Boston | Yummy Ventures

Charcoal Guido’s

Posted on March 1, 2017April 15, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 7.5/10 | 2017 | 482 Moody St, Waltham, MA 02453

+++ = highly recommend | – – – = do not recommend

We were invited here for a complimentary meal, but we try to stay objective in your review.

To be honest, we didn’t think we’d come back to this restaurant again since it’s 40min away from where we live. BUT after trying their gnocchi pesto (which, at the moment, is our favourite gnocchi dish of all time), that 40min drive is totally worth it!

img_20170301_000813_790 — **+++ Espresso martini** – stoli vanilla, kahlua, baileys, frangelico and espresso ($10) *[This drink was perfect and there was nothing we would change about it!]*

img_20170301_001002_371 — **– – – Breath of fresh pear** – tito’s vodka, pear liqueur, pear puree and lemon topped with prosecco *[We didn’t like the amount of sparkling wine they put in here; it almost felt like we were drinking soda.]*

afterfocus_1488345730598 — **Ultimate antipasto platter** – parma prosciutto, speck, parmigiano, ricotta salata, grilled sausage, fig marmalde, olives, oil cured vegetables ($18) [This is not something we’d personally order since we only liked half of the stuff in the platter, namely their sausage, parmagiano, and ricotta salata. We are huge fans of prosciutto but felt that their prosciutto wasn’t meaty enough.]

afterfocus_1488345932646 — **Arancine** – fried risotto ball with mozzarella and parmigiano cheese served with marinara sauce ($10) *[This was alright but would have prefer it if it was more cheesy and more moist on the inside.]*

afterfocus_1488345873490 — **Meatballs** – classic combination of beef, pork and veal served in marinara sauce with a sprinkle of parmigiano cheese ($8) [The meatballs were yummy! They were meaty, tender and juicy. We don’t like marinara sauce in general and would have preferred it without the sauce. We just think that it distracts us from tasting the meatball itself.]

img_20170228_230139_250 — **+++ Gnocchi** – with pesto ($18) *[OMG WE LOVED THIS! The gnocchi was delicious and went so well with their pesto sauce! This is the dish that totally stole our hearts.]*

img_20170228_212336_254 — **+++ Trofie & scallops** – Tofie pasta with fresh scallops in pesto ($20) [This would be our 2nd favourite dish after their gnocchi with pesto (maybe we just really like their pesto!). This dish would have been better if the scallops had that crisp golden crust on the outside.]

img_20170228_230436_487 — **Gnocchi** – with bolognese ($20) *[This was alright. We liked it a lot more with their pesto.]*

img_20170228_230724_787 — **Porcini pappardelle & chicken** – pappardelle pasta in porcini sauce and grilled chicken breast. *[The pappardelle pasta and porcini sauce were really good. We would have preferred it if they focused more on the flavor of mushroom, like using portobello instead of chicken breast.]*

afterfocus_1488343511366 — **+++ Sausage** – tomato sauce, mozzarella, caramelized onion, sweet sausage, fresh ricotta cheese. ($16) *[Our favourite pizza.* It had a generous amount of ricotta cheese (looks like whipped cream in the picture) mozzarella and caramelized onion – everything that we love! We personally don’t care for the sweet sausage that much and would probably order it without the sausage in the future.]

afterfocus_1488343829289 — **Margherita** – tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, extra virgin olive oil ($13)

afterfocus_1488346486097 — **White Devil** – hot salami, mozzarella, provolone, shaved parmigiano, extra virgin olive oil ($15)

afterfocus_1488344399691 — **Figs and gorgonzola** – figs, gorgonzola, caramelized onion, arugula ($16) *[Lynn liked it but Jeff felt that the gorgonzola cheese was too strong for him.]*

afterfocus_1488381638636 — **+++ Nutella pizza** – pizza dough filled with nutella and ricotta, finished in wood oven (Duo for $10. Family for $14 (pictured). Add fruit for $2) [This is their signature dessert. Jeff is crazy about nutella and likes anything with it. Lynn usually finds nutella to be too sweet but really liked this pizza because the ricotta cheese (which isn’t sweet) goes really well with the nutella.]

Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar

Posted on February 26, 2017April 25, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 7.75/10 | 2017 | 412 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127

+++ = highly recommend | – – – = do not recommend

This place was really crowded when we were there on Sunday for brunch. We’ve also read reviews where people had to wait 1.5 hours for seats during dinner, so be sure to make reservations ahead of time!

afterfocus_1488138730988 — **+++ Brewed awakening** – vanilla vodka / rumchata / kahlua / cinnamon-nutmeg cold brew ($11) *[We really liked this drink and would come back just for it! It was sweet and creamy with mild coffee and alcohol flavour.]*

afterfocus_1488139806297 — **Sea bass ceviche** – pickled papaya / roasted habanero and agave / passion fruit / salsa verde ($12) *[We thought that this was too sweet and tasted very much like a dessert. Lynn liked to eat the sea bass with the salsa verde, which was savory. Jeff wasn’t a fan of it as it had cilantro.]*

afterfocus_1488138878662 — **+++ Tuna crudo tostada –** aji amarillo leche de tigre / avocado / lime crema / pickled serrano peppers ($14) *[The tuna was fresh and had the right amount of seasoning.]*

afterfocus_1488140332473 — **– – – Carne asada** – painted hills flank steak / chimichurri / pico / green mole / queso fresco / avocado ($12) *[The steak was tough and dry. It was also too charred for our liking.]*

afterfocus_1488139927799 — **+++ Baja fried fish –** charred jalapeno and pineapple aioli / pickled cabbage / avocado ($12) *[This was great! The fish was well-fried and went really well their pickled cabbage and aioli.]*

img_20170226_153135_358 — **Fried chicken and waffles** – jalapeno cornbread waffle / chile maple butter sauce ($14) [Brunch only. We mainly ordered this because we’ve never had chicken and waffles.. haha. We don’t have a comparison but we think it’s pretty good. The chicken could have less batter though. This was a generous serving for $14.]

Cranberry Bog Dinner – Mirbeau Inn & Spa

Posted on February 25, 2017February 25, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 7.5/10 | 2016 | 72 Brook St, Plympton, MA 02367

This is a media event held in Mayflower Cranberries and is hosted by Mirbeau Inn and Spa. See our first post on Mirbeau Inn and Spa: The Bistro & Bar – Mirbeau Inn & Spa

We really loved the view! During sunset, you can see the reflection of the sun on the bog (pictured above). This is also the first time we’ve had outdoor fine dining. If you’re interested, find out more here.

As for the food, they tried to incorporate cranberries in all their dishes. We thought that all the appetisers were amazing, but their main course was average.

img_20170225_172236_185 — **Cranberry Bog** *[We got to go into the bog, which was awesome!]\*

img_20170225_175035_756 — **Champagne & assortment of cheeses**

img_20170225_174948_487 — **Terrine with cranberry sauce**

img_20170225_174911_496 — **Lamb chops**

img_20170223_140200_542 — **Outdoor table setup**

img_20170223_140705_535 — **Pumpkin cranberry soup**

img_20170223_140545_707 — **Brussels sprouts. Potatoes**

img_20170223_140814_770 — **Slow braised short ribs, kale with cranberry cheese**

img_20170223_141057_744 — **Red and white wine**

img_20170223_140928_595 — **Cranberry cheesecake**

img_20170225_172852_914 — **Cranberry s’mores**

img_20170223_140037_889 — **Cranberry sorbet push pop with pop rocks**

The Bistro & Wine Bar – Mirbeau Inn & Spa

Posted on February 25, 2017February 26, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 8.5/10 | 2016 | 35 Landmark Drive, Plymouth, MA 02360

Mirbeau Inn & Spa is one hour drive away from Boston. It is a great spot for a staycation where you can indulge in their spa services and good food: http://plymouth.mirbeau.com/

They hold several events such as the Cranberry Bog Dinner. It is also an ideal location for a semi-destination wedding!

The accommodation and food were complimentary, but we try to be objective in our review.

**Wood-roasted plymouth rock oyster –** portuguese chorizo butter / espelette pepper / charred lime ($19) *[This was delicious. It was cooked just right and the seasoning complimented the oysters very well.]*

**Artisanal cheeses from near and far –** sea salt crackers / summer peach jam / poppy seed honey ($18) *[We really liked the selection of cheeses, which were varied and none of them was overly pungent.]*

**Plymouth rock oyster on ice** – banyuls mignonette / bistro hot sauce / horseradish cocktail ($18) *[Very fresh oysters, but definitely on the pricey side.]*

We’ve taken additional pictures of the inn to share with you guys. Overall, Mirbeau inn has a very relaxing atmosphere. Most of the guests utilise their spa services (you’d see many people wearing bath robes).

img_20170223_231405_896 — **Pond with live Koi fish –** the patio to the left is where we dined

[Chowdah Pot Competition]

Posted on February 20, 2017February 20, 2017 by yummyventuresco

We attended the Chowdah pot competition on Feb 15, 2017, where 6 restaurants compete to make the best chowder: http://www.assemblyrow.com/play/the-chowdah-pot

Read on to find out who won the competition, and who our personal winner is.

img_20170219_143043_612 — EARLS KITCHEN + BAR – **Old bay chowdah** – clams, shrimp, andouille sausage, corn, potatoes & old bay spice *[We didn’t really like this. There were way too many ingredients that didn’t particularly complement each other. We would have preferred it if they focus on less ingredients.]*

img_20170219_143116_957 — OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE – **New England clam chowder** *[This was okay. It was on the salty side, and had a spicy kick from cayenne pepper.]*

img_20170219_143252_379 — TONY C’S – **Tony’s clam chowder** *[This was our favourite. It was creamy, and the ingredients were simple. We could taste the subtle flavor of the clams.]*

img_20170219_142813_313 — RIVER BAR – Chicken bacon ranch chowder *[Winner of the competition. The flavor of the bacon is strong and the chicken is mainly there for texture. The wanton strips on top were delicious. We’re not big fans of bacon, so this is our #2.]*

img_20170219_142855_383 — SOUTHERN KIN COOKHOUSE – **Scallop corn chowder** [We’re both huge scallop fans but hated this soup. The scallops were literally tasteless. The soup had a strong smokey flavour, which we didn’t like. The only thing we liked was the pork rind on top]

img_20170219_142939_394 — AMERICAN FRESH BREWHOUSE – **Jalapeno bacon chowder** *[Our least favourite chowder on the list.]*

Lincoln Tavern

Posted on February 17, 2017March 5, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall Taste: 8/10 | 2017 | 425 W Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127

+++ = highly recommend | – – – = do not recommend

We were invited to Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant for a complementary meal, but we try to stay as objective as possible.

Pictured above (anti-clockwise):

Fruit bowl ($6) [Not something we would personally order in a restaurant.]

+++ Breakfast burger – maple sausage patty, hash browns, over easy egg, pepper jelly, hollandaise, portuguese muffin, served with fries ($13) [We highly recommend this! The patty was sweet, fragrant, and juicy. The egg was runny and their pepper jelly gave it a good kick.]

Apple cinnamon waffles – apple pie filling, maple pecan crumble, vanilla bean whipped cream ($12) [We liked the taste but found it to be too sweet.]

– – – Fruity pebble pancakes – stack of pancakes, cereal milk anglaise ($12) [This was extremely sweet as well, and we’re not a fan of their fruity pebbles, which were artificial-tasting]

Steak and potato wood fired pizza – mashed potato, smoked prime rib, caramelized onion, fontina cheese, arugula, truffle oil ($16) [This was pretty good but on the salty side]

img_20170213_224246_152 — **+++** *[We could not find this in their menu but we really liked it. Perhaps you can show this picture to their server. The cake is very moist and the sweetness compliments the sourness from the berries.]*

img_20170213_230906_929 — **+++ Lincoln sliders** – bacon aioli, muenster cheese, sunny-side up quail egg, potato bun ($10) *[This was one of our favourite dish here. Not only do they look so cute, they’re absolutely delicious. The quail eggs were all runny, and the patty was really juicy and meaty.]*

**+++ Steak burrito** – coffee rubbed wood grilled hanger steak, over easy eggs, hashbrowns, pico de gallo, avocado ($16) *[The hanger steak was on the chewy side, but the overall taste was really good, especially with their guacamole.]*

img_20170213_225239_251 — **Short rib poutine** – rosemary truffle fries, bone marrow gravy, smoked short rib, sunny-side up egg, crumbled bacon, shaved truffle ($16) *[This was good but the topping was on the salty side. We would also have preferred it if the fries were less burnt.]*

Dig Inn

Posted on February 12, 2017February 13, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 7/10 | 2017 | 557 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

+++ = highly recommend | – – – = do not recommend

Dig Inn takes pride in buying food from local farms/suppliers, which may explain why their food is pricey. The taste of their food is above average, but we found that they’re very heavy-handed on butter, oil, and cream. Also, it would be so helpful if they had labels indicating what each dish was.

If you’re looking to support local suppliers, or looking for a place that is vegan or vegetarian friendly, this would be a place for you. However, we don’t find Dig Inn to be a healthy restaurant choice.

2017-02-09-21-18-36 — **Iced matcha latte** ($4.67) *[This was unsweetened and we requested to have it with almond milk. It’s pretty good, especially if you add a little syrup found at the counter]*

2017-02-09-21-18-50 — **– – – Organic dark hot chocolate** ($4.67) *[We both hated their hot chocolate. There were spices mixed into the chocolate. We wished they told us ahead of time or indicate it in the menu.]*

2017-02-09-21-18-18 — Marketbowl. **Protein – short ribs**. Base – toasted farro w/ butternut squash & celery. Sides – upstate mac & cheese, brussel sprouts w/ maple & sriracha. Sauce – garlic tofu aioli (Total: $15.5) [Lynn really liked the short ribs. The meat was on the fatty side and was pretty greasy (which may be good or bad depending on your preference). The mac & cheese was one of the creamiest we’ve had. The 1st few bites were good, but it got sickening after a while. The brussel sprouts were charred and was pretty dry. As for the sauce, pretty sure they put lemon in it; not a fan of the sourness.]

2017-02-09-21-18-03 — Marketbowl. **Protein – herb grilled steak.** Base – classic brown rice. Sides – broccoli w/ meyer lemon, avocado (+$1.5), eggplant. Sauce – pesto (Total price: $13.88) *[The steak was chewy and a little dry. The broccoli was too burned for us; it was bitter and sour. The eggplant was good, but extremely oily. Again, their pesto sauce was too sour for us.]*

Dolphin Bay

Posted on February 11, 2017February 12, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 7.5/10 | 2017 | 72 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

+++ = highly recommend | – – – = do not recommend

We’ve really like Taiwanese food, but there doesn’t seem to be that many Taiwanese restaurants in Boston. We’d really appreciate recommendations!

img_20170210_103145_924 — **– – – Taiwanese sausages (**$4.5) *[This is very dry and a little tough. We had really good ones in Taiwan night markets, so we’re a little disappointed.]*

img_20170210_103242_035 — **Spicy wontons** ($6.5) *[Jeff is not a fan of the chilli oil but Lynn loves it. It’s hard to describe but it’s a little spicy and a little vinegary.]*

img_20170210_103059_546 — **Popcorn chicken** ($4.5) [We had this at 3 separate occasions. It was great at the 1st two occasions, but the last time we ordered it, it was dry and wasn’t well-fried. Overall, we really like Taiwanese-style fried chicken; we haven’t KFC since we’ve tried this.]

img_20170210_103219_589 — **Beef shank stew** ($6.5) [this was served cold, and we thought it’s going to be a stew, not drizzled with chilli oil. When we tried it in the restaurant, it was tough and dry. When we heat it up and tried it at home, it was sooooooooo good. The meat became tender and juicy. This is just our preference but we think this dish tasted much better warm]

img_20170210_103358_555 — **+++ Small pork rice** ($3.5) *[we really like this, plus the serving is pretty generous for the price. There are 2 sizes for this dish and we recommend getting the appetiser portion.]*

img_20170210_103306_486 — **Oyster pancake** ($6.5) *[We felt there wasn’t enough oysters and it’s way too greasy.]*

img_20170209_213145_304 — **+++ Shaved ice –** toppings: ice cream, pineapple, milk pudding, egg pudding ($9.99 for 4 toppings) *[Some people just come in for their desserts. The picture doesn’t show it but this can definitely be shared among 4 people]*

Russell House Tavern

Posted on February 9, 2017March 16, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 7.75/10 | 2017 | 14 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA 02138

+++ = highly recommend | – – – = do not recommend

Pictured above: Lobster slider – pickled watermelon rind, arugula, buttered old bay brioche ($6) [lobster salad was good, but the buns could be more toasted and have more butter]