Fearless Kitchen

Restaurant Review: Minsok, Brookline MA

Overall            Our experience at this restaurant as a whole	I first tried Minsok near the end of my previous incarnation.  It was pretty much right across the street from my office.  Many years before I had lived in the area.  At that time, the site was a kosher Chinese restaurant that I never, ever even thought of trying on the advice of numerous neighbors.  Ten years later, upon finding myself in the neighborhood and without a bag lunch for the day, I decided to give it a shot.  I was hooked!  I soon began turning to Minsok for frequent lunches.  The staff was kindly and friendly, and the food comforted me for the difficulties of my job.  It seems a little silly writing a review, since there's no way I could possibly be objective, but I guess this isn't a journalism site so I don't have to be objective.  So there.  Tthhpptt!  Anyway, one of the things that I miss about that previous incarnation was Minsok.  The other is the many friends I left at that job.  I had the opportunity to mix them both for a recent lunch, and it is this experience that I will review here.
Food             The food we ordered while eating at the restaurant.  Pork Bento Special Closeup - Pork Bento Special Bibimbap	I haven't tried anything at Minsok that I haven't been happy with, but I'll cheerfully admit that I fell into the habit of getting one of two dishes from the lunch menu.  One was a spicy beef soup.  The other is the Pork Bento.  The Pork Bento is what I ordered for my most recent visit.  The pork is cooked in a delicious, slightly spicy sauce and served with an ever-changing variety of sides.  The only constant with the sides is the miso soup, which I love.  Other patrons ordered other dishes.  One friend got the chicken bento, which she let me try.  It was delicious - not as spicy as my pork dish, but very flavorful.  The chicken was not at all dry.  Another of my friends ordered the japchae, which I did not try but smelled delightful.  The remaining two companions both ordered the bibimbap, a delicious rice-based dish that both thoroughly enjoyed.
Bar   n/a     The variety and quality of beer, wine, and/or liquor available at the restaurant	Sad to say, I've never taken much note of the bar.  I've always gone here for lunch, either while I was on the clock or with people who were.  I can tell you that they do at least have a beer and wine license and offer sake.
Menu             The variety and originality of items on the menu	Minsok specializes in Japanese and Korean cuisine.  They offer a lot of sushi items, and I've been pretty happy with the sushi when I've ordered it.  There is a good variety of dishes on the menu from both cultures, and you should be able to bring your vegetarian friends here without a problem.  The lunch menu is what I'm most familiar with, but it does offer many options.  I've heard a few complaints that the menu isn't "authentic" Korean food, but I'm not in a position to pass judgement on that.  It tastes good.
Service               The service received while dining at the restaurant	I've generally been pretty happy with the service at Minsok.  I think that they might have been late with a take-out order once, but honestly I got take-out from them so often that I think they're batting something like .998.
Atmosphere             The experience of eating at the restaurant, including decor, comfort, and dress code	The atmosphere is generally pretty good and mellow.  As I mentioned, I've only ever gone here for lunch, so the crowd is probably a little different.  I was particularly pleased to note, when I arrived early the last time, that the big-screen tv in my dining area was showing ESPN.
Ease of Access           How easy it was to get to and get into the restaurant, including parking and wait duration	I'm basing this entirely on location - I've never had a problem getting in.  Minsok is located on Harvard Ave in Brookline, between the Brookline Village (D line) and Coolidge Corner (C line) T stops.  Parking is on the street and I can assure you from personal experience that the Brookline traffic and parking department is zealous.  The 66 bus does stop right in front.
Value for Money              Our assessment of whether the dining experience at this restaurant was worth the price of the meal.	Again, I'm basing this entirely on my lunchtime experiences.  The dishes on the regular menu seem a little steep, but I don't know what comes with them.  The lunch specials are probably one of the best values for money in the area.  Most of the lunch specials are under $11 and come with a wide variety of sides.  You will not leave hungry.  Even the lunch soups come with sides.  Furthermore, the side dishes change every time you go, which gives you the opportunity to try several new treats.
Location and contact information	92 Harvard St Brookline, MA 617-783-8702
Menu available?	No
Reservations	Various dining sites suggest reservations are accepted.  I've never tried or needed them.
Hours	Monday - Saturday 11:30 AM - 12:00 AM Sunday 11:30 AM - 11:00 PM

Restaurant Review: Great Bay, Boston MA

Overall        Our experience at this restaurant as a whole	My husband recently obtained tickets to watch our beloved Yankees play at Fenway Park.  I'd heard good things about this place, and it was located close to the ballpark, so we decided to give it a try.  While they were not offering the happy hour prices we were expecting, we left with a very favorable impression of the restaurant.
Food         The food we ordered while eating at the restaurant.	As the name suggests, Great Bay specializes in seafood, although they do appear to offer  things that inhabit dry land as well.  We didn't try them.  We decided to get a couple of appetizers and share them.  We ordered the Shrimp and Lobster Dumplings and the special octopus ceviche.  The dumplings were spectacular.  I loved the dipping sauce, and the flavors inside the dumplings were memorable.  The ceviche, pictured left, was not at all what we've come to expect from ceviche, having no noticeable citrus flavor at all.  That said, it was amazingly good.  Those little dots on the side are a tamarind sauce that was just out of this world.
Bar         The variety and quality of beer, wine, and/or liquor available at the restaurant	The bar was well-stocked, the wine list was respectable and their list of "signature" cocktails was extensive and creative.  Unfortunately, the prices for everything else were so exorbitant that I didn't feel comfortable spending the extra $3 for a cocktail and had a beer instead.  Their beer list was not particularly memorable.  While they had some decent beers available, they were in bottles.  I can drink bottled beer at home, for a lot less money, and there wasn't anything on the beer list that I could buy for home consumption.
Menu         The variety and originality of items on the menu	The menu was creative and was strongly influenced by Asian flavors.  I wouldn't say that there was a lot available to non-fish eaters, although they weren't hung completely out to dry.
Service          The service received while dining at the restaurant	The service was impeccable.  The host staff and the wait staff were all top-notch.  There was no reasonable expectation of service that they did not match.
Atmosphere         The experience of eating at the restaurant, including decor, comfort, and dress code	The decor was great.  It had a very distinctly "fishy" theme.  Even the overhead lighting resembled fish bones, and some shimmering lights had been projected onto the wall in such a way that it resembled fish scales.  The seating was comfortable.  Unlike many restaurants, they haven't crammed tables into every available space.  This makes the restaurant feel less crowded and cuts down on some of the noise.  I could live without the background music that they had on; I'm biased against music that's designed to fade into the background and not be noticed.  It's hard to rate the clientele or dress code, because many of our fellow patrons (like us) were there before the game.  I will say that since the restaurant was in a hotel, there were more of my fellow Yankee fans in there than I would have expected, which was very refreshing.
Ease of Access       How easy it was to get to and get into the restaurant, including parking and wait duration	Since Great Bay is part of the Hotel Commonwealth, parking is available although you will have to pay for it.  It will be less expensive than parking for a Red Sox game at one of the other area lots.  Hotel Commonwealth is right in the middle of Kenmore Square, right on top of the Kenmore T station and bus nexus.  We did not have to wait for a table, despite it being game day.
Value for Money         Our assessment of whether the dining experience at this restaurant was worth the price of the meal.	I kind of feel bad giving such a low rating for Value for Money.  We went in there expecting their happy hour prices and found out that they were not offering those prices on game night, so our perceptions were clouded.  Not only were we paying a lot for our food, we were expecting to get a good deal.  That said, the portions were very small for the price we paid, and while the quality was very high it wasn't high enough to justify, in our minds, the miniscule quantities.  Yes, we ordered appetizers.  At most establishments, two appetizers would be enough to at least sate us for the game, but we were still hungry when we left Great Bay.  The cocktails weren't that overpriced, but the beers were.
Location and contact information	500 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215 617 532-5300 www.gbayrestaurant.com
Menu available?	On website above
Reservations	Call phone number or reserve through Open Table
Hours	Bar: Monday - Wednesday: 5pm - 11pm Thursday - Saturday: 5pm - Midnight Dining Room: Monday - Wednesday: 5pm - 10pm Thursday - Saturday: 5pm - 11pm

Technorati Tags: Restaurant reviews,Great Bay,Kenmore Square restaurants,seafood restaurants

Restaurant Review: Sushi Roku, Las Vegas, NV

Overall    Our experience at this restaurant as a whole	I hadn't visited Las Vegas in a while, and so before going there last week, I spent some time on sites like CitySearch and 10Best looking for must-see places to check out while there.  I was thrilled to find that Sushi Roku had a branch in Las Vegas, and I put this on the top of my list of places to eat.  I was introduced to one of the original Sushi Roku locations in Santa Monica many years ago by a co-worker while visiting Los Angeles on business.  It quickly became my favorite Japanese restaurant, and every time I visited LA I made it a point to go there.  When I discuss sushi with co-workers and clients around the country, I often find that Sushi Roku was also their favorite place to go.  With this reputation to uphold, combined with the fact that I haven't been to LA in over a year and was having withdrawal, I had to go to Sushi Roku in Las Vegas to see how it compared.  While I'm not sure it quite matched up to the Santa Monica location I'm used to, the food here was fantastic as usual, and despite its mall location within the Caesar's Palace Forum Shops, the restaurant was quiet and classy.  I certainly recommend Sushi Roku to anyone visiting Las Vegas.
Food    The food we ordered while eating at the restaurant.  If we've eaten here multiple times, the rating will reflect our experience with multiple meals	I've always loved every dish I've ordered at Sushi Roku in the past, and this trip was no exception.  Unfortunately, I was unable to convince any of my co-workers or clients who were also in Vegas to abandon their plans for the evening and join me, so my ability to sample the menu was limited.  Normally when ordering at a sushi place, we'd order a bunch of rolls and share, allowing everyone to try a bit of everything.  Since I had to limit my selection to what I could eat myself, and since I had joined some colleagues for appetizers and drinks before heading over, I only ordered three items.  The first was the albacore sashimi.  I love albacore, and you almost never see it on the East Coast, so I always get it when I'm out West.  This included four good sized pieces of fish.  The taste was wonderful. From there, I ordered two rolls:  an Eel and Avocado Roll and the Tako Roll.  Eel and Avocado is one of my favorites.  I get this almost every time I go out for sushi, and Sushi Roku makes this better than anyplace else I've had it.  I'm not really sure what they do that makes it so much better, but it is.  The blend of flavors really comes together and jumps out at you.  The Tako roll was something I hadn't tried before.  It consisted of spicy octopus topped with spicy tuna, according to the menu.  This was a really unique combination of flavors.  The flavor wasn't as strong as the Eel and Avocado roll, but was very good.  I'd highly recommend this one if you visit, as it isn't something you'd get at any neighborhood sushi joint.   At this point, I considered ordering more, as everything was so good, but I reluctantly decided not to and wandered off to more Las Vegas adventures.
Bar     The variety and quality of beer, wine, and/or liquor available at the restaurant	The restaurant offers a wide selection of sake, both by the glass and by the bottle, which can be seen on their website.   They also have Japanese beers and a selection of wines.  I had already partaken of a few drinks before heading out to dinner, so I didn't avail myself of the drink menu this time.
Menu    The variety and originality of items on the menu	Sushi Roku offers a range of food, including traditional Japanese dishes as well as some creative variations of these items.  The menu includes 28 options for sushi and sashimi, including the usual choices like salmon and tuna, as well as some harder to find varieties like abalone, jumbo clam, and amberjack.  They also offer 23 options for maki (rolls), many of which are available as either hand rolls or cut rolls.  This has some old standbys like spicy tuna and eel and avocado, but even these are really really good.  Then the creativity of the chefs starts to show, with choices like rock shrimp tempura with jalapenos.  In addition to sushi, they also offer a range of other food.  They have a wide range of very creative appetizers - my favorite is the Yellowtail Sashimi with Diced Chilies - along with the usual choices like Miso Soup, Edamame, etc.  There are a range of cooked entrees too, including fish and meat options.  Tempura and noodle dishes are also available.  In addition to the items on the regular menu, there were also a few specials available the day I was there.  I didn't order these, so I can't comment on how they were, but their availability just adds to an already creative and complete menu.
Service    The service received while dining at the restaurant	The service I received at Sushi Roku was good, but not fantastic.  It wasn't too busy when I arrived, and I was able to sit right away.  The hostess offered me the choice of a seat at the bar or a table, but since I was by myself, I chose to sit at the bar.  The waiter came right over and offered me a drink, but took a lot of time before coming back to get my order.  However, one of the sushi chefs noticed that I wasn't eating and took my order instead.  The wait staff kept my water glass full, and checked in a couple of times to see what else I wanted.  When I was done, it took a few minutes of looking around for the waiter to bring out my check.
Atmosphere     The experience of eating at the restaurant, including decor, comfort, and dress code	The owners of the restaurant have taken great care to create a pleasant atmosphere for dining.  Everything is decorated in an upscale, modern-ish Japanese theme.  Little touches, like a smooth river stone in place of the usual little ceramic chopstick rest, add to the ambiance.  From their website, it appears that they've created their own musical soundtracks for the restaurants, though I have to admit I didn't notice this while I was there - which I would say is good since I hate restaurants where the music is too loud.  The only thing that really distracted from the atmosphere was the location.  They are located on the top floor of the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace, a large indoor mall.  From where I was sitting at the bar, I could see out the front window and into the mall, which negated the peaceful atmosphere they were trying to create.  There was another room further to the back of the space that may not have had this issue.
Ease of Access    How easy it was to get to and get into the restaurant, including parking and wait duration	I didn't arrive until nearly 10pm on a Wednesday night, so there wasn't a wait.  The bar area was kind of small, though since they are located in a mall, there is plenty of waiting area outside front door, should it be busy when you visit.  Sushi Roku's Las Vegas location is in the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace, on the top floor.  This is right off the Strip, and attached to the casino, so it's pretty easy to get to.
Value for the Money    Our assessment of whether the dining experience at this restaurant was worth the price of the meal.	This is not an inexpensive place to eat - most of the sushi rolls are priced $10 and up and the appetizers are pushing $20 each.  However, the quality, taste, and creativity of the food makes it worthwhile.  Every time I'm in Los Angeles, I always make it a point to eat at the Sushi Roku location there, and it will now be at the top of my list when I visit Las Vegas too.  I did notice from their website that they now have four locations - three in Southern California, plus the Las Vegas location, and that they will soon be opening in Scottsdale, AZ as well.  I hope they are able to keep up their quality as they expand the number and geography of their stores.
Location and Contact Information	Sushi Roku The Forum Shops at Caesars 3500 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 702-733-7373 www.sushiroku.com
Menu Available?	http://www.sushiroku.com/sushiroku/index.htm - select menu from the choices at the top of the screen - then select the location.
Reservations?	Reservations can be made online using their website.  You can also make reservations through Opentable
Hours	According to their website, they are open Sun - Thurs from noon till 10pm, Friday and Saturday from noon - 11:30pm.

Technorati Tags: Restaurants,Restaurant Reviews,Las Vegas,Sushi,Sushi Roku,Japanese

Restaurant Review: Avenue One, Boston, MA

Overall   Our experience at this restaurant as a whole	I went to Avenue One on a whim.  I knew I wanted to do a Restaurant Week lunch that day, this place accepted online reservations through OpenTable and the other places I'd tried were either booked or I couldn't get through.  I should really send both of the other restaurants I tried to book thank you cards, because I would probably never have tried Avenue One otherwise!  I don't know if I enjoyed myself so much because I had no real expectations, but I had a wonderful experience here.
Food   The food we ordered while eating at the restaurant.	Since this was part of Restaurant Week, I ordered from the special Restaurant Week Lunch Menu.  For my first course, I had New England Clam Chowder and the proscuitto-wrapped arugula and asparagus salad.  The chowder was perfect - everything that I wanted chowder to be on a damp, chilly afternoon in Boston.  The vegetables were a surprise.  While the arugula came off a bit sandy to me, it was full of flavor.  The grilled asparagus was mild, but still exciting, with an almost sultry feel to it.  The whole was tied together very well by the tangelo vinaigrette, which nicely offset the fatty feel of the proscuitto.  For a main dish I ordered the grilled vegetable flatbread, which they did not in any way try to bill as a pizza.  The picture at the left doesn't really do it justice, but it's what I could accomplish with my camera phone.  The flatbread was grilled on its own and topped with the grilled vegetables and cheese.  The veggies were well cooked and flavorful, and the balsamic reduction was not only pretty but tied the whole dish together very well.  It was a little messy to eat, but if I was worried about that I wouldn't have ordered flatbread.  For dessert, I ordered the Deconstructed Strawberry Tiramisu.  I like things that are deconstructed.  It makes me think of my own housekeeping skills.  Seriously, though, I think that "deconstructing" a dish can allow the individual flavors to shine through beautifully, and that's what happened with the strawberry tiramisu.  The amaretti were too dry to eat with a fork, so I had to eat them with my hands.  That's how a cookie should be consumed.  The strawberry filling was phenomenal - delicate, almost feminine, but not too mild for my palate.
Bar   The variety and quality of beer, wine, and/or liquor available at the restaurant	I did not check the bar as part of my Avenue One experience.
Menu    The variety and originality of items on the menu	One of the things that I like best about being an American is the fact that my fellow countrymen have their origins anywhere and everywhere.  Avenue One bills itself as "American cuisine" and I think that their menu fits that description of "American."  Influences from all over the world are pooled in creating the regular menu and even the Restaurant Week menu.  The menu didn't offer so many choices that I would have been overwhelmed  but accommodated a wide range of preferences.
Service    The service received while dining at the restaurant	The only way I could have been happier with the service here would have been if the maitre d' could have gotten me a job with the Yankees as a cook.  Seriously, I could not have asked for better service.  I was in and out well within the one hour allowed for a normal person's workday lunch break, all without ever feeling rushed or hurried.  My food was punctual.  My waiter was personable and friendly.  The host staff was courteous and pleasant.  I honestly felt like my business, even though I was a lone diner on a weekday afternoon, was important to them.
Atmosphere    The experience of eating at the restaurant, including decor, comfort, and dress code	The only thing that I couldn't rave about was the atmosphere.  The decor, particularly the upholstery, reminded me that I was in a hotel, and the music playing in the background was the kind of modern "jazz" that exists only to fade into the background and makes my teeth itch.  On the other hand, the part of the atmosphere that had something to do with people was relaxed but professional.  The dress code is listed as business casual, but I felt perfectly comfortable in a suit.  People seemed relaxed and happy.  The music, while not what I would have chosen, was played at a good volume and didn't drown out conversations.
Ease of Access   How easy it was to get to and get into the restaurant, including parking and wait duration	I love being able to reserve a seat online through OpenTable.  There was no problem reserving a seat for a party of one, and there was no wait for my table when I arrived.  Avenue One is located in the Hyatt Boston, which is in that part of Boston's Financial District that threatens to eat Chinatown.  On-street parking is therefore tight.  However, if you are willing to pay for parking the Hyatt does have a garage.  It is easy to get to the Hyatt from the Downtown Crossing stop on the MBTA Red or Orange line, although you should know that the restaurant is on the third floor and you'll need to take the elevator.
Value for Money   Our assessment of whether the dining experience at this restaurant was worth the price of the meal.	The Restaurant Week menu was a great deal for the money.  The regular prices are a little steep, although not exorbitantly so when considered with the dish you're eating.  A Kobe Beef Burger will always be expensive, and it's difficult to think of a Lobster Grilled Cheese Sandwich as being good value for the money under any circumstances (this was not on the Restaurant Week menu, btw.)  That said, the portions were well proportioned. I could easily have brought home half of my flatbread, but I was afraid of leaving it on the T.  I did catch a look at what other diners had ordered, and it seems that those portions were also decently sized without being absurd.
Location and contact information	One Avenue de Lafayette Boston, MA 02110 617-422-5579 www.avenueoneboston.com
Menu available?	www.avenueoneboston.com/menus
Reservations	Call 617-422-5579 or visit OpenTable.com
Hours	Breakfast: Monday - Saturday: 6:30am - 11:30am, Sunday: 7:00am - 11:30am Lunch: Daily: 11:30am - 3:00pm Dinner: Nightly: 5:00pm - 10:00pm

Technorati Tags: Restaurant reviews,Boston restaurant reviews,Avenue One Boston,Hyatt

Restaurant Review: Lala Rokh on Beacon Hill, Boston MA

Overall Our experience at this restaurant as a whole	Thanks to Restaurant Week, I found myself with an excuse to go back to Lala Rokh on Beacon Hill.  I had been there once before with my younger sister, but that was a couple of years ago.  I was able to convince a friend to head into Boston with me to try the restaurant.  Overall, I would say that we had a good experience.  The restaurant wasn't too crowded but wasn't empty, the place was well kept, and we were well treated.  The food, of course, was excellent.
Food   The food we ordered while eating at the restaurant.	My friend and I ordered from the special Restaurant Week menu, which offered a selection of specialties.  For the appetizer, my friend ordered the Salad-e Makhlute, which was pretty much a garden salad with a vinaigrette dressing.  I ordered the Kashk-e Bademjan, which consisted of roasted eggplant with caramelized onions, goat's milk yogurt and mint oil.  It was phenomenal, and something that I probably wouldn't have thought of making at home.  My friend's entree was the Khoresht-e Ghormeh Sabzi, which was boneless lamb with greens and spices.  She let me try some and I was very impressed.  The lamb was tender without being dry, and the flavorings were delicate but noticeable.  I ordered the Morgh Pollo.  I'll admit that I was suckered in by the promise of rose petals.  They didn't tell me it would have the additional flavor of barberries, a rare treat for me.  I was ecstatic!  It's unusual for me to enjoy a chicken dish, but this was so moist and flavorful that I couldn't help but like it.  Both entrees were served with rice, but the rice was prepared in ways that matched each dish.  This shows a great attention to detail and care for the food that goes beyond what one would expect in many restaurants.  We decided to splurge on dessert.  There were three offerings on the Restaurant Week menu, and since we couldn't make up our minds we decided to try them all.  I definitely liked the chocolate cake best - the whipped cream was amazing and the raspberry sauce far superior to my own efforts.  This should by no means detract from the delightful creme caramel, which had a light and lemony flavor that surprised me, or the baghlava, with its cake-like texture and delicate rosewater syrup.  I would not be surprised to find that they made their own dough.  Some pictures of the desserts are in the left-hand column.  I apologize in advance to people looking for "food porn" - I was so distracted by the tasty treats that I forgot to take pictures of the entrees.
Bar   The variety and quality of beer, wine, and/or liquor available at the restaurant	I didn't even look at the wine list.  My friend had already arrived by the time I made it through the door, so I just ordered what she was having.  I can say that when I was there with my sister, the wine list was decent.  They do have a fully stocked bar; on my last occasion I had a pomegranate martini to die for.  It seemed a little inappropriate for lunch, though, especially since my friend had errands to run afterward.
Menu   The variety and originality of items on the menu	I'm giving Lala Rokh three stars for the variety of their menu, but a lot of that is based on memory from my last visit.  As I mentioned before, the Restaurant Week menu is a limited selection of their usual offerings.  The dishes were all unique, and certainly more than I would have thought of at home.
Service   The service received while dining at the restaurant	Finding a restaurant that takes reservations, at least for parties of less than six, is a rarity in Boston.  At least, it's rare for the type of place I usually patronize!  I have absolutely nothing to complain about with regards to the service.  The maitre d' was friendly and brought me immediately to my table.  Service was unobtrusive.  Our waitress was friendly and helpful.
Atmosphere   The experience of eating at the restaurant, including decor, comfort, and dress code	The atmosphere at Lala Rokh is comfortable.  Dress is business casual.  Lighting is soft but bright, so you can see your food without wanting sunglasses.  The decor is pretty neutral, although a variety of prints representing Iranian history and archaeology are tastefully hung on the walls.  People were cheerful, but not loud - there was no problem conversing with my friend.  The music was tasteful, subtle and very good.
Ease of Access How easy it was to get to and get into the restaurant, including parking and wait duration	The good: they accept reservations (through OpenTable, no less, so you don't have to call!) so there was no wait.  Located on a side street right off Charles Street, they are pretty much at the center of Beacon Hill.  You can get there easily from Boston Common and from the MBTA's Red Line (Charles/MGH Station).  The less-than-stellar: Parking is on-street, although valet parking is available at a cost of $14/vehicle.  Also, Lala Rokh on Beacon Hill is on Beacon Hill, which is... well, it's a hill.  The Mt. Vernon St. hill definitely qualifies as steep, and the sidewalks are brick.  This was not a problem for me, but I would not have been able to bring my grandmother (who, being relatively fearless herself, would otherwise probably quite enjoy Lala Rokh.)
Value for Money Our assessment of whether the dining experience at this restaurant was worth the price of the meal.	It feels a little silly rating Lala Rokh on their value for money when I went there for a special, prix-fixe event.  The prix-fixe deal is definitely a bargain, by the way, and if you have an opportunity to make use of it I would highly recommend doing so.  Lala Rokh is definitely not a cheap-eats kind of place.  Portion sizes are decent, but they're not massive.  You're not going to feed yourself for a week on the leftovers (if you do, get help.)  However, you will not leave hungry by any stretch of the imagination.  The quality of the food is high and the special attention paid to each dish (see my earlier comments about the rice side dishes) makes the price well worth the money.
Location and contact information	97 Mt. Vernon Street Boston, MA 02108 617-720-5511 http://www.lalarokh.com/contact_frame.htm
Menu available?	Not online
Reservations	617-720-5511
Hours	Lunch: Monday-Friday from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM Dinner: Every Night from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM

 

Technorati Tags: Boston restaurant reviews,Beacon Hill restaurant,Persian food,Lala Rokh

Restaurant Review: Charlie Palmer Steak: Las Vegas, NV

Overall Our experience at this restaurant as a whole	I'm out in Las Vegas for a conference this week, and we took our team of twelve people out for a nice dinner.  We chose Charlie Palmer, located in the Four Seasons Hotel, because they have a private dining room, were willing to provide us a fixed-price menu, and were able to accommodate a relatively large party.  My colleagues and I all concurred that while the meal wasn't bad, and we all liked the ambiance of the restaurant, we all came away unimpressed.  While nobody disliked their meal, I think most of us felt we could have gotten a better dinner someplace else.  I would however like to note that a number of the dishes available on the restaurant's regular menu were not included on the menu they provided our party.  Perhaps eating at the restaurant from the full menu would provide a better experience.
Food    The food we ordered while eating at the restaurant.  If we've eaten here multiple times, the rating will reflect our experience with multiple meals	The food we received was all good quality - aged Angus beef and fresh fish, but at a place in this price range, we were expecting something better.  Several of us commented that we could get better tasting beef at the local Whole Foods.  Appetizers: Each person got their own appetizer, and most of them looked pretty good.  I got a shellfish platter that included oysters, clams, shrimp, a crab claw, and lobster meat, along with three different sauces - a spicy cocktail sauce, a vinegar-based sauce that I really liked, and a creamy sauce that I wasn't that impressed with.  The quality of the shellfish was good. I really enjoyed this dish.  Main Course: Most of us ordered steak, it being a steakhouse and all.  I ended up with a bone-in New York Shell steak.  This was a large, thick cut.  I asked for it medium rare, though it came out more of what I would consider medium.  While the steak itself was pretty tasty, the preparation was very simple - no sauce, no seasoning. Just a piece or two of roasted garlic accompanied the meat onto the plate.  This was a bit disappointing, as I can cook a steak at home just as well, if not better.  The point, at least to me, of ordering something like this at a restaurant is to get something special.  This wasn't it.  I did notice that on the regular menu, they offer a few sauces, such as a horseradish and a béarnaise sauce, which weren't available to us.  Most of my colleagues had a similar experience.  While no one said their meal was bad, everyone's reaction afterward was "it was OK".  In particular, I heard several people say that their steaks were overcooked.  Dessert: We were offered a spread of desserts that included most of the items included on the menu.  We passed these around the table so we each got to try everything.  While none of these were particularly special, they were all pretty good.
Bar   The variety and quality of beer, wine, and/or liquor available at the restaurant	Charlie Palmer had large bar, and appeared to have a decent selection.  We had to wait for a few minutes for our table, and the hostess immediately took our drink order while we were waiting.  Unlike many other places where they want you to pay immediately, they just put this onto our bill, even before we were seated.  Our table was ready before the drinks were ready, and they brought the drinks right over to the table when they were ready.  They have a pretty extensive wine list, and the prices weren't outrageous for the type of place it is  We ordered the Sequum Red Zinfandel.  I has never had this wine before, and I really enjoyed it, as did all of my colleagues.
Menu   The variety and originality of items on the menu	As I mentioned, we were offered a fixed-price menu with a limited range of selections.  We each got to pick one appetizer and one main course.  The restaurant selected a number of side dishes to accompany our choices.  These included asparagus, mashed potatoes, spinach, and a potato gratin.  We received a sampling of all of the desserts on the menu. We were all pretty disappointed with the menu selections.  There were a variety of steaks, a surf and turf combo with steak and half a lobster, one chicken dish, and maybe one fish.  There was little creativity with the appetizers or main courses on the menu, though they offer a good range of desserts. As noted, we weren't offered the full menu.  I looked this up on their web site, and there were a few more interesting looking dishes on the standard menu.
Service   The service received while dining at the restaurant	The service at Charlie Palmer, as would be expected for a restaurant located at the Four Seasons, was top notch.  We were seated quickly, the waiters were knowledgeable, and the service staff was helpful without being obtrusive.  Our water and wine glasses were kept full, and someone was always nearby when needed.
Atmosphere     The experience of eating at the restaurant, including decor, comfort, and dress code	The restaurant was elegant without being over the top.  We had reserved a private room, which was quite nice.  It was big enough to comfortably seat our party while leaving the wait staff plenty of room to navigate around the table.  Despite it being reasonably busy, it was quiet enough to carry on a conversation at normal levels, important for a business dinner.  All of the patrons were well dressed - no Hawaiian shirts or shorts in sight - a rarity for Vegas.
Ease of Access   How easy it was to get to and get into the restaurant, including parking and wait duration	We went to the restaurant around 7:30pm on a Tuesday night.  There was a small wait while they finished getting our table ready, but there was a comfortable seating area near the door, so we didn't mind the wait.  We were offered drinks while we were waiting.  There was plenty of overflow space in the hotel lobby and adjacent bar, so on a busier night, crowding shouldn't be a problem.  The restaurant is located right off the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel, located on the Strip next to the Mandalay Bay Resort. There is easy access by taxi or via the monorail.  We walked back to our hotel, the MGM Grand, and trying to leave the Four Seasons on foot was a bit of a pain, as there were no sidewalks until we got off the property and onto the street.
Value for the Money   Our assessment of whether the dining experience at this restaurant was worth the price of the meal.	This ended up being a very expensive meal, even with the discounted fixed price menu they put together for us.  The total came to nearly $180/person when you count food, drinks, and tip.  For that kind of money, you expect a meal that you are going to remember for a long time, and that isn't what we got.  This meal was OK, but it wasn't worth this kind of money.
Location and Contact Information	Charlie Palmer Steak Four Seasons Hotel 3960 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-632-5120 http://www.charliepalmersteaklv.com/
Menu Available?	http://www.charliepalmersteaklv.com/menu.html
Reservations?	Reservations are recommended and can be made from their website
Hours	According to their website, they are open 7 days/week from 5pm to 10:30pm

Technorati Tags: Restaurants,Las Vegas,Steakhouse,Dining,Reviews,Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Week Boston!

A couple of years ago, my husband and I were introduced to the concept of Restaurant Week.  This is a time period, not necessarily corresponding to seven consecutive days, in which some of the Boston area's nicer restaurants offer prix fixe lunches and dinners.  Back then, we found out about it because some restaurant-loving friends wanted to go.  So we loaded up the SUV with ourselves and two other couples and made our way to Olives, a restaurant in Charlestown owned by Todd English.  It was someplace we would never have tried otherwise, and we had a pretty darn good experience despite the labyrinthine streets around the restaurant.  The event is run by the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, and in case you're curious Olives is participating again this year. 

I don't know about you, but I see this as an opportunity.  When I dine out, it's usually a casual, spur-of-the-moment kind of affair, as my recent reviews of places like the Border Cafe probably indicate.  Very often I and/or my companions are on a budget (money or time) which limits our choices as well.  A lot of these places are not only outside of my usual comfort zone, they're out of the way for me.  Living south of Boston, getting into the city can be more of a hassle than it's worth, especially for an untried restaurant with a high price tag.  I've decided that this year I'm going to make more of an effort to enjoy Restaurant Week.  I don't know if other cities offer a Restaurant Week of their own, but if yours does it could be well worth looking into.

There are over 150 restaurants participating in this event, but not every restaurant participates fully.  Some participate only for lunch, more participate only for dinner (and probably don't have a lunch service.)  Some participate every day except Sunday.  As part of the event, lunch is $20.08 and dinner is $33.08 per person.  The menu is generally limited as compared to the restaurant's normal menu, but please don't let that turn you off.  After all, the incentive for participating in the event is to attract new customers; they're going to want to make those limited offerings good!  Participating restaurants can be found in the Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Dorchester, Downtown, Fenway/Kenmore, Newbury Street, North End, Roslindale, South End, Theater District, Waterfront and West Roxbury neighborhoods of Boston, as well as in Arlington, Brookline, Cambridge, Newton and Somerville.  There are options a little farther out as well that may be a little more convenient for some people, depending on where they live. 

For more information, to include names of participating restaurants, go to www.BostonUSA.com/RestaurantWeek. 

Technorati Tags: Boston area restaurants,special restaurant deal,Restaurant Week

Restaurant Review: Brookline Family Restaurant, Brookline MA

Overall Our overall experience at this establishment	I was first introduced to Brookline Family Restaurant, or BFR as my friends affectionately called it, when I started working around the corner.  I was very pleasantly surprised by what looked like, and in a lot of ways is, a diner.  I haven't managed to make it back during dinner hours, but I've been back a few times during lunch hours and I've been pretty happy.  I went back recently with a former co-worker, providing me with a convenient excuse.
Food   The food we ordered while eating at the restaurant.	I had intended to order a vegetarian dish.  I was sucked in by the word "okra."  Had I actually read the description of the dish, I would have realized that the dish included lamb.  Oh well, I guess I'm going to Hell.  I'm actually very glad that I misread the description, because I otherwise would never have tasted the tasty, tasty lamb.  It came with a basic rice pilaf and some sort of bright orange substance I couldn't identify.  I do know that it contained carrots, though.  My friend got a kebab sandwich.  She seemed pleased with her dish, although she didn't get into specifics.
Bar The variety and quality of beer, wine, and/or liquor available at the restaurant	I feel kind of bad giving them one star for the bar, since I've never paid much attention to the bar.  I'm pretty much always driving.  That said, the bar seems to be kind of an aside here.  I did notice some wine bottles perched precariously on a ledge, indicating the selection available.  It wasn't great, although it did include Metaxa brandy which surprised me.  I didn't notice any hard liquor and I didn't see any taps for beer.
Menu The variety and originality of items on the menu	I really like the variety of dishes on offer at BFR.  There's a good combination of standard diner fare and Turkish specialties.  The spread between diner and Turkish is more equal at lunch, should you need to feed someone who is unlikely to order something they can't pronounce.  They also offer a wide variety of specials which do appear to change frequently.  Plus, they offer okra.  Anyone who has visited this site before knows how much I love okra.  BFR gets that fourth star just for having an Okra Entree.  Had I bothered to read the menu beyond the word "okra," I would have indeed realized that the lunch menu contains six vegetarian sandwiches, vegetarian wraps, and a couple of other vegetarian options.
Service The service received while dining at the restaurant	The service here is informal, particularly for lunch.  You order your dish from the person at the register, who may send you to the cooler to get your own beverage.  You then wait for your number to be called by the man at the kitchen window, and bring your food to your own table.  You bus your own table when you're done, too.  The evening service is a little more formalized.  That said, we didn't have much to complain about when we went most recently other than a certain distraction on the part of the woman at the register when we first arrived.  Our food was prepared promptly and no one laughed at my pronunciation of the yogurt drink, ayran.
Atmosphere The experience of eating at the restaurant, including decor, comfort, and dress code	This is not the place to come if you're looking for ambiance.  It's pretty much a diner, and the lighting and decor really reflect that fact.  There is no dress code.  It is, on the other hand, very clean.
Ease of Access   How easy it was to get to and get into the restaurant, including parking and wait duration	Brookline Family Restaurant is located right in Brookline Village, although it's a couple of blocks from the subway station of the same name.  This would be a great place to go before a Red Sox game.  It's near the Green Line, which will take you right to Fenway Park, but it's far enough from the stadium to keep you away from the loud crowds of drunks, and because there's no dress code you wouldn't feel weird showing up in all your Sox regalia.  Unfortunately, parking was somewhat at a premium, even in the middle of the afternoon.  They have no parking of their own.  There was no wait.
Value for Money Our assessment of whether the dining experience at this restaurant was worth the price of the meal.	Prices for the entrees and lunch dishes were pretty standard for this type of fare.  However, since you aren't paying for fancy decor, a lot of ambiance or someone whose whole job is to refill your water, all of that money is going into the food, and I for one noticed the difference.  Portions are generous, and the food is delicious.
Location and Contact Information	Brookline Family Restaurant 305 Washington Street Brookline, MA 02445 617-277-4466 http://brooklinefamilyrestaurant.com/
Menu Available?	On website, select by meal
Reservations	Unknown
Hours	Sun - Wed - 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM Thur - Sat - 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Technorati Tags: Restaurant review,Boston area restaurant,Brookline MA restaurant,Ethnic food: Turkish,Turkish food

Restaurant Review - Costa's Greek Dining: Chicago, IL

Overall    Our experience at this restaurant as a whole	I had a business meeting in Chicago, and wanted to take my colleague to a nice restaurant.  Being Greek, I have an affinity for good Mediterranean food, and there is a real shortage of good Greek restaurants in the Boston area, so I always try and visit Greektown when I'm in Chicago.  I recommended that we go to a place I had been to a number of times, but the cabbie wasn't exactly sure where it was. He pulled up in front of Costa's, which from the outside looked very similar to the other place I wanted to go to.  I figured they had changed ownership, and we decided to try it.  I'm glad we did.  It was a very good meal and a great place for a business meeting.  Turns out the other place hadn't closed - the cab dropped us off at the wrong restaurant - we walked past the other restaurant when we left.
Food    The food we ordered while eating at the restaurant.  If we've eaten here multiple times, the rating will reflect our experience with multiple meals	Overall, the food we had was very good.  We were both very happy with our meals, and neither of us had any leftovers.  Appetizers: We each ordered our own appetizer and probably didn't need to, as each one was certainly enough to feed two people.  My colleague had the Dolmades, or grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs.  I didn't try it, but he was quite happy with it.  I had the Grilled Octopus with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing.  This was really good, though a bit different than I've had this dish before - the octopus pieces were large and were immersed in the sauce, making them kind of soft.  Definitely tasty though.  The restaurant also provided us each with a basket of fresh warm bread, which was great for soaking up the octopus's sauce.  Main Course: My colleague ordered the Kota Fileto, a chicken dish with basil, lemon, garlic, and herbs.  He really enjoyed it.  I tried a bit of the chicken, and it had a really nice flavor.  It came out on a large plate, looking kind of stew-like.  I was torn between ordering a fish dish or a lamb dish.  Lamb won, and I ended up with the Grilled Lamb Chops.  These were two thick-cut lamb chops that arrived alone in the middle of a large plate.  My side order of roasted potatoes, chosen from a range of options, made its entrance quartered in long strips on its own side place.  The chops were well seasoned and quite tasty, though I had ordered them medium-rare and they ended up a little overcooked.  The potatoes were soft and flavorful.  Dessert: After this meal, we were both too full to order dessert, and we didn't even look at the menu.  However, we did both get a Greek Coffee.  My colleague had never had Greek Coffee before, and he really enjoyed it.  I thought mine was a bit watery - it wasn't as thick as we make it at home or as I've had it at other places, and there were significantly fewer grounds at the bottom of the cup than normal.
Bar    The variety and quality of beer, wine, and/or liquor available at the restaurant	Costa's had a good sized wine and drink list.  I noticed that they offered a large variety of Greek wines, and I was pleasantly surprised that a good number of the wines on the menu were available by the glass.  I always like this, as it allows each person to get what they want, or to try several different varieties, rather than everyone having to compromise on a single choice.  I didn't notice the varieties of beer or liquor available, though the restaurant did have a relatively large bar area partially separated from the dining area.
Menu    The variety and originality of items on the menu	Costa's offered many of the traditional Greek dishes you would find at most Greek restaurants, such as pastichio, moussaka, a variety of lamb, chicken, and fish dishes, and a range of appetizers.  They were missing my favorite winter meal - Youvetsi - a clay pot, slow-cooked lamb dish, a somewhat standard offering.  The night we were there, a number of specials were also offered - mostly fish - leading me to think that the specials rotate based on the available fresh catch.  Despite the range of traditional fare, nothing on the menu stood out. I didn't notice anything that I wouldn't have been surprised to see at my local church festival.  This is a bit disappointing at a restaurant in this price range, though everything we had was done quite well.  A positive item to note - my colleague has some severe food allergies, including wheat, fish, and dairy, making it difficult for him to eat out.  However, he felt the menu at Costa's gave him a wide range of options, and he was very happy with his meal.
Service    The service received while dining at the restaurant	The service at Costa's was very good.  We were seated immediately, and the wait staff was very attentive without being obtrusive.  Our water glasses were always full, drinks were offered as our glasses emptied, and we didn't have to wait to order or pay.  The wait staff recognized that this was a business dinner, and held off on interrupting us until we were clearly ready.  The waiter seemed knowledgeable about both the food and the wine.
Atmosphere     The experience of eating at the restaurant, including decor, comfort, and dress code	The restaurant was decorated in a tasteful Mediterranean theme without being overdone.  The music was not at all loud and even when the place was pretty full, we didn't have any trouble hearing each other.  The clientele was mostly business people after work and older couples.  There were a few larger parties, and very few, if any children.  Everyone was pretty well dressed - I didn't notice anyone in jeans or sneakers.  On the night we were there, it didn't seem particularly crowded, though I think they were pretty busy.
Ease of Access    How easy it was to get to and get into the restaurant, including parking and wait duration	We went to the restaurant around 7:15pm on a Thursday night.  There was no wait when we arrived, and we were seated immediately.  There was a relatively large bar area, so on a busier night, there would be a place to comfortably wait.  We took a taxi to the restaurant from our hotel, so I can't directly comment on the parking.  There seemed to be on-street spaces available, and we saw at least one paid lot when we left.  Their website says they have complimentary valet parking, but doesn't specify on what nights.  We left at about 10pm, and we were just about the last ones there.  The website doesn't list a closing time, but it looked like they were shutting down as we were leaving.
Value for the Money    Our assessment of whether the dining experience at this restaurant was worth the price of the meal.	This certainly wasn't an inexpensive meal - with tip, the total came out to just about $145.00, or $72.00 per person.  This included an appetizer, an entree, two glasses of wine, and a cup of coffee for each person.  However, for the purpose we chose to go there - a business dinner - this was a reasonable value.  It was a very good meal with good, unobtrusive service, no wait, and a quiet, easy to converse atmosphere.  I would certainly consider going here again for the same purpose.  My only complaint on the pricing was the cost of the grilled meat items.  My lamb chop dish was about $34.00 for 1 pound or less of meat, with a simple preparation.  While it was tasty, I don't think it was that tasty.  Next time I go, I'd probably order a fish dish or a traditional Greek dish, both of which were priced more reasonably.
Location and Contact Information	Costa's Greek Dining and Bar Chicago Greektown 340 S. Halsted Chicago, IL 60661 (map) 312-263-9700 www.costasdining.com
Menu Available?	http://www.costasdining.com/menu.htm
Reservations?	Reservations can be made online using their website
Hours	According to their website, they are open 7 days/week from 11am.

Technorati Tags: Restaurant Reviews,Greek,Restaurants,Chicago

Restaurant Review: Kagawa Restaurant, Quincy MA

A couple of months ago, some friends introduced us to the Kagawa Sushi Bar and Restaurant in Quincy, Massachusetts. We're grateful to them for doing so. My husband had pretty much sworn off East Coast sushi by that point, but he's opened up again and now we go there on a semi-regular basis. They offer good sushi, actually have nearby parking, and have the added advantage of being open until 11:00 PM.

On our most recent trip, we ordered 6 rolls and Miso Soup. I loved the Miso Soup. You'd think that something that looks so simple would be difficult to screw up, but I've had some pretty lousy offerings in the past. Maybe it's just the cold and the fact that I was in a lousy mood to begin with, but last night's miso really hit the spot. Our rolls were the Manhattan Maki, the Scorpion Maki, the Gokudo Maki, the Shrimp Tempura Maki, the Spicy Ika Maki and the Spicy Tuna Maki.

We always get the Spicy Tuna wherever we go, but both the Spicy Ika Maki and the Gokudo Maki were new to us at this particular restaurant. I particularly enjoyed the Gokudo, which was mackerel. It's a fish that I don't get to enjoy very often, so I relished the chance to try it. The Spicy Ika Maki was also good; my husband in particular enjoyed that one. The Manhattan Maki was good, and so was the Shrimp Tempura Maki, but I was blown away by the Scorpion Maki (shrimp, eel, cucumber and avocado). The flavors were so well balanced, and so delightful, that when my husband offered me the last piece (his by rights, since I'd eaten my half already), I didn't even politely attempt to decline.

The atmosphere here is mellow. They offer seating in the public dining area, in booths or at tables, and they also offer the private rooms I'd previously only seen in movies. The lighting is bright and the staff is helpful and cheery. We tend to go later in the evening so I couldn't say much about the wait during most people's dinner hour, but while we've never had to wait it's usually pretty bustling on the weekends even by the time we show up.

We haven't tried any of the non-sushi offerings from the menu here, so I can't offer any hints about that. Their bar is well-stocked and they offer a variety of different specialty cocktails for those seeking something stronger than tea to wash down their sushi. Some of their special rolls are a little odd-looking, but we've never ordered anything we haven't enjoyed.

Kagawa Sushi Bar & Restaurant

1554 Hancock Street

Quincy, MA 02170

www.kagawarestaurant.com