Figs

 

Figs, located right in Beacon Hill is a small restaurant with incredible food. It is known for its pizza and once you try it you will understand why. The restaurant itself is small and has a great feel to it. One thing you should know is that when you choose to come here, there is always a wait to get a table and be seated because this restaurant does not take reservations. However, the pizza is so great that it is well worth the wait.

The pizza is very fresh and made right in front of you. They have a great variety of options for the meat eaters to the vegetarians, there is something for everyone. If I tried a great vegetarian pizza with tomato, mozzarella, and eggplant. Yet, if you are not in the mood for pizza thats alright. They have a great array of pasta options as well. I have to say that although we waited for 40 minutes to get a table it was well worth the wait. It is definitely one of those special hidden gems. I highly suggest everyone tries this place. Overall, this place gets 5 stars for service and food.

Russell House Tavern

Located right in the heart of Harvard Square, you can only imagine what the crowd and feel to Russell House Tavern would be. This place is very Posh and stylish with an air of elegance and maturity. When you walk on you’ll see that there are two floors to this restaurant as well as a bar located downstairs that is always crowded in cheery in the evenings.

The first time i came here we sat downstairs right in the center of everything. We began our night with a couple of cocktails and some salads. Although a salad is such a simple dish, theirs were superb. They had fresh greens, nuts, pears, and other fruits. The combination with the light dressing was perfect and not too heavy. For the main course I got the salmon that came with mashed potatoes and vegetables that were lightly steamed. Lets just say that it was simply cooked to perfection. The different flavors blended perfectly together and the fish itself was not lacking in flavor or too salty. I was very impressed. My friends even tried the burgers and those too were exquisite. Overall when it came to the food we had no complaints. We even stayed and indulged ourselves in dessert.

Now when it came to the service the first time we came there the service was impeccable. I had no complaints. Our waiter was very attentive, checked in on us multiple times and never left us sitting waiting for a second. However, the second time we came we sat in a different section and out waitress was very flaky. We waited for a long time to receive any service at all. We constantly had to ask other waiters for service such as simply refilling our water glass. Needless to say, the tip was not the same the second time.

Overall, I really enjoy this place and highly recommend it for a great dinner or just a night out for drinks at a bar. I would give it 4 stars for food, service, and location. There is always so much going on in Harvard Square that you will definitely find something to do after the meal.

Appetito

Just like the next person I love Italian food. However, I love real, authentic italian food. There are so many Italian restaurants around Boston now, you can easily find somewhere to eat, the problem is finding the right place to eat. The North End is notorious for having some of the best Italian restaurants and I won’t argue with that. However, I stumbled upon Apettito, which is a quaint little restaurant located right in Newton Center. The first time I went, i came with my family for a fun, loud, typical dinner out.

I’ll tell you this much. It definitely has the feel of a family owned restaurant, with the small quaint tables scattered throughout the restaurant and themed pictures painted on the walls throughout. The menu looked fairly decent so we were all excited to give it a try.

However, the food was sub par, the service was not great. There were only a few waitresses during a busy period, if I remember correctly both times I came to this place there were only two waitresses working. The bread that was brought out to us and said to be fresh, was cold and not fresh to say the least. The pasta we ordered  was very average. I ordered one with cranberries, broccoli, and chicken with a light Alfredo sauce, yet it came out like something I would make on my own. The fish we ordered was luke warm and apart from being very bland it was also overly salty. We were all not impressed to say the least.

For the overall service and quality of the food I would say that this place was very overpriced. Being located where it was, i would expect more from it because there are some great restaurants located right across the street, such as Tomato the Pizza Kitchen. Therefore, this restaurant gets 2 stars from me, and although I already came there twice hoping that the experience would improve, it did not.

Golden Temple

As far as i can remember, Golden Temple was always everyone’s favorite Chinese Restaurant. Located right in Brookline, this restaurant was always in the center of everything. Apart for its great food, the restaurant was also known for their great service, wonderful ambiance inside, and having ice sculptures every year around New Years.

I have to admit there are so many Chinese Restaurants out there today, that it almost feels like they are at every corner of every street. I will say this. I have been coming to this place for years and cannot complain about the food or service. We have been to many different restaurants throughout the years, but somehow we find ourselves coming back to this place.

The portions are a decent size, it is easy to share with your family and friends and the place is very clean and relaxing. Compared to other places everything is fresh and held to the highest standards. If you are ever in the area and in the mood for Chinese I highly recommend this place, you will not be disappointed.

Eastern Standard

Owned by the same people who run Island Creek Oyster Bar, Eatern Standard is a very trendy restaurant and bar located right in Kenmore Square in Boston. They have available outdoor seating in the summer, which is great when its a nice day out. Also, inside the restaurant is very trendy with a great bar area off to the left and separate from the rest of the sit down restaurant area. In the evenings this area is always packed with a relatively young crowd enjoying drinks in the city.

However, for a restaurant located in such a great location and with such great design and decoration, they have a very poor menu for actual dining. I have gone there a couple of times for lunch, just cocktails, and dinner. If you are going for a cocktail it is a great place. They offer drinks that other places don’t offer anymore, such as the pain killer which is a coconut and pineapple drink.  If you are looking for a meal here you will most likely be disappointed. There is not a great variety of options to begin with and the dishes are rather simple and not very creative. I’ve tried the burger and I was left unhappy with it. They also have some salad options, sandwiches, and mac and cheese. I was expecting something a little more high end, given the image they were going for.

Overall I am not pleased with this place. I think that the atmosphere is great and I enjoy coming to grab a drink, but I will not be coming there for food. I think that it isnt cooked up to standard and I think it is overpriced for what it is. For service and food this restaurant gets a 3 from me.

In- A- Pickle

This tiny little breakfast place, In-A- Pickle located right in the center of Waltham is incredibly popular. I had heard about the place for years from my friends, who would go there on a weekly basis, every Sunday morning. I decided if everyone was talking about it that I should give it a try too. I finally went there with my friend and got to experience this little breakfast diner.

What can I tell you, they have a pretty interesting and fun menu. Youll find a variety of different pancakes, from reeces to m&m’s and many other ones that sound delicious. Idecided to try the nutella french toast… It was the prefect decision. I was in heaven. Lets just say it was the perfect combination of chocolate and toast for breakfast. Since it was a late brunch we decided to also try one of their panini’s. It was a very interesting panini that had turkey, cheese, lettuce, and even apples. You would think that it would taste odd given the variety of different ingredients, but somehow they all complimented each other very well. I would say that there are still many things on the menu that I have yet to try.

The food was great and the service was good too. Our waitress was very attentive and polite. She would always come by and refill our drinks as  well as ask if there was anything else that we needed. There was never a moment when we felt that we were neglected or mistreated, and for a small diner such as this one I would say that that was a plus and rather impressive.

I will say this, when it comes to the appeal of the restaurant, there isnt really much there. It is a diner after all… Youll see that inside it looks a little over crowded with the little tables and chairs everywhere. The outside, isnt very appealing either, but what makes up for it, is the quality of the food. Remember this isnt gourmet food like Mistral, but if you are looking for a fun and quick brunch, i would definitely recooment this place. Thats why i will give this place 4 stars overall.

Athan’s Bakery

It was my mother who first discovered this bakery when she wanted to surprise me one night with real Greek baklava. Athan’s Bakery is a small chain bakery which offers fresh pastries, desserts, gelato, and even chocolates. Ive gone there before just to sit enjoy a latte with a croissant, or run in when I need to pick up a delicious dessert to bring to a dinner party. I have to say that this place has never disappointed me.

I’ve never tried their sweets like their chocolates and other candies, but I can attest that their baked goods are phenomenal! Even the gelato is very good. I highly recommend that everyone try this place when they have a craving for sweets! You won’t be disappointed.

When you walk in you will always be greeted by friendly service, and being indecisive myself I always need some time to think before I finally decide what I want to get. I came to the Athan’s located in Brookline and the service was great. I came to enjoy a latte with a friend and I was surprised to see that they even brought me my latte and dessert to my table. They were exceptionally attentive, which made the entire experience that much better.  I will definitely be coming back here many more times! Good luck trying to find your favorite dessert

Pino’s Pizza

Pino’s Pizza is a family owned authentic Italian pizzeria that has been located in Allston/ Brighton since 1962. Today its rated as one of the best pizzeria’s in Boston and I have to say that I agree.

My family found this tinny pizzeria decades ago. Maybe even 20 years ago or so and we have been going there since. The service is wonderful, the people are great, but you must keep in mind that this is more of a takeout place than a dining in restaurant. Of course the interior is a little dated and could use some work. Truthfully, I think the exterior could use some work as well, but at the end of the day none of that takes away from how prefect the pizza is.

The sauces are homemade, the crust is very thin, and there is a perfect combination between cheese and any other toppings you wish to add. Having been to Italy myself, I can tell you that there is no comparison between real Italian pizza and American, but I can say that these guys do come close, seeing as what they’re given to work with. For the food and service this place gets 4.5 stars for classic pizza.

Salvatore’s

I love good authentic Italian food. Honestly, who doesn’t? I was introduced to Salvatore’s by a friend of mine who loves the restaurant and frequents it often. I love the vibe in this restaurant and  most of all its location. The Seaport district in Boston is one of my favorite places and this restaurant is right in the heart of it. They have come cute out door seating in the summer and a very modern and fun theme inside. The place is always packed and busy, I have yet to come there sometime when its not.

Now another thing i was pleasantly surprised about was how attentive and great the servers were! I know I am a pretty difficult case and therefore hard to please sometimes, but the guys were were absolutely wonderful. Very friendly, patient, attentive, and always eager to help you pick out the perfect meal.

The food itself is pretty good too. I can’t say its great authentic Italian food, but i will say that it is pretty decent. The fist time I went there I was nervous and ordered pasta to be safe and it was pretty good. The second time I got their salmon and I wasn’t disappointed but I also wasn’t impressed either. The presentation is fine, nothing over the top. I will however, suggest their pizza’s because those are pretty great. So overall, this restaurant gets a 4 from me and I’ll definitely be going there with friends again.

Crema Cafe

Harvard Square is one of those places that is always busy no matter the season or the time of day. A lot of students enjoy sitting around playing music, or sitting at a cafe drinking a cup of coffee and doing some work. Crema Cafe is one of those places. It is a great little cafe where you can sit outdoors when the weather is nice or enjoy sitting inside grabbing a quick lunch or so.

I’ll admit that whenever I’m in the area, even just passing through i’ll always stop in for a cappuccino or a latte at least. My friends even love the soups and salads there as well. Just know that whenever you go in there, there will usually be a long line, so brace yourself!

For the great food and friendly service i’ll give this cute little cafe 5 stars and highly recommend that you check it out for yourself.