Ten Tables was really, really good.

Shared

HOUSE-MADE COUNTRY SAUSAGE WITH MUSTARDY LENTILS DU PUY

to start. All of it was gone pretty quickly. The sausage wasn't super amazing or anything, but the lentils were really good.

I had the
DUBRETON PORTER HOUSE PORK CHOP WITH MUSTARD SPATZLE,
GARLICKY SPINACH AND HERB BUTTER

Was pretty good. It was between this and their short rib dish and I probably should've gone for the short rib. Our waiter asked if I was hungry (I was) so he suggested the pork over the short rib.

Girlfriend had

SHALLOW-POACHED HAKE WITH OREGANO BREADCRUMBS,
MARINATED GIANT BEANS AND LEMON-CAPER AIOLI

which I liked more and she REALLY liked. It was really good, the giants beans were good but the fish was warm and the beans were cold which always makes me feel semi-weird. Whatever, good taste, I would recommend it.

We had two desserts

CHOCOLATE TERRINE WITH
THAI BASIL ICE CREAM AND SEA SALT
&
VANILLA CREME BRULEE WITH HOUSE-MADE PISTACHIO SHORTBREAD

Creme Brulee was really good. We always get a creme brulee whenever we go to a nicer restaurant and this one was one of the best (probably because it had the thickest sugar crust I've ever seen). The terrine was actually really, really good too and I liked it more than the creme brulee. The basil ice cream offset the sweetness of the chocolate and the crunch of sea salt was nice (very sparingly used).

Also, we tried the 3 specialty cocktails they had and they were all really good.

Anyway, I would definitely recommend it. Very romantic too, given the small space. Oh, also the wait stuff was pretty awesome, especially since the last restaurant I went to the wait staff sucked balls.

Got back from boston yesterday. Had a great time, really nice city. We stayed at the intercontinental dt.

Friday night we went to Oleana in Cambridge. Really great food and different that what I normally eat. Everything was spiced in a way id never had before. My gf was sick so it was just me eating really. Ordered a half bottle of syrah which I cant remeber the name of but was pretty enjoyable with the different courses. I had the carrot puree starter which was pretty good topper for bread.

Then we had the hummus which is nothing like hummus id ever had before. They bake chickpeas and serve them in a plate with chopped beats, alfalfa sprouts and avocato. Really cool.

Main course was turkish lamb. I ordered it rare. Was really tender and juicy, just how I like it, with some pepper type spices to make it interesting. Definitely would go back to this restaurant.

Sautrday we went to oishii. Starters were boring miso soup and edamame. Was thinking of having the foie gras maki but figured id try to finish what i ordered then might get that for desert. Ordered a half bottle of cold sake mmmmmm.

I got the chefs special which is 5 pieces of sushi and 10 pieces of shashimi. Was really good (high quality fish) but wasnt that creative. I know you cant do much with shashimi so thats fine. But normally in montreal all the maki is terrible so I never eat it.

Here my gf ordered 3 rolls which were all great. First was lobster roll which was really good but thats it. The other 2 were awesome. Got one that was toro with truffle and caviar on top (love truffles) and the other one (my fav) was kobe beef with slices pear soaked in red wine.

Desert was tiramisu and a complementary honey soaked pear.

We were so stuffed we took the lobster roll home for breakfast and I never got to try the foie gras.

Some pics:

Hummus


Sushi



Shashimi

Maki



Sunday night we went to Lucky's which was 2 blocks form the hotel. Cool place, the gf loved the sinatra cover band. Thanks for the recommendations guys, worked out great.

nice pick on the hotel and pictures looked tasty, might have to try that place in cambridge looked legit

Oleana is fantastic. if you live in the area I highly recommend trying to eat outside when their patio opens up. they don't take reservations for tables out there so you need to wait, but it's the best outdoor dining I've had in the area

I remember going to this awesome breakfast place in harvard, it was always packed but i cant for the life of me remember what it was called. It has a pretty unique system that means you queue up for your food and order and recieve before being seated b/c it meant there was never people waiting for tables, if anyone could post the name if known?

Hungry Mother

In Cambridge near the Kendall Square Cinema. Opened 3/18/08. The menu is limited but everything is excellent. Online menu is out-of-date here and there (no more chicken livers, two different desserts, however entrees are the same). Last night they had a steak special and, since there's no steak on the menu, I'm guessing there's a steak special every night.

Excellent Southern food. Excellent service.

Started with a special: Fried Corn Fritters with a Tabasco and honey glaze. 2 for $4.

Followed up with the Fried Green Tomatoes (bacon, greens) $8 and the Rhode Island Squid (blue & yellow hominy, ham hock, pickled peppers, sherry vinaigrette) $9.

Girlfriend had the Grilled Local Bluefish (new potatoes, bacon, collard salad, smoked tomato jam) - $21 and I had the Cornmeal Catfish (low country red rice "middlins," andouille sausage, green tomato relish) - $18. Ordered a side of Baked Grits with Tasso Ham and Cheddar ($4).

Finished up with Green Tomato Cake (like carrot cake). Solid.

I chose this place because the Yelpers were all over it, and they were spot-on. This place is excellent. The squid app and both entrees (and the grits) were phenomenal. I would have been happy paying $10 more for each entree.

Perfect timing for a bump. I was just looking for this thread for suggestions.

Starting Monday it's restaurant week in Boston, 3 course meals for $33 for dinner and $20 for lunch.

http://www.restaurantweekboston.com/

love restaurant week. i recommend tango in arlington. that place is incredible.

looking through the list, my favorites are

TW Food
Henrietta's Table
EVOO
Chez Henri
Mistral

T anthony's pizza in allston. best pizza imo

Brunch at Gaslight in the South End is pretty great. The gf and I head over there every Sunday. Vanilla french toast is exceptional, good coffee, etc. We've also grown fond of Torry Row in Harvard and Tavolo (for dinner/drinks) and Ashmont Grill (for breakfast/lunch) in Dorchester. (of course, nobody really comes to Dorchester when they're just in town for a visit...)

Haven't been to T Anthony's in ages, but when I was younger I remember the big draw to my friends and I was that they served Gatorade. Good pizza, too.

T. Anthony's is like....pizza, no different than a hundred other places

Can somebody recommend a good bar in harvard square for a first date?

Temple Bar.

Joes on Newbury is fkn delicious. Way better than A&L imo.

Barlow's on a street in southie is a pretty good new place. The daily specials are all very good and the atmosphere is pretty awesome.

To those who say that Oishi is a fantastic sushi restaurant, I would agree, but the omakase tasting menu at O Ya ($150/person just for food) blows it out of the water. O Ya is truly in a different league (and price stratosphere) but is so insanely good that it feels like a great value. The place is really small and I'd recommend requesting reservations to sit at the bar so you can have a great view of the chefs perfecting their artforms

Also, La Campana in Waltham, a modest drive from Boston, is amazing and is the only Italian restaurant in the Boston area with a 28/30 food rating from Zagat (none of the North End places are rated that high). In addition, while not inexpensive by any means, it is reasonably priced when compared to other comparably extraordinary restaurants.

speaking of the north end what do you guys think are the best restaurants? I usually go with Tresca

Seems like more of a restaurant? Do ppl go here for just drinks? This is a 930 date and it is tonight, any other suggestions, maybe more of just a bar?

Temple Bar is a great 1st date place. most girls don't want to go to Sully's Tap for a 1st date. I mean, most places you want to go to will also serve food. also Temple Bar does have a dedicated bar with plenty of room.

Shays is pretty laid back and a more casual setting. It may be wine and beer only.

As stated, there is a pretty large bar at Temple Bar. Personally, I'd get a cozy table there, split an app, and get to work running my mouth. The desserts are also very good, so you could go that route.

i haven't been following this thread but i won a bet and a friend was forced to take me to O Ya (sp?).

We planned the meal ahead of time to keep it reasonable (~300, not including drinks). We were very very impressed by the otoro. explosion of fattiness, super high quality. we def tilted the menu towards that going in though as neither of us has had that high quality fish in a long time. I think we got 3 orders of it.

The okinawan braised pork was amazing. Highly recommended. Their wagyu sake braised short ribs though were relatively poor and I was disappointed by the flavorings (almost had a licorice finish which wasn't something you'd want in that dish).

Their petit bone in pork chop was also very good, but not as ogod as the okinawan pork. Squid ink soba was also good. I tried the onsen egg and was pleasantly surprised as well.

Overall it was the best meal i've had in a while. The fish was perfect and super fresh and despite for one or two disappointments I loved it.

Barron

Locke-Ober is always worth going to. Menu doesn't change much but what they do they do really well. Definitely have to try JFK's Lobster Stew.

wow i need to try this omakase now

Just went to Craigie on Main, their sunday night chef's whim is a great bargain -- 6 courses for $55 and it's fantastic food.