Fiorella's in Burlington: A Tasty, Italian Lunch Option

Last September, a new location of Fiorella's Cucina opened at the Burlington Mall. There are two other locations of the Cucina (Full Service), in Concord and Newton, and three locations of their Trattoria (Fine-Fast), in Belmont, Lexington and Wellesley. Fiorella's website states they serve "homemade, Italian-inspired cuisine. Prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients,.."

In 1986, Marcel Karian opened Café Fiorella in Belmont, which became well known for its pizza. Marcel's son, Rémon, when he was still a teenager, assisted his father in the business, learning how to prepare pizza. Then, in 2000, Rémon opened the first Fiorella's Cucina in Newton, and eventually he expanded his operations to three Cucinas. And in 2009, Rémon jarred, for retail sales, ‘Fiorella’s Signature Marinara Sauce.’ 

Fiorella means "little flower," and the Roman goddess of the spring, Flora, is their "muse and namesake." As their website states, "Flora inspires Fiorella’s springtime brand, and is a celebration of 'La Dolce Vita.' She brings with her the promise of hope, love, light, flowers, celebration; and making life more delicious!"

I've had lunch at Fiorella's Cucina in Burlington three times, and enjoyed the experience. The Lunch menu consists of Antipasti (7 options, $13-$16), Flatbreads (4 options, $17), Sandwiches & Wraps (7 options, $17-$19), Insalata e Zuppa (6 options, $12-$18), Lunch Entrees (11 options, $19-$25), and Sides (3 options, $10-$11). They also sell Pizza, but you have to ask to see the pizza menu as they don't deliver it with the Lunch menu. On my third trip there, they actually said they only had one pizza menu, so we had to wait for it until another diner was done looking it over. I'm strange that they only had a single menu. The Pizza is wood-fired, thin Neapolitan-style, and available as a Small (starting at $9) or Large (starting at $16).

Before your food begins to arrive, you receive a basket of complimentary, warm Bread Strips, with melted cheese, and accompanied by marinara sauce. These are made with the dough they use for their pizza and it's a nice initial treat. 

 

As for Appetizers, the Toasted Ravioli ($13) have a nicely crisp texture, and plenty of creamy ricotta cheese within. I like their marinara sauce, which is tasty, well balanced and not overly sweet or acidic. 

The Fig & Bacon Flatbread ($17) is made with sweet fig jam, crispy bacon, crumbled goat cheese, and baby arugula, topped by a balsamic glaze. A fine blend of delicious flavors atop a crisp dough, with salty and sweet tastes, nicely balanced. And it's large enough for two people to share. 

The large Three Cheese Pizza ($18) is made with mozzarella, provolone, and pecorino romano cheeses. It's a thin crust pizza with a good taste, plenty of cheese, and a chewy, slightly charred crust. 

The large Carne Trio ($24) is made with lots of pepperoni, imported prosciutto, and sweet Italian sausage. Another very good pizza, and perfect for any meat-lover. 

The Chicken Parmigiana Sandwich ($17) comes with French fries or mixed greens. The chicken was tender, there was plenty of melted cheese, and the bread was fresh and soft, with some crisp bits. The fries were good too, nicely crisp on the outside, and fluffy inside.  

The Meatball Parmigiana Sandwich ($17) was tasty, and the meatballs were firm and meaty, and not overwhelmed by fillers. I can be picky about meatballs but these were pleasing. 

For an Entree, I also tried the Chicken Gnocchi Fra Diavolo ($24), which consists of chicken pieces, slow-simmered, in a spicy fra diavolo sauce, tossed with potato gnocchi & topped with Pecorino Romano. The chicken pieces were tender, the sauce was mildly spicy, and the gnochhi were pillowy and light. A good-sized dish, it was filling and delicious.

Overall, Fiorella's is a good option for lunch, with tasty pizza, sandwiches, and more. Service is excellent and the prices are reasonable. 

2024: My Top Four Favorite Restaurants & Three New Favorites

As 2025 approaches, it's time once again to reflect upon the past year, to remember and savor pleasant memories. It's the time for my Annual Year-End Favorite lists, from restaurants to wine. And I'm starting this year with my Top Four Favorite Restaurants of 2024 & Three New Favorites. These end-of-the-year lists should provide a comprehensive summary of my favorites, allowing my readers to more readily locate such gems, the best of my recommendations. 

I'll note that last year this list included only my Top Three Favorite Restaurants. However, this year, another restaurant has risen to the top of my attention, thoroughly impressing me with its consistent excellence. It's more than worthy of being on this list, but the other three restaurants already on the list remain worthy as well. So, this year, I chose to make this a Top Four list, to accommodate this new Top Favorite.  

This list is also in no particular order, and is purely a subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" of anything. However, all of the restaurants here earn my heartiest recommendation and I hope you'll enjoy them as well, as so many others have done. For more Restaurant reviews, you can just search my blog posts for the past year.

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My Top Four Favorite Restaurants are those exceptional spots which are consistently excellent, offering great food and drink as well as top notch service. These are the four places which first come to my mind when I want a celebratory dinner, or just want a sublime dining experience. They receive my unqualified highest recommendation. These are also the restaurants I most frequently recommend to others when I'm asked for my top restaurants. And those people who then go to these restaurants usually become big fans of these restaurants too.  

Krasi Meze & Wine (Boston)

Part of the Xenia Greek Hospitality group, this Greek restaurant is amazing, where nearly every innovative dish is exceptional. Their menu consists of a wide selection of small plates, perfect for sharing, and offers creative Greek cuisine, with roots in tradition but it's not afraid to experiment. Their Greek wine list, the largest in the country, is superb with so many delicious and interesting options. Service is excellent, and the servers are very knowledgeable of the food and wine. Krasi never disappoints.

Nightshade Noodle Bar (Lynn)

Offering inventive and delicious French/Vietnamese inspired-cuisine, with their own unique spin, this restaurant offers Tasting Menus, ranging from 7-30 courses. Their dishes are exceptional, bursting with flavor, and creatively composed. Plus, they have an excellent wine list and cocktail program. I like their homey vibe, service is always excellent, and they have an open kitchen, which I've always loved. They recently instituted a 30 course tasting menu and one of my desires for 2025 is to partake of that epic dinner. Be adventurous with your palate and you'll be amply rewarded. 

A Tavola (Winchester)

This excellent Italian restaurant in Winchester first made my Top Three list last year, and it continues to impress. Chef Joe Carli is very talented and personable, and his Italian cuisine is as good as anything you'll find in the North End. The restaurant is still relatively small and intimate, although this year they enlarged their space a bit, adding a small bar and some additional tables. Much of the sourcing is from local farms. I especially love their superb home-made pasta dishes, as well as when they have Duck Wings as a special. Their wine list concentrates on Italian wines, and there are many good choices. You also should check out their event list, which includes fun and tasty wine dinners and cocktail classes, like the A Tour of Italian Noble Grapes and BBQ & Bourbon events I attended this year. 

Il Ponte (Woburn)
Chef Beni Kurti of Il Ponte has brought his deep passion, lengthy culinary experience, and charm to Woburn. It's a homey restaurant, with a casual elegance, and the Italian cuisine is top notch, from home-made pasta dishes to exquisite Neapolitan pizza. During this past year, I've thoroughly enjoyed so many different dishes here, such as the Lamb Lollipop Milanese (pictured above_. Their Swordfish Puttanesca, which is a Special all the time, is amazing, an ample piece of tender and moist Swordfish with a compelling puttanesca sauce. Service is excellent, the servers being genuinely personable and attentive, without being obtrusive. It's consistently superb and every person I've recommended has raved about their own dining experience. Besides dining there numerous times this year, I also celebrated my birthday there and it was a memorable event. Il Ponte also recently added a special Gelato machine, and the gelato is silky and delicious. There's no need to drive into Boston for Italian cuisine with restaurants such as Il Ponte north of Boston.  

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I want to now address those restaurants, which were new to me this year, and impressed me. These are definitely restaurants I want to dine at again, and which are worthy of a hearty recommendation. 

XOXO Sushi Bar (Chestnut Hill)

This high-end Sushi spot opened in March and it's a superb spot, offering some of the best Sushi in the area. They serve Edomae-style sushi, which includes the used of aged and preserved fish, and they even have an intriguing glass case behind the sushi bar showing the aged fish. They serve other Japanese specialties as well, and they are as delicious as their sushi offerings. Their beverage program, from Sake to cocktails, is excellent as well. This is a restaurant well worth a splurge. 

Greco (Burlington)

I was very excited this past year when a branch of the Greco chain opened at the Burlington Mall. I've been a fan since the first Greco opened in 2017 on Newbury Street. It's a fast casual restaurant, specializing in Gyros and Loukoumades (Greek donuts!). Everything is made fresh, so you can enjoy whatever your food preference. You can opt for a Pita, Plate or Salad, with both meat and veggie options. The Greco Fries, with French fries topped by feta cheese, are delicious. And you have to end your meal with sweet Loukoumades, available own three flavors. 

Pinoy Kabayan (Boston)

There's only 3 Filipino restaurants in the Boston+ area, and Pinot Kabayan is the only one in Boston proper. This new restaurant is a fast-casual spot which does plenty of take-out. The food is authentic, delicious and reasonably priced. Many of the dishes are very approachable, such as Tocino (sweet cured pork) and Tapa (Filipino jerky) while other dishes are for the more adventurous. For example, Dinuguan, which roughly translates "bloody soup or stew," is commonly made with pork, offal and pork blood. However, I found it delicious, especially atop some garlic rice. I eagerly look forward to dining there again soon.

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There are a few other new restaurants I've dined at this past year, but for which I haven't yet written reviews, but which are still worthy of recognition. They include Sogne (Woburn, Italian cuisine), Fiorella's Cucina (Burlington, Italian cuisine), Adega Restaurant (Woburn, Portuguese), Bar Mezzana (Boston, Italian cuisine) and Feather & Wedge (Rockport, Seafood). Reviews of these restaurants are likely to come in 2025.

What were some of your Favorite Restaurants this year?

Greco Opens In Burlington! Enjoy Gyros, Loukoumades & More

"Gyro, pronounced “GAEE-ro” in English and “GHEE-ro” in Greek comes from the Greek word “gheereezo,” which means to turn. As mentioned above, it’s a stacked rotating pile of thinly sliced meat, either lamb, pork, beef, or some combination thereof, with latter-day renditions that include chicken and even fish. As the tightly packed stack roasts upright, the layers meld together and the grill person manning the gyro rotisserie cuts of paper-thin slices, which he or she fixes in a pita wrap with tomatoes, raw red onions, parsley or lettuce, Greek yogurt or tzatziki, and sometimes fried potatoes and a sprinkling of paprika or cayenne pepper."
--Chef Diane Kochilas in History of Gyro, an Ancient Greek Street Food 

Gyros and Loukoumades! I'm excited that Greco truly Greek has opened a new location at the Burlington Mall this week. Greco is a fast casual Greek restaurant, specializing in gyros and loukoumades, and its first location opened in early 2017 on Newbury Street in the Back Bay. I've been an ardent fan of Greco since that time, and additional locations have since opened in Downtown Boston, the Seaport, Hub Hall, and two in Washington, D.C.  

In 2022, Demetri Tsolakis and Stefanos Ougrinis launched Xenia Greek Hospitality, a new restaurant group with Brendan Pelley as their Culinary Director. Under the umbrella of this group are Greco truly Greek. Krasi Meze + Wine, Hecate, and Bar Vlaha. As their website states: "At Xenia Greek Hospitality, we are inspired by the ancient Greek concept which is built on guest-friendship. Today, we often forget how important not only the food being served is, but most importantly how it is being served. With a single visit to any of our concepts, you can experience the highest level of hospitality, with care and attention to all our guests, so you feel welcomed in our home." I've found this to be true, that hospitality is essential to their restaurant concepts, from the casual Greco to the more high end Bar Vlaha.   

The new Greco, which opened on Monday, has ample seating inside as well as an outside patio. It's a bright and spacious spot, with a modern feel. You order at the counter and then bring your food, when it's ready, to any table of your choice. On my visit on Wednesday, it was a fine day so there were people eating outside on the patio. 

As for Beverages, there are a number of bottled choices, from water to soda, and most are of Greek origin. For example, the Vikos/Bikos Cola, produced in Greece, is made with "natural mineral water" and sugar (not HFCS). It reminded me a bit of Mexican Cola, with a nice clean taste and doesn't seem as sweet as Coke or Pepsi. Greco also has 3 other beverages, including Frappe (Greek Iced Coffee), homemade Orange Blossom Lemonade and homemade Greek Mountain Iced Tea. The Lemonade is floral, with a light orange flavor enhancing the lemon taste. I very much enjoyed the Iced Tea. Although I generally prefer unsweetened iced tea, the Greek Mountain Iced Tea is sweetened with honey but the sweetness is very subtle and it possesses a delicious taste. I'd definitely order it again on my next visit.
 
The food menu has three main options: Pita ($12.50), Plate ($15.50), and Salad ($16.00). As everything is made to order, you customize your entree, choosing your own sauce and protein combination. The Plate also comes with one side, onions, tomato and pita bread while the Salad includes your salad choice (Horiatiki, Cretan or Greco Caesar) and is accompanied by pita bread. Sauces include Tzatziki, Spicy Feta, Honey Mustard, Lemon Chive Yogurt, Charred Eggplant, and Garlic Skordalia. My favorite sauce is their Spicy Feta. Proteins includes Pork Gyro, Chicken Gyro, Lamb Gyro, Beef Bifteki, Loukaniko Sausage, Halloumi Cheese, Veggie Fritter and Vegan Meatballs. 

They marinate all of their gyro meats for about 24 hours, using their own house-made marinades. After the meats have been properly marinated, they are then thinly sliced and carefully placed onto the rotisserie. The stacked meats look so enticing in the open kitchen.

I opted for the Lamb Gyro, with Spicy Feta, which is served on a warm pita with tomatoes, onions and fries. The warm pita is thick enough so it doesn't tear apart, but not too thick to be overly chewy. It's a fine vehicle for the tender and flavorful lamb, crisp fries, spicy and creamy feta, and more. The ample-sized Gyro was as delicious as any I've had at the other Greco locations. And it's definitely one of the best Gyros that I've had at any casual Greek restaurant. 

The Menu also offers Souvlaki Skewers ($6.50 each), including marinated and grilled chicken or pork. You can order a skewer on its own, or as part of a Single Skewer ($16.50) or Double Skewer ($20.50) Plate. The Plate comes with horiatiki salad, Greco fries, tzatziki, and pita bread. There's plenty of nice charred meat on each skewer, and the meat is tender and flavorful. The chicken skewer was my personal preference of the two, but the pork was tasty as well. 

There are also three options under Feasts, large platters meant to be shared with family and friends. The Lamb Chops ($24.50) include four lamb chops, horiatiki salad, Greco fries, tzatziki, and pita bread. The Souvlaki Platter ($42) has three chicken and three pork skewers, with horiatiki salad, Greco fries, tzatziki, and pita bread. And the Mixed Grill ($45) has pork and chicken gyro, two lamb chops, bifteki, loukaniko, Greco fries, spicy whipped feta, tzatziki, and pita bread. 

As for Sides, you have eight options, including Greco Fries ($5.50, with feta & oregano), Avgolemono (egg-lemon soup, $4.50), Zucchini Chips ($5.50), Bean Salad ($3.50), Greek Slaw ($3.50), Lemon Rice Pilaf ($4.00), Halloumi ($6.00), and Pita & Dip ($4.50). The Greco Fries are excellent, with nice, crispy fries, enhanced by the creamy and salty feta. Even though I generally am not a fan of zucchini, their Zucchini Chips,  thinly sliced and fried, are excellent.  

The Halloumi cheese, served with a side of hot honey, has been fried, and has a crisp exterior and a firm interior, like the texture of cheese curds. The salty cheese pairs well with the sweetness of the honey, and the slight heat of the honey. I can see how the Halloumi would make a tasty Gyro too.

"The French have their beignets, Americans have doughnuts, but Greeks have loukoumades, round dough fritters drizzled with Greek honey and sprinkled with cinnamon."
--Chef Diane Kochilas

For a sweet treat after lunch or dinner, or whenever you have a craving for dessert, you can order their Loukoumades ($8), basically Greek donut holes. You have three options, including the Classic (Greek honey, walnuts and cinnamon), Yaya’s (hazelnut praline, oreo cookies, powdered sugar), and Tasos (tahini caramel, sea salt, toasted sesame). 

The Classic Loukoumades begin with a light donut hole, with a crisp exterior and a light, fluffy interior, and then are topped with a sweet and compelling mix of Greek honey, walnuts, and cinnamon. It's easy to devour one after another until you find the box is empty. The walnuts add a nice crunch to the donuts and the cinnamon is a nice addition to the sweet honey. 

The Tasos have that same donut hole, crispy outside and light & fluffy inside, with sweetness from the tahini caramel complemented by sea salt. The toasted sesame adds a nuttiness to the taste, as well as some crunchy texture. 

Greco offers reasonably priced, delicious and quality fast-casual food. There are plenty of tasty options for those who enjoy meat, to those who only want something vegetarian. It's a great addition to Burlington. Service was excellent, and even though the restaurant has only been open for a few days, everything seems to be working well. This location is as good as any of their other locations, and I'm so pleased that it's so close to my home. I'm in Burlington on a regular basis, and Greco will become one of my regular lunch spots. I strongly encourage all of my readers to check out the new Greco location. 

Now I can only hope that Xenia Greek Hospitality, in the near future, will open another Greek restaurant in Burlington, something more on the lines of Krasi Meze + Wine or Bar Vlaha.

Recent Culinary Highlights: Iron Town Diner to Viet Citron

There's once again no Rant today as there's been enough bad news recently and today is a holiday, Independence Day, so I just want to highlight some of the tasty delights I've recently enjoyed, giving some attention to excellent restaurants which are worthy of praise and your patronage.

I've previously written a few times about my explorations of the potential of French Toast for sandwiches other than the famed Monte Cristo. Most recently, I mentioned a French Toast Chicken Cutlet sandwich I enjoyed at the Iron Town Diner in Saugus. This past week, I opted to try a Hot Pastrami & Swiss on French Toast, and I'm pleased to say it was also an excellent choice. Again, the sandwich was enhanced by the eggy taste and texture of the French Toast, and didn't get soggy. The pastrami was lean and tender as well. I didn't have any mustard on the sandwich, and wasn't sure how that will go with the French Toast. 

My server also mentioned that he had tried a French Toast burger for the first time and enjoyed it, even talking to the chef about possibly adding it to one of the Specials some time. Let's hope that happens and more people can enjoy that delicious combination. However, anyone dining at Iron Town Diner can always order such a sandwich, even if it isn't on the menu. They are very good in handling special requests. 

One of my favorite lunch spots (which is also great for dinner) is Viet Citron, a Vietnamese restaurant in Burlington. I've been dining there since it opened early in 2020, just before the pandemic struck. Bánh Mi, Phở, Mama Tran's Chả Giò, seasonal specialties and more. For lunch last week, I began with a seasonal specialty, the Viet Grilled Corn, which is smothered with a scallion jalapeno butter and topped with scallion oil. The sweet corn was nicely grilled, and the scallion jalapeno butter added a mildly spicy kick. A delicious summery treat, with its own unique twist.  

I then enjoyed a Crispy Pork Belly Bánh Mi, which is one of my favorite choices here. The Bánh Mi can also be chosen with lemongrass sirloin, Big A** chicken, grilled prawns, or crispy tofu puffs. The sandwich comes on a baguette and is filled with pickles, jalapeños, cilantro, signature aioli, and garlic soy reduction (or fish sauce if you prefer). I love the pork belly as it's tender and crispy, with crunchy bits and soft fat. The freshness, flavors and textures of the other ingredients enhances the sandwich. The sandwich is amply filled, and it's great for take-out as well. 

I've tasted most of the dishes at Viet Citron, and been pleased with all of them. They use quality ingredients, some local, and invest much time into preparing some of their signature dishes, from the crispy pork belly to the Phở. It's a great, small local business worthy of your support.

The Bancroft: A Steakhouse of Consistent Excellence

Over the weekend, we decided to celebrate Valentine's Day by having lunch at The Bancroft in Burlington. The last time I'd dined there had been pre-pandemic but it had been one of my favorite steakhouses. They didn't have a special Valentine's Day lunch menu, just their usual dishes (including some of my favorites), and that was fine with me. 

Overall, we had an excellent experience, and the quality of The Bancroft hadn't diminished a single iota since my last visit. That consistency, despite the problems caused by the pandemic (which still plague numerous restaurants), is a sign of a top notch restaurant. It continues to earn my highest recommendation. 

Lunch is only available Friday through Sunday, 11:30am-2pm. The lunch menu has Starters (7 choices, $8-$24), Salads (4 choices, $12-$21), Sandwiches (6 choices, $13-$26), and Entrees (7 choices, $18-$43). You can get dishes such as Maine Lobster Bisque, Lobster Cobb Salad, Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich, Panko Crusted Haddock, Filet Mignon, and Charred Skirt Steak. 

We opted for a bottle of Gruet Rosé Sparkling Wine, as pink bubbly is a good choice for Valentine's Day. Gruet makes delicious sparkling wine and their Rosé is crisp and dry, with tasty red fruit flavors. It also pairs well with a variety of dishes. 

We then selected a couple Starters, including the Iced Tiger Shrimp Cocktail (MKT price), with a red & green cocktail sauce. The five shrimp were quite large, tender and tasty, with a bit of spicy heat from the cocktail sauce. 

The Fried Ipswich Clams ($24), with homemade tartar sauce, lemon, and onion strings, were overflowing the bag they came in. Absolutely delicious, they had a fresh, clean taste and there were an ample amount of fried clams. These fried clams were as good as any you'll find in any New England clam shack. And the thin onions strings are very good too. I've ordered this dish before here and always been very pleased. 

As for Entrees, one of our choices was the Griddled Duck Confit ($19), topped with with brie & fig jam, and accompanied by truffled fries and housemate pickles. An amazing sandwich, with an ample amount of tender, delicious duck, enhanced by the sweetness of the fig and the creaminess of the brie. The griddled bread also added a nice textural element, some crispness to the sandwich. Highly recommended! And the fries and pickles are tasty accompaniments. 

The Steak & Blue Cheese sandwich ($15), which usually also comes topped by caramelized onions, is accompanied by house chips and housemade pickles. Again, this was another excellent sandwich, with an ample amount of thin sliced, tender steak and plenty of melted blue cheese on a soft and buttery roll. As a blue cheese lover, this sandwich was quite compelling. The house chips, which seem to be made from a variety of potatoes and vegetables, are crunchy and tasty. 

Despite all of these dishes, we were still tempted to get dessert. The Sundae of the Month ($12), was made with roasted strawberry ice cream, red velvet cake crumbles, and a white chocolate sabayon, with fresh whipped cream. It was also topped by a heart-shaped shortbread cookie. A decadent treat, with a rich strawberry taste, and crunchy bits of red velvet. A great way to end our meal. 

The Banana Coconut Cream Tart ($10), made with coconut dulce de leche and banana toffee ice cream, was also delicious, a nice blend of flavors and textures, including the crisp thin banana slice topping the dish. 

Service was excellent and the restaurant has a fine ambiance.  The Bancroft is definitely a great place to go to splurge on lunch or dinner. It has remained consistently excellent over the years, and I'll be returning again soon. It earns my highest recommendation.

Row 34: Lunch & Cocktails (Tuna Melt!)

Although Island Creek Oyster Bar in Burlington, one of my favorite seafood restaurants, had to close, it was replaced with a new location of Row 34. And it's still a great place for seafood! 

There are currently three locations of Row 34, Boston, Burlington and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with a fourth location, in Kendall Square, Cambridge, coming later this year. The Burlington location has recently expanded its hours and is now open Tuesday and Wednesday, from 5pm-9pm, Thursday from 11:30am-9pm, Friday & Saturday from 11:30am-10pm, and Sunday from 11:30am-9pm. 

Recently, I stopped by Row 34 in Burlington for lunch. When it was Island Creek, I loved their Tuna Melt, a simple dish which they elevated to an excellent comfort food. The Tuna Melt was still on Row 34's lunch menu so I was drawn there, as it had been far too long since I enjoyed that sandwich. I never order a Tuna Melt anywhere else as they never seem to measure up. 

Now, they have always had an excellent wine list, with lots of intriguing and delicious choices. However, they also have a fine cocktail program, offering some fascinating choices, and for this lunch, I opted for a couple cocktails, both using ingredients which you don't find often in cocktails. 

A Baijiu cocktail? I had to check it out and I wasn't disappointed. The Westward Winds ($13) is made with Oaxacan rum. Ming River Baijiu, passion fruit, lime, and Campari. It was delicious and well-balanced, not overly sweet (with hints of bitterness) and with rich fruity flavors, and the taste of the Baijiu shined through. Refreshing, it was a touch of the summer during this cold winter. And it's also a very good example of the potential of Baijiu in cocktails. 

I also enjoyed the They Reminisce Over You ($13), made with Plantation Single Cask 2009 Long Pond Rum, lime, demerara, manzanilla sherry, and tiki bitters. Once again, the cocktail was well balanced, not too sweet, with a delicious, complex taste of tropical flavors, salinity, and citrus. As a lover of Sherry, I also love cocktails where it is a component.

We began lunch with the Baked Oysters ($16), made with chorizo and scallion butter. The plump, tender oysters were enhanced by the meaty chorizo and were dripping with butter. Raw oysters are tasty, but baked oysters shouldn't be ignored. It's a different sensory experience, worthy of your attention. I could have easily consumed another dozen of these beauties.

We also chose a Side of Cornbread ($8) with maple butter, and it was moist, lightly sweet, and quite tasty. This is the type of cornbread I prefer.

The Beer Battered Fish & Chips ($23) offers an ample piece of moist, white fish, in a delicious light coating, with plenty of thin French fries. The freshness of the fish is obvious and it's a great choice for a traditional fish & chips dish. 

The Tuna Melt! Ahi tuna, with cheese and pickles. The tuna mixture doesn't ooze mayo like many similar sandwiches, and it's clear it is mostly tuna. The melted cheese and pickles enhance the sandwich, with different flavors and some acidity. So delicious! The main difference from the version that was once served at Island Creek is the bread preparation. Previously, the bread was served more like a panini, with visible grill marks, adding more of a crunch to the sandwich. For this tuna melt, it was more like the bread was lightly toasted, so there wasn't as much crunch from the bread. 

Overall, Row 34 satisfies with its seafood menu, wine list and cocktails. It's the best seafood restaurants in the Burlington+ area and I'm glad it's open on additional days for lunch. 

Have you dined at Row 34 in Burlington?

Celebrating Tết Nguyên Đán: Vietnamese New Year

Many people know about the upcoming Chinese New Year, which begins on February 12, starting the Year of the Ox. It's the most important holiday to the Chinese, and the first public celebration in Massachusetts was 150 years ago, in 1871. However, Vietnamese New Year, which also follows a lunar calendar, will celebrate their New Year on February 12 too. 

The holiday is known as Tết Nguyên Đán, which means 'Feast of the First Morning of the First Day.' and is commonly abbreviated as Tết. Like the Chinese, the Vietnamese have many customs and rituals around their celebration of this holiday, from special foods to family reunions. So, now is the time to learn more about Tết, to open our hearts and minds to Vietnamese culture and cuisine. 

I've spoken to a couple Vietnamese women, who own restaurants, to provide some information about Tết and what it means to them. Tran Ngoc Lee, of Viet Citron in Burlington, and Sa Nguyen, of Soall Viet Kitchen in Beverly, were gracious enough to answer my questions. I've positively reviewed both of their restaurants during the past year with Viet Citron being one of my Favorite Restaurants of 2020, and Soall Viet Kitchen being my first restaurant review of 2021. Both earned my hearty recommendation. 

Tran Ngoc Lee, of Viet Citron in Burlington

1. What is the meaning or significance of Tết to you? 

Tết is a great time for multi-generations to connect through traditions. We gather to listen to family stories, making pickles, bánh tét / bánh chưng (steamed sticky rice cakes) all night. It’s a celebrations of spring time and renewal energy to bring good health and fortune to everyone. 

2. Will your restaurant celebrate Tết in any way? Any special events? Special menu items? 

We have the Tet’s special of Thit Kho Dua Gia (Braised pork & eggs w/ pickles). It’s one of the traditions that’s always on the Tet’s table. Kids get red envelopes w/ money when saying well wishes to adults, and adults would bring gifts like tea, cakes, or decorated fresh fruits when visiting other household during Tet / Lunar New Year 

3. How will you personally celebrate Tết? 

Tet in the US is quiet. We pray to the ancestors on the first day, have a family lunch, get red envelopes then go home. During pre-Covid, we had church celebrations with cultural shows and every family bring a dish and the whole church or temple would dine together. This year we just stay home. 

4. What special foods will you eat on Tết?

Braised Pork, sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves, different homemade pickles, cut watermelons, and candied fruits served w/ tea were very common. 

5. What should non-Vietnamese should know or understand about Tết? 

Tet / Lunar New Year is like a long Thanksgiving for Vietnamese and Chinese....only say nice things to them on the first day....If you don’t get along w/ someone, don’t show up at their door first day of new year...it’s bad luck. Tet is a 10 days celebrations. We used to gamble, eat, drinks, days and nights for the first 3 days...doesn’t matter w/ age 

Sa Nguyen, of Soall Viet Kitchen in Beverly

1. What is the meaning or significance of Tết to you? 

     It has always been reiterated to me that Tết is a celebration of new beginnings. I remember weeks beforehand, my mom would start preparing by cleaning out the house and getting rid of old and unwanted things. She would order new clothes to be sewn for us so that we would have them to wear for Tet. 

     One of the things that always struck me as the most meaningful is that Tet is a time for forgiveness and reconciliation. It was a time for bygones be bygones and start anew. 

     I came to the states when I was 9 and although my Mother tried her best to keep up with the traditions by making the usual Tet treats and tradition of paying homage to our ancestors, the celebrations at home were not as vibrant and as elaborate. The respect for the holiday and what it is about carries through year after year. 

2. Will your restaurant celebrate Tết in any way? Any special events? Special menu items? 

In the past, we have given out red envelopes with lucky money to young children. I would imagine that we would do the same this year. 

3. How will you personally celebrate Tết? 

     Back in Vietnam, I remember celebrating Tet with my family extensive. The first day of Tet is reserved for immediate family members and this tradition was taken very seriously. We would wake up and be dressed in our best. First, we would a family prayer to our ancestors and pay homage. Next, my siblings and I would gather in front of my parents and each of us would take turns and wish them good health and prosperity for the year ahead. And we would work on making sure that our individual wish was the best. It would turn into a friendly competition as one would try to out do one another for the best wish given. In return, our parents would hand each of us a red envelope with lucky money. We celebrated the first day of Tet within our immediate family. Mom would make the most elaborate meal and food would be eaten throughout the day. 

     The 2nd day of tet was celebrated with near by relatives and friends. We would visit each household and one by one would repeat the wish of good health and prosperity and receive our red envelopes with good luck money. Once the formal visitations were done and our dutiful biddings, we would return home and be released into the street markets to play games, buy things and gamble away our good luck money. 

      It was always on the third day of Tet when we would travel to Saigon, where the most elaborate celebration of Tet is held. The streets were filled with the most vibrant colors with lanterns, fireworks, flowers, etc. The lion dances were always so enthralling to watch. 

4. What special foods will you eat on Tết?

I remember eating so many different things.. but mostly, banh tet (which is made with sticky rice, pork and mung beans), xoi (sticky rice), mut (dried fruits like cocunut, sugar-coated ginger slices) pickled veggies, and some form of elaborate meal that Mom would make. 

5. What should non-Vietnamese should know or understand about Tết? 

It is the most important and celebrated holiday. Everyone celebrates Tet and everyone turns a year older as individual birthdays were not celebrated.

Will you be celebrating Tết in any manner? Now is a good time to dine at local Vietnamese restaurants, especially any place new to you. Look beyond Bahn Mi and Pho and sample some of the other wonderful dishes of Vietnamese cuisine. Open your heart and minds and learn more about to Vietnamese culture.