It's only natural that a restaurant named "Tonno," an Italian word for "Tuna," would host a special bluefin dinner, accompanied by a tuna butchery demo.
Back in 2016, Chef/Owner Anthony Caturano (of Prezza fame) opened Tonno, an Italian Seafood restaurant, in Gloucester. And then in 2018, Chef Caturano opened a second location of Tonno, in Wakefield. The concept of Tonno is to feature "coastal Italian seafood and other treasures from land and sea. The culinary program is designed to showcase Italian seafood classics, with nightly specials that reflect the catches of the day from the local waters." From the start, I was a fan of the cuisine of the Wakefield location of Tonno, and as it was only a short distance from my home, it was convenient.
Last week, Chef Caturano held a multi-course Bluefin Tuna Dinner at Tonno, and also conducted a butchery demo of the tuna (which is pictured above). The tuna was originally about 6 1/2 feet long, although the head had already been removed before the demo. About 80% of the tuna yields meat, which is certainly a significant proportion. As it's relatively early in the bluefin season, the fish was a bit leaner, which is good for restaurants that want to prepare tuna steaks.
Here's a ten minute video of Chef Caturano butchering the bluefin, which was certainly fascinating as he explained the process while he worked. Plus, you knew that you would soon after receive dishes made from the tuna you just watched being prepared.
After the tuna was almost completely butchered, you can see the end result above. However, there was still meat on the tuna, between the bones, and Chef Caturano used a spoon to remove some of it. The rest was likely removed back in the kitchen as it would have been a laborious, but worthwhile, effort to remove all of it by spoon.
To accompany the bluefin, I opted for a Dolcetto, a lighter-style Italian red wine, and it worked well, especially with the pasta course and the grilled tuna steak.
We began our dinner with a complimentary course, some of the tuna that had been scooped out, from between the bones, with crostini. It was silky and flavorful, a tasty way to begin.
The First Course was then Tuna Belly Crudo, with fennel, radish, cucumbers, pickled red fresno peppers, chive oil, and a blood orange vinaigrette. The Crudo slices were firmer and a bit chewier, and the citrus flavors, with a touch of heat, made a nice accompaniment.
The Second Course was a plentiful mound of Tuna Tartare with a chive oil and crostini. Again, the small chunks were silky and flavorful, almost melting in your mouth. The crostini added a nice textural element.
The Third Course was Rigatoni Pasta, with seared tuna, tomato, black olives, and capers. The house-made pasta was prepared al dente, and had a pleasant firmness. The sauce complemented the seared tuna pieces and there was a pleasing salty element from the olives and capers.
The Fourth Course was a Grilled Tuna Steak with heirloom tomatoes, fennel puree, and chive oil. Again, this was a hearty portion of tuna, and it was tender and delicious, accented by the chive oil, with a nice light char.
For Dessert, we enjoyed Strawberries with mascarpone whipped cream and a balsamic glaze, and a small biscotti. Fresh and sweet, this was a tasty summer treat, and a nice ending to the tuna dinner.
Overall, this was an excellent dinner, with plenty of delicious bluefin tuna, which couldn't have been any fresher. The butchery demo was educational and interesting, and more people should understand more about how their food is prepared. The five-course dinner cost $165 per person (which included tip), and drinks were a la carte. Kudos to Chef Caturano for hosting such a fun and tasty event. Check out Tonno, in Wakefield or Gloucester, to enjoy their cuisine.
One of my most anticipated restaurants of 2018 wasTonno, an Italian Seafood restaurant which eventually opened in Wakefield. Tonno was to be located only a short distance from my home, and I already respected the Chef/Owner Anthony Caturano very much. Back in 2000, Chef Caturano opened his first restaurant, Prezza, situated in the North End of Boston, and it has become one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Boston.
Last Spring, I wrote about the forthcoming opening of Tonno, noting: "I also have much faith in the culinary skills and knowledge of Chef Caturano, and feel secure that his new restaurant will be impressive. I rarely dine at the other Italian restaurants in Wakefield, finding most of them to be of rather average quality. However, I expect I'll be a regular at Tonno when it opens. So, before you dismiss Tonno as just another Italian restaurant, do your research and understand its differences, and the reasons why you should anticipate its opening."
In 2016, Chef Caturano opened his second restaurant, Tonno, in Gloucester, highlighting Italian seafood dishes. "Tonno," which is Italian for “tuna,” is also the name of the chef’s boat. Last year, he decided to open a second location of Tonno in Wakefield. The concept of Tonno is to feature "coastal Italian seafood and other treasures from land and sea. The culinary program is designed to showcase Italian seafood classics, with nightly specials that reflect the catches of the day from the local waters."
I've now dined at Tonno multiple times and found it to be consistently excellent, for food, drinks, and service. I love the variety of dishes that are always offered, as well as the various specials held on different nights. Prices are reasonable for the quality and quantity you receive. The house-made pastas are killer and they certainly know how to prepare a compelling seafood dish. Chef Caturano has created another top-notch restaurant and it's great to see it in the suburbs.
Tonno has a full bar, so you can begin your evening with a beer, cocktail or glass of wine. They carry a few Italian beers, as well as a number of local beers, from breweries like Night Shift and Bent Water. They have a dozen of their own inventive cocktails, and certainly can make most any other cocktail you might desire. One of my favorites is the Black Manhattan ($13), pictured above, which is made with Putnam Rye, Zucca Rabarbaro, and Carpano Antica Vermouth. The wine list is about 75% Italian, the rest being domestic wines plus a few Champagnes. There is a nice diversity of Italian wines, with a fair number of bottles costing under $50 as well as some high-priced splurge wines.
The regular Food Menu is broken down into Sfizi (about 15 choices, $2.25-$16, Shrimp Cocktail to a Meat Board, Arancini to Crostini, Olives to Crudo), Primi (8 choices, $10-$14, Mussels to Crab Cake), Homemade Pasta (4 choices, $20-$24, Tagliatelle Bolognese to Bucatini Alla Carbonara), Secondi (9 choices, $25-$38, Grilled Tonno Steak to Ribeye, Grilled Swordfish to Boneless Half Chicken) and Desserts (3 choices, $6-$8, Tiramisu to Biscotti). Plenty of choices, even if you don't like seafood.
Although the regular menu has plenty of options, Tonno also has a daily page of Specials, which nearly doubles your choices. The Specials menu adds Raw Bar items, Appetizers, Entrees, Sides and Desserts. Much depends on what is fresh and available. This means that every time you dine at Tonno, you'll find something new on the menu to tempt your palate. Some other local Italian restaurants have the same menu, day after day, and it gets stale quickly.
In addition, Tonno runs a number of other daily specials during the week. There are Gravy Sundays, which showcase red sauce dishes like Chicken Parmigiana, Eggplant Parmigiana and Gnocchi with Tomato. A new addition is their Grill Mondays, presenting dishes such as Grilled Stuffed Calamari, Grilled Salmon Burger and Grilled Seafood Skewer. On Tuesday, they offer Spaghetti & Clams with Oregano & Garlic while on Wednesday, you'll find Spaghetti & Meatballs. For Thursday evening, from 4pm-5:30pm, they have a number of inexpensive bar specials, such as Meatball Slider ($3), Veal Milanese Slider ($4), Roasted Red Pepper Crostini with Mozzarella ($3), Fried Oyster Po'boy ($3), and Shucked Oysters ($1). And on Friday, you can find Cacio e Pepe.
I didn't take notes and photos on a couple of my visits, simply enjoying the experience. Thus, the following is but a sampling of dishes I and my dining companions enjoyed. I will note that there wasn't a single dish on any of my visits that disappointed.
A sampling of Tonno Tartare, compliments of the kitchen, and each spoonful was a silky delight, with rich tuna enhanced by fruit and spices.
On another occasion, we received these Seared Tuna slices as another compliment of the kitchen. The tuna was cooked perfectly, with that lovely rare tuna surrounded by a nice sear. The tuna was silky and tender, such a tasty treat. I've also enjoyed their Grilled Tonno Steak with White Beans ($29), which was also cooked perfectly, rare with a nice sear. When you name yourself after tuna, you better make sure you can deliver on excellent tuna dishes, and Chef Caturano succeeds well in this regard.
The Scallop Crudo ($14), with blood orange puree, spiced almonds, cucumber tsukemono, candied citron, and Gloucester sea salt, was a delicious blend of flavors and textures, from the tender scallop slices to the crunchy almonds, with tasty citrus accents. The thinly sliced, pickled cucumbers were mildly flavored, with a nice crispness to them. Highly recommended.
This was one of their daily specials, a Burrata dish, with orange slices and nuts, and it was delightfully creamy, balanced with the crunch of the nuts and the grilled bread. Simple but tasty ingredients.
The House Crostini ($10) was made with honey ricotta, cherry mostarda, toasted pistachios, and coppa. Once again, the chef created a well-balanced dish, in both flavor and texture, and this was absolutely delicious, being sweet, creamy, salty, and crunchy.
The Arancini ($10) have a light, crunchy coating, with a creamy and cheesy interior, and sit within the rich tomato sauce. I enjoy Arancini and these certainly fit my idea of what an excellent arancini should be.
The Fried Calamari with Cherry Peppers ($13) is another very good example of an iconic dish. The calamari is very tender, with a light and clean coating, and will please any calamari-lover. Even one of my dining companions who didn't normally eat calamari enjoyed these.
The Chicken Parmigiana ($24) is a common dish at many Italian spots but this is one of the best examples you will find. It has a scrumptious crispy coating, not the softer coating you too often find elsewhere. The chicken was tender, enhanced by the plenty of melted cheese and tangy red sauce. Tonno is not just about seafood, and has plenty of other dishes to offer.
The Braised Pork Shank ($32), with barley risotto and clementine mostarda, was a hearty dish, and the pork easily fell off the bones. It was tender and flavorful, and the risotto was rustic, with a savory kick.
The Veal Milanese ($26), covered with arugula, sliced tomatoes and parmesan, was cooked like the Chicken Parmigiana, with a nice crisp coating, surrounding tender veal. It was an ample dish as well, though I made sure I ate every last piece of veal. Highly recommended.
The Grilled Ribeye ($38), with rabe and roasted potato, is a nice and flavorful piece of steak, and carnivores won't be disappointed.
The Eggplant Parmigiana is another ample dish, almost resembling a large piece of lasagna as it is stacked so high. Tender and delicious, you'll enjoy this dish too.
One of their special Desserts, was the Semolina Cake ($8), with laurel leaf syrup, blood orange coulis, toasted pistachios, and whipped cream. The cake was light, with an almost savory taste, but sweetened by the syrup, coulis and whipped cream. A nice ending to our dinner.
The more traditional Tiramisu ($8) is very good, the right blend of flavors.
Tonno receives my highest recommendation and Chef Anthony Caturano has another winner in his culinary group. I'm always telling my readers to eat more seafood and Tonno is definitely a place to find plenty of delicious seafood dishes. In addition, you'll also find excellent Italian cuisine, from hand-made pasta to crisp veal milanese. Tonno is such a great addition to the suburban culinary scene and you should check it out.
What were some of my favorite restaurants of the past year?
Let me continue the lists of my best recommendations and favorites of 2018. I have already posted my three Top Wine lists,myFavorite Wine-Related Items,and my Top Ten Favorite Restaurant Dishes, and now I want to address my FavoriteRestaurants of the past year as well as some of my other Favorite Food-Related Items
This is certainly not a complete list but it is more a sampling of memorable restaurants and food items I've experienced and/or posted about over the past year. This is also a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" of anything. But all of the items here have earned my strong recommendations and I hope you will enjoy them as well. For more Restaurant reviews, you can just search my blog posts for the past year.
Favorite Hot New Restaurants: This category includes several restaurants that have opened in the last few months, which have already impressed me, but which I haven't yet written a review. In early 2019, I'll likely review these worthy restaurants (after additional visits). Tonno in Wakefield: This is the second location of Chef Anthony Caturano's Italian Seafood restaurant. I eagerly anticipated its opening and it easily lives up to my high expectations. Kamakura in Boston: Chef Youji Iwakura has brought Japanese Kaiseki cuisine to Boston and the restaurant is aesthetically cool and the food is killer. Feng Shui in Burlington: The sixth location of this Chinese restaurant opened near the Burlington Mall and their lunch buffet is compelling, and their cocktails are quite good. Home Taste in Arlington: A second location of this Chinese restaurant, they specialize in delicious hand-pulled noodles. hand-made dumplings, Chinese casseroles and more. Aaron's Taco Cart'el in Stoneham: A small, casual and tasty spot for tacos, burritos and nachos, where customization rules.
Favorite New Haitian/Dominican Restaurant: From delightfully flaky Paté to Jerk Beef Sliders, from savory Griot to a Cream Corn Souffle, Infused Kreyol in Malden is making delicious and compelling food. It's a tiny spot that once was home to a bakery but it's well worth seeking out. This isn't a cuisine you often see in the Malden+ area and thus there was a need for such a restaurant. Prices are very reasonable, service is usually very good, and the freshness of their dishes is impressive. And their Paté was one of my Top Ten Restaurant Dishes of 2018.
Favorite Suburban Italian Restaurant: Il Casale, with locations in Belmont and Lexington, is killing it, especially with their wine dinners. Such professional service, exquisite food, and interesting drinks, from wine to cocktails. Their popularity, judged by how they can sell out an entire restaurant for a wine dinner when most other places are lucky to fill a table or two, is indicative of how well they are received in their community. And their Ragu Bianco was one of my Top Ten Restaurant Dishes of 2018.
Favorite South American Restaurant: In Watertown, the former owners the famed Cambridge restaurant Salts, have started a new restaurant, La Bodega By Salts, which reflects owner Analia Verolo's homeland of Uruguay. Much of the menu consists of small plates, a great way to experience a number of dishes, which either have Uruguayan or Spanish roots. The food is fantastic, the wine list has plenty of Uruguayan wines, and their cocktails are stellar. Service is excellent and the restaurant itself is cool, especially where they have reused an old railroad car. And their Chivito was one of my Top Ten Restaurant Dishes of 2018.
Favorite Japanese Restaurant: Chef Chris Chung is rocking it in Inman Square in Cambridge at Momi Nonmi, a casual Japanese izakaya with some Hawaiian influence. The food is amazing, with ingredients that are fresh and high quality, including rarities not commonly found in the area. The cuisine is also inventive and innovative, with plenty of special dinner events. Chef Chung's culinary skills are top notch. They also have an impressive Sake, Shochu and cocktail program. Again, this is another small restaurant but one you should not miss. And their Teppanyaki Loco Moco was one of my Top Ten Restaurant Dishes of 2018.
Favorite Tasting Menu: Around since 2016, The Table at Season To Taste, located in North Cambridge, offers a four-course tasting menu each evening which changes every 4-6 weeks. You have two options for each course and the food is delicious and inventive, supported by an excellent wine program. It is a small and cozy restaurant, with an open kitchen, and you receive very professional service. And their Brown Rice & Sweet Potato Congee was one of my Top Ten Restaurant Dishes of 2018.
Favorite Brunch: AtLedger Restaurant & Bar, in Salem, they have an excellent Brunch Menu, from a 22-ounce Bloody Mary to their home-made Donuts, from Eggs Benedict to Banana Bread. Excellent service, a patio during the summer, and a menu of enticing dishes. Have a breakfast dish or a more lunch dish, such as a Fried Chicken Thigh Sandwich or a Breakfast Burger. And their Chicken & Waffles was one of my Top Ten Restaurant Dishes of 2018.
Favorite Fusion Cuisine: Though it was only available for several days around Cinco de Mayo, the "Grexico" menu, a combination of Mexican and Greek cuisine, at Committeewas fusion cuisine at its best. The various dishes seamlessly blended ingredients from both cuisines, creating delicious and inventive dishes that thoroughly impressed me. Grecomole, Guajillo Hummus, Churros with Merenda, and much more. I hope they will hold this event again in 2019, and I could easily see this fusion cuisine centering a new restaurant. And their Lamb Barbacoa Tacos was one of my Top Ten Restaurant Dishes of 2018.
Favorite Chef's Return: Famed Chef Marisa Iocco returned to Spigain Needham, transforming their Italian menu but maintaining some of his well-known specialties. You'll find dishes like Guazzetti, a unique Italian stew and Spiga might be the only local restaurant serving this item. Their Pizza is excellent and their Pasta dishes are killer. A cozy spot, it is open for lunch and dinner, and is worth the journey to Needham. And their Timballo was one of my Top Ten Restaurant Dishes of 2018.
Favorite Restaurant Dessert: After enjoying the savory options from Chef Marisa Iocco at Spiga, you can peruse their Dessert menu but I think your best option is her famed Bread Pudding, which I first enjoyed several years ago. I've even recommended people start their meal with the Bread Pudding so you ensure you aren't too full after dinner to enjoy it. Every spoonful is absolutely delicious, a hedonistic treat which I cannot recommend enough. Great texture to the bread, a nice blend of sweet and salty in the sauce, and nice hints of vanilla. We really need a bakery that specializes in Bread Pudding.
Favorite Hidden Restaurant City: Malden has plenty of interesting restaurants, especially Asian ones, but you wouldn't suspect that some fascinating dishes are "hidden" within rather ordinary appearing spots. From its storefront, you'd think Classic Pizzais your typical pizza and sub shop however they also have a small, but delicious menu of Indian dishes, including a killer Chicken Tikka Masala. Jay's Pizza also appears to be a normal pizza and sub joint, but they also sell Nepalese Momos, dumplings. In 2019, I'll be checking out other pizza joints in Malden to see if any others are hiding more unique and tasty dishes.
Favorite Food Book: Written by Gabriella Opaz & Sonia Andersson Nolasco, with photography by Ryan Opaz, the compelling Porto: Stories From Portugal's Historic The Bolhão Marketsucceeds on many levels. It discusses the history of Portuguese cuisine while also telling intimate stories of the various vendors at the Bolhão Market. This is not some dry travelogue but rather a seductive lure intended to convert you into a culinary lover of northern Portugal. It will work well as a reference guide as well, something to turn to from time to time to better understand Portuguese cuisine. Highly recommended.
Favorite Culinary School:NECAT isa local culinary school which trains people from challenging backgrounds, from ex-convicts to recovering addicts, from the homeless to the chronically unemployed. NECAT fills an important need for culinary help while helping numerous people achieve a better life. It is such a worthy school, helping to transform lives, and it really touches my heart. It helps individuals while also helping the community, having recently celebrated its 5th Anniversary. I continue to try to raise awareness of NECAT so that its good work can continue and even expand.
Favorite Food Trade Event: Once again, I have selected the Seafood Expo North America (SENA) as my favorite. It is a massive trade event, a three day event showcasing purveyors of seafood and related vendors. You'll find tons of free seafood samples and learn plenty, from sustainability to cooking. The Seafood Show is an engaging event and you can read my latest articles here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. The Seafood Show is compelling on many levels and I look forward to attending the next SENA in March 2019. Hope to see you there too.
Favorite Food History Article: This year, I'm especially proud of my article, "Water Doughnuts": Some Bagel History. I found numerous fascinating newspaper articles, dating back as far as 1930, about bagels. There were Recipes for making bagels at home, information about various flavored bagels, canned bagels, pizza bagels and more. More writers need to use old newspaper archives in their research as you never know what intriguing information you will find.
What were some of your favorite restaurants this year?
A new Italian restaurant is coming to Wakefield, but does the town really need it?
Back in 2011, I wrote a post on food trends, and stated: "Let me use another example, the suburban town of Wakefield. It has a population of about 25,000 and already had several Italian restaurants. Yet within the last year or so, even more Italian restaurants opened, most within about a half-mile or so. How many similar Italian restaurants does one small suburban town need? Why would a restaurateur decide to open another Italian place, when there is already plenty of competition? It doesn't seem to make good business sense."
Since that time, a couple Italian restaurants have closed but others have opened, so there are still plenty of Italian restaurants in Wakefield, many located within a short distance of each other. As a general thought, I'd probably echo the idea from my prior post and state Wakefield doesn't need another Italian restaurant. I'd rather see a new restaurant serving a different type of cuisine.
However, based on recent news, it appears I need to modify my position. I'm actually excited to learn about a new Italian restaurant, Tonno, which may open in Wakefield this summer. What has gotten me to change my mind?
If you check out the menus of the existing Italian restaurants in Wakefield, you'll find many similarities. Plenty of Chicken Parmigiana, Eggplant Rollatini, and Veal Marsala. In general, their differences appear minor and it is that relative similarity which is off-putting. Wakefield certainly doesn't need another Italian restaurant with a similar menu. Fortunately, Tonno is bringing something more unique to Wakefield.
Back in 2000, Chef/owner Anthony Caturano openedPrezzain the North End and it is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Boston. In 2016, Chef Caturano opened his second restaurant, Tonno, in Gloucester, highlighting Italian seafood dishes.With a hope of opening this summer, Chef Caturano is establishing a second location of Tonno in Wakefield. The menu at the Wakefield location will be similar to that of Gloucester so check out their Menu. You'll note the concentration on seafood dishes, which is something you won't find in the other Italian restaurants in Wakefield, all which generally have only a few seafood dishes.
At Tonno, you'll be able to get Oysters and Cherrystones, Crudo and Tuna Tartare, Octopus "la plancha" and Grilled Shrimp, and so much more. Some of the entrees include their famous Grilled Tuna Steak, Cioppino, Cod Oreganatta, and Scallops "la plancha." You'll also find homemade pasta dishes, from Tagliatelle Bolognese to Cavatelli, Rabe & Sausage. If you compare Tonno's menu to the other Italian restaurants in Wakefield, the amount of similarity is very small. Chef Caturano is bringing a much different Italian restaurant to Wakefield, one which fills a gap, especially considering all of the seafood dishes they offer.
As I'm sure you're aware, I've long been imploring my readers to eat more seafood, especially because of all its health benefits. To have a new restaurant, promoting fresh, and often local, seafood, then that is a restaurant which appeals to me.
I also have much faith in the culinary skills and knowledge of Chef Caturano, and feel secure that his new restaurant will be impressive. I rarely dine at the other Italian restaurants in Wakefield, finding most of them to be of rather average quality. However, I expect I'll be a regular at Tonno when it opens. So, before you dismiss Tonno as just another Italian restaurant, do your research and understand its differences, and the reasons why you should anticipate its opening.
This is certainly not a complete list but it is more a sampling of memorable restaurants I've experienced and/or posted about over the past year. You will even find a few Favorites from outside Massachusetts as I traveled a little bit this past year.
This is also a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" of anything. But all of the items here have earned my strong recommendations and I hope you will enjoy them as well. For more Restaurant reviews, you can just search my blog posts for the past year.
Top Restaurant Experience: Sorry Boston, but this year the winner is located in New York City. My good friend, Adam Japko, introduced me to Torishin, a Yakitori paradise, where we sat at the chef's counter, watching the culinary magic happen in front of us. They specialize in chicken, though their other dishes, from Rosy Seabass to Kumomoto Beef, were excellent as well. They serve every part of the chicken, and each skewer was a marvel. I never expected to love chicken arteries like I did. They also have an excellent Sake and Shochu list, enhancing your dining experience. Service was superb and this restaurant earns my highest recommendation. The memories of this dinner will always remain with me.
Favorite Japanese Restaurant: My dining experience atPabu, a Japanese restaurant located in Boston's Millennium Tower, was close to being one of my top restaurant experiences of the past year. The Omakase consisted of nine courses of Nigiri Sushi and Seafood, and each course was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious, with incredibly fresh seafood. Some of the best sushi I've tasted. Their Sake list is voluminous, with plenty of great choices, including numerous ones you won't find at other local restaurants. Excellent service, a beautiful interior, and a menu of plenty of diversity. I very much want to return to explore more of their menu as I'm sure I'll find much to delight me and tantalize my palate.
Favorite Runner-Up Japanese Restaurant: While exploring the growing culinary scene in Quincy with Kerry Byrne, I was thoroughly impressed by Fuji at West of Chestnut, a Japanese restaurant which is part of an Asian restaurant group with other locations in cities like Boston and Somerville. The cuisine was creative and delicious, aesthetically pleasing and fun. The Fried Whole Fish with Black Bean Sauce was a sublime dish. Though their Sake list is small, they have some excellent options. They even had a very cool private dining area, which has Boston its own kitchen for small groups. Quincy has plenty of interesting restaurants, and Fuji is definitely one of the highlights.
Favorite Portuguese Restaurant: Though I don't get down to Fall River much,I really need to return toTerra Nostra, a killer Portuguese restaurant to which the good people of LGL Imports introduced me. From Chouriço a Bombeiro (flaming chorizo), to Cow's Leg Stew, from Lapas Grelhadas (grilled limpets), to Roasted Rabbit, the food was compelling, much of it excellent, hearty comfort food. They also have an extensive list of Portuguese wines, so many good choices at affordable prices. And the experience was enhanced by all the fine people who dined with me.
Favorite New Spanish Restaurant: Open for less than two months, Matadora is a Spanish Tapas restaurant located in the Hilton Boston/Woburn hotel and it has made a strong initial impression. With compelling dishes like Basque Street Corn to Flaming Chorizo, the tapas choices are strong, delicious and ample for the concept. Their wine list has plenty of interesting Spanish wines, including some Sherry, and their cocktails are creative and tasty. The restaurant has a cool and comfortable look, with a huge metal bull sculpture as a centerpiece. I'm looking forward to my next visit to explore more of the menu.
Favorite New Fast Casual Restaurant: I'm a huge fan ofCommittee, the Greek restaurant in the Fan Pier area, so I was excited when I learned they would be opening Gre.co, a Greek fast casual place specializing in Gyros and Loukoumades. I wasn't disappointed a single bit. Everything is fresh, from the meats which marinate for 24 hours, to the grilled pitas. I love their Lamb Gyro, which is packed with delicious fillings, and their crisp, hand-cut fries are topped by Feta! And the Loukoumades, Greek donuts are an addictive dessert, hot, soft and available with a variety of toppings, from chocolate to nuts. When I'm on Newbury Street, it's hard not to stop here. Favorite New Chinese Restaurant: Hunan cuisine is not easy to find in the Boston area but the new Sumiao Hunan Kitchen, in Kendall Square, offers a number of traditional Hunan dishes, as well as some of their own takes on other Chinese dishes. I was enamored with dishes such as the succulent Mala Duck, Jimmy's Crab Bao and their take on General Tso's Chicken. Their more traditional dishes are also excellent, from the Sumiao Shang Gan to Grandma's Pork. They also have a good cocktail program, including several Baijiu cocktails which are very difficult to find in the local area. Check them out for lunch or dinner. Favorite New Indian Restaurant: The Maya Indian Grillis a welcome addition to Wakefield, providing fresh, from scratch Indian cuisine, including regional dishes from Kashmiri, Punjabi, Bengali, Malabar, Goan and Madras. Their Lamb Samosas may be the best I've ever tasted and I was impressed with the layers of flavors in dishes like their Lamb Vindaloo and Chicken Lagan. And they make excellent Indian breads, which to a bread lover like me is so appealing. They have a lunch buffet and even offer delivery.
Favorite New Seafood Restaurant: It was exciting when the Burlington location of Island Creek Oyster Baropened, making it even easier for me to visit this superb seafood restaurant. The Burlington location is aesthetically appealing, with special rooms for private groups, and the food & drink are as delicious as the Boston location. Wine director Laura Staley has created a unique and diverse wine list which well complements the cuisine. All of their food, from the Raw Bar to their Tuna Melt, is delicious and service is always impeccable. Seafood is such a healthy food, and everyone needs to eat more, so you all should be dining here. Runner-Up Favorite New Seafood Restaurant: Another new seafood restaurant, Mooncusser Fish House, is offering some compelling choices. Their wine list is compelling, diverse and interesting, with plenty of classic wines, from Bordeaux to Barolo, while also celebrating less common wines, from Spanish Txakoli to Greek Moschofilero. Their cuisine is also interesting and delicious, with a killer Seafood Chowder. The restaurant is actually divided into two parts, a more casual eatery downstairs and a high-end location upstairs. I need to get back to check out more of their menu. Favorite Restaurant with a Chef Change: As I mentioned earlier, I'm a huge fan ofCommitteeand they had a chef change this year, hiring a new Chef de Cuisine, Theo Tsilipanos.Chef Theo is a native of the Greek city of Lamia, and even owned a restaurant there for about eight years. He has brought his own culinary skills and knowledge to Committee, making some changes to their menu, but they have been positive, maintaining the same level of quality and innovation as the prior chef. Changing one's chef can be risky but Committee had a win with the addition of Chef Theo and it remains a favorite spot.
Runner-Up Favorite Restaurant with a Chef Change:Chopps American Bar & Grill, located at the Burlington Marriott Hotel, also hired a new Executive Chef, Steve Zimei. Chef Steve began his culinary career working for Chef Daniel Bruce and eventually worked in a number of other local restaurants before returning to work for Chef Bruce at Chopps. Their food remains at a high level of quality, without an iota of diminishment. Some changes have obviously come to the menu but the new dishes are creative and delicious. My admiration for this restaurant continues.
Favorite New Unique Cuisine Restaurant: It appears to be a one-of-a-kind restaurant in Massachusetts, the only one dedicated to Moldovan cuisine. The Moldova Restaurantin Newton offers tasty and comforting Moldovan cuisine and also Moldovan wines. Though the names of the dishes sound unfamiliar, like Plăcinte la Tigaie and Mititei Moldovenesti, the food itself will bring to mind Eastern European favorites. I was quite taken with their cuisine, even their amazing Chicken Soup, and it was well complemented by their wines. This unique restaurant is something you need to experience and I'm sure you'll be a convert after your meal.
Favorite Pizza/Pasta Restaurant:Once again Ciao! Pizza & Pastamakes my Favorites list. Though I haven't dined there are often as usual, my experiences have remained consistent. Great food, from their wood-fired pizzas to their house-made pasta dishes. Prices are very reasonable considering the quality and quantity of food you receive. The owners, Edson Coimbra and Chef Marvin Posada, are the nicest and most genuine of people. I've brought many people here and everyone who has accompanied me has loved the place. If you haven't dined here yet, you need to make a New Year's resolution to immediately remedy that. Favorite New York Lunch Restaurant: When I travel to New York City, I nearly always find a way to have lunch at Momofuku Ssäm Bar, though I've actually never had dinner there. Their Rotisserie Duck is amazing, so tender and flavorful with a crispy chive pancake. However, the rest of their menu is also excellent, such as their scrumptious steamed buns. They also have an interesting wine list and I'm never disappointed when I dine here. Plus, after lunch, I can walk across the street to their Milk Bar for a sweet treat.
Favorite Chicago Restaurants: On a short, whirlwind visit to Chicago, Adam Japko and I packed in plenty of restaurant visits and my top three includes QXY Dumplings, Slurping Turtle, andMotomaro. QXY Dumplings, located in Chinatown, specializes in dumplings, with about 40 different types, and they are all basically soup dumplings. Delicious comfort food and you can even watch the kitchen staff making the dumplings. Slurping Turtle is a ramen spot, but their Duck Fat Fried Chicken is a decadent wonder. This is another comfort food spot, which also has a large selection of Japanese whiskey. Motomaro is a high-end Japanese spot with a large and diverse menu, each dish delicious and creative. Plus, they have a nice Sake list as well as plenty of intriguing cocktails. Chicago is definitely a great food city.
The Passionate Foodie's Top 50 Restaurants
In addition to the Favorites listed above, I've compiled a list of my own Top 50 Restaurants, those Massachusetts places where I'm sure to always have a delicious meal, whether a casual breakfast or a high-end French dinner. These are the places I seem to recommend the most to others, including some places where I dine on a regular basis. Many of these places have been listed on prior Favorite Lists, some for multiple years, and are all worthy of recognition and recommendation. There are also some new Favorites, places I only recently encountered but which I know I will be returning frequently. Please note that this is not a list of the "Best" Boston-area restaurants, but my own personal favorites. There are plenty of other excellent restaurants in the area and just because a place is not on my list doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend it.
In March, Maya Indian Bar & Grill, located on Tuttle Street in Wakefield andoccupying the space of the former Laurie's 9:09, opened, making it the only Indian restaurant in the town. There aren't many Indian restaurants in the surrounding area, with a couple in Stoneham and about three in Woburn. I was intrigued when I learned the restaurant was coming and after a few visits there, I believe it's a welcome addition to the area and I'll be returning again soon to check out more of their menu.
The restaurant offers dishes from many different regional cuisines of India, including Kashmiri, Punjabi, Bengali, Malabar, Goan and Madras. They want their customers to "think beyond curries" and experience all of the diversity of Indian cuisines. They are a scratch kitchen, preparing all of their own food, and that is clearly evident from their dishes.
The basic set-up is similar to what was found at Laurie's 9:09, though the decor has significantly changed. There still are multiple dining areas and a small bar, with room for a buffet at lunch. It is casual and comfortable, appropriate for a lunch date, a drink after work, or just a night out for dinner.
Soon after their opening, the restaurant invited me as a media guest to check out their Lunch Buffet, which normally costs $10. I thought the buffet was small, especially compared to other local Indian restaurants, with only 13 choices, including Veggie Pakora, Gobi Manchurian, Basmati Rice, Kadai Paneer, Veggie Curry, Baigar Bartha, Veggie Biriyani, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Korma, Chicken Tikka, Salad, and Desserts of Carrot Halva and Kunafa. Of the three meat dishes, all were chicken and I wanted more diversity.
As you can see in the following pictures, the food on the buffet looked appealing.
Accompanying the buffet, you receive a basket of fresh, warm Naan, which was delicious, cooked just right. Indian breads are a favorite of mine and I appreciate a well-done Naan, Poori, Chaputi or more. They are excellent for sopping up sauces, as well as helping to minimize some of the spicy heat of certain dishes.
As for the dishes I tried on the buffet, I was largely impressed with their taste and quality, especially the different chicken dishes. The Chicken Tikka Masala had a pleasing, rich tomato taste while the Chicken Tikka was relatively moist and tender, with some nice char elements. The Chicken Korma was a spicier dish, though not overly so, and might have been my favorite of the three. The Veggie Biryani was also one of my favorite dishes, with a nice blend of spices. Overall, I saw much potential in this restaurant as the food was quite good and it led me to visit a couple additional times on my own, including getting take-out one evening.
In addition, I'll note that the lunch buffet has improved since my initial visit. They have added a few more items to the buffet, and there is more diversity in their meat dishes, such as including fish and goat items. As they are still fairly new, it is good to see that they are seeking to improve the dining experience.
The menu has plenty of interesting options, including Appetizers ($5-$12), From The Grill ($14-$20), Entrees ($14-$19), Vegetarian ($12-$16), and Rice & Breads. Some of the Appetizers appear to be less traditional, but with an Indian spin, such as their Bollywood Wings and Chicken 777, but I like that creativity. Most of the main dishes seem to adhere more to traditional cuisine, from various regions, offering some dishes you may not have seen at other Indian restaurants, which concentrate on more limited regional cuisines. Prices are reasonable for the quality and quantity of food.
They have a full bar, with wine, beer and cocktails. The Wine selection, with glasses from $7-$14, are basically all big name brands, nothing really exciting. The Beer list is more diverse, including 7 beers on tap and 3 Indian beers. The Cocktail list has some interesting cocktails with an Indian touch, such as the use of Mango Puree or Tamarind juice. Maybe try a Tamarind Mojito or a Mayatini.
The Lamb Samosa ($6), on the Appetizer menu, might be the best ones I've ever had. First, the fried shell was flaky and light, with a nice crunch to it. Many others I've had were too heavy and didn't seem as fresh. The minced lamb was exquisite, with such a delightful blend of spices and lots of tender meat. Each bite was a pleasure and it would be tough for me not to order these every time I dined here. They also make a vegetarian version, with spiced potatoes and peas.
Also on their Appetizer menu, you'll find the Chicken Pakora ($8), an ample size of fritters with a chickpeas flour batter. They also make Pakoras with Vegetable, Paneer and Fish. The Chicken was quite tasty, with a light, flavorful coating, with a light crunch and plenty of moist chicken meat inside. These are like a lighter version of chicken fingers and should please everyone.
I don't have photos of a couple dishes, including the Lamb Vindaloo ($18). They ask you how spicy hot you want the dish, basically low, medium or high heat, and we opted for the medium. The Vindaloo was excellent, with plenty of tender lamb, and a fairly spicy hot sauce, but which had plenty of flavor from the other spices and ingredients. We also tried the Chicken Lagan ($16), a sauce I'd never had before. The Lagan is a Hyderabadi slow cooked creamy sauce made with roasted nuts and spices. We got this dish too with a medium heat and I was impressed with its complex flavors.
The Garlic Naan was loaded with plenty of garlic, with a buttery flavor.
The Paratha Kheema is stuffed with minced lamb and also had a pleasant, buttery taste. I could probably just be happy with a lunch of their various breads.
I've only just begun to explore all the menu options available at Maya Indian Bar & Grill but so far they have presented some delicious, well-made food. Service has generally been very good, except for one incident where they forgot to bring me an order go Basmati rice. However, they have been open for less than two months, so allowances need to be made as they work out the usual opening kinks. I certainly plan on returning soon, and strongly recommend you check out this new Indian restaurant as well.
The Porch, an excellent Southern restaurant in Wakefield, is usually closed on Mondays. However, they have opened on a few Mondays, offering something very different for their customers, not their usual fare. For example, previously, they hosted a Poutine evening, offering a few varieties of French fries with gravy and cheese curds. Last night, they transformed into El Porche, becoming a Taqueria for the evening.
I arrived a little early, knowing they would get crazy busy, and it took no time at all for a long line to develop. During my entire time in the restaurant, there was always a line waiting to order, plenty of people seeking tacos and more.
There were four Tacos available ($3 each), including Barbacoa (beef), Cochinata Pibil (pork), Pollo (chicken) and Nopales Y Ongos (cactus & mushrooms). They also had a number of Sides ($2.50 each), including Frijoles, Arrox, Elote, Guacamole Y Tortillas Fritas, and Salsa Verde Y Tortillas Fritas. You could also get a Mexican Beer ($4), Margarita ($8), Paloma ($8) or Michelada ($5). A reasonably priced menu with plenty of options.
I opted for a Margarita, a pleasant tequila cocktail with a salty rim on the plastic cup. No frills but it hit the spot.
I got two Barbacoa Tacos and I'll note that all of the tacos were on Masienda Heirloom Corn Tortillas. These are excellent tortillas, with a nice corn taste and firm texture, though they tend to split with the juices and liquids from the meat fillings. Just keep a bunch of napkins handy. The tacos were filled with plenty of tender, juicy and nice spiced meat with a slight crunch from the topping, which was almost like a type of slaw. Overall, an excellent taco, especially at this price.
I also had one of the Cochinata Pibil and Pollo tacos, both which also contained plenty of tender, juicy meat. They were as good as the Barbacoa tacos and I would be hard pressed to say which was my favorite type. I might have even ordered a couple more tacos but I didn't want to wait in the long line.
I also tried the Arroz and Elote (Mexican Street corn). The rice was good, with a slightly spicy kick to it, and the corn was delicious, with a nice char and some buttery creaminess atop it.
I think it is a very cool idea for The Porch to offer these different pop-ups on their off night. They have been well received by their customers, and the restaurant usually runs out of food before the evening is over because of the great demand. I've often recommended their southern fare, and continue to do so, but they get props as well for these special nights.
What were some of my favorite restaurants of the past year?
Let me continue the lists of my best recommendations and favorites of 2016. I have already posted my Top Ten Wine lists andmy Top Ten Favorite Restaurant Dishesof 2016 and now I want to address my FavoriteRestaurants of the past year as well as my Top 50 Restaurants.
This is certainly not a complete list but it is more a sampling of memorable restaurants I have experienced and/or posted about over the past year. You will even find a few Favorites from outside Massachusetts as I traveled a little bit this past year.
This is also a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" of anything. But all of the items here have earned my strong recommendations and I hope you will enjoy them as well. For more Restaurant reviews, you can just search my blog posts for the past year.
Top Restaurant Experience: For the second year in a row, my top dining experience took place at Tasting Counterin Somerville. The cuisine is inventive, complex, beautiful and absolutely delicious. The setting is cool and intimate, a twenty-seat counter where you can also watch the chef and kitchen staff preparing your food. They possess the largest Sake menu of any non-Asian restaurant in the Boston area and also have an intriguing selection of natural wines. Chef Peter Ungár has received numerous well-deserved raves and I continue to give Tasting Counter my highest recommendation. As I've said multiple times before, Chef Ungár is one of best chefs in the Boston area and you need to dine at his restaurant.
Favorite Seaport Restaurant: Committee, a Greek & Mediterranean restaurant, opened in July 2015 but I didn't start dining there until 2016, and became an immediate fan. The food is amazing, the wine list has many excellent selections and it has a top-notch cocktail program. You'll find intriguing Greek Spiritsand compellingGreek wines. They also hold some delicious and informative wines dinners, such as a Taste of Cyprus. For my birthday this year, I could have dined anywhere I desired and I chose to go to Committee. It is the highlight of the Seaport neighborhood, but would be one of my favorites no matter where in Boston it was located. Favorite Casual Restaurant: Last year, Ciao! Pizza & Pastawas my favorite new restaurant and it continues to be a top favorite, and I've probably dined there more than any other restaurant during the past year. The food and service remain consistently excellent, and I love their wood-fired pizzas and house-made pasta dishes. Prices are very reasonable considering the quality and quantity of food you receive. The owners, Edson Coimbra and Chef Marvin Posada, are the nicest and most genuine of people. I've brought many people here and everyone who has accompanied me has loved the place. If you haven't dined here yet, you need to make a New Year's resolution to immediately remedy that.
Favorite Tasting Menu: Astaonly serves a few different tasting menus, and their cuisine is creative and tasty. It is a casual spot, with a homey atmosphere, and you'll be delighted at the elevated level of the cuisine. Be adventurous and you'll appreciate some amazing dishes. Their wine list is small but well-curated, with plenty of interesting selections. The restaurant received plenty of positive press after its opening, but it seems to have fallen off the radar of many, but it needs to return to your attention as they are producing compelling food.
Favorite Burger Restaurant: A&B Burgersopened in Beverly this year, having moved from Salem. They make a damn fine burger, using quality ingredients and a high-tech cooking device that enables them to slow cook their burger, without drying it out, before they grill it. The Sweet & Salty Cow is delicious, with Buratta, bacon, and fig jam while the new Shepherd's Pie burger, on their New Fall Menu, is also excellent.Besides their burgers, they make plenty of other delicious dishes, from Smoked Gouda & Chorizo Mac n' Cheese to Korean Sticky BBQ Wings. Their desserts are compelling too, from Churros to Apple Dumplings. They have a huge tequila list, make tasty cocktails as well as creamy adult milkshakes. You should visit here if you enjoy a great burger, or just excellent food in general.
Favorite Southern Restaurant: Located in Wakefield, The Porchis a casual Southern restaurant which makes all of their dishes from scratch. From scrumptious Fried Chicken to tasty Meatloaf, from tender Brisket to hearty Chicken Fried Steak, there is plenty of comfort food to please your belly. Get a side of their fresh baked (and amazing) Biscuits, with honey butter, or a slice of Cornbread. They even have an excellent Brunch on Sundays with some of the best bacon around. Prices are reasonable, especially on the Family-sized dinners, which can feed a family of four. They even have a liquor license, so you can enjoy a cocktail, local beer or wine with your meal.
Favorite Pop-Up Restaurant: Pop-ups are a great way to introduce people to some amazing food where the chefs don't have their own restaurant yet. Chef Moe Kuroki of OISA Ramenis bringing superb ramen to the Boston-area, participating in numerous pop-ups. I've attended a couple of these events, each time thoroughly impressed by the deep and complex flavors in her ramen. She often hand-makes her noodles and making the ramen is a lengthy process. Chef Kuroki is also passionate and personable, obviously in love with ramen.
Favorite New Seafood Restaurant: The menu may be small, but Luke's Lobsterdelivers on what it does serve. Their Lobster Roll is the king of their menu, their most popular item, but don't ignore the other items such as their Lobster or Crab Grilled Cheese. It is a casual spot and take-out is popular too. Prices are reasonable for the amount of seafood you receive in each dish. And I love the fact that they only serve sustainable seafood, which is certainly tough to find in many casual spots.
Favorite Brunch Restaurant: This was a tough choice as I've been to some excellent brunches this past year, but I'll give the crown to Puritan & Co., especially because of their large and creative pastry bar. They offer both breakfast and lunch options, such as the excellent Beef Patty Melt. You can also enjoy a cocktail, such as a Bloody Mary or House Mimosa. No matter what though, you must get a few selections from their Pastry Bar, such as Chocolate Pretzel Croissants, Indian Pudding Doughnuts, S'Mores Pop Tarts and more. Such a decadent culinary pleasure.
Runner-Up Brunch Restaurants: I have to give some recognition to two other local brunches which I also recommend. Committeeoffers plenty of Greek-inspired brunch dishes, from Tyropita to Bougatsa, as well as lots of interesting cocktails, such as the Pigs & Booze and Bloody Marietta. A&B Burgersalso has an excellent menu of brunch options, including Burgers and Southern Biscuits & Gravy. And you should get one of their Sticky Buns.
Favorite Closed Restaurant: I am sad that AKA Bistro, which was in Lincoln, closed this year. It was one of my favorite spots, and my last dinner there, an amazing Sushi Dinner, showcased its excellence. However, it was a necessary business decision due to a number of factors beyond the control of the owners. I'm hoping the owners return to the restaurant world as it is a big loss without then. Chef Chris Chung is still around, appearing at a number of pop-ups, since the closure and I highly recommend you check out one of his events. Favorite Rhode Island Restaurant: Matunuck Oyster Baroffers plenty of delicious local seafood, including oysters that they harvest in their own waters behind the restaurant. The seafood is reasonably priced, with ample portions, and they have a good wine list and cocktail program to accompany your food. They offer some Rhode Island seafood specialties and if you travel through Rhode Island, it is well worth making a stop here. And definitely order some of their Bourbon Oysters!
The Passionate Foodie's Top 50 Restaurants
In addition to the Favorites listed above, I've compiled a list of my own Top 50 Restaurants, those Massachusetts places where I'm sure to always have a delicious meal, whether a casual breakfast or a high-end French dinner. These are the places I seem to recommend the most to others, including some places where I dine on a regular basis. Many of these places have been listed on prior Favorite Lists, some for multiple years, and are all worthy of recognition and recommendation. There are also some new Favorites, places I only recently encountered but which I know I will be returning frequently. Please note that this is not a list of the "Best" Boston-area restaurants, but my own personal favorites.
