Tapeo - The Tapa Central

Today, I went to Tapeo on Newbury Street, Boston. You can find decent tapas at decent prices at this very authentically European feeling/looking restaurant. They have the spanish rustic look nailed.
Their wine menu is actually brief but definitely satisfactory. And their sangrias are very famoso and delicioso.
I really enjoyed their garlic shrimp and heard that their seafood paella is excellent. However, I do not think they have the same consistency of taste with all their dishes.
I thought the vegetable crepe was very blah and prune & goatcheese wrapped in bacon was just not quite right. The wine and decor were so perfect though, I just could not help but enjoy the moment. The service is excellent. Fast service and polite waiters. Some dishes might be a little too authentic for me such as the tiny octopus which came with the octopus head and all... Left too little to imagination...
Overall, the location, decor and service is unbeatable and extremely convenient. And naturally, it is overflowing with people. so make reservations peeps. the wait can be hours!!!

Metropolis - The Brunch City of Boston

This weekend I ventured out to South End and discovered a local favorite: Metropolis. It seemed like everyone who came there for brunch was a "frequenter" of Metropolis.
The brunch menu had all the essentials, it was comfort breakfast food done well. The decor was perfect for sunday brunch, cosy and intimate with tons of sunlight seeping in. The coffee was Lavazza at its best (bad coffee to me is a deal breaker sometimes - brunch coffee should be yummy... not dinery/watery).

The big windows, comfy booths and decor give a french twist on an american classic feel.

The french toasts are fluffy and yummy. The eggs benedict seemed to be a favorite among Metropolis citizens, which I did not try.

I would highly recommend... But call ahead of time to make reservations: At peak hours the place gets super crowded - a tad bit beyond the cosy place can handle.

Ps. I heard acquitaine across the street (see my dinner review) has amazing brunches as well. So hopefully will try that next week...

Aquitaine: For the love of French Food

This weekend, I went to the super romantic Aquitaine for dinner. The ultra chic windows that allow you to people gaze, the elegantly designed wine bar and perfectly dimmed light capture you right from your first hello. I happened to be sitting at the most crippling, "blocking the way" table however I still did not feel uncomfortable. The waiter was extremely polite and did not have a french attitude. (I hate the french attitude by non french people at french restaurants... are they trained to treat you like that?) The wine menu is so comprehensive that it would blow you away. The food was very good, the decor and the service. However, for some reason, I did not feel as satisfied as going to Balthazar. Similar prices, atmosphere and meal but just not quite the same.

I think Aquitaine has done a very good job but tried to stay on the safe side despite its claim to be contemporary and experimental. So you can't find anything wrong with the food. It reminds you of a familiar french meal you had at a fabulous restaurant. However it is just a reminder... It is not the actual mind blowing experience that you went ooohhhh, ahhhh over.

Having said that, I think Aquitaine is a must go if you live in Boston. I think everything tastes exactly like it should. It just misses that special twist that would make it memorable toujour. I can still taste Balthazar french onion soup when I close my eyes (yes, I am obsessed with food to the point that I sometimes dream about it). With Aquitaine, I do not have that feeling.

I do not want to sound like I left unsatisfied. I definitely left with a big smile on my face and rosy cheeks from the great wine. I just wish the chef pushed the boundries a little, play with a couple of unfamiliar spices, add a twist of moroccan... Make it a little contemporary. Overall, it is a great french classic.

This mantra is hard to swallow

I hate restaurants that think they can charge you anything and get away with it. Mantra is definitely on my black list in that regard. Mantra is a contemporary French-indian restaurant in downtown Boston, right off of Boston Common. The building used to be an old federal bank I think, or a bank of some sort. The space is very cool yet the conversion from bank to restaurant/lounge has not been so smooth. It reminds me of an 80s communist restaurant for generals and their wives. The bare lighting, white walls, random curtains and music that literally sounds like coming from a boombox makes the atmosphere plain ugly and unfinished.
I was thinking the food must be really good to make up for the lack of finesse, especially if they have the nerve to charge $40 per dish. But I was wrong. The food was at best mediocre. As I was paying the bill, I was just feeling uncomfortable, not only because it was completely not worth the price but also because they started converting the place to a lounge as we were eating.
The lounge did not look very promising either but I did not want to stick around and see. They charge $20 to get in after 11pm. Any place that needs to charge a cover, unless it is a grungy bar with mediocre live music, is LAAAAMEEEE.
And Mantra left a bad taste in my mouth and an undeserved dent in my pocket.