Zagat Is Changing Its Scoring System

A popular restaurant guide is replacing its well-known scoring system with a different one more than 37 years after the original system was put in place.

The New York Times is reporting that the Zagat 2017 New York City Restaurants Guidebook is being published today with a rating system that goes from 1.0 to 5.0 (using decimals in increments of tenths), which is a major change from its old system that went from 1 to 30. The article says that the change was made because Zagat readers "preferred a simpler system" and gives an example showing Le Bernardin having a food rating of 4.9 out of 5.0 rather than 29 out of 30.

It is presumed that Zagat--which is owned by Google--is changing the scoring system universally, including in Boston.

The website for Zagat can be found at https://www.zagat.com/

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Zagat Includes Tiger Mama Among Its Most Anticipated Fall Openings in the U.S.

Zagat has just come out with its list of most anticipated fall restaurant openings in the United States, and an upcoming dining spot in Boston has been included.

In the article that was posted today, Zagat includes Tiger Mama in the Fenway among its 14 picks, saying that Tiffani Faison's new restaurant looks to be a "sexier type of spot [than Sweet Cheeks Q, her other place] serving Southeast Asian cuisines...and fun cocktails at two bars, including a tiki-specific space." Tiger Mama was the only New England restaurant to make Zagat's list, though one spot in New York City--Jose Garces' Amada, an Andalusian-style tapas place--has also been included.

Tiger Mama will be located at 1363 Boylston Street in the Fenway, which is less than a block from Sweet Cheeks Q (at 1381 Boylston Street).

For a complete list of Zagat's most anticipated fall openings in America, please go to the following link:

The 14 Most Anticipated Fall Openings Across the U.S.

[Earlier Article]
Tiffani Faison to Open Tiger Mama in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Zagat Includes Bukowski Tavern in Cambridge Among the 15 Hottest New Beer Bars in the United States

Zagat has just come out with its picks for the "15 Hottest New Beer Bars in the U.S.," and a revamped dining and drinking spot in Cambridge has been included on the list.

In the article/slideshow that was posted this week, Zagat includes Bukowski Tavern in Inman Square as one of its picks, saying that it is "basically a whole new spot, now under the helm of playful chef Brian Poe" and though the Cambridge Street restaurant and bar has been modernized, "unchanged is its commitment to beer and its 'Dead Authors Club' that lets regulars secure a displayed personal mug by sampling the full suds selection." The post also mentions Bukowski's 36 beers on tap along with its camel burger.

Bukowski Tavern reopened in January after being closed since last summer for extensive renovations; another location of Bukowski can be found on Dalton Street in Boston's Back Bay.

For a complete listing of Zagat's picks for beer bars, please go to the following link:

The 15 Hottest New Beer Bars in the U.S.

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Zagat Includes The Tap Trailhouse in Boston Among Its Picks for Hottest New Beer Bars in the U.S.

Zagat has just come out with its picks for the hottest new beer bars in America, and a recently revamped drinking spot in the heart of Boston has been included on the list.

According to a new slideshow from the restaurant review site, The Tap Trailhouse on Union Street near Faneuil Hall is one of 12 bars mentioned, with Zagat saying that it "tips its hat to the Colonial era, in decor as well as food and drink" and that "all 24 taps pour brews from the region." No other New England bars made the list, though a drinking spot in Brooklyn called Hops Hill was also included.

The Tap Trailhouse, which was formerly known simply as The Tap, reopened its doors in September.

For a complete listing of the top beer bars in the United States as picked by Zagat, please go to the following link:

12 Hottest New Beer Bars in the U.S.

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Zagat Includes Alden & Harlow, La Brasa Among Its Picks for Most Anticipated Openings of 2014

Zagat has just come out with its picks for the most anticipated restaurant openings of 2014, and a couple of upcoming Boston-area dining spots have been included in the list.

According to the new slideshow from the popular restaurant review site, Alden & Harlow in Cambridge's Harvard Square and La Brasa in East Somerville are two of the 25 spots mentioned, with the former having (with info coming from Boston Magazine) "un-fussy, vegetable- and produce-heavy plates for sharing" and the latter being a "Peruvian chicken restaurant" from "Chopped winner Daniel Bojorquez." No other New England restaurants made the list.

Alden & Harlow should be opening sometime this month, while La Brasa could be opening in March.

For a complete listing of upcoming restaurants picked by Zagat, please go to the link below:

The 25 Most Anticipated Openings of 2014

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[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve More of the Best Food Dishes of 2013]

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Zagat Includes Regina's Giambotta Pizza in Its "50 States, 50 Pizzas" Feature

Zagat is celebrating Pizza Week with a list of top pies in each state, and a landmark Boston restaurant has been included in the list.

According to the new slideshow from Zagat, Regina Pizzeria in the North End has been picked among the 50, with the guide stating that "it's the brick oven that keeps the crust crispy" and "with Sinatra on the jukebox, beers served by the pitcher, and pies like The Giambotta (pepperoni, housemade Regina sausage, salami, mushrooms, peppers, onions and mozzarella cheese), Boston has a little slice of Italy right in its city." Other places in New England that were picked by Zagat include Frank Pepe in New Haven, CT (white clam pie), Micucci's Italian Grocer in Portland, ME (Sicilian slab), 900 Degrees in Manchester, NH (the Bella Cosa), Via Via in Newport, RI (chicken bacon and ranch pie), and Positive Pie in Hardwick, Montpelier, and Plainfield, VT (Salsiccia).

The original Regina's is located at 11 Thacher Street. (A number of other outlets can be found in Boston and the suburbs as well as in other parts of New England.)

For a complete listing of pizzas picked by Zagat, please go to the link below:

50 States, 50 Pizzas

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Zagat Includes Union Bar and Grille, Anthem Among Must-Try Burgers

Zagat has just come out with its picks for "the latest and greatest patties" to try this summer, and burgers from two Boston restaurants are included on the list.

In the article/slideshow that was posted yesterday, Zagat mentions that Union Bar and Grille on Washington Street in the South End and Anthem at the South Market Building in Faneuil Hall are among places in eight U.S. cities to get burgers. The slideshow talks about the "Beer & Burger Mondays" featuring $6 craft beers and $10.50 burgers at the former and the breakfast burger at the latter, with a couple of other dining spots on the list being The Butterfly in Manhattan and Fritzl's Lunch Box in Brooklyn.

For a complete listing of Zagat's must-try burgers, please go to the link below:

16 Must-Try Burgers in 8 U.S. Cities

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USA Today, Zagat Include El Sarape in Braintree Among Top Mexican Picks

A national daily newspaper and a popular restaurant guide have given their top picks for Mexican food, and a dining spot south of Boston has made the list.

According to USA Today and Zagat, El Sarape in Braintree is one of 20 eateries picked, with the restaurant (which is located on Commercial Street on the Braintree/Weymouth line) being mentioned along with high-end spots such as Topolobampo in Chicago and cheap eats places such as R&R Taqueria in the Baltimore area. Other places mentioned in the list include Mercadito Grove in New York City and Paloma Mexican Haute Cuisine in Philadelphia.

El Sarape is a restaurant that has been featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants), with the review being at the link below:

http://hiddenboston.com/ElSarape.html

For a complete list of Mexican restaurant picks from USA Today and Zagat, please go to the following link:

Zagat picks the best Mexican restaurants in 20 cities

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Zagat Includes Items from Steel and Rye, TR Street Foods Among Best Dishes in 2013 (So Far)

Zagat has just come out with its picks for "The 14 Best Things We've Eaten This Year (So Far)," and dishes from two Boston-area restaurants were included on the list.

In the article/slideshow that was posted this week, Zagat mentions the potted Hudson Valley foie gras from Steel & Rye in Milton and the porchetta sandwich from TR Street Foods (which is part of Tavern Road) in Fort Point as being two of the best dishes of the year up to this point. The article says that "Chris Parsons has put together a foodie's delight" for the former, with "just enough of the housemade brioche to slather this delicious mixture in," while stating that "the newish take-out venture...is worth the trip" for the latter, mentioning that "the pickled fennel was a nice foil for the tender pork and the grainy mustard provided a spicy kick."

Other items that were mentioned by Zagat include the guacamole at ABC Cocina in New York and the donuts at Beiler's in Philadelphia.

For a complete listing of Zagat's picks for the best things they've eaten so far in 2013, please go to the following link:

The 14 Best Things We've Eaten This Year (So Far)

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USA Today, Zagat Include Parker's Restaurant in Boston Among Most Iconic Restaurants in USA

A national daily newspaper and a popular restaurant guide have given their picks for the most iconic dining spots in the United States, and a high-end place in downtown Boston has made the list.

According to USA Today and Zagat, Parker's Restaurant within the Omni Parker House Hotel on School Street is one of 15 eateries picked as iconic spots, where "a famous dish, local cuisine, decor, service or history make an out-of-towner feel as though they're a part of a city or even a regular customer." The article mentions that Zagat's reviewers had actually looked at Mamma Maria in Boston's North End as being a Boston icon, but the editors at Zagat decided to go with Parker's instead, with editors and reviewers noting that the "glorious" restaurant is "the only place to go for Parker House rolls and Boston cream pie," and that it is "where the elegance of another era thrives via old-time, pricey New England eats, beautiful, formal digs and wonderful service."

Other picks on the list include The Four Seasons in New York, City Tavern in Philadelphia, and Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington, DC.

For a complete list of iconic restaurant picks from USA Today and Zagat, please go to the link below:

Zagat picks the USA's most iconic restaurants

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USA Today, Zagat Include Mr. Bartley's in Cambridge Among Best Burger Picks in USA

A national daily newspaper and a popular restaurant guide have given their picks for the best hamburgers in the United States, and a Cambridge restaurant has been included in the list.

According to USA Today and Zagat, Mr. Bartley's in Harvard Square is among the best burger places in 25 cities across America. The article says of the restaurant, "If burgers are the foundation of civilization, Mr. Bartley is a founding father, proclaim patty-partisans of this cash-only, bathroom-less Harvard Square restaurant with tiny communal tables."

Other burger picks in the article include Burger Joint in New York and Sketch in Philadelphia.

For a complete list of the burger picks from USA Today and Zagat, please go to the following link:

Best hamburgers in the USA: Zagat's picks in 25 cities


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Zagat Includes Boston's Boylston Street Among Its 7 Most Exciting Food Streets in the U.S.

Zagat has just come out with its picks for the "7 Most Exciting Food Streets in the U.S.," and one of Boston's busiest streets has made the list.

In the article/slideshow that was posted yesterday, Zagat includes Boylston Street as one of seven of "the most exciting strips for restaurant hopping," choosing it over Technology Square (which is not technically a street) in Cambridge's Kendall Square and the Seaport District in South Boston (with Zagat possibly meaning Northern Avenue) for their Boston pick. The article seems to focus a bit more on the section of Boylston Street in the Fenway neighborhood of the city, with such places as Basho, Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar, Happy's Bar & Kitchen, Sweet Cheeks Q, and Tasty Burger mentioned, though it does also include Abe & Louie's Forum, L'Espalier, and Towne in the Back Bay.

Other cities included in Zagat's list are New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

For more on Zagat's picks for exciting food streets, please go to the link below:

The 7 Most Exciting Food Streets in the U.S.

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.


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Zagat Includes Two Boston-Area Restaurants Among Its Picks for New Burgers

Zagat has just come out with its picks for "Must-Try New Burgers in 8 Cities," and two restaurants in the Boston area are mentioned .

According to the article/slideshow that was posted this week, the Island Creek Oyster Bar in the Kenmore Square section of Boston and the Temple Bar between Porter Square and Harvard Square in Cambridge have been included in Zagat's list, which also includes dining spots in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, as well as London, England. Zagat mentions the Angus beef burger with three fried oysters, Grafton cheddar cheese, maple bacon, pickled onions, and horseradish mayo from Island Creek, along with the Snake River Farm Kobe beef sliders with brioche buns, caramelized onions, and smoked tomato aioli at the Temple Bar.

For a complete listing of Zagat's picks for burgers, please go to the link below:

Must-Try New Burgers in 8 Cities


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Zagat Picks Best Boston Restaurants With a View

Zagat has just come out with its picks of "9 Best Boston Restaurants With a View," and the list includes a mix of well-known and not-so-well-known spots within the city limits (as well as one place across the river in Cambridge).

In the article/slideshow that was released yesterday, Zagat mentions such institutions as Anthony's Pier 4 (which will eventually be moving to a new space), the Barking Crab, and Top of the Hub, along with lesser-known restaurants such as Aragosta and Sam's. Dante in East Cambridge was also mentioned, and places with views other than the water (or with water views not being the specific feature) were included as well, such as Blu.

The Zagat list seems to cover a good percentage of Boston restaurants that actually have good views--there really aren't that many for a relatively large city on the ocean--and the list also focuses nearly completely on Boston (Dante notwithstanding) because, as Eater Boston says, "there aren't any restaurants in buildings high enough to provide views in, say, Waltham."

Which restaurants within the Boston city limits do you think have both good views and good food?

(For a complete listing of the dining spots mentioned by Zagat, please go to the link below:)

9 Best Boston Restaurants With a View


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Zagat Includes Two Boston-Area Spots Among Its Picks for Funniest Restaurant Names

Zagat has just come out with its picks for "The Funniest Restaurant Names in 7 U.S. Cities," and two dining spots in the Boston area have been included.

According to the article/slideshow that was posted yesterday, Strip-T's in Watertown and Sweet Cheeks Q in the Fenway section of Boston made it to Zagat's list, which also includes dining spots in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. A few other restaurants that Zagat picked include Booeymonger in DC, Llama’s Tooth in Philadelphia, and Loopy Doopy in New York.

In 2010, Boston-based food writer MC Slim JB posted an article on "27 Really Terrible Boston Restaurant Names," which included Strip-T's as well.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/2010/02/27-really-terrible-boston-restaurant.html

For a complete listing of Zagat's picks for funniest restaurant names, please go to the link below:

The Funniest Restaurant Names in 7 U.S. Cities


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Zagat Includes Galleria Umberto Among Its Picks for Best Pizza in 23 U.S. Cities

Zagat has just come out with its picks for "The Best Pizza in 23 U.S. Cities," and a North End spot is included on the list (and it might not be the North End restaurant that you are thinking of). According to their slideshow of top pie shops in the United States, Galleria Umberto on Hanover Street is their pick for Boston, with Zagat raving about its "definitive North End experience," noting their "dirt-cheap," "amazing Sicilian pizza." Galleria Umberto is only a few blocks south of Pizzeria Regina, which is often mentioned as the place to go for Boston's best pizza.

Zagat also mentioned Harry's Pizza in West Hartford, CT, as well as Totonno's Pizzeria Napolitano in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, NY. To see a complete list of their picks, please go to the link below:

The Best Pizza in 23 U.S. Cities

Galleria Umberto has also been featured by our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) as a place to go for pizza. A link to the review can be found here:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/GalleriaUmberto.html

The address for Galleria Umberto is: Galleria Umberto, 289 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113.

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.


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Google and Zagat Introduce Google+ Local

Last September, we reported that Zagat had been acquired by Google, and today, the popular restaurant guide and the massive Internet-based company have launched a new program that will help viewers find information on local dining spots.

An email sent to us indicates that "Google+ Local" was rolled out today, with the program allowing Google+ users to access user reviews, photos, maps and other information (including food, decor, and service scores) on restaurants from the Zagat site, with the info being free to anyone who is a member of Google+. In addition, reviews of restaurants from folks who are in users' circles on Google+ will be placed at the top, above reviews from people who are not in their circles.

To learn more about the new Google+ Local program, please go to the link below:

Local - Now With a Dash of Zagat and a Sprinkle of Google+

[Earlier Article]
Zagat Survery Has Been Acquired by Google


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The Barking Crab Makes Zagat's List of 10 Tackiest Restaurants in America

A popular restaurant guide has just come out with a list of tackiest restaurants in the America, and a Boston eatery just happens to be on the list.

According to Zagat, The Barking Crab has been included in the guide's list of "10 Tackiest Restaurants in the U.S." due in part to the "circus-like tent" and decor that "consists of fishing nets and wooden barrels...as if you needed to be reminded you are eating at a seafood restaurant." The waterfront dining spot shares the honor with such places as Milon in Manhattan's East Village (where they do "their own Hindi Pop version of 'Happy Birthday'"), Casa Bonita in Denver (of South Park fame), Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse in San Dimas, CA (where ties are not allowed, and in fact get chopped off and pinned it to the wall), and both Bugaboo Creek and the Rainforest Cafe, which are two chains that may be familiar to Bostonians.

The Barking Crab is located at 88 Sleeper Street, which is near where Fort Point Channel meets Boston Harbor. They also have a location in Newport, RI.

For a complete list of restaurants on the list, please go to the Zagat link below.

The 10 Tackiest Restaurants in the U.S.

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.

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2012 Zagat Survey: Bostonians Dine Out the Least

A popular restaurant guide has just come out with a 2012 survey that includes stats on dining out in America, and Boston comes out at the bottom in one of the categories.

According to PRNewswire, Zagat's 2012 America's Top Restaurants Survey indicates that people in Boston and Philadelphia dine out less frequently than folks in any other major market in the United States. The survey states that diners in Boston and Philly go out to eat approximately 2.5 times per week, as compared with people in Houston, who dine out about 4.0 times per week. Texans seem to dine out more often than folks in the rest of the country, with the top four markets for dining out frequency being in Houston, Austin (3.8), Dallas/Ft. Worth (3.6), and San Antonio (3.5). The average weekly frequency for dining out in America is 3.1 times per week, according to the survey.

Zagat's survey results for 2012 are based on more than 156,000 respondents in 45 major markets.

For more information on this (including other results from the survey), please go to the PRNewswire link below.

Zagat 2012 America's Top Restaurants Survey Reveals 81% of Diners Support Posting Health Letter Grades

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Zagat Includes Sweet Cheeks Among Its 12 Upcoming Top Chef Restaurants

A popular restaurant guide has just posted a list of upcoming "top chef restaurants" around the United States, and a soon-to-open Boston dining spot has made the list.

According to the Zagat page, Sweet Cheeks on Boylston Street in the Fenway neighborhood of the city was one of 12 restaurants to be included, and the only spot in New England to be on the list. Tiffani Faison, who was formerly at the now-closed Rocca on Harrison Street in the South End, is the person behind the upcoming Sweet Cheeks, an eatery that will focus on Southern-style fare, including BBQ dishes. It appears that the restaurant may be opening sometime in the middle of October, according to Tiffani Faison's Twitter page. The address for Sweet Cheeks will be: Sweet Cheeks, 1381 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215.

Other dining spots that made Zagat's list of upcoming top chef restaurants include PizzaVinoTeca, Pig & Khao, and Catch, all in Manhattan, and Talde in Brooklyn.

The complete list of restaurants can be seen at the link below.

12 Upcoming Top Chef Restaurants

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