Boston | Yummy Ventures

Toro

Posted on February 3, 2017February 12, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 7.5/10 | 2016 | 1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

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

Toro is a hit and miss for us. There are some dishes we really like, and some we dislike.

Pictured above: Paella valenciana – mussels, shrimp, spanish pork sausage, chicken and calasparra rice (half portion for $26)

img_20161102_224114 — **– – – Erizos con caviar –** caviar, uni, quail egg spoon with iberico ($15) *[expensive spoonful, yet not that tasty. The caviar completely overwhelms the taste of uni.]*

img_20160609_202333 — **+++ Asado de huesos** – roasted bone marrow with radish citrus salad and oxtail marmalade ($14) *[love everything about this dish! The oxtail marmalade goes so well with the bone marrow underneath. It’s so fatty, yet sooooo good. It’s one of those dish you’d feel guilty eating]*

img_20160508_010936 — **– – – Lengua de cordero** – seared lamb tongue,muhammara, seville orange marmalade and puffed quinoa ($14) [*They still have this dish, but they have modified it slightly since we last visited. We felt that the lamb tongue lacked flavour. It almost tasted like it was boiled in water*]

img_20170128_180456_380 — **– – – Corazon** – grilled archer angus beef heart and romesco ($9) *[We ordered this because we wanted to try beef heart, but we didn’t know it will be smoked and sliced thinly. It tasted just like regular ham.]*

img_20170128_180421_930 — **+++ Foie gras a la plancha** – seared foie gras, roasted beets, plum-rhubarb compote, za’atar spiced cracker ($14) [*Current dish has changed since we last visited, it uses more orange flavours. Foie gras is one of our favourite foods and the foie gras here is definitely well-seared!]*

Love Art Sushi

Posted on January 28, 2017February 12, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall Taste: 6.5 | 2017 | 1 Haviland St, Boston, MA 02115

We were invited for their complimentary tasting event, but we try to stay as objective as we can. They are still having a soft opening now, and their grand opening will be in a few weeks.

We thought that the sushi rice was too bland; it almost tasted like white rice with no added vinegar, salt, or sugar. The raw fish was at room-temperature and that really bothered us as it should be cool (sashimis are usually removed from the fridge just prior to serving).

However, we like the flexibility of being able to choose your own combination of toppings, mix-ins, and sauce. We also liked their Japanese matcha latte and Taro tea, which were creamy and not overly sweet (bottomlesss house drinks for $3.06).

Pictured above: Large bowl ($6.12). Toppings – tuna, salmon, masago, avocado (+$1.65 each). Complimentary mix-ins – scallions, roasted garlic, red onion. Sauce: creamy garlic. (Total price: $12.72)

Large bowl ($6.12). **Toppings – salmon, spicy tuna, masago** (+$1.65 each). Complimentary mix-ins: scallions, roasted garlic, shiitaki. Sauce: unagi eel sauce. Flame seared at no additional charge. (Total price: $11.07) *[They definitely did not sear it for long enough. The sauce on top was warm but the fish was still completely raw]*

Kimchi Kitchen

Posted on January 27, 2017March 12, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 8/10 | 2017 | 847 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

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

We tried 3 dishes and they all tasted pretty good, especially their kimchi fried rice. Make sure to order your food at the cashier before taking a seat. They will bring the food to you when it’s ready.

Pictured above: +++ Kimchi fried rice – rice, house-made kimchi. topped with fried egg. ($8. +$2 with pork) [This is our favourite kimchi fried rice of all time. it’s very flavourful, spicy, and the rice is on the sticky side. We don’t usually like our rice sticky but it goes so well here. Our only complaint is that the egg was overcooked.]

img_20170126_210758_363 — **Samgyetang** **(ginseng chicken stew)** – whole chicken stuffed with rice, ginseng, chestnut, jujube and vegetables ($15) [the soup is not seasoned and they provide salt and pepper for you to season it to your liking. I would prefer it if there’s more of a ginseng taste to it, but it’s still pretty good. If you are not used to asian-style chicken soup, you may find it to be bland.]

img_20170126_210833_869 — **L.A.galbi** – beef ribs marinated in our secret umami-and-sweet sauce ($16) *[It’s pretty average and you can find better-quality galbi in a lot of restaurants. The meat is quite chewy and the sauce is on the sweet side]*

Barcelona Wine Bar

Posted on January 25, 2017April 15, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 8/10 | 2016 | 525 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

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

One of our favourite restaurants in Boston! For the last 2 dishes (paella mariscos, squid ink fideos), the menu indicates “To Share. Two or more”. However, you can actually order a one-person portion.

**Chicken liver mousse** – blackberry compote ($5.50) *[I prefer their foie gras torchon but this is only half the price and is really good as well]*

img_20170125_094424_568 — **+++Foie gras torchon** – rhubard preserves ($11.50)

img_20170125_094140_135 — **+++Seared scallops** – mojo de cilantro ($13.50) [We are very picky about scallops and these were perfectly seared. Lynn loved every single drop of their cilantro sauce while Jeff is an avid hater of cilantro and believes it should disappear off the face of the Earth]

img_20170125_094917_204 — **– – – Eva’s duck** **egg** – gem lettuce, trout roe, crispy serrano ($8.50) *[we ordered this because we never had duck eggs, but it tasted just like chicken egg. definitely not worth your $8.50.]*

img_20170125_095026_472 — **Grilled hanger steak** – truffle vinaigrette ($11.50) *[we’ve ordered this 3 times and they don’t cook it very consistently; it ranges from medium rare to medium well. make sure to inform your server how you prefer your meat]*

img_20170125_094955_371 — **– – – Grilled broccolini** – truffle honey, chili flakes ($7.50) *[the vegetable/honey combo is weird and unappetizing to us; not a fan]*

img_20170125_094840_786 — **Cod a la plancha** – salsa verde ($9.50)

img_20170125_094731_080 — **Steak tartare** – fingerling chips, quail egg ($8.50)

**Grilled lamp chops** – eva’s greens, mint chimichurri ($15)

img_20170121_213613_858 — **Paella mariscos** – shrimps, mussels, clams, squid, saffron rice ($24.50 pp)

img_20170125_094013_478 — **+++ Squid ink fideos** – calamari, garilic aioli, scallions ($14.50 pp) *[this is our favourite dish in the restaurant. exercise caution ordering this if you’re dining with someone you don’t want to show your black teeth to.]*

**Parrillada** – ny strip, chicken, pork loin, caucho ($26.50 pp) *[This was alright, a bit on the greasy side. Not something we’ll order again]*

Precinct Kitchen + Bar

Posted on January 21, 2017February 12, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 7.5 | 2016 | 154 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

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

This was our to-go spot for $1 oysters (between 4-6pm), but they no longer have this deal. They have also modified their menu ever since we went. We don’t think we’ll come back to this restaurant since some of our favourite items are no longer available. We will indicate below which items are no longer in their current menu.

img_20170118_174306_479 — **Oysters** – blue point *[replaced by beau soleil]*, kayama bay, powder point, malpeque (used to be $1 each between 4-6. now $3 each). *[Their oysters are really fresh, but now that it’s $3 each, we don’t think it’s worth it]*

img_20170120_220631_740 — **+++Steak tartar** – capers, shallots, cornichons, cage-free egg yolk, toasted croutons ($15) *[This is one of our favourite items, but it is no longer in their menu]*

img_20170120_220604_996 — **Tuna cruda** – grilled hearts of palm, garlic chilli paste, green onion, lime, sea salt ($14) *[The garlic chilli paste reminds me a lot of Chinese chilli oil, so it’s definitely a unique combination]*

2017-01-20-22-03-56 — **+++Jumbo lump crab slider** – with cajun, remoulade *[no longer available].* **Maine lobster slider** – with citrus, tarragon, mayo *[no longer available]*

img_20160810_215143 — **Wild mushroom flatbread** – roasted garlic, reading spring brook farm cheese ($16)

img_20170120_220042_074 — **– – – Pan seared black cod** – garlic and herb puree, pan fried new potato ($29) *[The fish was waaaay over-cooked and we didn’t enjoy it at all. However, the potatoes and puree were excellent; finished every drop of it]*

**+++ Flourless chocolate lava cake** – with a farm berry coulis ($10) *[This is soooo good! You can’t tell it’s flourless at all. If you like your chocolate cake thick and heavy, this is for you.]*

Row 34

Posted on January 18, 2017February 12, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 8.5/10 | 2016 | 383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

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

Pictured above: Tuna crudo – black garlic, avocado ($15) [I saw a picture of this on yelp before going and I thought the white parts were fat. I love highly marbled tuna (e.g. blue fin toro) and is disappointed to find that this is actually extremely lean tuna. However, it is well seasoned with large grains of salt, avocado, oil, deep fried garlic and I would still recommend it!]

IMG_20170118_154054_950 (1).jpg — **Tuna Tartare –** sesame, cucumber ($15) *[in terms of taste, I prefer their tuna crudo more, but this has so much more tuna for the same price.]*

img_20170118_154254_733 — **+++ Warm buttered lobster roll** – slaw & chips ($27) *[this is my favourite dish, and I’d come back just for it’s lobster roll!]*

afterfocus_1484774695461 — **Pan roasted bluefish** – eggplant, summer beans ($26)

Brasserie Jo

Posted on January 16, 2017February 12, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 7/10 | 2016 | 120 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02116

We were invited to Brasserie Jo for a complementary meal, but we try to stay as objective as possible. There were some dishes we loved, and some, not so much.

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

+++ Mussels Riesling Mariniere – pommes frites – mussels in white wine with fries ($25.95) [This is my favourite dish in the restaurant! I would rate its taste to be 9/10. The mussels were fresh, plump and cooked perfectly. The wine sauce was not over-powering and goes really well with the mussels.

Steak hash with quail egg – this item is not on their menu. Extremely cute presentation, but I found it to be too salty.

Sea scallops provencal – peas, rice ($26.95) [the scallops were overcooked. I wasn’t a fan of the peas and rice underneath as well]

Escargotsen cocotte – garlic butter ($14.95) [I generally like food with less salt, so I do find a lot of food to be on the salty side. However, this dish is extremely salty.]

– – – Steak tartare – pommes frites, mustard butter, bearnaise ($19.95) [Steak tartare is a dish I will never fail to order if it’s in the restaurant menu. The ones I’ve had are usually chopped, which is the way I like it. This beef here was finely grounded; its almost as if it was blended]

+++ Eggs with lobster and creme fraiche – this item is not on their menu. [This would be my second favourite dish after their mussels! It’s lightly salted and there were at least 5 – 6 big chunks of succulent lobster meat in there.]

Irashai

Posted on January 16, 2017February 12, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 8/10 | 2017 | 8 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111

I wasn’t expecting much when I walked into the restaurant as there wasn’t that many customers. Luckily, I was proven wrong. I really love 2 of the 3 dishes I ordered and everything is reasonably priced.

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