Boston/Cambridge dining
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- ********
has anyobody been to Craigie Street Bistrot in Cambridge? What did you think?
- GreedoLives0
Let me start off by saying the food was outstanding, suprising, and adventurous. Short review: if you like food more than ambiance, this is well worth a visit.
Long Review:
You'll definitely need a reservation (i called two days ahead and couldn't get the precise time i wanted) and you'll probably want a reservation between 8 and 9 unless you want to close the place down like we did (our meal took almost 2 1/2 hours).
The place itself is very oddly situated, in a very residential neighborhood in the basement on a courtyard between two apartment buildings. There is literally nothing but residences a half mile in every direction. The restaurant only has three parking spaces, but it is only about a 20 minute walk from Harvard Sq. It is, however, clearly signed and hard to miss.
Don' t show up early for your reservation, there is no bar. There is a waiting table next to the door that seats two people where you can have a drink, otherwise you get to stand around outside. The place itself is nothing much to look at, obviously limited by its location in a basement, with various pipes running along the ceilings and in unexpected places (duck when you enter the bathroom). The decor is mainly cheap reproductions of 1920s advertising posters. If you're more interested in ambiance than just good food, there are much much better places to go in Boston. Dress is fairly casual (no ties or long-sleeved shirts required), and the AC is fairly weak, so if it's hot, dress appropriately. The clientele was fairly uninteresting, mostly white middle aged people with a few europeans and few younger people thrown in. (Capacity is 49 people, so it is intimate)
The staff was excellent, very friendly and knowledgeable. I asked my waiter a bunch of questions about food and wine and he was never stumped. The menu usually has two 'prize fixe' courses which change daily and a 'neighborhood menu' which is a little cheaper and not quite as adventurous as the other options. You could also order individual dishes, but it seemed like they were out of a bunch of the regular dishes.
I had "Farm fresh eggs en concotte" with bits of lobster and cock's combs (from real roosters; i asked), which was hands down the best egg dish i've ever had. It seemed an odd choice as an appetizer, but it was really light and had a nice white sauce with tiny white mushrooms that the waiter recommended i stir the egg yolks into.
My gf had chosen the neighborhood menu and had gotten a sald of field greens and parsley with crisped onions.
The main course was "Olive Oil poached dayboat sea scallops" in a chorizo broth. Again a very surprising combo that worked out brilliantly. The scallops were baked in an oven at low temperature for a long time, so they were extremly tender and more flavorful than any scallops i'd ever had. The chorizo broth, oddly enough, accented the flavor perfectly and also worked well with the wellfleet clams that were also included. My gf had a confit of chicken breast and thigh with polenta squares served with calaminth (a very potent tiny mint) which she really loved.
For dessert i received a selection three cheeses with some watercress and braised figs along with an excellent fruity dessert wine. My gf received the "chef's choice" dessert, which was lemon thyme sorbet, with sauteed cherries and three fried dough balls in cinnamon sugar.
Overall, the portions were perfectly sized to neither stuff you nor leave you wanting and served at good intervalls to leave you savouring the interesting flavors.
Total bill for the evening (two three-course menus, two aperetifs, two glasses of wine and two coffees plus tip): $170 and well worth it, i thought.
- ********0
Greedo, you are my new hero. Brilliant review--you told me exactly what I needed to hear. I can't thank you enough. We are way more focussed on great food than trendy ambience, although it sounds like a future move to a new location couldn't hurt. We do have a reservation for next friday, so we should be cool. Unless its hot and humid as a motherfucker the way it is in Phl right now. Thanks again.
- GreedoLives0
:)
- kingjulien0
that's what i call a thorough, helpful, generous answer.
- Woolhouse0
I've never been but as a individual who loves food I will definitley check this jem out.
I've been going to the green street grill in Cambridge and can't find enough good things to say.
Unfortunately the green street has been bought out and the restraunt and menu will change in the future so get to it before it's legondary local Caribean grill smolders out.
Fantom Gormet?
- jdcomba0
i used to go here all the time when i lived up north...
http://www.tapeo.com/
sangria and the whole fish baked in sea salt!!! damn good. i reccomend you go
- Woolhouse0
2 blocks from where I work.
Nice Tapas.
- jdcomba0
shrimp in garlic too!
- jdcomba0
i haven't been to beantown in about 3 years now, it would be so nice to go back. i had some great times there!
- Woolhouse0
There's a great place one block down and one block over that does spiced garlic shrimp they're fantastic.
Never had them at tapeo.
- Woolhouse0
Did you go to school up here?
I'm in Cambridge.
- jdcomba0
yeah i went to school in new hampshire, but traveled around new england a lot too. i took advantage of the area. i'm an area molester!
- jevad0
I lived in beantown for a couple years.
Best of times...worst of times....