mussels | Yummy Ventures

Biagio Ristorante & Bar

Posted on April 7, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 7.75/10 | 2017 | 123 Moody St, Waltham, MA 02453

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

We received a $100 gift certificate for this restaurant, but we remain objective in our review.

IMG_20170406_093231_079 — **Mussels Dijon –** white wine, dijon mustard, garlic, butter, tomatoes & rosemary, served w/ grilled bread ($14.95) *[The mussels were fresh and well-cooked but they were on the small side. Lynn would prefer it without mustard but Jeff liked it.]*

IMG_20170406_092709_038 — **– – – Mini beef wellington –** w/ truffle demi-glaze ($14.95) *[We both did not like their beef wellington. The meat was tough and not meaty enough. The crust wasn’t good as well.]*

IMG_20170406_093720_431 — **+++ Seared jumbo sea scallops –** w/ lemon, white belgian chocolate risotto & grilled asparagus ($26.95) *[These scallops were seared to perfection! The white chocolate risotto was weird but good at the same time.]*

IMG_20170406_092638_998 — **+++ Lobster ravioli –** homemade ravioli filled w/ plump maine lobster in a lobster sherry cream sauce ($27.95) *[This is on the heavy and creamy side but if you like lobster bisque, you’d like this. We thought that their ravioli wrapping could be thinner. However, we really enjoyed this overall.]*

IMG_20170406_093604_165 — **Grand marnier creme brulee –** vanilla custard, grand marnier and crystallised sugar ($9.75) *[This tasted like regular creme brulee with a hint of orange taste, presumably from the grand marnier.]*

IMG_20170406_093451_084 — **Tiramisu –** espresso soaked biscotti layered with mascarpone cream and cocoa ($9.75) *[We really liked the taste of their mascarpone cream but there wasn’t enough of it. You can tell from the picture that it’s mainly filled with biscotti.]*

IMG_20170406_092848_456 — **Cioccolato –** warm molten lava cake with vanilla bean gelato and rasberry puree ($9.75) *[We felt that this was closer to a moist sponge cake than a lava cake. We would definitely have liked it more if the interior was more molten.]*

Dinner Menu

Dessert Menu

Grotto

Posted on April 1, 2017April 3, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 8.25/10 | 2017 | 37 Bowdoin St, Boston, MA 02114

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

We came here during the dine out week and it was only $2 cheaper than if we were to order from their regular menu (see menus below).

We feel that their food is a little on the salty and heavy side, but still delicious and satisfying.

IMG_20170401_173529_078 — +++ Focaccia (complimentary) [We never post pictures of complimentary bread but this was the best focaccia we had. The interior had a cakey texture and the exterior was like cookie! They served the same bread in Marliave but it was served cold and didn’t taste as good.]

IMG_20170401_173435_453 — **Piccata** – mussels, lemon, capers, white wine ($10) *[The mussels were extremely fresh and not overcooked. We both prefer it without lemon]*

IMG_20170327_134541_526 — **Fonduta –** fontina cheese fondue, beef tenderloin tips, portobello mushrooms, aged balsamic, truffle oil ($10) *[Lynn wasn’t a fan of it and found the cheese to be too salty but Jeff loved it.]*

IMG_20170401_173351_753 — **+++ Carne –** grilled beef tenderloin, reggiano risotto, asparagus, red wine sauce ($26) *[The tenderloin was alright but their risotto and red wine sauce were *(#&*@ amazing.]*

IMG_20170401_173314_555 — **+++ Anatra –** apple stuffed duck breast, crispy leg, prosciutto, dried cherries, potato gratin, black truffle aioli, madeira ($26) *[The duck leg was so moist, tender, and heavenly! We thought that the duck breast could be more rare. The potato gratin was soooo buttery.]*

IMG_20170401_173122_989 — **Cioccolato –** melting chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream ($10) *[average]*

IMG_20170401_173225_906 — **Budino –** banana bread pudding, caramel ice cream, spiced walnuts ($10) *[Loved the caramel ice cream. The bread pudding was so-so.]*

Dine out Menu

Regular Dinner Menu

Click menus to enlarge.

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.]