Impressions of Posto & Pizza: Now At Assembly Row

A delicious Roasted Garlic Pizza that could also protect you from an army of vampires! I recently enjoyed such a pizza at an old restaurant in a new location, and I look forward to dining there again very soon.  

Chef Joe Cassinelli is the owner of the Alpine Restaurant Group, which currently includes Posto (an Italian restaurant, located in Somerville), the Painted Burro (Mexican cuisine, with locations in Waltham, Somerville, Harvard Square and Brookline), and the Burro Bar (Mexican cuisine, in Boston). Posto first opened in 2009 in Davis Square, Somerville, and recently they relocated to Assembly Row in Somerville. 

I first dined at Posto fifteen years ago, in August 2010, although I was already familiar with the Italian cuisine of Chef Cassinelli, who had previously been the Chef de Cuisine at L’Andana, an Italian restaurant in Burlington, which had been one of my favorite restaurants (but which is now closed). I was impressed with Posto's cuisine, from its Neapolitan pizza to its killer pasta, and it earned a spot in my 2010 List of Favorite Restaurants. Over the subsequent years, I continued to dine at Posto and it continued to earn a spot on my year-end Favorite Restaurant lists. 

With the advent of COVID, and restaurants being forced to close for a time, I didn't dine at Posto for several years. When Posto recently relocated to Assembly Row, I stopped by for lunch, hoping that the quality of the food hadn't changed. I found that the pizza and appetizers were just as good as ever, and I'm excited to return, to enjoy more of their menu options.  

The restaurant is good-sized, with a lengthy bar, and what appears to be a private dining room. There's also patio dining available. The Menu includes Antipasti (such as Carpaccio, Bruschetta, Meatballs, and Calamari), Insalate (from Caesar to Caprese), Pasta (such as Bolognese, Carbonara, and Short Rib), Carne e Pesce (such as Ribeye Steak, Tuscan Seafood Stew, and Swordfish), and Pizza (both Red and White). There are 8 variations of both the Red and White Pizzas, which are Neapolitan style pizza that follow the rules and guidelines of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. 

Juan Gabriel Pérez, the Executive Chef at Posto, possesses over 15 years of experience in making Neapolitan pizzas. It was recently announced that Pérez had placed 54th in the Best Pizza Awards, whose website states: "It’s the only accreditation platform that stays true to culinary standards, free from commercial agendas. Our mission? To break down barriers in the pizza world and spotlight authentic craftsmanship, bold innovation, and diverse voices that are shaping the future of this iconic dish." This is the third year that Pérez has competed in this competition, and he received his highest ranking ever. 

Talking about Pérez, the Best Pizza Awards website stated, "As Executive Chef at Posto Boston he’s praised for his creative flair, seasonal ingredients, and dough innovation. With over a million followers worldwide, Juan blends tradition and modernity, earning a global reputation for craftsmanship and passion that honours pizza’s authentic roots."

For lunch, my dining companion and I started with an appetizer of Arancini, made from crispy arborio rice, lemon, and oregano, accompanied by a spicy sweet & sour tomato sauce. We received five arancini, with a nice, crispy coating and a flavorful and tender interior, with hints of lemon. The arancini were enhanced by the tasty tomato sauce, which was mildly spicy and well balanced. The sauce is also great for dipping bread. 

Another appetizer was the Burrata, which includes prosciutto di parma, watermelon, truffle honey, aleppo pepper, sea salt flakes, and microgreens. The addition of the sweet watermelon chunks was such a great choice, helping to balance the salty prosciutto and the creamy burrata. All of the ingredients worked well together, a nice blend of textures and flavors. A perfect summer dish and a great way to start your lunch or dinner. 

We then selected one of the White Pizzas, the Roasted Garlic, made with bacon, mozzarella, roasted garlic, parmesan, oregano, and aleppo pepper. Wow!! I've never seen more garlic on a pizza, large and plump cloves of roasted garlic. I love garlic so this was quite impressive. The thin-crusted pizza had a nice char, and the crust was also both crisp and chewy. The crunchy bacon was a nice addition too. I previously enjoyed many pizzas at Posto, and it was clear that the quality hadn't diminished an iota. 

I'm very pleased I checked out the new location of Posto and strongly encourage all of my readers to dine there as well. There's plenty on the menu to cater to diverse appetites, and the pizza is some of the best in the area. You can check out their new Happy Hour, which is held in their bar & lounge, Monday-Friday, from 2pm-5pm. All Appetizers are Half-Priced, which gives you a great opportunity to experience some of their menu at a great discount. And I'll be reporting back on my future visits to Posto too. 

Ciao! Pizza & Pasta in Chelsea: Quality Food In a Small Package

It's a cliche that "big things come in small packages" but sometimes that saying is spot on. Sometimes you dine at a small restaurant which over delivers with its cuisine, an unexpected find which becomes a hidden treasure. I recently had such an experience and want to share my find, to spread the word about the culinary delights of this compelling new restaurant.

During the last couple years, the news has been talking about the evolution of Chelsea, how it is being transformed with new apartment buildings, new hotels, and plenty of renovation. It once had a more infamous reputation, being seen as a heavily crime-ridden area, and still is seen that way by some despite the significant recent changes. It is a city on the upswing, which will see even more positive growth and investment in the coming years. One of those positive changes that will be seen is new and interesting restaurants, like Ciao! Pizza & Pasta.  

Having opened a little over a month ago, on September 14, Ciao! Pizza & Pasta took over the location of a former Chinese restaurant, which had previously been there for about 23 years. Ciao is owned by Edson Coimbra, a former General Manager at L'Andana in Burlington, and Chef Marvin Posada, a former Executive Chef at L'Andana.  Both have worked at other local restaurants as well and eventually decided to open their own place together. I first met Edson about eight years ago while he was working at L'Andana though I hadn't met Chef Posada until I visited Ciao. Edson lives in Chelsea, only a short distance from Ciao, and is a strong supporter of the Chelsea community.

Parked in front of the restaurant is Edson's scooter, which also helps to advertise the new restaurant.

I was excited to check out the new Ciao, especially after hearing more about the concept, a wood-fire pizzeria with homemade pasta. I went once to Ciao as Edson's guest and then returned on my own two more times, to try even more items on their menu. The restaurant is located across the street from the Chelsea District Court and down the street from the Mystic Brewery. There is a tiny parking lot next to the restaurant and plenty of street parking nearby.

The restaurant is small, only about 500 square feet and most of that occupied by the kitchen. There are only five seats at a counter that looks out the large front windows onto Williams Street. Because of the limited seating, about 80% of their business is takeout. The restaurant is open from Monday to Saturday, 11am-10pm, with dinner currently being busier than lunch. Because of its small size, you might dismiss it as a typical pizza joint, the kind which are ubiquitous in most cities and towns, but you would be very wrong. They serve high quality cuisine, made from scratch, which would be fitting for any high-end Italian restaurant except their prices are far more reasonable.

The front of the restaurant has wood paneling, and that wood was taken from a 100+ year old house in Abington, adding some character to the place. With their open kitchen, something I like, you can watch the staff prepare your food, from pasta to pizza. Most of the kitchen staff lives in Chelsea, further showing their support of the local community. In response, the Chelsea community has been very supportive of Ciao, welcoming them to the neighborhood. In addition, many local businesses and organization, have been patronizing them, including local firemen and police officers. Other businesses, such as Mystic Brewery, have been seeking to work on joint endeavors together.  

The wood-fire stove at Ciao, which extends past the side wall of the restaurant.

Edson, pictured on the right side, is the bright smile in the front of the house, warmly greeting all of the customers. His charming personality exudes sincerity and I'm sure it has contributed to the initial success of Ciao. Besides greeting guests and taking orders, Edson also helps to educate the customers on the dishes they offer, translating restaurant lingo that some customers may not understand. During my multiple visits to the restaurant, I watched how he interacted with customers, and he did very well, especially evidenced by the number of repeat customers who stopped by.

Chef Posada, who is also very personable, designed the entire menu and I was able to watch him preparing a number of dishes. He was intense, taking care to ensure that every dish came out and met his high standards. As the former executive chef at a fine dining restaurant, Chef Posada continues to produce high quality cuisine, yet in a far more casual and less expensive restaurant.

One aspect of his cooking which struck me was his understanding of textures in various dishes. That might not be an element of cooking which many of us think about, but it can be important, elevating a dish from good to excellent. And poor textures in a dish can doom it, even if the taste is there.  For example, the various pastas were cooked to an excellent firmness, a nice al dente. If your pasta is too firm, or too soft, it will detract from the dish. The addition of tiny, crunchy pieces of chorizo atop a Bolognese dish as well as the addition of crispy duck skin to a duck confit pizza elevated both dishes, enhancing the taste. Even the texture of the pizzas is designed to please the customer.

The Menu, which sees some change (maybe 2-3 items) about every two weeks, currently has 2 Salads ($7-$9), 2 Paninis ($9), 4 Pastas ($11-$18) and 10 Pizzas ($10-$15). Prices are reasonable, especially considering the quantity and quality of the food.  You can also see the creativity in the dishes, such as the Gamberetto pizza with shrimp & chorizo. Due to their small size, they don't have a liquor license and unfortunately, there is no BYOB either. If you get take-out though, you could open a bottle of wine and enjoy it with any of these dishes.

At the front counter, you can see some of their desserts as well as their housemade pastas. The pasta should persuade you to check out those dishes.

The Beet Salad ($9), with two kinds of beets, goat cheese & aged Balsamic, offers fresh produce with plenty of creamy goat cheese. A nice way to begin your meal.

Paninis are only available from 11am-4pm and I tried the Pollo Arrosto ($9) with fontina cheese, sliced tomato and greens. With your Panini, you get home-made potato chips, though the menu does not mention that fact. These are huge crispy chips, topped with some rosemary and sea salt, and an excellent accompaniment. If they had these available as a Side, I'm sure they would sell very well. In time, they plan on creating additional types of chips, such as sweet potato, and might even start selling them by the bag.

The Panini bread is made from their pizza dough, cooked in the wood-fire oven, and is thin and crunchy, adding a nice textural component to the tasty slices of chicken.  It was a hearty and good sandwich, making for a nice lunch and a better alternative than the basic sub from many other takeout places..

The Bucatini all'Amatriaciana ($11), with San Marzano tomatoes, smoked bacon and pecorino, presents plenty of al dente buucatini with a pleasing red sauce, well balanced with nice acidity to it, and the added element of the smoky bacon, which adds taste and texture. On a chilly fall day, it was a pleasant choice.

Herbed Gnocchetti 

The Herbed Gnocchetti( $18) is atop red wine braised short ribs & root vegetables and topped with some parmesan. The tiny gnocchi were firm and pillowy, just a perfectly prepared pasta, and the short ribs and sauce was hearty and rustic, with a delicious blend of spices and flavors as well as tender meat. A perfect fall/winter dish. I also would love to see those tiny gnocchi in other dishes, and think they are probably even better than normal-sized gnocchi.

Porcini Fettucine

The Porcini Fettucine ($12) are topped with wood-fired roasted button mushrooms, black truffle butter, and parmigiano reggiano. Once again, the pasta was a perfect consistency, and this dish burst with umami flavors. Earthy and buttery, this is another dish which fits perfectly in the fall.

Campanelle.

The Campanelle ($14) is topped by a chorizo bolognese & parmigiano reggiano and I was thoroughly impressed with this dish. It was hearty and delicious, with plenty of creaminess in the sauce, lots of spicy meat, and crunchy bits of chorizo, The campanelle pasta was cooked perfectly and was an excellent vehicle for the bolognese. I finished every bit of this large dish and probably could have devoured a second one. Though I enjoyed all four pasta dishes, this was easily my favorite and earns my highest recommendation.

You won't find the usual Cheese or Pepperoni pizzas at Ciao. Instead, there are more traditional and creative choices available and you just need to be a little open to trying something different. At the most basic, you can order the Margherita Pizza ($10), with San Marzano tomato, mozzarella,  basil and extra virgin olive oil. The thin pizza crust was cooked just right, with a slight char, pleasing texture and a nice, chewy exterior crust. The fresh mozzarella has a nice springy to it and the red sauce is pleasant with a hint of sweetness and nice acidity. A simple but delicious pizza, showcasing the delights of wood-fire pizza.,

For something more creative, the Duck Confit Pizza was an off-menu Special one evening,  It was made with duck confit, some crispy duck skin, fresh mozzarella, a sweet potato/butternut squash puree, caramelized onions, and cranberries. As you can see, they don't skimp on their toppings. The pizza was an excellent blend of flavors, with sweetness and tartness, and the duck meat was tender and flavorful. The pizza crust was once again just right, all making for a damn tasty pizza.

For Dessert, you can have a Bindi Tiramisu or Cheesecake, Homemade Cannoli, or a Nutella Pizza. .The Nutella Pizza ($11)is pictured above though that is not its usual full-size but instead a smaller version. The usual version is the same size as the rest of their pizzas. It is topped with sliced strawberries, bananas and mint leaves, as well as some powdered sugar. I'm not a fan of powdered sugar, and would order it again without it, but the rest of the pizza was sweet and delicious. The pizza crust was once again cooked just right, and the nutella, fruit and mint made a nice combo of flavors. A nice way to end your meal and I was told it has been very popular.

Ciao is producing killer house-made pasta and wood-fire pizzas, far better than the average takeout pizza joint. Chef Posada is working big magic in a small restaurant, and this is the type of place that every community should have. If I lived closer, I would be there every week. Chelsea is lucky to have Ciao. Edson & Chef Posada have embraced the idea of community and created a restaurant which helps to enhance their neighborhood. You should make the trek to Chelsea to experience this compelling cuisine. Ciao earns my high recommendation and its future looks very promising.

Good luck to Edson & Chef Posada!

Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting wine and food items that are upcoming. **********************************************************
1) The Met Back Bay is once again launching its “Boston Hot Chocolate Experience” featuring Taza Chocolate on Friday, November 28. Now in its second year, the Boston Hot Chocolate Experience is presented in a flight of four miniature glasses for $14 and hosts four distinct flavors for chocolate lovers.

Each flavor can be upgraded to an “adult version” with additions like, Bailey’s White Chocolate, XO Patron, Amaretto and White Crème de Menthe (+$4). If hot cocoa lovers find that they are in the mood for just one, Met Back Bay has that covered. Customers can order any flavor as the “One Big One” presentation for $10. The Boston Hot Chocolate Experience will be available beginning Friday, November 28 and will continue until spring 2015.

MENU:

--Classic Hot Chocolate (Taza Vanilla Chocolate, whipped cream, mini toasted marshmallows)
Make it grown up – Spike it! Liquor it up! (Bailey’s White Chocolate)
--Mexican Hot Chocolate (Taza Cinnamon Chocolate, whipped cream, cinnamon stick, grated Taza Guajillo Chili Chocolate)
Make it grown up - Spike it! Liquor it up! (xo Patron)
--Salted Almond Hot Chocolate (Taza Salted Almond Chocolate, whipped cream, almond biscotti)
Make it grown up - it! Liquor it up! (Amaretto)
--Peppermint Hot Chocolate (Taza Cacao Puro Chocolate, peppermint, whipped cream & candy cane)
Make it grown up - Spike it! Liquor it up! (White Crème de Menthe)

2) Waffle tots? Yes, you have my attention. TAMO Bistro & Bar is introducing some new items in their new menu’s that sound pretty interesting, including:

--Waffle Tots (Potatoes, Jalapenos, Pepper Jack Cheese, Bacon $10)
--Candied Bacon (Crusted with Brown Sugar, Chipotle Powder, Cayenne and 5 Spice Powder $6)
--Chicken Pot Pie Roll (Local Chicken, Carrots, Turnips, Herbs, Pepper Jack Cheese, Béchamel, Puff Pastry $10)

   I haven't sampled any of these items yet, but they sound good. Have any of my readers sampled these treats yet?

3) This holiday season, during November and December, Boston diners can give meaningfully with as little as a $1 donation at area restaurants through Hearth Shares, a local fundraising initiative to end homelessness. The program offers restaurant goers the opportunity to add a voluntary donation of $1 or more to their bill. Supported by the Citizens Bank Foundation, 100% of proceeds from Hearth Shares will benefit Hearth, Friends of Boston’s Homeless and a select group of other nonprofits working to end homelessness in the Boston community.

Boston Chefs and Restaurateurs Ming Tsai, Chris Douglass, Jeffrey Gates, Jeff Fournier, Tiffani Faison, Jamie Mammano and many others have signed on to support Hearth Shares at their restaurants. They follow in the footsteps of Fergus Henderson, Gordon Ramsay, Angela Hartnett and Ashley Palmer-Watts who support the program’s London counterpart, StreetSmart in their restaurants. Since 1998, StreetSmart has raised over $10 million for homeless programs in London and has over 500 participating restaurants.

Participating restaurants in Greater Boston include 51 Lincoln, Aquitaine Boston, Chestnut Hill & Dedham, Ashmont Grill, Battery Park, Beat Hotel, The Beehive, Blue Dragon, Blue Ginger, Brasserie Jo, Cinquecento, Gaslight Brasserie, L’andana, Lolita, Metropolis Café, Mistral, Mooo, No. 8 Kitchen & Spirits, Ostra, Sorellina, Sweet Cheeks, Tavolo, Teatro, Union Bar & Grille, Waban Kitchen.

Every time you dine & donate at a participating Hearth Shares restaurant let Hearth Shares know about it on Facebook or Twitter (@HearthShares) by posting a photo of your experience with hashtag #sharingseason and tagging Hearth Shares and the restaurant. The follower with the most Hearth Shares visits will win a winter staycation at The Colonnade Hotel.

4) New England Patriots Pro Football Hall of Famer and current VP of Community Affairs for the team, Andre Tippett and Tyler Campbell, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell, will host the Flavors of New England, sponsored by BIOGEN IDEC, on Saturday, November 8, from 7pm-11pm. at the Seaport Boston Hotel.

The fun-filled event will offer guests the opportunity to mingle with NFL stars and celebrities and enjoy entertainment and a fantastic auction. The Pro Player Foundation in partnership with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will host Flavors of New England to raise funds and awareness for MS while showcasing the mouthwatering cuisine of various talented chefs for which the city has become known. Pro Football Hall of Fame legend Randall McDaniel will be in attendance to lend support for the National MS Society’s goal of raising funds and awareness in order to end MS forever.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007 while playing football at San Diego State University, Tyler Campbell refuses to let the disease stop him from moving his life forward. A successful businessman, husband and new father, Tyler views his diagnosis as a blessing. Tyler now serves as an Ambassador for the Pro Player Foundation and for the National MS Society and is on a mission to help other people with the disease, especially those facing the uncertainty of the future of their education due to MS. Tyler hosts Flavors of the Gaslamp and Flavors of Austin, with his father, in addition to the New England event.

Former Patriots tight end and local radio host, Jermaine Wiggins and former Patriots defensive end, Jarvis Green, will be joining in on the fun and supporting their football teammates at the event as well.

Flavors of New England will feature some of the city’s most renowned restaurants and chefs, including: Bistro du Midi, Davio’s, Fuji at Kendall, Grill 23 and Bar, O Ya, Oak Long Bar + Kitchen, Silvertone Bar and Grill, Stella, Stephi’s in Southie, Stoked Pizza Co., Waterfront Grille, Brasserie Jo, Fairsted Kitchen, Chopps American Bar and Grill, and Dom’s. Dessert will be provided by Harvest, Sweet Cupcakes, and Ben & Jerry’s.

The mission of the Pro Player Foundation is to serve the community by creating special events and projects that raise awareness and funding for Multiple Sclerosis. To learn more about Flavors of New England and its NFL partners, please visit proplayerfoundation.org.

COST: Tickets can be purchased for $195 each at http://proplayerfoundation.org/event/flavors-new-england

Stoneham Sun: Pizzeria Posto

My new column of "A Passionate Foodie" can be found in the October 13 issue of the Stoneham Sun newspaper. This is a weekly column that concentrates on reviews of local restaurants though it also sometimes touches on other food and wine topics.

The new column has been published today and will be available online soon. The new article is a restaurant review of Pizzeria Posto, which is located in Davis Square, Somerville. The chef/owner Joe Cassinelli used to work at L'Andana in Burlington, and definitely knows how to prepare excellent Italian cuisine, including exquisite pasta dishes. Reasonably priced, you really should check out Pizzeria Posto.

If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.

Dine with passion.

Pizzeria Posto: Pillowy Gnocchi

When my friend Jen was having a birthday last month, I suggested having a celebration at Pizzeria Posto. I knew it had excellent food, was reasonably priced and likely would be a fun stop for a party. I have previously posted a couple reviews of the restaurant, here and here, but had not eaten there for dinner yet. But felt that based on my three prior visits, dinner would be very good too.

I then learned that Edson, who once had been the Manager at L'Andana in Burlington, was now the General Manager of Pizzeria Posto. Edson is a very nice person, and did a great job at L'Andana so I am sure he will do equally as well at Posto. Plus, he worked with Chef/Owner Chef Joe Cassinelli at L'Andana, which should make for a good relationship. Edson helped make the final arrangements for the birthday party, placing us into the private room to the rear of the dining room, a bit more intimate of a spot for our celebration.

Their wine list is very interesting, with a more varied selection than many other similar places. You'll find Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, but also more exotic grapes like Roero Arneis, Falanghina, and Verdeca. You'll find Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, but also more exotic grapes like Mencia, Bobal and Primitivo. You can order wine by the glass, bottle, or carafe (similar to a half-bottle). Glasses commonly range from $4-$10, with a few reserve wine at a higher price. Most of the bottles run $25-$40, with a few at a higher price. Thus, I feel the list is reasonably priced.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the wines they drank, and I was taken with the De-2 Mencia, from the Bierzo region of Spain ($27/bottle). An excellent example of the fine Mencia grape, and a nice choice for Italian cuisine. Plenty of fruit but with good structure and balance, and mild tannins. A few others in our party also ordered a bottle and enjoyed it immensely.

We started our dinner with some Rosemary Sea Salt Bread ($2.50) and Fries (hand cut rosemary sea salt fries, with garlic aioli $4). It is no secret how much I love fresh, hot bread and this bread was impressive. We all tore into the bread, dipping it into some chile oil, and savoring each hot, flaky piece. The fries were also very good, perfectly crisp with just the right amount of salt.

For appetizers, we ordered several different ones, including a couple of my favorites like the Crisp Arancini and Nonna's Meatballs (both which I have previously raved about). I was most interested in trying a couple of their seven pasta dishes, which are available in half portions ($9-$10) or full portions ($16-$18). Though they all sounded delicious, I opted for half portions of the Gnocchi and Agnolotti dal plin. Some of my favorite dishes at L'Andana had been their pasta, so I was hoping Posto's pasta might be equally as compelling.

My hopes came true as the two pasta dishes were exceptional. The potato gnocchi were made with braised lamb, port wine, and parmesan crema. These gnocchi were so pillowy, some of the lightest gnochhi I have ever tasted. There was plenty of very tender lamb and the savory sauce was quite delicious too. A top notch dish which I highly recommend. The agnolotti were stuffed with braised veal and topped with butter and parmesan. They too were very tender, savory and scrumptious, another dish I must recommend. I eagerly look forward to checking out the rest of their pasta dishes, which do change regularly based on what is available and seasonal.

We ordered a few pizzas too, which were just as good as on my previous visits. No one had any complaints about the food, and I heard plenty of raves. Overall, it was an excellent birthday party and Jen was very pleased.

I will definitely be returning here for both brunch and dinner, and highly recommend it to my readers. Excellent food, a more unique wine list, and reasonable prices are all good reasons to venture here.

Pizzeria Posto: New Brunch Menu

This past Saturday, while out driving and pondering a place for lunch, I finally selected Pizzeria Posto in Somerville, off Davis Square. I hadn't eaten there yet, had heard some excellent reviews about the place, and the menu had enticed me. I was not aware that it was also the initial debut of their new Brunch menu.

The restaurant is owned and operated by Chef Joe Cassinelli, who most recently had been the Chef de Cuisine at L’Andana in Burlington, one of my favorite restaurants. So that was a very good sign to me. The basic food menu includes a diverse variety of antipasti, insalate, pasta dishes and wood-fired pizza. They are dedicated to the spirit of Neapolitan style pizza and follow the rules and guidelines of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. Those rules govern such requirements as the type of oven to be used, the necessary ingredients and techniques of pizza making. This may be the first pizzeria in Massachusetts which is a member of this organization.

The restaurant is visually very appealing, a simple elegance with an open kitchen and large windows facing Elm Street. You can also dine at their outside patio area. When seating people, the hostess spaced the parties well, allowing some element of privacy, rather than trying to pack everyone into one close section. We sipped some fresh brewed iced tea while perusing the brunch menu.

The brunch menu has some antipasti, paninis, frittatas, breakfast dishes and pizzas. There is a good selection of choices, and many sounded very appealing. We decided to start with the Arancini ($5), which come in a pomodoro sauce. This was an impressive dish, four good-sized arancini which were absolutely delicious. A nice crisp exterior, and a very cheesy interior with lots of harmonious flavors. The pomodoro sauce was quite nice, with what seemed to be bits of garlic and onion, and I eagerly devoured the arancini. At this price, the dish is a very good value too.

After this high though, matters sunk to a low as there was a very lengthy delay in the receipt of our entrees. I watched other people, who sat down after us, receive their food before us. Our waitress came over at one point and stated our entrees were almost ready, but it took fifteen more minutes before they arrived. We received an apology with our food, with an explanation that this was their first brunch and they were having some issues. It still put a damper on our meal.

Fortunately, the food was top notch. The Verdura Frittata was quite large, accompanied by a salad and potatoes. It was cooked just right, with plenty of fresh vegetables and lots of creamy goat cheese. Very delectable. I went with the Poco Pizza ($11), which comes with Fior di latte, basil and olive oil. I chose to add some roasted garlic, a soft farm egg, Vermont goat cheese and prosciutto (+$10).

This was a good-sized pizza, sliced into four pieces, and is plentiful enough for one person, or even two if you are not too hungry or ordering a bunch of other items too. It was a bit disconerting at first that the prosciutto had been added after the pizza was cooked, especially as it was a bit cold to the touch. In most other places, the prosciutto is baked atop the pizza, making a nice crispy meat. But, the prosciutto warmed up quickly from the rest of the pizza, though it did not become crispy. I really enjoyed the taste of the pizza, and they did not skimp on toppings, with lots of prosciutto atop it. The thin crust was just right, both properly chewy and crunchy, and the cheeses were creamy and smooth. I enjoyed the taste of the silky smooth and salty prosciutto, and it was simply a different, not lesser, taste than if it had been baked with the pizza. All in all, an excellent pizza and I would love to try some of their other intriguing pizzas.

As I went to pay the bill, they stated they would not charge us for the Arancini and iced teas, to make up for the service delay. That was a very nice gesture on their part, definitely creating good will. They should have been a bit more proactive about informing us of the delay, and the reasons for such, but they did resolve the matter in a satisfactorily manner.

Their food is impressive and reasonably priced, and I will return again, especially as I want to try plenty of other dishes, including their pasta. For now, they receive my recommendation, with hopes that the service delay was an aberration and not the norm. When I have heard others speak of this place, I have not heard complaints about service so I strongly suspect it was abnormal.

I'll report again on my future visits there.

Pizzeria Posto
187 Elm Street
Somerville, MA
Phone: (617) 625-0600

2009 In Review: Favorite Restaurants

Let me continue a review of my top recommendations and favorites of the past year, 2009. Yesterday, I provided a General Summary of 2009 and now I want to touch on some more individual events and items, including some of my favorites in certain categories. This post will concentrate on my Restaurant favorites. Future posts will discuss my other food, wine, spirits and Saké favorites.

This is certainly not a complete list. It is more a sampling of memorable matters I have experienced and posted about over the past year.

Favorite Brunch, Traditional Fare: For bacon and eggs and similar such fare, you must check out brunch at Craigie on Main. They put their own spin on this traditional fare, turning the simplest of dishes into a wondrous delight. Besides the usual fare, they also have some nontraditional items which are equally as delicious. It is a place to take someone you wish to impress.

Favorite Brunch, Non-Traditional Fare: For a tasty, albeit non-traditional, Dim Sum weekend brunch you must go to Myers & Chang in the South End. They have plenty of creative and tasty Asian small plates, for only $3-$6 each. Sit at the counter and watch them cook and prepare our food. I have eaten more brunches here this year than anywhere else.

Favorite Decadent Breakfast: The Lobster & Swiss Cheese Omelet at Becky's Diner in Portland, Maine, is certainly not your usual breakfast. But the sweet lobster meat, of which there was plenty, really makes for a great filling for the cheesy omelet. And at only $13.95, it was a good value too. Why not splurge for breakfast?

Favorite Asian Restaurant: Besides their Dim Sum brunch, Myers & Chang serves excellent food for lunch and dinner. Plus they have a full bar, with interesting specialty drinks and Saké. And did you know that about 85% of their clientele is women? Men take notice!

Favorite Asian Buffet: For only $10, you can order the Japanese/Chinese lunch buffet at the new Taipei Tokyo Cafe in Woburn. You'll find everything from sushi to dumplings, fried rice to chicken fingers. They bring out small portions of each dish, which helps ensure the food stays fresh, and they continue to restock the dishes when they empty. As it is a bit under the radar, it is never overly crowded like some other Asian lunch buffets.

Favorite Local Asian Dish: U-Me, a new Asian restaurant opened in Stoneham this summer. Their Szechuan Wings just blew me away. Very crispy and meaty chicken wings, slathered with a sweet and slighty spicy sauce, are so much better than the usual chicken wings you find elsewhere. They are so addictive, I have to order them nearly every time I dine here.

Favorite Local Restaurant: For the second year in a row, Bistro 5, in Medford, is my favorite local place. Chef Vittorio creates intriguing cuisine, with the freshest of ingredients, and the restaurant has an intriguing wine list. This past year I have attended some excellent wine dinners there, including an Heirloom Tomato Dinner, Spirited Gourmet Dinner, and Paolo de Marchi Dinner, all of which really pleased my palate.

Favorite New Local Restaurant: I was extremely pleased this year at the return of one of my favorite Chefs, Steve Bell, to the newly opened Bobby’s Grille in Wellesley. The restaurant reminds me of the former Savory Tastes Cafe and the food is equally as compelling. Prices are reasonable, the food is plentiful and I think this restaurant will only continue to get better. Kudos to Chef Bell!

Favorite Italian Restaurant, Innovative: Though you can find plenty of traditional Italian cuisine in Boston, it is much more difficult to find something innovative. For the best of the innovative though, you must seek out the cuisine of Chef Charles ("Chuck") Draghi at Erbaluce. His ever-changing menu items do not rely on butter, cream or oil, and his food thus seems much lighter but without any sacrifice of flavor. Plus, his Italian wine list is superb, with many esoteric choices.

Favorite North End Restaurant: There are plenty of options in the North End, so where should you dine? Well, I have thoroughly enoyed Antico Forno, located on Salem Street, a bit off the beaten path. With its brick oven, the restaurant adds an interesting twist on many of their dishes. They also have an excellent, thin crust pizza. With reasonable prices, and a newly renovated interior, this is fine choice.

Favorite Pasta Dishes: From the Papardelle with Bolognese to the Chestnut Bigoli, Sportello is making an impressive debut. Another piece of Chef Barbarba Lynch's culinary empire, this restaurant is located in the Fort Point area of Boston. The pasta and sauces perfectly complement each other, and the casual, diner ambiance of the restaurant is quite fun.

Favorite Southern Restaurant: A new southern restaurant, Tupelo, opened in Cambridge this year, near Inman Square. You'll find cheap, delicious fare including the exceptional fried grits! With some of their desserts coming from Petsi Pies, you will enjoy your entire meal, from appetizers to desserts. It is a small, casual place and has recently started serving brunch.

Favorite New England Steak House: Though Boston has plenty of very good steakhouses, it was a restaurant in Connecticut that impressed me the most this year. The David Burke Prime Steakhouse, at Foxwoods Casino, warranted two posts, one to discuss the place and the other to describe the food. Their dry-aged steaks are exceptional, as is most of their other food. From their caesar salad served tableside to their creative desserts, you will savor each bite. It is not cheap, but is well worth the price.

Favorite Las Vegas Steak House: My meal began with the Bone Marrow Flan, an intriguing and tasty appetizer. From the start, I was impressed. Cut, Wolfgang Puck's Steakhouse in the Palazzo, is a pricey but excellent steakhouse with fine food, excellent service and a lengthy and appealing wine list. It is also well worth a splurge.

Favorite Las Vegas Restaurant: Raku, a hidden jewel, is a superb Japanese restaurant located off the strip. The food is authentic, fresh, reasonably priced and absolutely mouth watering. Plus, they have a killer Saké list. You would probably never stumble across this place on your own. It is the type of place that you would never know about unless someone personally recommended it to you. Make reservations as this small place often fills up, especially on the weekends.

Favorite Vermont Restaurant: Seeking a fine French restaurant near Burlington, Vermont? Then make reservations for Café Shelburne, located just outside Burlington. It is a homey place, with traditional French fare, often using local ingredients. I was really impressed with their restrained use of sauces, never overwhelming any dish but ensuring each dish was extremely flavorful.

Favorite Carnivore Dinner: The Whole Hog Dinner at Craigie on Main was amazing, from the food to the company. With Jackie and David, fellow foodies, bloggers and pig lovers, we devoured many different parts of a pig, from the skin to the brains. Chef Maws certainly knows the best ways to prepare every delicious organ and body part. Craigie on Main is a great place for any special occasion, or just when you want something different.

Favorite Desserterie: This was once again an easy choice and for the second year in a row, the award goes to Le Patissier, located in the Troquet Restaurant in Boston. Pastry Chef Sarah Woodfine remains as talented as ever and continues to create innovative and fantastic-tasting desserts. I also don't think it receives enough love from the local culinary community, though I can't recommend it enough.

Favorite Dessert: The bread pudding at the Spiga Trattoria Italiana in Needham is heavenly, and almost makes you want to order it first, before your dinner. Chef Marisa Iocco has transformed this simple dish into something exceptional. You can even try to make the recipe at your own home.

Favorite Cheap Lunch: For only $5, you can go to the Prince Pizzeria and get their all-you-can eat buffet of ziti, garlic bread and pizza. It is a Rt.1 institution which is disparaged by some, but it is a place I recommend. I like their style of pizza, and they offer plenty of different pizza toppings at the buffet. For $5, you will find difficulty finding a better buffet.

Favorite Local Value Dinner Menu: L'Andana, in Burlington, is one of my favorite Italian restaurants, although their dinner menu is a bit pricey. But this year, they introduced their Enoteca menu in their bar/lounge area, a menu of inexpensive small plates. The tasty, high quality food is well worth checking out and the prices won't break your wallet.

Favorite Pizza: The Za Za Restaurant in Saugus makes a unique pizza that I have never seen before, a Bolognese pizza. It was very tasty, with plenty of ground meat, and a fine sauce. I don't know why other places haven't made this type of pizza before as I think it would be very popular.

Favorite Comfort Food: Winter is an especially important time for hot, comfort food, though it has its importance year round. Shepherd’s Pie has long been one of my favorite comfort foods though I am often disappointed with what I find at many restaurants. Until this year. Stearns & Hill Bistro in Melrose makes maybe the best Shepherd's Pie I have ever had, with multiple types of ground meat, a savory gravy, and melted cheese atop the potatoes. It is also very reasonably priced and available for lunch and dinner.

Favorite Comfort Appetizer: You might expect Buffalo Chicken Rangoons to be found in an Asian restaurant, but they are actually at Burton's Grill. With a great crunchy wonton wrapper, the interior is a mix of spicy buffalo chicken and bleu cheese. They are also quite large and I would order these again and again when I return there.

Favorite Holiday Dining Experience: Holiday dining can sometimes be overly expensive and unfulfilling. But the Santa Brunch at The Beehive was excellent on several levels. They had their usual brunch menu, at their usual prices, and there was no fee to see Santa or take your own photos with him. Excellent food, excellent service, and lots of fun.

Favorite Dining Experience: For the second year in a row, my favorite dining experience was not at a restaurant, but rather at the chef's home. The Chef's Table dinners, hosted by Chef Peter Ungar of The Dining Alternative remain one of the best culinary experiences in the Boston area, yet still under the radar of many. This year, I even got to choose the menu for one of the Chef's Table dinners and it was a phenomenal meal, satisfying on so many different levels. For 2010, you should definitely make plans to attend one of these dinners.

For more restaurant reviews and highlights, you can check my blog posts for the past year. Obviously I could not include everywhere that I ate in this review post.

What were some of your favorite restuarants this year?

L'Andana: Creative Advertising

This is dedication!

Edson Coimbra, Jr. (pictured above) is the General Manager of the L'Andana restaurant in Burlington. He drives a scooter to work and decided to add a special banner promoting the restaurant to the back of his scooter. I think that is creative advertising and I bet plenty of picture check it out when he drives by.

My readers know that I am a big fan of L'Andana and I strongly recommend that you check it out. If you want value, check out their new Enoteca menu with plenty of small plates and inexpensive dishes. On a recent visit there, I was also very pleased to see that they now carry a local wine from my favorite Massachusetts winery. They stock the Turtle Creek Zinfandel (which is made in Lincoln, MA).

L'Andana
86 Cambridge Street
Burlington, MA
Phone: (781) 270-0100

City/Town Recommendations #11

This is my eleventh post of a planned series noting my personal recommendations for food/wine places in various towns and cities. This time I am touching on a few different cities and towns, including Brookline, Burlington and Danvers. This list might be expanded and/or revised in the future but I will note when it changes. Be sure to check my extended reviews of many of these places elsewhere on my website.

Brookline

Wine Stores:

The Wine Gallery
375 Boylston Street (Rte 9 @ Cypress St)
Brookline, MA
Phone: (617) 277-5522
(Very good wine store with Enomatic tasting machine and gourmet foods)

Wine Press
1024 Beacon St.
Brookline, MA
Phone: (617) 277-7020
(Very good wine store with plenty of value wines)

Restaurants:

Fugakyu
1280 Beacon St.
Brookline, MA
Phone: (617) 734-1268
(Excellent Japanese cuisine with fine sushi, albeit a bit pricey.)

Japonaise Café and Bakery
1020 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA
Phone: (617) 566-7730
(Excellent bakery with great sliced, "Shoku Pan" bread)

Burlington

Restaurants:

L'Andana
86 Cambridge Street
Burlington, MA
Phone: (781) 270-0100
(Excellent Italian cuisine with value menu in their bar/lounge)

Capital Grille
10 Wayside Road
Burlington, MA
Phone: (781) 505-4130
(Very good steakhouse, albeit pricey)

Ginger Pad
Wayside Commons
4A Wayside Road
Burlington, MA
Phone: (781) 221.7899
(Very good and inexpensive Asian rice and stirfry bowls)

Danvers

Restaurants:

Hardcover Restaurant
15 A Newbury St. (Route 1 North)
Danvers, MA
Phone: 978-774-1223
(Good steakhouse, all-you-can-eat salad buffet, and romantic setting)

L'Andana: Enoteca Menu

A few months ago, I told you about L'Andana's new Piattini menu. I really loved their small plates concept and the food was inexpensive and delicious. L'Andana has now expanded this idea, creating a new Enoteca Menu, an expanded list of small plates and inexpensive dishes in their bar and lounge. If you are looking for a good value when dining out, then you should check out this new menu.

The menu begins with some Bocconcini ("small mouthfuls" in Italian), which include one of my favorites, the Lemon & Mozzarella Arancini ($4). Then there are the Piatti Primi, seven small appetizers, priced $7-$10. Try the Crisp Sweetbreads Milanese or the Wood-Grilled Quail with Prosciutto, Marsala and Parmesan Polenta. The Piatti Secondi are more like small entrees, priced $12-$16. You could get Wood-grilled Sliders with smoked bacon, Fontina cheese and rosemary fries or a 7 oz. Wood-Grilled Sirloin with a salt-baked potato and grilled Romaine with Gorgonzola. Or try the Wood-Grilled Swordfish or Loch Duart Salmon.

They still have their Pizzas on the new menu: a Margherita, Sopressata and a Quattro Funghi. Plus, there are three desserts, including Chocolate Crema, Sorbetto/Gelato and Mixed Berries (all $3 each).

We all want value when dining out, especially in these tougher economic times, so it is well worth visting L'Andana and checking out the new Enoteca menu. Their food is excellent, they have some interesting cocktails, and good wines. So what are you waiting for?

L'Andana
86 Cambridge Street
Burlington, MA
Phone: (781) 270-0100

2nd Annual MA Farmers Markets Strawberry Dessert Festival

Mass Farmers Markets is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Strawberry Dessert Festival – happening June 12th through June 28th. Participating eateries across the Bay State including restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and ice cream parlors will donate a percentage of proceeds from specially prepared strawberry dessert items to benefit the Federation of Mass Farmers Markets (MFM), the only statewide non-profit dedicated to supporting and promoting farmers markets. Diners “out & about” between these dates will be able to enjoy specially prepared strawberry desserts at participating eateries and know that they’ll be helping a worthy cause at the same time.

Now in its second year, The Mass Farmers Markets Strawberry Dessert Festival was created in 2008 to highlight the local strawberry season and raise much-needed funds for Mass Farmers Markets’ mission as the only state-wide non-profit organization dedicated to sustaining and strengthening our farmers market system.

Last year’s event was met with overwhelming success and our participants helped us raise the funding needed to keep farmers markets thriving in Massachusetts!

This year, the event has grown to include over thirty of the most beloved Massachusetts restaurants and eateries. Chefs at each establishment will create strawberry dessert masterpieces using locally sourced produce!

Some of the many participant-eateries signed up this year include: The Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro (Boston), Tremont 647 (Boston), Garden at the Cellar (Cambridge), Henrietta's Table (Cambridge), flora (Arlington), The Summer Shack (Cambridge), Burton's Grill (Boston), Bistro 5 (Medford), Highland Kitchen (Somerville), The Fireplace (Brookline), 51 Lincoln (Newton), Prose (Arlington), L’Andana Grill (Burlington), Haley House Bakery Cafe (Boston -- Roxbury), Tabella (Amherst), Tastings Wine Bar and Bistro (Foxboro), Tatte Fine Cookies & Cakes (Brookline & local farmers markets), Tomasso Trattoria (Southborough) and Watch City Brewing Company (Waltham) to name a few.

In addition, four Whole Foods Market locations in greater Boston (Charles River Plaza, Symphony, Brighton, and Fresh Pond, Cambridge) will donate 50% of proceeds from sales of their strawberry parfaits from June 12 – 21!

This year’s Chef Spokesperson, Pastry Chef Shannon Black from the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro, had this to say about the festival: “The Mass Farmers Markets Strawberry Dessert Festival is a great opportunity for me to support local farmers and farmers markets while showing off the incredible taste of fresh, in-season, New England strawberries!”

L'Andana: Piattini

When dining out, I enjoy the "small plate" concept, ordering a number of small appetizer dishes to share with my dining companions. These dishes can be inexpensive and you get to try a wide variety of foods. Plus it can be very social or intimate, dependent on who is dining with you. Many cuisines have their own small plate options, such as Spanish tapas or Greek mezze. In Italy, you order piattini, which means "small plate" in Italian.

L'Andana is one of my favorite suburban restaurants and you can find plenty of past reviews on my blog. It generally is on the pricey side, though well worth it. But in these tougher economic times, many people find it more difficult to dine out unless they can find good values. L'Andana understands this and has introduced their own value deals, such as the Piattini Menu at their bar. You definitely should check out this new menu and you won't be disappointed.

Their bar area is fairly spacious, consisting of a long bar plus numerous tables, including a wall length couch. It is a comfortable area and obviously popular. On a Tuesday evening, not when you might expect a crowd, there were plenty of patrons present both at the bar and tables. Though you can also order off the regular menu in the bar, you won't go wrong by trying the Piattini menu.

Like their regular menu, it seems the Piattini menu is subject to change, so there is often something new for you to try. Currently, the menu has 13 small plate options and 3 wood grilled selections. The small plates range from $2-8, most costing $4-$5. The wood grilled selections include two pizzas and a burger, each costing $15-16. I have tried six of the small plates and all of them were excellent, perfectly prepared and spiced.

The Wood Grilled Swordfish ($5) comes with a spicy almond romesco sauce. The two pieces of swordfish were moist and delicious, and the romesco sauce made for a tasty addition. It was spicy but not overly so and the almond flavor was subtle. The Grilled Scallop ($7) was accompanied with truffle whipped potato and topped with a rich, mushroom marsala sauce. Again, the scallops were grilled just right and the marsala sauce was excellent, pairing well with the scallops. The creamy potatoes were also very good and went well with the Marsala.

The Goat Cheese Bruschetta ($5) has a tomato vinaigrette and you receive two long pieces of fresh bread. Along with the creamy goat cheese, there were also slices of cherry tomatoes and the spicy vinaigrette seemed to have balsamic in it. I love goat cheese so this was excellent, the creaminess complementing the acidity of the tomatoes. And L'Andana always has excellent bread, such as their complemetary Ciabatta which starts every meal, including in the bar.

I was thrilled to see that L'Andana had brought back their Lemon Arancini ($4) with tomato brodo. The Arancini used to be on their regular menu and I absolutely loved them so I was disappointed when they were taken off the menu. The arancini now are just as exceptional as they were before. The outside is lightly crunchy and the interior is creamy and flavorful with just the merest hint of lemon. Lemon can sometimes overpower a dish but that does not occur with these arancini. Plus, the tomato brodo sauce is superb and I love to sop up any extra sauce with my bread once the arancini is gone.

The Marsala Glazed Veal Meatballs ($6) with Parmesan polenta has also been on the regular menu, without the polenta. I enjoyed the meatballs before and they were just as good now. The Marsala glaze is quite compelling with firm, veal meatballs. The creamy polenta was also very good with a strong cheesy flavor. The Grilled Rosemary & Lemon Steak Spiedini ($5) was another dish where the lemon flavor was very restrained, and thus just right. The three pieces of tender beef had the right combination of spices, making it quite delicious.

The Spicy Mediterrnean Fish Stew ($8) is the most expensive small plate but it would be a misnomer to call it small. There were loads of seafood in this dish, including clams, mussels, fish, calamari and baby octopus. Plus, a light and spicy tomato-based broth. All of the seafood was very tender and the combination of flavors was a delight. I even got to try one of their pizzas, the Margherita Pizza ($15) which comes with fresh mozzarella, pomodoro, and basil. The pizza has a very thin crust and I very much enjoyed it, especially the fresh mozzarella.

Service, as usual, was excellent. This was a superb meal, with an abundance of delicious flavors and perfectly prepared. The prices are very reasonable for the quantity and quality of food you receive. They would make a nice little snack if you were having a drink, or even a complete meal if you were so inclined. I will definitely be back for more Piattini and hope to see you there.

L'Andana
86 Cambridge Street
Burlington, MA
Phone: (781) 270-0100

L'Andana: Thanksgiving Dinner

As L'Andana is one of my favorite suburban restaurants, I would chceking out its Tuscan-inspired Thanksgiving dinner with a 3-course pre-fixe menu offered at only $35 per person ($15 for children 12-years and younger). It sounds like an excellent value and the food should be delicious.

Your choices will include:

First Course
--Zuppa di Zucca: Autumn squash & pumpkin soup, maple crema, parmesan croutons
--Caesar: Parmesan, black pepper crostini, lemon-anchovy dressing
--Insalata: Organic mixed greens, cranberry vinaigrette, flatbread cracker
--Rigatoni: Bolognese traditionale, parmesan

Main Course
--Turkey: Roast breast, stuffed thigh, whipped potato, asparagus, sage stuffing, herb & giblet gravy
--Wood Grilled Sirloin: Roasted asparagus, sea-salt baked potato
--Porchetta: Fennel, chilies, rosemary potatoes, broccoli rabe, roasted pork brodo
--Three Pound Lobster: Sea-salt baked potato, sautéed chicories, roasted mushrooms, lemon butter sauce ($15 Supplement)
--Cod: Skillet roasted, tomato & parmesan risotto, basil, extra virgin olive oil

Dessert
--Pumpkin Pie
--Crostada, warm apple, cinnamon crumble, vanilla gelato
--Chocolate Crema, semi-sweet chocolate, chantilly cream, almond biscotti

Contorni for an Additional $6 each
--Baked acorn squash
--Whipped potato
--Sage stuffing
--Rosemary roasted potato
--Glazed sweet potato
--Truffle fries
--Rigatoni Bolognese

L'Andana
86 Cambridge Street
Burlington, MA
Phone: (781) 270-0100

L'Andana: Some Updates

I dropped by L'Andana for lunch and noted a few changes of interest.

First, they now have a 3 Course Pre-Fixe menu for Lunch. For $22, you get a choice of Zuppa (soup) or Insalata, then a choice of one of three entrees (including a Strip Steak, Chicken Milanese, or Salmon) and then either Tiramisu or Gelato for dessert.

Prior to my food arriving, we received two large slices of their usual warm bread. I previously noted that during Restaurant Week they had made some changes. Instead of giving you a bowl of oil and tomato, they already added it to the top of bread. They have returned back to the old way, giving you the bowl of oil and tomato and allowing you to smear it on your bread. I like that way much better and am glad they changed back to it.

My Mom and I both had the Pre-Fixe. She had the Zuppa, a Mushroom soup, which she thought was excellent, with a nice, rich flavor. I had the Insalata which also was very good, with a lightly sweet Vin Santo dressing. Then she had the Strip Steak, a good-sized piece of beef, Rosemary fries. She enjoyed the steak very much and I had some as well. The steak was tender and flavorful. The fries were very thin, soft and tasty. Very different than their Truffle fries but very good. I had the Chicken Milanese, one of my favorite dishes, and it was as delicious as ever. As well as quite large. We both then ordered the Tiramisu. The Tiramisu was not presented as expected. It came in a sundae glass, with the pieces of ladyfingers at the bottom, layers of Mascarpone, a layer of chocolate sauce and shaved chocolate atop. We both loved this dessert. Everything blended well together without any one flavor overpowering the others. It was smooth and tasty, chocolaty and quite delicious. You definitely need to try their Tiramisu!

Service was excellent as usual. At $22, I think this lunch is a very good deal. 3 courses, all good-sized, and the food is very tasty. You definitely save money over if you had ordered each course separately.

Second, they also have a 3 course Pre-Fixe Menu for Dinner for $38 though I do not know the choices on that menu. Though I will be sure to check that out soon.

Third, the Dinner menu has undergone a few other minor changes here and there. They have a couple new Appetizers such as a Scampi and Stuffed Artichoke. They don't have the Veal Milanese on the meny though do have the Chicken still. They also have a Lamb dish, a Braised Colorado Shank. Plus, they have a new Beef Rib Roast, in either a Single Cut or Double Cut. And that comes with a Warm Popover (one of my favorite breads!). There are even a few more Contornoi, including Olive Oil Whipped Potato and Wild Mushroom Risotto.

I like that L'Andana continually makes some changes to their menu. It helps the restaurant from becoming stale, from giving you the same old choices all the time. And the quality of their food has remained consistently good. It continues to be one of my favorite restaurants.

L'Andana
86 Cambridge Street
Burlington, MA
Phone: (781) 270-0100

L'Andana: Restaurant Week Lunch

For my first foray during Boston Restaurant Week, I went for lunch to L'Andana in Burlington. As mentioned before, I am a big fan of this restaurant and was curious as to what they would be serving for Restaurant Week. I had not seen their menu online so it would be a surprise when I showed up.

The Lunch menu was simple. For your first course, there was a choice of salad or soup. The second course was a choice of a Salmon, Rigatoni or a Chicken dish. And for dessert, there was a choice between a bread pudding and biscotti cookies. The three-course lunch only costs $20.08. I might have preferred a bit more of an adventurous menu.

Prior to my food arriving, I received a large piece of their usual bread, except they made a change. Instead of giving you a bowl of oil and tomato, they already added it to the top of bread. Although the bread was still quite tasty, I still prefer the old way. It makes for a better presentation, and also allows me to smear some of the tomato and oil on the inside of the bread and not just the top.

For my first course, instead of the mushroom soup, I chose the Insalata, a salad of organic mixed greens and goat cheese topped by a Chianti vinaigrette. I usually am not a big fan of the type of leafy greens in this salad but I devoured the entire large bowl. The Chianti vinaigrette was delicious and added plenty of flavor to the greens. The addition of several chunks of creamy goat cheese made for an excellent salad.

I then chose the Chicken for my second course, a wood grilled scallopini that cames with roasted mushrooms, onions, peppercress and shaved parmesan (though I had them skip the mushrooms). I received quite a large piece of chicken and it was tender and very moist. It had a smoky grilled flavor that well complemented its taste. A very good course, as well as a good-sized portion, that did not disappoint.

My dessert choice was the Budino, a white chocolate bread pudding with orange and pistachio crema. A moist, sweet and flavorful dish that I also eagerly devoured. It had several raisins in it, though I was easily able to remove them and push them to the side. One of the better bread puddings that I have had.

For $20.08, lunch was a very good bargain. I was certainly full when I left. My server, Lindsay, was excellent, both personable and attentive. The other servers that assisted her were very good too.

I did check out their Restaurant Week dinner menu, which is $33.08 for a three course meal. For your first course, you have a choice of Insalata (like the one I had for lunch), Rigatoni, or Prosciutto (with mozzarella and a tomato vinaigrette). Your second course options include a Wood-grilled Salmon with a Cider mustard glaze, a 10oz Wood-Grilled Ribeye with crumbled Gorgonzola, or Chicken Milanese (one of my favorite lunch items). For dessert, they have the Budino (the same as at lunch) or a Chocolate Caramel Torta.

I will likely try their dinner and report back.

Brunch at L'Andana

Yesterday, I finally tried Sunday Brunch at L'Andana in Burlington. As my readers know, I am a big fan of this restaurant so was eager to try their Brunch, which only started a few weeks ago.

They have Sunday Brunch from 11:30am-3:00pm and you can check out the menu online. They have both lunch and brunch options, as well as a list of specialty drinks and Champagne/sparkling wines. The lunch options are generally the same ones as on their usual lunch menu though the Brunch items are unique to this menu.

Prior to any of your food arriving, you receive a warm, grape Ciabatta bread, a thick, slightly sweet bread with a couple of cooked green grapes atop it. This was very interesting as well as tasty. And we devoured both large pieces of it. If we had known we were going to receive that, we might not have also ordered the Tuscan Almond Sticky Buns ($12). You get a skillet with four hot buns, slathered in icing. They were filled with lots of cinnamon though the almond presence seemed mild. They were certainly delicious, especially when hot.

After our sticky buns, we were brought four slices of watermelon, complimentary. It looked like all of the tables received this treat. The thin watermelon slices were nearly seedless and were nicely sweet and refreshing. A good palate cleanser prior to our main meals.

For our entrees, we had the Veal Milanese ($19) and the Stufato ($12). The Veal is made with brown butter and capers and is topped by three eggs, sunnyside up. The Veal is similar to what is on their dinner menu, a huge piece of thin, tender veal. It is one of my favorite dishes there and the three eggs added to the flavor, especially when you broke the yolks. This dish is large enough that many people may not be able to finish it.

I was not as happy with the Stufato. On the menu, it says that it is made of eggs, potatoes, peppers, and sweet sausage. But it fails to mention there are onions in it as well, an omission that puzzles me. Why leave out that one ingredient? It matters to me as I don't generally like onions in such dishes and I would have asked for it to be left out if I had known. The Stufato is cooked in a skillet, the eggs still with runny yolks. There were big chunks of potato and small slices of sweet sausage. I might have preferred a little more sausage as well. The dish tasted good, but it was nothing special.

Service was very good, and we had no issues with it. If you are seeking a bit more of a higher end Sunday brunch, then try out L'Andana.

Boston Restaurant Week-March

The Winter edition of Boston's Restaurant Week has nearly arrived and local foodies have already begun to make reservations.

The concept behind Restaurant Week is that numerous restaurants offer special, low-cost three-course lunches and dinners. Lunches only cost $20.08 and Dinners cost $33.08. The menus are usually limited but you can get some great meals.

The Winter Restaurant Week, which is actually two weeks, will take place from Sunday, March 9 through Friday, March 14, and Sunday, March 16 through Friday, March 21, 2008. So it is just not available on the Saturdays. Over 170 restaurants will be participating this year, though not all of them offer both lunch and dinner. Some only offer one or the other. That gives you plenty of choices.

Although the majority of participating restaurants are located in Boston and Cambridge, there still are a fair share of restaurants in the suburbs as well. Probably the best resource to find out which restaurants are participating is the Unofficial Guide to Restaurant Week Boston. You will find there a list of all the participating restaurants, as well as many of their special menus. There are also links to make reservations through Open Table. I have used this Guide numerous times in the past for Restaurant Week and have found it to be most helpful.

Check out the restaurant list and find places that you want to visit, maybe a place you have never tried before. Check out their menu, if available, to see what they are offering. Not all menus are the same and some restaurants have better offerings than others. Make your reservations as early as possible as many of the restaurants fill up quickly. This is a great opportunity to try some new restaurants at a very reasonable price.

Maybe you would like to check out Chez Henri, and try some Grilled Venison with Taza Cocoa and Ancho Chile. My favorite new restaurant, L'Andana, is serving both lunch and dinner. I would also recommend Tryst, Tapeo, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, the Elephant Walk, Toro, Sibling Rivalry, Sandrine's Bistro, and Harvest. Though there are plenty of other good restaurants that I have not mentioned as well.

Some of the restaurants even offer special wine deals with the meals. They might offer a few paired wines at a reduced price. Considering the low cost of dinner, adding a little more for wine pairings still makes for a relatively inexpensive evening.

Just check out the guide and find somewhere new to dine. I hope you enjoy!