steak tartare | Yummy Ventures

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]

img_20170208_105709_970 — **Torchon of foie gras –** boston brown bread, pickled sour cherries ($14) *[we really liked the foie gras itself, but not a fan of the brown bread and pickled sour cherries]*

20170208_103819 — **+++Steak tartare –** crispy-fried egg, black garlic, truffle oil ($12) [The crispy-fried egg is really good. We recommend eating it by itself. We read a yelp review about the beef chunks being too chewy and we agree. It’s the chewiest beef tartare we had. While Lynn find this average, Jeff really likes it because there wasn’t much seasoning that would distract you from the taste of the beef.

img_20170208_105921_530 — **– – – Leek and mushroom pizza –** melted leek, vermont goat cheese, wild mushroom, white truffle oil ($13) *[This was extremely salty and greasy, and could definitely use more leek and mushrooms]*

img_20170208_104836_384 — **+++Red wine-braised shortrib –** oxtail pot au feu, roasted bone marrow ($28) [The shortrib was extremely tender. The oxtail was on the salty side, but it’s fine if you eat it with the potatoes and carrots. Overall, this is a very heavy dish. Jeff found it average but Lynn really liked it]

2017-02-08-11-01-33 — **Chocolate ganache tart –** kumquat marmalade ($8) [this is probably one of the heaviest chocolate dessert out there; it was so chocolatey that it’s difficult to cut through it. We both really liked it but we recommend one portion for 2 people since it’s so thick]

Saltie Girl

Posted on February 4, 2017March 16, 2017 by yummyventuresco

Overall taste: 8.75/10 | 2017 | 281 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

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

This is our favourite restaurant is Boston so far!

img_20170201_170514_124 — **+++ Pineapple** – elyx, yuzu, lemongrass, citrus soda (for two, $21) *[We thought lemongrass would give it a weird taste, but it’s extremely subtle. We really like it but if you prefer your alcohol strong, this is not for you]*

afterfocus_1485405798425 — **Ahi tuna poke –** soy / sesame / ginger / togarashi / coconut rice ($22) *[It’s good, but it’s something we can make ourselves at home]*

afterfocus_1485405320788 — **+++ Uni benedict toast –** sunny side up quail egg / hollandaise / brioche ($18) [This is really good; everything from the brioche, hollandaise sauce, quail egg to uni. If would have been better if they use Santa Barbara uni (which they sell separately) instead of Maine uni. I wonder if we could request that and pay more for it]

afterfocus_1485437755717 — **– – – Tuna carpaccio –** pickled hon-shimeji mushrooms / house ponzu / fresh herbs ($18) *[This is okay, but it’s something you can get in a lot of Japanese restaurants. We also found the ponzu sauce to be overpowering.]*

afterfocus_1485438547388 — **Torched salmon belly –** avocado / cucumber / green apple / miso glaze ($16) [We actually couldn’t taste the miso glaze. The sauce they used tasted more like unagi sauce. They burnt the salmon skin and the top layer of avocado intentionally to give it a smokey taste. Jeff really likes it but Lynn is not a fan of the charcoal taste.]

afterfocus_1485550364832 — **+++ Hand-chopped dry aged steak tartare –** truffle aioli / buttered brioche / quail egg / parmesan ($16) *[We mentioned before that we’re big fans of steak tartare and this is the best we’ve had in Boston. This dish is the main reason we gave such a high rating to this restaurant]*

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.]*

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.]