Cafeteria - Easy Night Out

Finally, Nick and I went to Cafeteria down in Back Bay.  I had been hearing about Cafeteria for a while now as an easy go-to for a cheaper dinner.  Walking in, the restaurant is fairly open and airy with a trendy flair.  It was bustling for early on a Thursday night.

They had a pretty big drink menu, including many vodka lemonades, sangrias, and beers.  Taking advantage of that, Nick went with the Chocolate Stout.

Beer

Going a bit more out there I had a Rose Sangria. 

Rose Sangria

The drink itself was great, however, I thought there would be more fruit in the drink.  I actually chose this one because of the fruit in it - if this is your thing, my recommendation would be to ask for the fruit if possible.

Rather than traditional specials, Cafeteria does daily dishes that they have each week.  On Thursday's, the special is Chicken Parmesan.  Cafeteria had actually sent me a tweet before heading out recommending this dish, and when we sat down we saw someone at a nearby table with it.  It looked so good that Nick had to go with it.

Chicken Parm

The dish was HUGE and the chicken was great - very moist and the breading was tasty.  However, the sauce was a little thing.  It just was not thick enough to really stick to the pasta or chicken.

Having heard things about the menu, I decided to test out their burger.  They have a number of types including grass fed beef, lamb and Tuna, that you can add a variety of toppings to.  I decided to go with a beef burger with Cheddar, fried onions and avocado.  If avocado is ever an option I will add it!

The Burger

Generally the burgers come with Cafeteria sauce, but not being a big fan of creamy dressings, I asked for it on the side.  It looked like Thousand Island so I steered clear, but Nick said it was good.  The burger was good, especially for the price of about $12, but it just did not do it for me.  The beef was tender and flavorful, but something seemed to be missing.  I was enjoying the toppings more than the burger itself.  I will say the fries and onions were great.  They had a lot of flavor.  The batter on the onions was great - it actually had some taste to it.

Overall Cafeteria makes for an easy night out.

Brooklyn for brunch - Le Gamin

After a bit of a rough night in New York (where I enjoyed more than my fair share of red wine) and a bit of a later start, my friends and I were off to Brooklyn to visit CAC's neighborhood and get a taste of life across the bridge.  I was surprised at how much more of a neighborhood feel Brooklyn has - I found it similar to Boston in that way.  There were plenty of cute shops and restaurants to take advantage of.

At CAC's suggestion we headed to Le Gamin to enjoy a later brunch.  Le Gamin is very cute inside, all shabby chic in a french countryside way.  Everything about the restaurant stays very true to its french roots - even all the dishes on the menu were in french!  The kitchen was so small that I really could not believe how they managed to make everything with not much in the way of equipment.  Regardless, the chefs and servers worked magic.

I ordered a cappuccino, which came in a fantastically large mug.  Interestingly, they actually served cafe au lait, which you do not see at most places.  The warm milk is always so nice in those!

My cappuccino

For what ended up turning into more of a lunch, three of us went with a crepe dish.  Wow - these were impressive.  Having an undying love of brie, I got a crepe, made with buckwheat, that had brie, mushrooms and caramelized onions. 

The Lunch Crepe

Words cannot describe how great this dish was.  It was so satisfying but also really light.  The combination of the textures of the crepe with the fillings was great.  The greens were a nice side to the dish and added a bit of color and variety to the plate.

AK went very traditional french and got a croque-monsieur.

Croque-Monsieur

Needless to say this sandwich was beyond cheesy goodness!  Adding the fresh bread to the mix was the icing on the cake.

While we were are more than full, we had to have one the dessert crepes - the savory ones were great, but we could not leave without trying on the of the sweet ones!  While I do not have a photo - we took bites that fast! - it was a "simple" dessert crepe with butter and sugar.  Again, this dish did not disappoint!  It was really nice and light and the perfect end to a great brunch.  There was a nice hint of lemon in the crepe that went well with the butter and sugar.

All in all, this was a great meal that just topped off a NYC weekend of great food and friends!

Alta - Tapas in New York's West Village

After a lovely NYC day of brunch, a visit to the MoMa, and mani/pedis, we were ready for a fun evening out on the town.  For dinner my friend CAC made reservations at Alta Restaurant in the West Village, which again did not disappoint!  Somehow we magically got a cab outside our hotel and headed straight out.  It was a cold evening - more windy than the day, which honestly did not seem possible - so I was amazingly delighted with the interior of Alta.  There were at least 2 fireplaces going, with the one in the back of the room in which we were seated looking like it was from the colonial era.  Those, in combination with the big beamed ceilings, the dim lighting and the exposed brick, caused me to warm up immediately upon entering the restaurant. 

Alta had an extensive wine list with a wide variety of prices, so we really relied on our waiter for a recommendation.  When I do this, I always worry about the price range I give because I assume they will go as high as possible.  Instead, our server actually recommended a bottle in the lower price point (the bottom, actually)!  With that we started our first bottle of the evening!

One a few bottles of wine!

Alta is actually a Tapas style restaurant with food of varying influences.  Knowing that we wanted to chat and drag out dinner a bit longer, CAC recommended that we order a few dishes at a time.  The food comes out in a hurry, so before you know it, you could be done with dinner!  We started by ordering about 3 dishes at a time.  Within 5 minutes, the food was arriving at our table - thank goodness for our strategy!
While I attempted to get pictures of everything, I missed out on a few items.

Bacon Wrapped Dates & Olives stuffed with almonds. 

This was in the first round, and we definitely forgot about the olive part and bit right in...for those who love olives it was great!  For me, though, with the exception of olives,anything wrapped in bacon works for me.  I just wished I could taste a bit more of the almond flavor. 

Fried Goat Cheese with lavender infused honey

I honestly do not know what else to say about this dish: if you like goat cheese, you cannot go wrong here.  It's cheese sticks of the highest class.  The honey was great - I definitely had a few more dips of that using only my fork!  One thing that I forgot to get a picture of was the Lamb Meatballs with spiced butternut squash foam, toasted sesame seeds and lebne.  I really could have eaten only those.  They were AMAZING!  They were so good that they disappeared before a photo op.

Sweet Potato Ravioli  with brown butter, hazelnuts, aleppo pepper and sage emulsion

This ravioli dish was interesting.  Believe it or not, under all that foam is a bunch of ravioli (about the size of a quarter) that were pretty good.  But like the presentation, the foam was a but much and a little overpowering for most of us.  AK really enjoyed the foam!

Crispy Brussels Sprouts with fuji apples, crème fraiche and pistachio nuts

These brussel sprouts were amazing.  I typically cannot get over eating what seems like a soggy head of lettuce, but these were so crispy and flavorful.  The apples and the nuts were a surprising addition to the dish.  They did not taste anything like a typical brussel sprout, and I am now officially a convert as long as they are cooked in whatever magic that these were prepared in.

Bruschetta of Spinach & Mascarpone, dried Turkish figs, pine nuts, parmesan & balsamic

I generally do not order bruschetta because of my issue with tomatoes, but this one, again, was not your typical bruschetta, instead of tomatoes there was spinach and it was delicious.

Seared Sea Scallops with parsley root puree, apple cider "caviar", chorizo oil and black olives

These scallops were tasty and cooked really well. 

Pulled Pork Empanadas with sweet spicy cilantro dipping sauce

The empanandas were tasty.  Though the pulled pork had a lot of flavor, the crust did not.  It was a bit greasy and not as flaky as I would have liked, but I enjoyed it overall.

Braised Short Rib of Beef Beet-Barbaresco taglierini and fresh grated horseradish

Unknowingly we saved the best for last.  There was no knife necessary to eat this pork.  It literally fell apart merely using your fork.  The meat itself had so much delicious flavor.  While I generally do not like beets, the pasta was great.  Whatever else they mixed the beet with really complemented the flavor and changed it up enough to add something extra. 

As you can see, I loved basically everything about this restaurant.  It was a fantastic meal and great company.  It was a lot of fun to be able to try a bunch of smaller dishes while enjoying a nice bottle of wine. 
The server was relatively nice about letting us sit.  It was not until we finally started tapering off the food ordering and were ready to move on did they start trying to get us to move.  At that point we needed the push!
I would highly recommend going to Alta for a great dinner. 

NYC Bunch - Aurora in SoHo

This past weekend I was lucky enough to head to New York City for a mini reunion with some of my oldest friends - some from high school, and others from even earlier than that!  CAC actually lives in the city and was nice enough to arrange reservations for all our meals, which can be difficult!  I will say now that she did an amazing job with her selection.  Each of the restaurants were a bit different but all laid back.  The main point: the food was DELICIOUS everywhere!

On Saturday morning we has our brunch in SoHo at Aurora Ristorante.  The exposed brick walls and wide plank floors were especially warm and welcoming on such a cold and windy day.  While we all got coffee, which was delicious, we also got complementary cocktails with a brunch order!  Some opted for the Bloody Mary, which was VERY spicy.  I know a lot of people who really love that, but for this crowd it was just a bit too much.  Not being a Bloody Mary person myself, I got a Frizzante, which had champagne and guava juice.

Frizzante

For me, this totally hit the spot.  The juice was really light so that you could taste the champagne (my favorite part).

Most of us stuck with the breakfast menu,  but AK was too tempted by the avocado burger combination.  The burger also came with tomato, caramelized onions, handcut fries, bacon, cheese, and mushrooms.

The burger

While not the best burger we've tasted, it was still tasty and juicy, especially for the price of $12.  CAC went for her standby of Eggs Florentine, which is basically Eggs Benedict but with spinach.

Eggs Florentine

Again, this dish was nice and tasty.  The Hollandaise was flavorful and creamy.  RS followed suit and got regular Eggs Benedict.

Eggs Benedict

Again, the Hollandaise was great and the ham, along with the rest of the dish, was cooked well.

Being a huge fan of Portobello mushrooms, I was immediately drawn to the smoked bacon, mushrooms and two eggs any way you want them.

Mushroom Breakfast

The dish was delicious and perfectly satisfying, but it seemed a bit lonely on the plate.  I think the dish needed a bit more juice from the mushrooms or something.  Some greens on the side would have been nice - there was just no real color interest.  However, it was all cooked well, especially the eggs, which goes a long way in my book.

Aurora let us sit for a while, even when the place started to get really busy (with a wait).  At no point did they really rush us out the door.  Also, we actually left a Bloody Mary on the table because it was too spicy and they gave us another drink for the refill price, which they did not have to do.  Overall the food was tasty and the atmosphere was inviting, allowing the four of us to catch up.  Aurora is a great brunch spot, and I definitely want to try their dinner the next time I am in NYC.

Four Green Fields - an Irish pub?

Being in great need to get together with some friends, we decide to catch up over drinks after work one evening last week.  Not really knowing where to go but always being up for somewhere new, we headed to Four Green Fields in the BNY Mellon building in Downtown Crossing.  I believe the restaurant has only been open for 2 weeks and originated from a similar bar in Tampa.  When people were talking about the bar itself they always referenced the authentic thatch Irish cottage...you actually can have a little party in there!

The cottage

When we walked in the bar was packed but there were a few tables available in the large downstairs area.  There is a smaller bar upstairs that we did not see.  I think the downstairs is going to end up being the entertainment venue (the website discusses lots of live bands).  The room was really large and had extremely high ceilings, which made it seem loud and a bit imposing,  There was no division in the room other than the tables which did not have much rhyme or reason to their positioning.  Also, there was not much on the walls near where we were sitting, so it just seemed huge.  I am assuming something will go there in time.  The upstairs may have bit more intimate seating.

They did have a few imports that you do not see everywhere, including Belhaven.


Belhaven

Oddly enough, one of my coworkers recently told me out this beer and said it would change my life.  While it was definitely delicious and different that what you can normally get around here, life changing it was not. The other beer listed on the menu was Magner's, a cider available throughout the UK - even in 2 liter bottles - so I was pleasantly surprised to see it on the menu!  However, I was taken aback when the waiter delivered a Woodchuck!


"Magners"

We asked if there had been a mistake and he said "no, this is what we actually have, but they are basically the same."  To all those cider drinkers out there: do not fear, we corrected him on the spot.  Woodchuck is much sweeter than Magner's.  It was a bit of a let down as we were excited for what was listed on the menu.
We did not delve too deeply into the menu as we just wanted some snacks, but they did seem to have a pretty good variety, which included a raw bar.  We ordered the creamy crab dip, which was a fresh lump crab meat in a creamy cheese sauce.

Creamy Crab Dip

The dip was good and the pita chips were a lot better than tortilla chips.  However, there could have been a bit more crab.  We also ordered the sweet potato fries which were great. 

Sweet Potato Fries

The fries were done well - crispy and not overly greasy.

Overall, I would do a few drinks here after work, and there is plenty of space for a big group.  If you are looking for a place to catch up, the upstairs may serve your needs better.  I think in time everything will come together a bit more - flags and a cottage alone, though, do not make an authentic Irish pub.





UPDATE - Crush Boutique - Where they really do know your name (and style)

For those who do not know this already, Charles Street in Beacon Hill is much more than antique shops these days.  There are a number of fantastic boutiques where you can do a lot of damage to your wallet.  One of my favorite shops is Crush Boutique down near the MGH end of the road.

I stopped in at Crush the day of my 10-year high school reunion.  I already had a dress, but since it was my 10 year and I was running the show, I figured if I found something better I would go for it.  It happened to be the day after Thanksgiving and the shop was fairly busy.  I started to poke around, found a dress I liked and went to try it on.  What happened from there is something I have never experienced before: within the next 5 minutes, Rebecca and Laura, the fantastic owners, proceeded to pull all sorts of different dresses that they thought would work on me, checking to see if the style was OK.  Before I knew it I had gone from 1 dress to about 12 dresses.  I am certainly NOT easy to fit, but each dress looked better than the next.  I think I walked out in each and every dress and they helped me narrow it down, offering an actual opinion - they certainly were not just appeasing me to make a sale.  On one of the busiest shopping days of the year, I spent about 2 hours in their store and walked out feeling amazing with the MOST amazing dress for my reunion!

Since then, whenever I need an outfit for anything - work, a night out, formals, really ANYTHING - I head to Crush and the girls there work their magic.  I hardly need to look at the clothes as they personal shop their store for you!  Not only did they take the time to learn my name, they learned my style and remember me each time I walk in.  Many stores of comparable size and target audiences just don't take that sort of time.

Being a fan of all things Crush, I saw on their Facebook page that they were having a Valentine's Day raffle with the winner receiving a gift bag with $300 worth of goodies.  Not wanting to miss out, but doubting I would win, I entered myself by describing a date where I wore a dress from Crush and posted a photo on their facebook page.  Really, there were plenty to choose from!

To be honest, I had forgotten that I even entered myself until I got back from our fantastic Valentine's Day dinner at Mamma Maria and saw that I had a bunch of new Facebook messages.  Turns out I actually won!

My Loot!

You have no idea how excited I was!  The winnings included (with my commentary):

• a silver Ada obi leather wrap belt (I already own the camel color one and I will tell you this is the most versatile belt and you will wear it with everything!)
• a gift certificate to Mizu Salon, worth $50 (Love is in the Hair!)
• a Crave Boston Book, with coupons (such a great book for Boston shoppers!  Your wallet will hate you.)
• a $25 gift certificate to Scampo at The Liberty Hotel (I have been here twice and it was amazing both times.  I cannot wait to go back!)
• a Sage Fragrances garnet scented roll-on perfume
• a Hanky Panky hearts thong (very cute!)
• a Coobie lace trim bra in hot pink (best thing for your more difficult tops)
• a pair of silver heart stud earrings from Freya (great everyday studs)
• a New Image jewelry silver coil bracelet (which I LOVE to play with and looks really cute)
• an Aunt Sadie’s Crush Candle (smells great!)
• a Cosmoholic lip gloss in Promiscuous Pink (works on everyone!)
• two Cosmoholic amenity bars (“I <3 You” and “Lips”)

As you can see I made out like a bandit.  When I stopped in to get my goodies, I of course had to try a few things on and am now ready for spring.  It is actually spring within the walls of Crush with color everywhere - perfect when dealing with the weather we have been having lately!

Moral of the story: if you have not been to Crush before, GO IMMEDIATELY!  If you have, go back anyways, since there are always new, amazing things to try on, and they could not be MORE friendly!

UPDATE:

People have asked about the photo and the dress/picture I posted.  While I won because my name was pulled out of a hat, here is the photo I posted.  I wore this great Alexia Admor dress to a New Years Eve party at Dante - 2009 to 2010.

NYE 2009-2010

It was black strapless with silver polka-dots.  It had a bit of a flair to the skirt.  Unfortunately I don't have the best picture of me in the dress, but here is the best I had!

The Dress and the Boy

The dress was fun and flirty and was so easy to move in.  More than that, I felt great!