Non-Rant: Selecting A Special Occasion Restaurant

Which restaurant should you choose for a special occasion? It's a question I've been pondering for the last couple weeks, as I decide which restaurant I'll visit for my own special occasion at the end of this week. 

The answer isn't always easy, and will depend on many different factors, from price to cuisine. It's a question I've often seen asked on numerous forums, and a question I've been asked by many people. I want to offer Ten Restaurant Recommendations, which will fit a variety of needs, places which I find to be consistently good and definitely worthy of your patronage. These are places I especially love, and which I've also recommended to many others. 

I also want to note that my list only includes restaurants located outside of Boston. There are plenty of lists of Boston restaurants, but far fewer for those outside of it. In addition, this list is far from comprehensive, but is more just a small selection of some of my favorites. 

When considering where to celebrate your special occasion, there's a number of questions you should ask yourself, to help narrow down the possibilities. How much do you want to spend? Do you want to splurge, or be more economical in your choice? Will your celebration be for breakfast, lunch or dinner? How many people will be celebrating with you? Is there a specific type of cuisine that you desire? Are you looking for a more intimate venue? Will you be accompanied by children? Does anyone in your group have any dietary restrictions? Do you want an excellent wine list or a large selection of beers on tap? And there's even more questions you can ask as well.

As you consider these questions, and others, here's my top suggestions. And I'll be celebrating later this week at one of these ten restaurants.

Nightshade Noodle Bar (Lynn): For a splurge, Nightshade offers inventive and delicious French/Vietnamese inspired-cuisine, with their own unique spin, in multi-course tasting menus. Its wine and cocktail program is also excellent. It's a more intimate spot and is one of my Top Three Favorite restaurants. I'll be dining there later this month celebrating one of my own special occasions. As it's very popular, try to make reservations as far ahead as possible. 

The Bancroft (Burlington): Also for a splurge, and for either lunch or dinner, the Bancroft is one of my favorite steakhouses. I've dined there most often for lunch for special occasions, and those lunches have always been excellent. Steak may be their speciality but you'll find plenty of other delicious dishes, from Fried Clams to a Duck Confit Sandwich. 

Pellana Prime Steakhouse (Peabody): Pellana is another classic steakhouse, a place to splurge, with an excellent wine list. Sure, you could easily go to one of the chain steakhouses, but these more independent places will surprise you with their quality. 

Ithaki (Peabody): This Greek restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, and most everything has a Greek flair. The food is delicious, and portion-size is often ample and reasonably priced. They offer numerous Greek wines on their list, and I recommend you check out those wines instead of the usual suspects from California and France. 

Row 34 (Burlington): For both lunch and dinner, this is a great spot for fresh seafood, from oysters to tuna crudo, from fried clams to lobster rolls. Their lunch menu even has an excellent Tuna Melt! They also have a very good wine list and creative cocktails. I've celebrated here a number of times, for both lunch and dinner.

A Tavola (Winchester): For a more intimate spot for dinner, and which serves excellent Italian cuisine, check out A Tavola. Their home-made pasta is superb, and you can also find some intriguing and delicious specials, from chicken fried quail to duck wings. Their Italian cuisine is as good as anything you'll find in the North End. Their wine list concentrates on Italian wines, and there are many very good choices. Plus, they have recently expanded their size, adding a wine bar and additional seating. 

Il Ponte (Woburn): Another intimate, Italian restaurant, with killer home-made pasta, amazing Neapolitan pizza, and plenty of other delicious dishes. Again, this is a restaurant with Italian cuisine as good as anything you'll find in the North End. It has a primarily Italian wine list, with some high-end wines available by the glass. Excellent hospitality, a charming chef/owner, and everyone I've recommended has been thoroughly impressed by the restaurant. 

Tambo 22 (Chelsea): For a splurge, and a more unique cuisine, check out this Peruvian restaurant. It's also a more intimate spot, and should impress your celebrants. The food is delicious, interesting, and hearty. They also have a full drinks program, including numerous Peruvian spirits and a variety of Pisco Sour cocktails.

Prince Pizzeria (Saugus): This restaurant has existed on Route 1 for 60 years, and is a place I've been going to since I was a child. It's a large, casual spot for pizza and Italian cuisine, and its tasty pizza is basically its own unique and delicious style. You can easily book a large celebratory party, at a reasonable price, here. It's a very family friendly spot, and everyone from children to adults loves pizza so it's a great choice for all. 

Nick & Andy's (Danvers): Sometimes, you want a breakfast celebration, and my top choice for such would be Nick & Andy's. The food is fresh, delicious and there's plenty of variety. Try their fresh-baked muffins or hash browns (which are tougher to find locally). Prices are reasonable and service is very good. 

Greco Opens In Burlington! Enjoy Gyros, Loukoumades & More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I'm back again with a new edition of Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting, upcoming food and drink events. I hope everyone dines out safely, tips well and are nice to their servers.
******************************************************
1) It’s the summer of seafood at Abe & Louie’s and Coach Grill as they debut new feature menus to be enjoyed on their scenic al fresco patios.  From July 8 through August 4, the “Summer Wine & Dine” offerings highlight a trio of seasonal creations – two starters and an entrée – with specialty sips:

Abe & Louie’s :
Appetizers:
Summer Tomato & Lobster Gazpacho with Maine lobster, roasted vegetables and basil ($16)
Salmon Rillettes with radish and dill on toasted rye sourdough ($19)
Entrée: Halibut en Papillote over polenta with summer corn and ratatouille ($52)
Cocktails:
Fizzy Dizzy with Sipsmith gin, strawberry syrup, fresh citrus, prosecco and Fever Tree club soda ($16)
Boujee on Boylston with Basil Hayden, Fabrizia limoncello, lemon and sage ($18)
Michelle’s Margarita with Tres Gen Plata, watermelon, triple sec and lime ($17)
Champagne: NV Jeeper Grand Assemblage Brut (Reims, France; $19)

Coach Grill:
Appetizers:
Shrimp Ceviche with avocado, cucumber, red onion, citrus and cilantro ($17)
Smoked Salmon Carpaccio with capers and lemon aioli ($18)
Entrée: Maine Lobster Roll served hot or cold on a brioche bun with truffle-parmesan fries ($45)
Cocktails:
Fizzy Dizzy with Sipsmith gin, strawberry syrup, fresh citrus, prosecco and Fever Tree club soda ($16)
Boujee in the Burbs with Basil Hayden, Fabrizia limoncello, lemon and sage ($17)
Michelle’s Margarita with Tres Gen Plata, watermelon, triple sec and lime ($17)
Champagne: NV Jeeper Grand Assemblage Brut (Reims, France; $19)
Wine: Jacques Dumont Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (Loire Valley, France; $14)

2) National Hot Dog Day is Wednesday, July 17, and Fuddruckers, in Reading, is holding a Hot Dog Special to celebrate. They will be offering $1 Hot Dogs, for Dine In only, and will a limit of 5 per transaction. The basic condiments are free but specialty toppings cost extra. And this special is only good while supplies last. This is said to be their most successful promotion in their New England history so this could get very busy. You might want to get there early, and it opens at 11am, to ensure you get this special Hot Dog deal. 

Ithaki: A Delicious Greek Dinner

Ithaki, a mainstay of Ipswich for about 25 years, moved to Peabody in 2022. This Greek restaurant, owned by Petros Markopoulos, had an excellent reputation, and it's now located on Route 1, next to the Holiday Inn. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and I've previously enjoyed breakfast and a wine dinner there. Recently, I stopped by for dinner and was once again impressed with its cuisine.

The menu is extensive, with Raw & Cured dishes (like Octopus Carpaccio and House Marinated Sardines), Spreads (like Hummus and Tzatziki), Meze-Small Plates (like Saganaki and Dolmades), Soups & Salads (like Horiatiki and Fattoush), and Main Courses, divided into Fish and Meat dishes (such as Whole Boneless Branzino, Blackened Salmon, Moussakas, Youvetsi, and Lamb Skewer). Main Courses are priced from $26-$46.

The wine list is international in scope, but with a significant number of Greek wines. I chose the 2022 Thymiopoulos Xinomavro Young Vines ($40/bottle). The Thymiopoulos family has been involved in grape growing in Trilofos for generations, selling their grapes, but Apostolos Thymiopoulos was the first to vinify wine, releasing his first wine in 2005. Apostolos currently produces about ten different expressions of the indigenous Xynomavro grape, and his vineyards are organic and Biodynamic. He also believes in minimal intervention in the cellar. 

The term Xynomavro (also spelled Xinomavro) roughly translates as "acid-black." Xinomavro likely originated in the Náoussa region, in northern Greece, and is the second most planted red grape in Greece. The Náoussa appellation, established in 1972, only permits the use of the Xynomavro grape. The grape is most often compared to Nebbiolo (and sometimes Burgundy), and tends to possess strong tannins and high acidity, meaning it also can age very well. As the wine ages, it starts to lose its red fruit flavors and begins to acquire savory notes, especially tomato and olive.

The 2022 Thymiopoulos Xinomavro Young Vines presents juicy red fruit flavors, accented by good acidity, a subtle earthiness, and some herbal notes. Fresh and bright, it's a fine summery red wine, and pairs well with a variety of foods. 

We began our dinner with the Hummus, accompanied by crunchy pita chips. The Hummus was tasty and creamy, with pleasant garlic and lemon accents. 

The Calamari, made with pickled peppers, spicy aioli, lemon, capers, and chimichurri, was excellent, with a crisp coating and incredibly tender calamari. It just melted in your mouth. The peppers and chimichurri added interesting and tasty flavors to the dish. One of the top Calamari dishes I've enjoyed in some time.

The Baked Feta is made with Cretan honey, pistachios, and sesame seeds. The creamy and salty feta was balanced by the sweetness of the honey, and the crunchy element of the pistachios and nutty sesame seeds. A well balanced and delicious dish.

The Bifteki consists of two, 4-ounce burgers topped by roasted tomato and a slice of feta. The burgers had a nice char, and were juicy inside, enhanced by the acidic tomato and salty feta. The soft rolls were a good choice for these burgers too. 

We split a Main Course, the Seafood Youvetsi ("Greek Paella"), composed of shrimp, scallops, cod, clams and mussels atop orzo with a lobster tomato sauce. There was plenty of tasty and tender seafood atop the orzo and flavorful sauce. It's a hearty dish, and there's definitely plenty for two people. My only suggestion is that maybe it would have been enhanced with some locanico, Greek sausage, as paella often has chorizo. 

Excellent service, delicious food, good portion sizes, and a tasty Greek wine, all contributed to an impressive dinner. 

Jana Grill & Bakery: A Win For Lunch

Located in Watertown, Jana Grill & Bakery serves Armenian, Georgian, Slavic and Mediterranean cuisine, and I stopped by there last week for lunch. It's a small restaurant, with a rustic vibe, with a good-sized menu of appetizers, salads, soups, grilled meats, flatbreads, sides, desserts and more. You'll find dishes including Hummus, Pasuts Tolma, Babaganush, Pelmeni, and Beef Borscht. There are also Khorovats (charcoal grilled meats) and Losh-Kebabs (charcoal grilled ground meat), including chicken, beef, pork, and lamb. So many enticing choices. 

We began our lunch with a pitcher of Kompot, a slightly sweet juice of blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. It wasn't overly sweet, and had a pleasant berry taste, the different fruits blending well together. 

Jana Grill is also one of the few spots in the Boston+ area which serves Khachapuri, a Georgian cheese bread (the country, not the state). Different regions of Georgia have different recipes and versions, and there are over 50 different varieties of khachapuri. The National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation even granted the status of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Georgia to Khachapuri. 

Jana Grill makes two different types of Khachapuri, which are listed on their menu under "Flatbreads."  The Megruli Khachapuri (Small $15, Large $20) is a specialty of the Samegrelo region, a forested region which borders the Black Sea. It resembles a cheesy pizza, without any sauce, and the restaurant once described the dish as "Think of cheese pizza, and triple the cheese." 

 

They also serve Ajarian Khachapuri (Small $16, Large $22), one of the most popular and well known types of Khachapuri, and originated in the seaside region of Adjara. The bread is molded into a boat shape and the middle is topped by a soft-boiled egg or just the yolk. The crust is a nice golden brown, with a crisp exterior and a light, fluffy interior. The melted cheese is not just atop the crust, but also extends under some of the crust. The cheesy blend in the middle, when mixed with the egg yolk, is salty, cheesy, creamy and rich of umami. Pure delight! You can even order the khachapuri with slices of basturma (cured beef). 

Jana Grill has a Lunch Special Menu, from 11am-3pm, which includes Combo Plates ($17-$29). You create your own Combo Plates by making four choices including Protein (chicken, pork, lamb, beef or falafel), Side (rice or roasted potato), Appetizer (Hummus, Babaganush, or Tzatziki), and Sauce (Tahini, Tomato, Garlic, or Tzatziki). The Combo plate also comes with a small salad and pita bread. We chose the Lamb with hummus, roasted potatoes and garlic sauce. The lamb was tender and flavorful, with a nice char on it. The hummus was creamy and tasty and the potatoes were lightly crispy on the outside, and fully inside. The salad veggies were very fresh too. A hearty plate of food and a great choice for lunch. 

Service was excellent, and the food continues to impress. I last dined here prior to the pandemic, and the food remains at a high quality. It's an excellent spot to find some dishes which are hard to find elsewhere in the Boston+ area. Jana Grill earns my hearty recommendation.