase tickets or receive more information on the event:

http://www.ebmainstreets.com/events/tasteofeastie/tasteofeastie.htm

The Quiet Man Pub in South Boston To Close in February

After many months of speculation. the Quiet Man Pub on West Broadway in South Boston is officially closing down. According to the Boston Herald, the local watering hole, which is known for its outstanding steak tips, will have a closing party on January 26 and a Super Bowl party on February 3 before being bought pm February 6 by a developer.

The site will be completely renovated, with more than 60 condos being built, further changing this former close-knit working-class neighborhood of Southie.

For more information on the closing of the Quiet Man Pub in South Boston, jump to this Boston Herald link:

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1066815

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Zagat May Be Up for Sale

The publisher of Zagat, a popular series of restaurant guides where readers get to review dining spots, is in talks to find a potential buyer.

According to Bloomberg.com, the founders of Zagat are also looking into joint ventures or partnerships.

The selling price of Zagat could be more than $200 million, according to the New York Times.

Zagat restaurant guides are centered around the opinions of its readers, who vote on food, decor, and service. In addition to restaurants, there are Zagat guides for other areas of interest, including hotels and nightlife.

Monday, January 14, 2008

GlobeTalks Coming to Clio, January 21, 2008

GlobeTalks, a series of conversations between top artistic talents and Boston Globe journalists, is holding an event at Clio in the Elliot Hotel on Monday, January 21, 2008. This particular GlobeTalk is called Explore the Modern Dessert, and will feature Rick Billings, Pastry Chef at Clio, Ken Oringer, owner of Clio and pastry chefs Pichet Ong , Jordan Kahn, and Will Goldfarb as they look at the cutting edge of desserts in a tasting and discussion session.

This GlobeTalks event starts at 7:00 and will cost $30. To order tickets, go to the following link on the Boston Globe Web site:

http://www.boston.com/aeweekend

New York City Restaurant Photos

I was in New York City over the past couple of days, trying out several restaurants and taking photos of several others. A few photos of places I went to (or walked by) are shown below. Click on the photos to see larger versions of the ones shown here:


photo of Pete's Tavern, New York, NY

Photo of Pete's Tavern, Gramercy Park



photo of Lombardi's, New York, NY

Photo of Lombardi's, Little Italy



photo of John's Pizzeria, New York, NY

Photo of John's Pizzeria, Theater District



photo of Ferrara, New York, NY

Photo of Ferrara, Little Italy



photo of Cafe Angelique, Greenwich Village, NY

Photo of Cafe Angelique, Greenwich Village

Latest Review: Emma's Pub and Pizza, Bridgewater

photo of Emma's Pub and Pizza, Bridgewater, MAThe latest review that is on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site is a restaurant and bar just off of Route 24 in Bridgewater called Emma's Pub and Pizza. Emma's is located in a standalone building on Route 104 that looks a bit like a fast-food joint, but the food at Emma's is a lot better than that, and more varied. Perhaps the best item at Emma's is the tremendous bar pizza, though the burgers are also excellent. For a detailed review of Emma's Pub and Pizza, jump to the link shown above.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Upcoming Event: Chefs Cooking for Hope, March 6, 2008, Boston

A charity event called "Chefs Cooking for Hope" is returning to Boston on Thursday, March 6, 2008. It will be held from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at 125 High Street in the Financial District of the city.

This event, which is being presented by the Friends of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, will feature more than 40 restaurants, chefs, and caterers. Tickets are $100, with all proceeds helping fund cancer research and care at Dana-Farber.

For more information, jump to this link within the Dana Farber site:

http://www.dana-farber.org/how/friends/great-chefs/great-chefs-cooking-for-a-Cure.html

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Recent Boston Restaurant Closings, Openings, January 2008

It looks as though 2008 will start up where 2007 left off when it comes to changes concerning the Boston-area restaurant scene. We are only 10 days into the new year and there are already several changes, including the closing of Vidalia's Truck Stop in Wellesley, as well as the opening of Benatti (Italian) in Cambridge's Inman Square, Cafe Italia (Italian) in Boston's Brigham Circle, and The Cottage (American) in Wellesley.

More changes will surely be coming, so stay tuned...

UFood Grill Goes Public

The UFood Restaurant Group, which operates several fast-casual restaurants in the Boston area, completed a reverse merger and is now a public company, being traded under the symbol UFFC.

UFood Grill, which was formerly known as Know Fat Lifestyle Grille, has one location at Logan Airport, with other locations currently (or soon to be) open in Beverly, Bedford, Downtown Crossing, Boston's Landmark Center, Waltham, and Watertown. There are also locations Naples, FL, and Sacramento, CA.

New Location for Loco Tapas and Wine Bar in South Easton

Loco Tapas and Wine Bar, a Spanish restaurant in South Easton, is having a grand re-opening on Thursday, January 10 in a new location. Formerly located at 420 Turnpike Street (Route 138), Loco will now be at 520 Foundry street (Route 106), which is a few miles west of the old location, as well as the Route 106/24 intersection.

The new location for Loco will not be much different in size, but it will be a better spot for Loco's catering business.

If anyone gets to Loco over the coming weeks, please post a comment here. Thanks!

Monday, January 07, 2008

Latest Review: Uncle Pete's Hickory Ribs in Revere

photo of Uncle Pete's Hickory Ribs, Revere, MAThe latest review that is on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site is a barbecue joint in Revere called Uncle Pete's Hickory Ribs. Located on Route 60, just east of the Route 1 intersection, Uncle Pete's Hickory Ribs is known for its outstanding pork loin ribs as well as its other barbecued meats. They also offer burgers, macaroni and cheese, and all kinds of chicken, pork, steak, and seafood dishes. To read more about Uncle Pete's Hickory Ribs in Revere, please click on the link above.

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Hyde Park Fire Damages Two Restaurants

The four-alarm fire in Hyde Park this morning that made about 20 people homeless and damaged or destroyed several businesses also damaged two restaurants. Rincon Caribeno Restaurant and Murphy's Country Kitchen both sustained heavy damage in the fire that started early this morning in Cleary Square at the corner of Fairmount Avenue and River Street.

According to the Boston Globe, the owner of both restaurants said that he will rebuild.

For more information on the Hyde Park fire, go to this link:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/01/fouralarm_fire_2.html

Friday, January 04, 2008

Vapiano Opening in Boston

Vapiano, a chain of "fresh casual" restaurants serving pizza, pasta, and salads, is on its way to the Boston area. According to FranchiseWire.com, Vapiano is looking to open three locations in Greater Boston, with the first one possibly opening sometime in the early part of 2009.

Vapiano currently has 31 restaurant locations, mostly in Europe, but has recently opened locations around Washington, D.C.

To read more about the opening of Vapiano in the Boston area, please go to this link:

http://www.franchisewire.com/article.php?id=2075

And to learn more about the Vapiano restaurant chain, jump to this link:

http://www.vapianointernational.com/

[May 25, June 24, 2010 updates: According to their Twitter page, Vapiano is going to be opening at 191 Stuart Street in the Theatre District of Boston (where Bennigan's used to be). And The Boston Herald mentions that the restaurant is planning to open on Wednesday, June 30.]

Tweet This!

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Poll: Vote For Your Favorite Specific Restaurant Dish in the Boston Area for 2007

Well, 2007 is now just a memory, and with it, many good meals that I had at various restaurants around the Boston area. For those who are interested, some of my favorite meals from restaurants I tried in 2007 are listed on this page:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/blogentries/favorite-dishes-1207.html

What was the best specific dish you had in a Boston-area restaurant in 2007? Let us know by telling us about it on this page! (Some of your answers will be listed on this site on February 1, 2008.)

[ED NOTE: This poll is now closed. To see the results, go to http://bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com/2008/02/results-of-january-favorite-restaurant.html. To find more current polls (or view other polls that are now closed), click the "polls" link in the labels section below).

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Latest Review: Quincy Dynasty, Quincy, MA

photo of Quincy Dynasty, Quincy, MAThe latest review that is within the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site is a Chinese restaurant in North Quincy called Quincy Dynasty. Located in a section of Quincy that is home to many Asian restaurants, Quincy Dynasty is one of the largest of all the restaurants in the neighborhood. They feature dim sum on Sundays as well as a luncheon buffet on weekdays, and their regular menu is extensive and varied. To read more about Quincy Dynasty in Quincy, please click on the link above.

Results of December Hamburger Poll

The Boston-area hamburger poll that was on our blog for December is now closed, with the results tallied up. First place went to Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage in Harvard Square, Cambridge, with about 24% of the vote; O'Sullivan's in Somerville came in second place, with about 15% of the vote; and UBurger in Kenmore Square, Boston, came in third place with about 12% of the vote.

Here are the top ten finishers in the Boston-area hamburger poll:

1) Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage, Harvard Square, Cambridge, 24%
2) O'Sullivan's, Cambridge, 15%
3) UBurger, Kenmore Square, Boston, 12%
4) Charlie's Kitchen, Harvard Square, Cambridge, 9%
5) Fuddruckers, various locations, 6%
6) Audubon Circle, Boston, 4%
7) Flat Patties, Harvard Square, Cambridge, 3%
8) Eagles Deli, Brighton, 3%
9) Wild Willy's, Watertown, 3%
10) Miracle of Science, 2%

A large number of other places received votes, including the Ashmont Grill in Dorchester, the Bristol Lounge in Boston, Boston Beer Works in Kenmore Square, The Druid in Cambridge, b.good in Boston, and Grille Zone in Newton. More than 30 other dining spots received votes, so while we can't include them all here, we do thank everyone for voting!

Be on the lookout for more polls coming soon to this blog...