Boston Restaurant Reviews | SickMeals.com

Sick Meals in 2008

2009-01-10T15:43:00.016-05:00

As you may have observed, The King of Sick Meals has been on a one year hiatus. Somewhere along the line, I realized that paying too close attention to the details of my dining proved to be a buzzkill. So, I'm back, I'm going to be more brief, but I'm going to be no less reverent (relevant?). Here's a quick look at a few of the highs and lows of the past year...

Favorite - Rocca (South End)
Friendly service, homemade pastas, and fresh, delicious entrees make Rocca my current obsession. It's almost impossible to pass up Rocca's Rigatoni Baked in a Pot, with veal, tomatoes, and Parmigiano. The portion is hearty and it tastes just as good the next day. And make no mistake: Rocca's Inferno, an intoxicating mix of Patron Silver, Thyme, Jalapeno, and Lime, is the sickest drink in Boston. Read our August 2007 Review of Rocca

Runner-Up - Metropolis Cafe (South End)
Metropolis is a cute little bistro tucked along Tremont Street in the South End. A lot of the time, ordering risotto means getting a bowl of watery rice with some scattered meat, fish, or vegetables. Not at Metropolis, where the creamy Risotto of the Day is the real deal. Come here for a cozy dining experience, a nice bottle of wine, and the best risotto in Boston.

Favorite Out Of Town - Vivoli Cafe & Trattoria (West Hollywood, CA)
One would not normally expect to find a gem in a strip mall, so I was admittedly a little skeptical. But this place is sick. The pricing and cuisine are right on the money, the atmosphere is lively, and the staff makes you feel as though you are a regular. Food is prepared in an open kitchen that centers this small Italian restaurant. Located in the heart of the Sunset Strip.

Restaurant That Owes Me a Refund - Artu (North End)
After a fun night at the New England Aquarium, we sauntered over to the North End for a sick meal, and we decided to try something new - always a dangerous proposition in this mediocre sea of red sauce. We placed an order and received lukewarm dishes in what seemed like 90 seconds. The entrees tasted like they were lying around for hours. Our waitress acted as though we were intruding on her social time at the bar. And, typical of many North End dumps, the prices were not commensurate with the quality.

Where I'm Not Going Next Thanksgiving - The Fireplace (Brookline)
What would have otherwise been a satisfying even atmospheric Thanksgiving dinner was ruined by The Fireplace's rush for you to give thanks and enjoy turkey with all the fixings in less than the time it takes to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is no time to accelerate your pacing and get customers in and out of the door in record time.

Bonfire

2007-12-30T15:07:00.001-05:00

Overall Rating: The Sickest (90 out of 100)

50 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-262-3473

Located in Park Plaza Hotel, Todd English's Bonfire fuses Argentinean, European, and American steakhouse influences. In addition to steakhouse cuts and creative entrees, Bonfire boasts a taqueria that serves an assortment of tasty tacos and tapas. We left Bonfire impressed by the sick, diverse cuisine as well as the sleek and stylish decor.

Our History at Bonfire
Our first visit to Bonfire was on a Friday night at 8:45pm.

Appetizers
Bonfire's appetizers range from $10 to $16 and include nachos, chicharronnes (fried pork bites), beef empanadas, barbeque baby back ribs. Salads range from $8 for simple mixed greens to $11 for Bonfire's steakhouse salad. Bonfire's taqueria serves up hand-made guacamole as well as an assortment of tacos which are available as appetizers (three tacos) for $12-$14 or entrees (five tacos) for $22-$24. Bonfire's tacos are available with lobster, tuna tartare, roasted chicken, skirt steak, and Ipswich clams.

For appetizers, we focused on Bonfire's Taqueria menu, ordering the guacamole for $10 and the clam tacos for $14.

Bonfire's guacamole is hand-made in their lava rock molecajete and served with chips. The guacamole was super-fresh and creamy with ripe tomato chunks adding a tinge of sweetness. For $6 extra, Bonfire will add grilled, chilled shrimp to the guacamole. The crispy Ipswich clam tacos were served in soft tortillas with more delicious guacamole and chipotle aioli for dipping.

Rating: 9.1

Main Dishes
Entrees include steakhouse cuts and other dishes such as Brazilian Churrasco, a one-pound kobe beef burger, crispy Long Island duck, a grilled corn quesadilla, paella, and wild Alaskan king salmon. Steakhouse cuts include filet mignon, prime angus sirloin, and a porterhouse steak. Bonfire serves the steakhouse cuts with your choice of nine sauces. Prices range from $19 for the quesadilla to $44 for a 24oz porterhouse steak. Sides are available for $7 including truffle macaroni and cheese and tempura green beans.

We opted for Bonfire's Brazilian churrasco for $33 and the paella for $32.

The Brazilian churrasco consists of a butterflied tenderloin, potato cake, Gorgonzola crema, shitake mushrooms, and sherry vinegar glaze. The tenderloin was tender, flavorful, and juicy - each ingredient an asset in bringing this dish to life. Resting underneath the steak, the potato cake served as a perfect complement. Likewise, the paella proved to be a smashing success. Generous lobster, clams, mussels, shrimp, chorizo, and chicken were mixed with creamy saffron risotto. The chorizo lent a spicy kick.

Rating: 9.3

Drinks
Bonfire offers a good selection of wines, bottled and draught beers, $11 martinis, a wide variety of high-quality tequilas, and specialty drinks. Although pricey at $13, the Authentic Bonfire Margarita was cool and refreshing, mixed with Tezon Anejo tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh lime juice, and a bit of champagne. Wine by the glass was fairly generous.

Rating: 8.8

Service
Our waitress was pleasant, prompt, and patient. Pacing was perfect. We leisurely enjoyed the guacamole, then the tacos, and then our entrees, with plenty of time for conversation and drinks between courses.

Rating: 8.9

Ambiance
Curved, burgundy ceilings, massive mahogany columns, dim lighting, and candle-lit tables make Bonfire sleek and stylish as well as dark and mysterious. Super-tall chairs create a unique sense of privacy for most parties. An attractive bar/lounge area tops this sick scene.

Rating: 9.1

Et Cetera

Trivia: Other Boston-area Todd English restaurants include Olives in Charlestown, Figs in Beacon Hill, and Kingfish Hall in Faneuil Hall.

Recipe: Make your own Bonfire Guacamole

Menu: View the menu on Bonfire's web site

Reservations: Bonfire is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet for $16 or take the Green Line to Arlington.

Dress: Business Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 5pm until 10pm and Friday and Saturday from 5pm until 11pm.

Grotto

2007-11-28T22:43:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Potential (71 out of 100)

37 Bowdoin Street
Boston, MA 02114
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Phone: 617-227-3434

Located in Beacon Hill, Grotto serves Italian cuisine in a casual, below-ground setting. Unfortunately, subpar cuisine detracted from a cozy dining scene.

Our History at Grotto
Our third visit to Grotto was on a Friday night at 8:30pm.

Appetizers
First courses include crab ravioli, garlic and black truffle soup, Fontina cheese fondue, pan griddled buffalo mozzarella carozza, an arugula salad, and a grilled seafood salad. Prices range from $9 to $13. We tried the grilled seafood salad as well as the arugula salad.

The seafood salad included shrimp, octopus, and calamari mixed with white beans, arugula, lemon, and salmoriglio sauce. As enticing as it sounded, this appetizer was a disappointment; the grilled seafood tasted bland and rubbery.

Grotto's arugula salad included Reggiano parmesan, prosciutto di parma, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon. Once again, the dish sounded better than it tasted. Chewy, mediocre prosciutto disappointed.

Rating: 6.7

Main Dishes
Second courses include grilled beef tenderloin, bacon-wrapped duck breast, spaghetti and meatballs, house-cut tagliatelle, crispy pan roasted chicken, pan seared tuna, potato gnocchi, and house-cut Venetian bigoli pasta. Prices range from $18.50 to $30. We tried the pan roasted chicken as well as the tuna.

We received a good cut of tuna, but it was not very flavorful, and it was served with soggy polenta. On the other hand, the pan roasted chicken was crispy, tender, and juicy. Unfortunately, accompanying wild mushroom risotto resembled sopping rice more than creamy risotto.

Rating: 7

Drinks
Grotto's wine list features over one hundred American and Italian wines. Half-bottles start at $21 and full bottles start at $30. Much of the wine list is priced stratospherically. Beer is available, but no liquor.

Rating: 7.2

Service
We were handed a menu with a missing page. In addition, the menu included typographical errors, indicative of carelessness we experienced all evening. The staff seemed bored, counting the minutes until it was time to leave.

Rating: 6.4

Ambiance
Grotto's subterranean setting - coupled with dark lighting, candlelit tables, and exposed brick walls lined with paintings and wine bottles - made for a decidedly romantic environment. Unfortunately, lifeless staff and subpar cuisine detracted from the overall experience.

Rating: 8.2

Et Cetera

Trivia: Grotto offers a three-course prix fixe menu for $35.

Menu: View the menu on Grotto's web site

Reservations: Grotto is on OpenTable

Transportation: Take the Green Line to Park Street or Government Center or park in a nearby parking garage. Valet parking is not available.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served every day from 5pm until 10pm.

Eastern Standard

2007-10-14T20:21:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: The Sickest (91 out of 100)

528 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
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Phone: 617-532-9100

Rising from the ashes of The Ratskeller at Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square, Eastern Standard is an American Brasserie that is a pre-Red Sox game hot spot as well as an elegant venue for sick meals.

Our History at Eastern Standard
Our first visit to Eastern Standard was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers include asparagus soup for $7, salt cod fritters for $10, short rib ravioli for $11, steak tartare for $12, and seared foie gras for $14. Salads range from $7 for Boston Bibb to $11 for roasted beets. We ordered the salt cod fritters for $10 and the beets salad for $11.

We informed our waitress that we planned to share the beets salad; we were pleasantly surprised to receive two heaping portions. Roasted beets were tossed with blue cheese, walnuts, apples, and endive - a refreshing starter.

Served in a charming little wooden box, the salt cod fritters were crunchy on the outside and surprisingly soft on the inside. The fluffy, whipped cod mixture provided a delightful contrast to the thick, crunchy covering. Tartar sauce and spicy ketchup were provided for dipping.

Oysters, clams, shrimp, and Alaskan king crab leg are available from the raw bar. Eastern Standard also offers a selection of cheeses and charcuterie.

Rating: 9.1

Main Dishes
Entrees range from $18 to $28 and include pan roasted halibut, baked rigatoni, roasted chicken, beef short rib bourguignon, and bone-in ribeye. We ordered roasted chicken for $21 and beef short rib bourguignon for $25.

Flavorful, juicy chicken was surrounded by a crispy covering and served atop a sick stuffing of mushrooms, foie gras, and spaetzle. Tender, slow-cooked beef short rib bourguignon was served in a red wine broth with olives, mushrooms, pearl onions, and a side of buttery egg noodles.

Creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, spaetzle, green beans, and macaroni & cheese are available as sides, starting at $5. Sandwiches are also available including a burger, pressed prime rib, and grilled cheese.

Rating: 9.3

Drinks
An extensive cocktail menu features standard and original mixed drinks for any mood or taste. Our poisons were the Whiskey Smash ($10), a mix of bourbon, sweet lemon, and mint, and the Belle De Jour ($10), a sparkler that integrates elixir of lemon, Benedictine, and grenadine. A wide variety of wine is available by the glass or bottle, catering to a range of palates and wallets. Wine by the glass was poured generously; a single glass felt more like two.

Rating: 8.8

Service
We enjoyed prompt, professional service. Our waitress was at our beck and call, always just in time to take a new drink order, and patient and thorough in answering questions. Bus staff was courteous. Pacing was on the money.

Rating: 9.1

Ambiance
Eastern Standard perfectly blends bar and brasserie. We soaked in two distinct atmospheres - intimate on one hand, loud and lively on the other. A long, marble bar presents an ideal venue for conversation or watching a sporting event. At the same time, the dining area feels cozy and romantic. On a cool, fall evening, we nuzzled up in a plush red leather booth ideal for two. Outdoors seating is available on Eastern Standard's heated patio.

Rating: 9.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: Eastern Standard boasts the longest marble bar in Boston.

Menu: View the menu on Eastern Standard's web site

Reservations: Eastern Standard is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet for $14 or take the Green Line to Kenmore.

Dress: Casual Elegent

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday from 5pm until 11pm and Friday and Saturday from 5pm until midnight.

Sel de la Terre

2007-09-23T21:23:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Potential (72 out of 100)

255 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
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Phone: 617-720-1300

Located in the downtown waterfront right next to the New England Aquarium, Sel de la Terre specializes in southern French cuisine. We entered Sel de la Terre with sick meal expectations. Unfortunately, lukewarm cuisine, subpar service, and uninspiring ambiance left us unfulfilled.

Our History at Sel de la Terre
Our first visit was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
$11 first courses include baked aged goat cheese salad, a braised bacon tart, flatbread pizza with smoked chicken, sauteed Maine crab cakes, and crispy fried Rhode Island style squid. Smaller plates such as french olives and eggplant-goat cheese puree are available for $5.

The flatbread pizza with smoked chicken was a highlight. Caramelized onions, green olives, feta cheese, and sage packed a compendium of flavor and texture into the cracker-thin pizza. We also ordered the selection of French olives, which were nothing special; mostly, we received tough, green olives.

Rating: 8.3

Main Dishes
Sel de la Terre's $26 main courses include grilled pork tenderloin, barbecued salmon, roasted chicken breast, pistachio and avocado crusted haddock, and roasted swordfish. Black olive rubbed rack of lamb goes for $33.

We tried the haddock as well as the swordfish. The haddock's pistachio and avocado "crust" (it was more of a "smattering") was sick, but the dish was served at a cool temperature, taking much of the air out of what could have been a splendid dish. Included with the haddock were sparse fingerling potatoes, roasted red onion, and a single cherry tomato. The swordfish was lukewarm and chewy, but it was somewhat saved by the accompanying mix of string beans, shell beans, roasted red pepper, and grilled corn nage.

Rosemary pommes frites, sauteed spinach with parmesan, and chickpea frites with spicy aioli are available as side dishes for $6.50.

Rating: 7.1

Drinks
Featured cocktails go for $10 - $13. A bottle of wine starts at $32.

Rating: 7

Service
Our waitress was hard-to-find when we needed her. Meanwhile, staff inappropriately buzzed around our table, eager to clear unfinished appetizers. Then, after concluding our entrees, the table sat in slop.

Rating: 6.6

Ambiance
Sel de la Terre looked like a private study turned into a restaurant, but the atmosphere felt cold, and the Sel de la Terre team seemed lifeless.

Rating: 7

Et Cetera

Trivia: Prior to opening Sel de la Terre in 2000, Chef/Partner Geoff Gardner spent eight years as the sous chef at L'Espalier.

Menu: View the menu on Sel de la Terre's web site

Reservations: Sel de la Terre is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet is available for $16. The nearest T stop is Aquarium.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served daily from 5:00pm until 10:00pm. A late night menu is available Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00pm until 12:30am.

Gaslight

2007-09-15T15:05:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: The Sickest (92 out of 100)

560 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
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Phone: 617-422-0224

Sick meals are heating up on Harrison Ave. Gaslight, the newest Aquitaine Group restaurant, delivers sick French cuisine, great drinks, and stunning value in a lively, upbeat environment. Dinner is served until midnight and a late night menu is available until 1:30am - seven days a week.

Our History at Gaslight
Gaslight opened on August 23rd. Our first visit was on a Sunday at 9:00pm.

Appetizers
Hors d'oeuvres range from $5 to $8.50 and include smoked salmon, pate, steak tartare, escargots, and a potato tart. We tried the potato tart (tartelette aux pommes de terre) for $6.75 and the salmon (saumon fume) for $8.

Integrating roquefort cheese, truffles, and super-soft potatoes, the small, delectable potato tart melted in our mouths. It tasted like a double-baked potato with a thin crust covering. The smoked salmon was served with four pieces of sliced potato, a perfect surface for the thin salmon with chickpea blini and lemon creme fraiche. Both dishes were petite yet good for sharing among two. We recommend getting one appetizer per person.

Gaslight serves a complementary baguette in a paper sleeve.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
Entrees include chicken, pasta, steak, and seafood as well as sandwiches and pizza. Prices range from $9 to $19.50. We ordered leg of lamb (gigot d'agneau roti) for $17.50 and salmon (saumon filet roti) for $18.50.

We received a heaping portion of succulent roasted lamb, served medium-rare to medium. Garlic and herbs provided delicious flavoring, and the meat was tender, fit for slicing with a butter knife. This filling dish was served with sick scalloped potatoes. We enjoyed Gaslight's roasted salmon more than any salmon dish we've tasted in recent memory. The crispy-covered salmon was served with garlic braised escarole and lemon confit.

Rating: 9.4

Drinks
Drinks are surprisingly-affordable. Gaslight offers wine by the glass, carafe, and bottle. A carafe of the house red or white is just $12. Reserve selections are available. Cocktails range from $5.50 to $8.50. We sipped a cool "Cuban Ice", a mix of grapes, mint, Mt. Gay rum, and ice wine, served over crushed ice. "Frida Kahlo", an "iced tea with a kick", was another highlight. This addicting drink consisted of tequila with triple sec, lime, and iced tea.

Rating: 9.6

Service
Down-to-earth and eager-to-please, our waitress patiently provided a detailed explanation of many French-written menu items. We were seated several minutes late, but the staff was attentive while we awaited our table.

Rating: 8.8

Ambiance
With a striking bar, wood floors, white mosaic tiles, beamed wood ceilings, and antique mirrors, Gaslight presents an "old world" yet modern setting. Sit at the bar, cafe tables, communal tables, booths, or leather banquettes. Conversation and music resonate in a lively, loud atmosphere.

Rating: 9.1

Et Cetera

Trivia: Gaslight accepts takeout orders.

Menu: View the menu on Gaslight's web site

Reservations: Gaslight is on OpenTable

Transportation: Gaslight offers free parking in their own lot.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Monday through Friday from 5:00pm until midnight and Saturday and Sunday from 3:00pm until midnight. A late night menu is available seven days a week from midnight until 1:30am.

Rocca

2007-08-21T18:42:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: The Sickest (92 out of 100)

500 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
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Phone: 617-451-5151

Rocca brings Ligurian cuisine, the cuisine of the Italian Riviera, to Boston's South End. Great food, impeccable service, and an energetic vibe make Rocca one of the sickest meals in town. And there's lots of free parking, too!

Our History at Rocca
Rocca opened in April 2007. Our first visit was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Rocca offers "tastes" as well as larger appetizers. Tastes range from $3 to $7 and include marinated olives, fritti di pesce, a meatball slider, and prosciutto and fontina pizetta. Appetizers range from $7 to $12 and include marinated sardines, crispy veal medallions, hot & sweet scampi, antipasti, and white bean minestrone. We tried the fritti di pesce for $6 and the sardines for $9.

Served with salsa verde, the lightly-breaded fritti di pesce (fish sticks) provided a light, refreshing start to our meal. Thinly-sliced mint danced off the marinated sardines. Portions were modest yet satisfying.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
Rocca's menu includes pastas many of which are available as appetizers or entrees. Prices range from $10 to $17. Homemade pastas include hand-rolled trofie, potato gnocchi, corzetti, and spring green panzotti. We ordered the trofie for $10. The melt-in-your-mouth trofie was served with delicious pesto sauce. We shared this dish and it quickly left us longing for more.

Entrees range from $19 to $24 and include roasted whole fish, chicken Genovese, grilled leg of lamb, and veal involtini. We chose the roasted whole fish and grilled leg of lamb, both for $24. Like the trofie, the main show did not disappoint. The roasted whole fish was a large, soft burrida infused with fresh herbs and served with a flavorful mix of olives, perfectly-roasted potatoes, tomatoes, and pine nuts. Tender and mouth-watering, the medium-rare leg of lamb was served with escarole, fava bean pesto, and white beans.

Rating: 9.6

Drinks
We explored Rocca's drink menu, ordering the scandalo al sole for $11 and a Monterosso martini for $10. The scandalo al sole consisted of Patron Silver tequila, Grand Marnier, and limoncello with lime and ginger beer. The Monterosso martini was mixed with Grey Goose Orange, fresh orange juice, and mint. These drinks were creative but they did not quite hit the mark.

On the other hand, Rocca's wine menu presented good variety and was neatly divided into light, medium, and bold whites and reds. Bottles started in the mid-$20s. A glass of the house wine was $6.

Rating: 8.1

Service
Rocca rendered "Wow!" service. Our waitress presented an informative overview of the menu along with her recommendations. Pacing was perfect; we were never rushed, making for a decidedly relaxed environment. The Queen of Sick Meals accidentally broke her half-full wine glass; Rocca staff rushed to our rescue and incredibly offered a free martini of her choice.

Rating: 9.8

Ambiance
Rocca spans two floors. The first floor is a sleek lounge and bar. The dining area is on the second floor. Both floors serve up a lively, aromatic scene.

Placid patio seating transports you to a world far from gritty Harrison Avenue.

Rating: 9.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: The Rocca Rundown is a blog that documents Rocca's creation.

Menu: View the menu on Rocca's web site

Reservations: Rocca is on OpenTable

Transportation: Rocca offers ample free parking in their own lot.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday from 5:30pm to 10:00pm and Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm to 11:00pm.

Rustic Kitchen

2007-08-17T16:15:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Potential (71 out of 100)

210 Stuart Street
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-423-5700

Located in Park Square, Rustic Kitchen is an Italian-Mediterranean bistro. Everything is made on premise, including breads, pastas, and desserts. The restaurant features an exposed pasta station and a wood-burning pizza oven.

Sounds great, doesn't it? The menu sounds even better. Unfortunately, the food and experience did not come close to living up to our expectations.

Our History at Rustic Kitchen
Our first visit to Rustic Kitchen was on a Saturday night at 7:00pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers range from $9 to $15 and include clam chowder, fried clams, arancini, oysters, veal meatballs, and prosciutto & homemade mozzarella. We tried the fried clams for $15 as well as the clam chowder for $9.

Rustic's clam chowder was watery and flavorless. The chowder included pancetta, garlic crostini, and hardly any clams. The crisp fried Ipswich clams with potato salad was a unique dish that yielded an interesting combination of tastes. However, $15 for fried clams felt insulting.

Four salads are also available starting at $8 for mixed greens.

Rating: 6.5

Main Dishes
Entrees include pizzas, hand crafted pastas, seafood, and butcher shop favorites. Pizza starts at $10.50. Pastas start at $16. Seafood ranges from $22 to $26. And the butcher shop favorites range from $19 to $33. We ordered veal & ricotta filled ravioli for $19 and pan seared wild striped bass for $22.

The pan seared wild striped bass sat in an overwhelming pool of oil. Included tomato-fennel jam and arugula were barely present. We had high expectations for the homemade ravioli in Parmesan broth with wild mushrooms. Unfortunately, we were again disappointed. The ravioli was very oily and the veal & ricotta filling was bland. It did not taste homemade.

Rating: 6

Drinks
We enjoyed an affordable bottle of Riesling for $24. Drinks were mixed well.

Rating: 8.4

Service
Service was OK, but pacing was poor. Entrees were served right on top of our appetizers. Our waiter was difficult to track down once the entrees arrived.

Rating: 7

Ambiance
A 250 seat bistro and bar spans two rooms. In addition, there are two private dining rooms, a garden lounge, and a live broadcast studio kitchen. We scored a prime seat in the middle of the action - a good-sized booth for two. However, with 250 seats, the place seems hard to fill. The bar was busy, but there were many open tables. The wood-burning pizza oven is impressive.

Rating: 7.6

Et Cetera

Trivia: Rustic Kitchen hosts Friday evening cooking shows. Learn more

Menu: View the menu on Rustic Kitchen's web site

Reservations: Rustic Kitchen is on OpenTable

Transportation: There is valet as well as two parking garages on site.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Wednesday from 4pm to 10pm and Thursday through Saturday from 4pm to 11pm.

Match

2007-08-05T20:59:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (80 out of 100)

94 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
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Phone: 617-247-9922

Match Burgers and Martinis is a modern restaurant and lounge that is located near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Newbury Street. Befitting its name, Match serves up delicious gourmet burgers and sick martinis.

Our History at Match
Our third visit to Match was on a Saturday night at 6:30pm.

Appetizers
Match's apps include gingery chicken satay with peanut sauce, steamed mussels in a ginger and lemon grass broth, spicy shrimp and chorizo skewers, and grilled Margherita pizza with roasted plum tomato and basil. Prices range from $8.75 to $10.50. The menu also includes lobster bisque soup as well as salads such as tomato & cucumber with feta cheese and spinach and goat cheese salad with sliced apples and caramelized pecans.

We tried the spicy shrimp and chorizo skewers for $9.50. Match served five skewers, each including a small slice of sausage and an average-sized shrimp with mildly-spicy sauce. Overall, this dish was decent, but nothing special.

Rating: 7

Main Dishes
Match offers four entrees ranging from $12 for spaghettini to $22 for a 10oz fillet mignon. However, the main event is Match's mini burgers. The burger lineup includes a classic cheese burger, a lamb burger, a veggie burger, a tuna steak burger, a sausage burger, and a lobster burger. Each mini burger is approximately three ounces and served on a miniature bun. Prices range from $4.75 for the veggie burger to $8 for the lobster burger.

We ordered the spicy lamb burger with coriander, tomato, and yogurt relish, the soy and ginger marinated tuna steak burger with wasabi aioli, and the New England lobster burger with roasted red pepper aioli. All three of these burgers left us salivating for more, but we particularly enjoyed the tuna and lobster burgers. The wasabi aioli danced off the exquisite tuna steak.

These little burgers are expensive but truly sick. We recommend ordering a minimum of three burgers per person in your party.

Sides include onion rings, fries, and grilled asparagus with prosciutto. We tried the grilled asparagus with prosciutto for $3.75. We received a single slice of substandard prosciutto wrapped around several overcooked asparagus. You are better off ordering onion rings or fries to complement the mini burgers.

Rating: 8.3

Drinks
Match mixes sick martinis. At first glance, the $10+ martinis seem pricey, but the prices include enough alcohol to make almost two martinis. The waitress pours your first martini and leaves behind a mini-shaker for you to pour a generous second helping. We particularly enjoyed the Bubbletini, a mix of vodka, peach schnapps, lemon juice, and champagne.

Rating: 9

Service
Waitresses are best-known for tight-fitting uniforms, but service was satisfactory. Our waitress was friendly and mostly attentive.

Rating: 7.9

Ambiance
Divided equally into a sleek bar area and a main dining area, Match exudes an early-evening lounge feel. The dimly-lit dining area features a glass wine room and a unique fire display that nearly runs the length of the room.

At any hour, the volume always seems a tad bit too high, and the acoustics don't seem quite right. The beat and volume pick up as the night progresses. If you plan to chat at dinner, get there early.

Rating: 7.9

Et Cetera

Trivia: Match is located at the former home of the Blue Cat Cafe.

Menu: View the menu on Match's web site

Reservations: Match is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet is available for $15. The nearest T station is Hynes Convention Center on the Green Line.

Dress: Casual Elegant

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Wednesday from 5pm to 10pm and Thursday through Saturday from 5pm to 11pm.

Masa

2007-07-25T21:06:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (80 out of 100)

439 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-338-8884

Located in the South End and conveniently located to Back Bay and the Theater District, Masa pairs the flavors and cooking styles of Southwestern cuisine with fresh New England ingredients.

Our History at Masa
Our fifth visit to Masa was on a Friday night at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
First courses include roasted butternut squash soup with ancho Mexican cinnamon, pan roasted mussels in smoked tomato and cilantro mole, spicy ahi tuna cabo rolls, and skillet roasted sea scallops with barbeque duck. Prices range from $7 to $12. We went with the spicy ahi tuna cabo rolls and the skillet roasted sea scallops with barbeque duck, both for $12.

One of our favorite apps, the two tuna cabo rolls were served with wasabi guacamole for just enough spice. The tempura sushi-style rolls contained tender, rare tuna. We only wish the portion was larger. At Masa, appetizers are not good for sharing; an appetizer provides a portion suitable for one.

The sea scallops and barbeque duck was served with sweet corn cream. Three scallops and sparse shredded duck did not provide good value for $12.

Masa serves a sick bread basket, including corn bread and three spreads - red bell pepper with cream cheese, molasses with honey butter, and chipotle white bean puree. Corn bread with molasses and honey butter is the sickest.

Rating: 8.6

Main Dishes
Main dishes include crispy tequila lime chicken with roasted plantain sopes, grilled achiote mahi-mahi with chicharos risotto, southwestern style steak frites with chile dusted fries, ancho cornmeal crusted catfish with grilled pineapple salsa, and chile rubbed New York strip. Prices range from $18 to $29. A variety of sides such as red chile onion rings, chile dusted frites, and maple sweet potato mash go for $4. We ordered one of the night's specials, a fresh lump crab cake, as well as the southwestern style steak frites.

The fresh lump crab cake was a colossal $29 disappointment. Fresh crab seemed more like a crab cake you might buy at your local convenience store - lots of breading and very little meat. The crab cake included jalapeno, red bell, and green bell peppers and tasted spicier than advertised. An accompanying pepper salad consisted of several thin red bell pepper slices.

Served with guajillo bourbon sauce and chile lime arugula salad, Masa's steak frites was tasty and tender. However, the portion was on the small side. Even with a fair serving of chile dusted fries, this $23 plate did not quite fill us up.

Rating: 6.9

Drinks
Masa's wines, tequilas, and cocktails might entice one into some serious boozing. Wine is available by the glass or bottle. Reds start at $6 for a glass and $28 for a bottle and whites start at $7 for a glass and $24 for a bottle. Masa's house special drinks range from $8 to $12 and include a variety of margaritas. We tried a classic margarita as well as a masarita, mixed with Sauza extra gold, triple sec, apple juice, lime mix, and fresh squeezed orange. Masa's classic margarita and sangria margarita are available in "mega" portions that serve four to six people. The mega portions start at $31. A wide variety of tequilas are available, including multi-variety samples.

Rating: 8.9

Service
Service was average, but little details were overlooked. As our appetizers arrived, we reminded the server that we did not receive a bread basket. Our waitress did not accurately explain the lump crab cake dish.

Rating: 7.6

Ambiance
Dark lighting, long white curtains, and iron chandeliers somehow hit us like a Meatloaf video. Decor aside, most tables for two are located along a wall towards the back of the restaurant. The result is that couples practically sit on top of one another. We sat next to a guy who returned two dishes for no good reason and his girlfriend who in-complete-seriousness discussed the relative merits of shopping for a $200 shirt instead of a $500 shirt at Barneys. The ridiculousness of their discourse provided fodder for post-dining humor, but it certainly left us speechless at the dinner table.

Masa's bar scene is consistently lively - a great place to grab a margarita and an appetizer. Limited front patio seating is available.

Rating: 7.8

Et Cetera

Trivia: Masa is serving up $5 margaritas until the end of July.

Menu: View the menu on Masa's web site

Reservations: Masa is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet is available for $14. The nearest T stations are Back Bay on the Orange Line and Arlington on the Green Line.

Dress: Casual Elegant

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Wednesday from 5pm to 10pm and Thursday through Saturday from 5pm to 11pm.

Tia's

2007-06-27T21:24:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (86 out of 100)

200 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA 02110
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Phone: 617-227-0828

Best known as a Friday-after-work hotspot, Tia's is the place to be for sick meals on a hot summer night. Bask in the sea breeze, feast on fresh seafood, and drink in a vibrant scene on Boston's waterfront.

Our History at Tia's
Our fifth visit to Tia's was on a Saturday night at 5:00pm.

Appetizers
Tia's appetizer menu is filled with tempting seafood such as peel n' eat shrimp, steamers, littleneck clams, mussels, and Wellfleet oysters. Prices range from $5.50 for clam chowder to $14.95 for fried coconut shrimp.

We got started with twelve peel n' eat shrimp for $12.95. The shrimp were large and the cocktail sauce packed a punch with just enough spice.

Complementing Tia's seafood offerings are boneless buffalo wings, margherita pizza, and several salads including Asian barbeque Atlantic salmon salad.

Rating: 8.6

Main Dishes
Entrees focus on steak and seafood, including Tia's famous lobsters. Seafood selections include Boston scrod for $19.95, fish and chips for $18.95, and char-grilled marinated swordfish for $24.95. Mesquite grilled marinated steak tips go for $18.95 and a New York sirloin steak is available for $24.95. The menu includes one and one-and-a-half pound lobsters. Tia's "House Specialty" is a one-and-a-half pound baked stuff lobster.

Treating ourselves on an early summer night, we indulged in the baked stuff lobster. Tia's masterfully mixed heaping chunks of crab meat, scallops, and shrimp with mouthwatering buttered almond crumbs to deliver a truly sick stuffing. The lobster meat was sweet, tender, and substantial. Fantastic French fries and tasty coleslaw complemented this lobster feast.

Although a bit pricey at $44.95, Tia's baked stuff lobster is certainly in the running for the best baked stuff lobster in town.

Rating: 9.1

Drinks
A bottle of beer starts at $6. Martinis and "summer favorites" such as a Patron mango margarita go for $11-$12. An affordable but limited selection of whites and reds are available starting at $7.50 for a glass or $28 for a bottle.

Rating: 8

Service
We asked for pre-cracked lobster claws and our waitress cheerfully obliged, but the claws were later served un-cracked. Delivery of drinks was on the slow side. Otherwise, our waitress was pleasant, and the service was fair.

Rating: 7.8

Ambiance
With patio seating, a sick Long Wharf location, and a jovial, booze-happy crowd, Tia's is a highly recommended spot on a sizzling Boston summer night. But get there early to avoid an hour+ wait for coveted patio seating.

Rating: 9.4

Et Cetera

Trivia: Reserve Tia's outdoor patio for a sick summer party. Pricing starts at $100 for 50 or fewer guests. Check out the fees and terms.

Menu: Go here to view the menu.

Reservations: Tia's does not accept reservations.

Transportation: There are several nearby parking garages. The closest T station is Aquarium on the Blue Line.

Dress: You may dress casually.

Hours: Dinner is served every day served until 11pm.

Brasserie Jo

2007-06-24T00:09:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (85 out of 100)

120 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-424-7000

Located near The Prudential Center in The Colonnade Hotel, Brasserie Jo cooks up a variety of casual, traditional French fare. The menu features light hor's devoures and full meals as well as extensive wine and beer lists.

Our History at Brasserie Jo
Our third visit to Brasserie Jo was on a Friday night at 7:00pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers range from $5.95 to $14.95 and include French ham crepe gratin, smoked salmon, and ratatouille goat cheese tarte. Shellfish are also available including oysters on the half shell, crab claws, and jumbo shrimp cocktail. We ordered the smoked salmon, oysters, and a bowl of clam chowder.

The smoked salmon was served with crispy potatoes and horseradish cream. We enjoyed the salmon, but the horseradish cream hit us like a bulldozer. One might call this dish horseradish cream with salmon and crispy potatoes.

Brimming with fresh clams and not too rich, the clam chowder was surprisingly good. A half dozen ample oysters were a tasty treat.

Salads and pizza are also available.

Rating: 8.3

Main Dishes
Entrees include seafood such as sauteed skate wings, steak dishes such as classic Parisian steak frites, and specialties such as chicken coq au vin. Prices range from $14.95 for seasonal vegetables crepe Florentine to $31.95 for the New York Strip Steak. Daily specials are available.

We ordered roasted rack of lamb for $24.95 and sauteed soft shell crab, a special, for $22.95. The crunchy soft shell crab was served with pistachio butter, fingerling potatoes, and haricots verts. Tender roasted rack of lamb was served with braised flageolet beans, a perfect complement to the lamb.

Rating: 8.9

Drinks
Bottled beer and drafts are available, starting at $4.75. The house draft is Hopla, an Alsatian-style pilsner brewed exclusively for Brasserie Jo. A bottle of wine starts at $29. Martinis go for $11-$12. We sipped on a French cosmo, mixed with Grey Goose, Grand Marnier, and cranberry juice, as well as a "Nouveau", a mix of Stoli Blueberi, Cointreau, and lime juice.

Rating: 8.8

Service
Our waiter was patient and thorough in answering questions regarding the menu. Too much time lapsed between drink orders, but we otherwise received professional service. All of the staff seemed to bound with enthusiasm.

Rating: 8.4

Ambiance
Brasserie Jo feels like a brasserie set in an upscale urban environment. The prime tables are those closest to bustling Huntington Avenue. Your experience at other tables may vary. Our table, for instance, abutted the serving station.

Rating: 8.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: Chef Jean Joho owns the acclaimed Everest and Brasserie Jo restaurants in Chicago and the Eiffel Tower Restaurant in Las Vegas.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Brasserie Jo is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet is $12 for 1 hour, $16 for 2 hours, and $20 for three hours. The nearest T station is Prudential on the Green Line (E Branch).

Dress: You may dress casually.

Hours: Dinner is served Monday through Saturday from 5pm to 11pm and on Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. A special bar menu is available until 1am from Monday through Thursday and until 1:30am on Friday and Saturday.

Avila

2007-06-11T21:53:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: The Sickest (90 out of 100)

1 Charles Street South
Boston, MA 02216
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Phone: 617-267-4810

Avila captures the flavors of Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and France. Creative, mouth-watering dishes make Avila one of the sickest meals in town.

Our History at Avila
Our first visit to Avila was on a Friday night at 9:00pm.

Appetizers
Small plates range from $4 to $8 and include cured Spanish olives, salt cod poppers, sauteed chicken livers, duck egg over easy, escargot, and Portuguese sardines. First courses range from $9 to $17 and include onion soup, foie gras, cast iron sizzling shrimp, grilled baby octopus, and gazpacho.

We started the evening with salt cod poppers ($6), cured Spanish olives ($4), and cast iron sizzling shrimp ($13). Five deliciously-soft cod poppers melted in our mouths; balsamic mayonnaise was included for dipping. Avila served a healthy portion of Spanish olives. The cast iron sizzling shrimp included three, large shrimp perfectly marinated in garlic, parsley and olive oil. The dish was sick, but three shrimp for $13 felt a bit skimpy.

Avila's bread basket included delectable mini-slices of white pizza. We also received tasty, complimentary morsels of tuna tartar served on a potato chip.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
Pastas range from $18 to $42 and include hand rolled potato gnocchi, fusilli with jumbo shrimp and Portuguese sausage, and fettuccine carbonara served with butter poached lobster. Entrees range from $25 to $32 and include free range chicken, seared halibut, pork Milanese, grilled veal sirloin, and whole crispy bass. Eight specialties range from $22 for Za'atar spiced black pearl salmon to $41 for natural aged New York sirloin.

We decided to go with the whole crispy bass as well as one of the evening's specials, grilled swordfish. The whole crispy bass was substantial, served whole, including the head. We enjoyed the lightly dusted cornmeal crust that surrounded the delicious bass. The dish was served with sea salt yucca, arugula, and corn colada. Another gem, the grilled swordfish was topped with fried clams and served with hydrogreen salad and orange slices.

Rating: 9.4

Drinks
Wine is available by the glass or bottle. Reds range from $8 to $15 per glass. Whites range from $9 to $13 per glass. Avila's extensive wine list includes several bottles in the $20s and $30s amidst a diverse collection of more expensive offerings. Mixed drinks were expensive but solid. We enjoyed a pre-dinner champagne lemontini for $12, a mix of Ketel One citron, cointreau, limoncello, champagne, and mint leaves with a lemon twist.

Rating: 8.7

Service
We experienced prompt, friendly, and professional service from our waitress as well as the hostess, bartenders, and bus staff.

Rating: 8.8

Ambiance
Avila greets you with a long, alluring bar. A wide open kitchen with counter-style seating lies in the middle of the restaurant. Tall windows, an ultra-high ceiling, and a dim, candle-lit room create an upscale, urban ambiance.

Rating: 9

Et Cetera

Trivia: A bar menu is available from 3pm to 11pm on Sunday through Tuesday and from 3pm to midnight on Wednesday through Saturday. The bar menu features pizza as well as yummy first and second courses such as mini kobe beef burgers, pappardelle bolognese, a lamb tenderloin pita pocket, crispy calamari, and Philly cheese steak spring rolls.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Avila is on OpenTable

Parking: Valet for $16 or park in the nearby Motor Mart Garage.

Dress: Business Casual in a fine dining environment

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Tuesday from 5pm to 10pm and Wednesday through Saturday from 5pm to 11pm.

The Barking Crab

2007-06-02T12:31:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Not So Sick (69 out of 100)

88 Sleeper Street
Boston, MA 02210
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Phone: 617-426-2722

Located along the Fort Point Channel, The Barking Crab offers up a spectacular view of the Financial District in the casual atmosphere of a coastal clam shack. Unfortunately, abysmal service and progressively worsening seafood leaves one with the impression that The Barking Crab is a wildly-popular restaurant that may be entering the throes of decline.

Our History at The Barking Crab
Our fifth visit to The Barking Crab was on a Friday night at 9:00pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers range from $8 to $14 and include fried calamari, mussels, Jonah crab claws, fried clams, steamers, fried sweet & spicy beer battered shrimp, and barking crab cakes. A selection of soups and salads are available for $5 to $10. We opted for the Jonah crab claws as well as an order of fried clams.

The Jonah crab claws disappointed. We expected large chunks of sweet crabmeat; we didn't get it. After smashing open a crab claw with a rock, the last thing you want is sparse, bland crab meat. While we enjoyed the fried clams, there weren't nearly enough for two people. Our waitress inexplicably down-sold us from a large portion to a small portion.

What happened to the peel & eat shrimp?

Rating: 6.7

Main Dishes
Entrees range from $12 to $24 and include fish & chips, pan seared salmon, baked scrod, grilled ribeye steak, and platters such as fried clams, fried scallops, and fried oysters. Crabs and lobsters are available at market prices. Sandwiches are available for $8 to $14, including a cheeseburger, a lobster roll, and a crab salad sandwich. Sides range from $2 for coleslaw to $5 for onion rings. Normally, we stick to the fried platters, but on this evening, we explored two "specialties": the baked scrod and the pan seared salmon.

The pan seared salmon fillet was served with a red pepper relish that smelled like wet dog and didn't taste much better; we can't remember enjoying salmon any less. The dish included steamed rice, black beans, and bok choy. On the other hand, we enjoyed the scrod's delicious almond crusted topping.

Our recommendation: go with the fried stuff.

Rating: 6.6

Drinks
Historically, The Barking Crab served only beer and wine, but a full liquor license is on the way. An alcoholic beverage menu presently features 17 mixed drinks ranging from $5 to $8, including a margarita, a sea breeze, and a Bloody Mary. Draft beer is available by the cup or pitcher. Affordable whites and reds are available by the glass or bottle.

Rating: 8.2

Service
The bartender held patrons in open contempt. Pouring a drink seemed like a huge inconvenience. No matter how nice the customer, he found a way to showcase the huge chip on his shoulder.

Table service offered little improvement. Bus staff surrounded our table like vultures, twice trying to clear half-finished plates, and once succeeding in swooping away a quarter-filled wine glass.

Crab staff seemed bewildered regarding the restaurant's transition to a full liquor license. The bartender left us with the impression that no mixed drinks were available. The hostess explained that all 17 mixed drinks on the alcoholic beverage menu were available. Finally, our waitress told us that roughly half of the 17 mixed drinks were available. Huh?

This place could use a good housecleaning.

Rating: 3.8

Ambiance
At The Barking Crab, it's all about the ambiance. The half-indoors, half-outdoors shack is perfectly situated on the Fort Point Channel, offering sick views of the Financial District. Crab traps intertwined with white lights, mermaids, buoys, rock music, and loads of beer transport you to sea.

A word of caution: if you plan on hitting The Crab on a Friday or Saturday night, get there early. Otherwise, you may wait over an hour to be seated.

Rating: 9.4

Et Cetera

Trivia: Live music is played on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

Reservations: Reservations are accepted for parties of six or more.

Parking: The Barking Crab offers free parking in a small lot. Additional parking is available in an adjacent lot for $10 per hour and $3 for every half hour thereafter - with a maximum charge of $19 until midnight.

Dress: You may dress casually.

Hours: The Crab serves food seven days a week from 11:30am until 11pm.

Douzo

2007-05-25T05:56:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (89 out of 100)

131 Dartmouth Street
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-859-8886

Douzo is a modern Japanese restaurant and lounge located steps away from Back Bay Station on the Orange Line. Sensational sushi rolls, hard-hitting drinks, and chic decor make Douzo a truly sick meal.

Our Douzo History
Our first visit to Douzo was on a Saturday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Over 20 cold and hot starters are available, ranging from $3.75 to $12.75. Cold starters include tuna, beef, and duck tataki, monkfish pate, squid sashimi, baby octopus, edamame, and seaweed salad. Hot starters include crispy filo shrimp, lobster tempura, crab cake, spare ribs, lobster miso soup, and soft-shelled crab tempura. We ordered edamame as our cold starter and soft-shelled crab tempura for a hot starter.

Edamame is a simple dish of soy beans with sea salt and lime. Douzo served several heaping spoonfuls of soy beans - more than enough for our party of three - for just $4.75. The edamame was a light, tasty way to get this sick meal started. Next up was the soft-shelled crab tempura for $10.75. Breaded, deep-fried, and served with tempura sauce, the soft-shelled crab was cooked to a perfect crisp and served without a drip of grease.

Rating: 9.2

Main Dishes
Choose from maki and hand rolls, cucumber hand rolls, salads, sushi and sashimi, and several combination platters and entrees. A selection of "special rolls" is also available. Special rolls range from $6.75 to $16.75. Maki, hand, and cucumber hand rolls range from $3.50 to $8.50. Entrees run from $17 to $32. We focused on Douzo's sashimi and special rolls.

For special rolls, we chose the Back Bay, Crazy, and Rainbow rolls. The Back Bay roll ($15.75) consisted of eight pieces of asparagus, cucumber, and avocado wrapped with seared tuna and a touch of wasabi sauce. The Crazy roll ($8.25) included four mammoth pieces of shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, and spicy mayo. The bright Rainbow roll ($12.75) consisted of six pieces of shrimp, crab stick, tobiko, and spicy mayo wrapped with tuna, salmon, and white fish. Douzo presented the rolls like neatly-wrapped gifts on a shiny white plate. The rolls were creative, super fresh, and delicious.

Douzo's sushi gives you two pieces per order while the sashimi gives you three pieces. We delighted in the smoked salmon and albacore tuna sashimi ($7.25/each), enjoying three neatly-cut slices of tender cool sickness.

Entrees include sirloin steak, lobster, grilled salmon fillet or chicken breast, thinly sliced prime rib, and deep-fried pork or chicken cutlet. Rice and a variety of tempura - two pieces per order - are available as sides.

Rating: 9

Drinks
The bartender poured liquor with a vengeance, easily doubling the value of each mixed drink with her generosity. We recommend the Tokyo Cosmo ($10), a sick mix of vodka, sake, and triple sec with a splash of lime and cranberry juice. Wine starts at $27 for a bottle.

Rating: 9.3

Service
Two bartenders coolly handled an overflowing crowd with ease. On the other hand, table service was nothing special; our waitress acted as though she'd rather be spending her Saturday night elsewhere.

Rating: 7.9

Ambiance
Douzo is modern, striking, and crystal clean. You feel the pulse of the restaurant in lively conversation, constant motion, and contemporary background music. The bar scene bustles while the sushi chefs hustle.

Rating: 9

Et Cetera

Trivia: Douzo means "please come in" in Japanese.

Menu: Check out the menu on the Douzo web site

Reservations: Douzo accepts reservations for parties of six or more.

Parking: Valet is just $5 for up to three hours.

Dress: You may dress casually, but given the chic, urban environment, you might feel more at home if you dress for a night on the town.

Hours: Dinner is served seven days per week from 4:30pm until midnight.

Eclano

2007-05-19T15:44:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Potential (70 out of 100)

54 Salem Street
Boston, MA 02113
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Phone: 617-720-6001

A relative newcomer to the North End, Eclano focuses on modern interpretations of regional Italian cooking. Unfortunately, sick homemade pasta dishes did not make up for disastrous clams and a barren dining scene.

Our History at Eclano
Our first visit to Eclano was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Eclano's appetizers range from $7 to $14 and include sauteed calamari, seared scallops, baked littleneck clams, grilled sweetbreads, and crispy duck leg confit. We went with the littleneck clams as well as the scallops.

The baked littleneck clams were served with lemon, oregano, and crispy prosciutto. At first bite, we tasted mostly prosciutto, crisp just like bacon. A few moments later, we nearly spit out the sour-tasting clam. Throughout the years, we've eaten many clams served many ways at many temperatures. We'll give Eclano the benefit of the doubt; they insisted that the clams were fresh. Regardless, we would not have fed these clams to our worst enemy.

In terms of cuisine, the clams were an anomaly. We enjoyed the scallops with grilled radicchio, chive, and warm pancetta dressing. Homemade focaccia was served with delicious pureed eggplant and fresh basil with olive oil.

Rating: 6

Main Dishes
When it comes to entrees, Eclano shines. Six housemade pasta dishes, blended with fresh produce, seafood, and meat, range from $17 to $27. Five meat dishes range from $24 to $34. Pasta dishes include tagliatelli, pappardelle, risotto, and potato ravioli with braised veal brisket. Meat dishes include grilled hangar steak, grilled rack of lamb, pan roasted chicken breast, and a grilled veal chop. We opted for the tagliatelli and pappardelle dishes.

Wide, flowing pappardelle, king oyster mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and caramelized onion were served with tender, braised rabbit and juicy rabbit meatballs. Hand-cut saffron tagliatelli was served with shrimp, rabe, and oven roasted tomatoes in a spicy seafood broth. The homemade pastas and creative combinations made for a decidedly sick meal. Portions were ample.

Rating: 8.8

Drinks
Beer, wine, and cordials are available. A bottle of red starts at $38 and a bottle of white starts at $30. Wine is available by the glass, poured generously. There is a small bar near the entrance. Hard booze is not served.

Rating: 8.4

Service
Our waiter was jovial albeit annoying. He grew defensive about the clams, intimating that our palates were to blame. With few guests and little to do, he talked our ears off and re-filled our wine glasses at an alarming pace.

Rating: 6

Ambiance
Eclano was stunningly barren. There was only one other party. The restaurant seemed like a model room at Crate and Barrel - lots of new, dark wood, crystal clean, and no soul. Vacant walls underscored Eclano's emptiness.

Rating: 6

Et Cetera

Trivia: Eclano is owned by Caterina DiPrisco, former co-owner of Trattoria a Scalinatella. Eclano is named for DiPrisco's hometown outside of Naples.

Menu: Check out Eclano's web site for more information

Reservations: Eclano is on OpenTable

Transportation: Park in one of several nearby parking garages or take the Green Line or Orange Line to Haymarket.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served every day from 5pm until 11pm.

Taranta

2007-05-16T20:22:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (84 out of 100)

210 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113
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Phone: 617-720-0052

Located on Hanover Street in the North End, Taranta fuses Southern Italian cuisine with a Peruvian twist. Dining at Taranta proved to be a sick culinary adventure full of robust flavors and aromas.

Our History at Taranta
Our first visit to Taranta was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers range from $9.95 for caprese to $13.95 for coccio di pesce e legumio, baby octopus, cuttlefish, clams, and chickpeas in a spicy tomato sauce. Our party sampled the antipasto as well as calzoncini fritti, a trio of mini calzones stuffed with leeks and mozzarella, beef tenderloin, and baccala.

Taranta's antipasto presents a delightful medley of capicolla, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, grilled zucchini, fresh mozzarella, marinated olives, and artichoke hearts. Although we would have liked a little bit more meat, the dish succeeds in priming your palate for more southern Italian sickness. The antipasto is $12.95 for one and $19.95 for two. We ordered the antipasto for one and equitably shared it among three people.

The mini calzones resemble hearty, stuffed pastries. Leeks and mozzarella, beef tenderloin, and baccala delivered an exciting mix of tastes and textures.

Rating: 8.8

Main Dishes
Choose from pasta, chicken, fish, and meat dishes. Six pasta selections range from $18.95 to $24.95. Seven chicken, fish, and meat plates range from $21.95 to $33.95. Our party shared pan-seared tuna for $26.95, Macadamia crusted salmon for $26.95, and orecchiette with sausage for $22.95.

Cooked to perfection, the rare, pan seared tuna was served over braised leeks and crispy potatoes with a sauce of sweet roasted peppers and capers. A slightly-crunchy Macadamia crust infused the salmon filet with flavor; the salmon was served over a herbed risotto cake and Peruvian asparagus. Finally, tender orecchiette with sweet Abruzzese sausage provided a satisfying complement to our tuna and salmon dishes.

Other notables include espresso crusted fillet mignon and grilled lack of lamb.

Rating: 9.1

Drinks
A bottle of wine starts at $32; wine is also available by the glass. We sipped several tumba chola martinis, a sweet mix of Peruvian Pisco, limoncello, and white grape juice. Taranta also features a score of aperitivi and digestivi. Three after-dinner grappas sent us stumbling onto Hanover Street.

Rating: 8.5

Service
Our waiter rendered manic service. He was sometimes charming - mostly when speaking to my lovely female companions - but brusque and careless at other times. Upon sitting at our table, it took him over 15 minutes to acknowledge our presence. He forgot about my first drink order; when I reminded him, he proceeded to bring the wrong drink.

Rating: 6.9

Ambiance
Soft Italian guitar music wafts through the air, played by a friendly gentleman who strolls around the restaurant. In nice weather, the front windows unfold, opening up a ripe scene for prolific people-watching.

Taranta is a nice spot for a romantic dinner or a night out with close friends.

Rating: 8.6

Et Cetera

Trivia: Taranta offers several recipes on its web site.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Taranta is on OpenTable

Transportation: Taranta validates at the Parcel 7 Garage for $1.00 for up to two hours and $3.00 for three hours. Valet is available for $20. Via the T, take the Green Line or Orange Line to Haymarket.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served seven days per week from 5:30pm until 10:00pm.

Intrigue

2007-05-09T20:46:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (85 out of 100)

70 Rowes Wharf
Boston, MA 02110
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Phone: 617-856-7744

Extraordinary views. Stellar service. Delightful piano music. Sick continental meals. All of these amenities are for the taking at Intrigue, the Boston Harbor Hotel's surprisingly-affordable waterfront cafe.

Our History at Intrigue
Our first visit to Intrigue was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
For starters, choose from three "Tastings" and eight appetizers. Tastings include fondue for $7.50 and barbecued boneless spare ribs for $8. Appetizers range from $6 for wild mushroom soup to $14 for chilled jumbo shrimp. We decided to try the fondue as well as the Rowes Wharf salad - crabmeat, avocado, tomato, caper, and horseradish tossed greens for $11.

Beaufort cheese and sweet onion fondue was served with toasted country bread. The sweet onion flavoring complemented the sharp, Beaufort cheese. Although we would have liked some veggies in addition to the bread, this tasting provided a perfect start to our evening.

Next up was the Rowes Wharf salad, stunningly served with a heaping amount of fresh crabmeat, perfectly-ripened avocado, and large, juicy tomato slices. The salad exceeded our expectations and delivered strong on value.

Other appetizers include clam chowder for $6.50, asparagus and parmesan ravioli for $12,50, fennel and lime stuffed Pemaquid oysters for $11.50, and Robiola, Shropshire, and aged Gouda cheeses for $12.50.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
Entrees range from $14.50 for a Sicilian pizza to $27.50 for a steamed Maine lobster and spiced chorizo. Other options include Fontina cheese and sage stuffed crispy chicken breast, beef tenderloin, grilled jumbo sea scallops, Porcini topped halibut, and Tuscan kale and ricotta cheese cannelloni. In a seafood mood, we ordered the halibut for $19.50 and the scallops for $21.50.

The grilled jumbo sea scallops were bland and a bit chewy; the accompanying curried vegetables proved unexciting. Likewise, the Atlantic halibut was average, and the Porcini topping was much creamier than anticipated. The halibut was served with warm potato, leek, and pancetta salad.

Rating: 7

Drinks
A mostly-American wine list starts at $40 per bottle. The martinis are excellent, but at a whopping $12.50 per glass. A delicious substitute for dessert, the chocolate trifle martini tastes like a chocolate cake.

Rating: 7.9

Service
Intrigue and Boston Harbor Hotel staff practically fall over one another to ensure your satisfaction. Our server perfectly paced the delivery of our dishes, giving us ample time to relax, sip a drink, and chat between courses.

Rating: 9.5

Ambiance
In nice weather, sit outside and enjoy a lively harborside scene. Any time of year, take advantage of a comfortable dining room with live piano music.

Rating: 9.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: Chef Daniel Bruce is also the chef for Meritage

Menu: Check out the appetizers and entrees

Reservations: Intrigue is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet for $26 or take the Red Line to South Station.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday from 4:30pm until 10pm, Friday from 4pm until 11pm, and Saturday from 4pm until 10pm.

Ivy Restaurant

2007-05-05T14:35:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (86 out of 100)

49 Temple Place
Boston, MA 02111
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Phone: 617-451-1416

Located in the Ladder District, Ivy Restaurant serves up delicious, Italian-inspired plates, great wine, and reasonable prices - in an energetic, urban environment. Whether you're planning a night at the theater or just want a sick meal in the heart of Boston, Ivy presents an outstanding option.

Our History at Ivy Restaurant
Our first visit to Ivy was on a Friday night at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
Ivy offers small plates and "Per la Tavola" selections, served communal and priced for two. For appetizers, we honed in on two of the communal offerings, choosing Caesar salad and the "Italian butcher block", each for $10.

We received an ample portion of Caesar salad - more than enough for two. The salad included delicious, toasty crostini that tasted soft like a sponge. The Italian butcher block consisted of thin sliced cured salami, prosciutto, soprasatta, and capicolla, served with fresh fig compote and marinated olives.

Another enticing option for the table is "Formaggio", a selection of Italian cheeses, fresh fruits, toasted walnuts, and Tupelo honey, for $14.

Rating: 8.8

Main Dishes
Four large plates, including Steak Fiorentina and pan seared cod, range from $17 to $25. However, we explored Ivy's small plates, covering a wide variety of cuisine and ranging in price from $7 to $12. After careful consideration, we opted for arancini stuffed with prosciutto and fontina, pappardelle with creamy veal ragu, seared scallops and pancetta, and lamb rib chops.

To our surprise, the small plate portions were generous. We received four large arancini, an overflowing bowl of pappardelle, soft, substantial scallops, and three tender lamb rib chops with citrus bean ragu. At $44 for four dishes, we experienced a filling, tasty range of starch, seafood, and beef. We left Ivy ready to plan small plate selections for our next visit - perhaps macaroni and cheese, shrimp arrabbiata, sesame tuna, and petit steak tagliata?

Rating: 9.1

Drinks
Choose from over 60 bottles of wine for just $26 per bottle. Reserves are available for $44, $55, and $77. There are two full bars.

Rating: 9.3

Service
We never quite figured out who was waiting on us. Otherwise, service was average. Plates were cleared a bit too quickly - sometimes before we were finished. Our selection of small plates arrived on the heels of our appetizers.

Rating: 7

Ambiance
Exposed brick, dim lights, and a modern design give Ivy a hip, urban feel. Contemporary music beats in the background; you can feel the pulse of the city as you enjoy sick food and drink. Downstairs, the Cava cocktail lounge provides a cozy setting for a pre- or post-meal cocktail.

Rating: 8.7

Et Cetera

Trivia: Ivy hosts a weekly wine tasting that features four wines, three small plates, and an assortment of fine cheeses. Read more

Menu: Check out the dinner menu

Reservations: Ivy is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet for $15 or park in a nearby parking garage. The closest T stations are Park Street or Boylston on the Green Line and Chinatown and Downtown Crossing on the Orange Line.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Tuesday and Wednesday from 5pm until 11pm, Thursday and Friday from 5pm until midnight, Saturday from 4pm until midnight, and Sunday from 4pm to 11pm. Ivy is closed on Monday.

Anthony's Pier 4

2007-04-29T19:28:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Potential (75 out of 100)

140 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
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Phone: 617-482-6262

Legend has it that Pier 4's late owner, Anthony Athanas, once caught a cab at Logan Airport, and asked his cabdriver to transport him to the best restaurant in Boston. Reportedly, without any knowledge of Mr. Athanas' personage, the cabdriver brought Mr. Athanas to Anthony's Pier 4. Mr. Athanas slipped the cabdriver a cool $1,000 to keep up the good work.

Fast-forward to 2007: your cabdriver is not likely to bring you to Pier 4. You can't beat the harborside location, but it's no longer the sickest meal in town.

Our History at Anthony's Pier 4
Our third visit to Anthony's Pier 4 was on a Saturday night at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers include oysters, clams, smoked salmon, and shrimp cocktail as well as soups and chowders such as lobster bisque and clam chowder. Prices range from $7.95 to $18.95. We tried Pier 4's apple and maple cured smoked salmon as well as fresh, delicious Norwalk Bluepointe oysters. The smoked salmon was served was onions, capers, crab meat and wheat bread.

While awaiting our appetizers, Pier 4 paraded a strange mix of complimentary dinners rolls, raisin bread, pre-packaged breadsticks, and house-marinated mushrooms. It felt like a full meal, and then a server plopped two oversized popovers onto our plate. Imbibe conservatively on the pre-meal fixings or you may require a wheelchair by the end of the evening.

Rating: 8.5

Main Dishes
Seafood dishes range from $21.95 for broiled Boston scrod to $37.95 for whole dover sole. Steaks and chops range from $34.95 for a Black Angus New York Sirloin to $49.95 for a specially aged prime 18 ounce New York Sirloin. Lobsters are also available, including whopping 3 to 4.5 pound behemoths.

We decided to order broiled Georges Bank sea scallops as well as fresh sauteed halibut. The taste of flour was palpable as we tucked in to the sea scallops. While the fresh sauteed halibut, served with raspberry vinegar sauce, met our expectations, the accompanying rice was unspectacular.

Rating: 6.8

Drinks
Pier 4 features an extensive, famed wine list, but there are very few reasonably-priced options. Small, shot-sized martinis disappointed.

Rating: 7.5

Service
In making our reservation, we asked for a window seat. Pier 4 could not guarantee window seating, but we were told to remind the hostess when we arrived. We informed the hostess of our preference, and without further discussion, we were immediately seated - not near a window, even though window seats were clearly opening up in minutes. Within five minutes of sitting down, we asked to be re-seated near a window.

Our waiter lacked enthusiasm and buzzed around our table like a bee.

The service at Pier 4 is usually better.

Rating: 6.5

Ambiance
Overlooking Boston Harbor, the large, open room exudes a distinct old-New England feel. Framed, autographed photos fill the wooden walls as you enter the restaurant; name a famous politician or celebrity from the past 40 years, and there's a fair chance they've dined at Pier 4. Unfortunately, the sparsely-filled room gives one the impression that Pier 4's best days have passed.

Rating: 8.4

Et Cetera

Trivia: Anthony Athanas immigrated to the United States from Albania at the age of 5. He went on to turn abandoned landfill on Boston's waterfront into one of the most successful restaurants in the country. Anthony's four sons now own and operate the Anthony's Pier 4 family of restaurants.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu

Reservations: Anthony's Pier 4 is on OpenTable

Transportation: Park for free in Pier 4's obscenely-sized parking lot.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 4pm to 10pm, Friday & Saturday from 4pm to 11pm, and Sunday from 4pm to 10pm.

75 Chestnut

2007-03-27T21:12:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (81 out of 100)

75 Chestnut Street
Boston, MA 02108
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Phone: 617-227-2175

Off the beaten path on Chestnut Street in Beacon Hill, 75 Chestnut delivers regional comfort food in a cozy pub environment.

Our History at 75 Chestnut
Our first visit to 75 Chestnut was on St. Patrick's Day, a Saturday, at 7:00pm.

Appetizers
75 Chestnut's seafood-driven appetizer menu includes herbed clam chowder, shrimp cocktail, steamed mussels, crab cakes, and crispy fried Monterey Bay calamari. Other options include five alarm chili, bruschetta, Caesar salad, and bibb salad. Prices range from $7 to $14.

We ordered the herbed clam chowder for $7 and crispy fried calamari for $10. Smoked bacon gave a kick to the creamy clam chowder, filled to the brim with clams and melt-in-your-mouth Maine potatoes. The crispy calamari was fried to a perfect crisp, but the homemade marinara and tartar sauces fell flat.

Rating: 8.1

Main Dishes
The dinner menu includes pan seared halibut, sauteed shrimp and scallops, pork tenderloin, and filet mignon as well as pub fare such as fish & chips, a burger, and turkey and sirloin steak sandwiches. Prices range from $10 for a burger to $20 for the filet mignon. 75 Chestnut also serves seasonal specials.

We opted for corn beef brisket with cabbage and potatoes, a St. Patrick's Day special. We also tried the sauteed shrimp and scallops for $19.

Tender corn beef brisket was traditionally salty, but not too salty. Delicious Irish soda bread complemented the dish.

75 Chestnut's sauteed shrimp and scallops dish was served with lemon-lime sauce and garden vegetables. We enjoyed a fair portion of shrimp and scallops, but the lemon-lime sauce was a bit too lemony for our taste.

The 75 Bistro Burger - a half pound of fresh ground chuck served on a toasted bulky roll and fries - was a favorite among many of our fellow diners.

Rating: 8

Drinks
Affordable and satisfying Oyster Bay (2006) sauvignon blanc went for $24. However, mediocre, overpriced martinis felt out of place.

Rating: 7.8

Service
We received prompt, friendly service despite a larger-than-average crowd.

Rating: 8.5

Ambiance
Presenting a cozy, polished-wood tavern environment, 75 Chestnut is a nice place to relax, grab a beer, and enjoy quality American comfort food on any night of the week. Sports fans fancy the bar area that includes several televisions, including a large flat panel. More so than Cheers up the street, 75 Chestnut truly feels like a place where "everyone knows your name".

Rating: 8

Et Cetera

Trivia: 75 Chestnut is owned by Thomas Kershaw, owner of Cheers Beacon Hill, Cheers Faneuil Hall, and Hampshire House.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu

Reservations: 75 Chestnut accepts reservations for parties of 6 or more.

Transportation: Valet for $16 or take the Red Line to Charles/MGH.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served seven days a week from 5:00PM to 10:00PM.

Bob's Southern Bistro

2007-03-20T18:44:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (82 out of 100)

604 Columbus Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
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Phone: 617-536-6204

A South End institution for over 50 years, Bob's Southern Bistro is home to some of Boston's sickest southern cuisine and live jazz.

Our History at Bob's Southern Bistro
We have ordered take-out and via Dining In on several occasions. Recently, we made our first dining visit on a Saturday at 7:00pm.

Appetizers
"Opening Acts" include southern specialties such as sweet potato fries, "glorifried" (fried) chicken wings, and ribs as well as cajun dishes such as catfish strips, cajun chicken strips, and cajun crab cakes. Prices range from $5.95 to $7.95. A selection of "Headliners" includes grilled chicken salad, garden salad, and sauteed vegetables, starting at $5.95 for the garden salad.

We shared the catfish strips, mustard fried and served with homemade spicy tartar sauce. The catfish tasted fresh and was not-at-all greasy. Without advice from the menu, we may have guessed that the strips were baked.

Rating: 8.8

Main Dishes
"Solo Acts" and "Grammy Winners" include Creole jambalaya, shrimp etouffe, Bob's Famous Chicken, barbecued spare ribs, chicken livers, and Bob's Homemade Meatloaf. Prices range from $11.95 to $16.95. Entrees are served with a corn muffin as well as your choice of two "Side Shows".

For entrees, we opted for Bob's Famous Chicken for $12.95 as well as Bob's Homemade Meatloaf for $11.95. We chose black-eye peas and rice, baked macaroni and cheese, red beans and rice, and string beans as "Side Shows".

Bob's Famous Chicken is available baked, barbequed, or glorifried with white or dark meat. Served any way is great, but glorifried is the sickest. The heaping homemade meatloaf oozed with juices and flavors.

The black-eye peas were a bit bland. However, the baked macaroni and cheese was everything one would expect from this classic comfort food. Other tempting sides include collard greens, candied yams, and potato salad.

Rating: 8.5

Drinks
Mixed drinks go for $7. Our vodka mixers were served in tiny glasses filled with too much ice. After a few sips, we were left with a cup of water.

Affordable beer, wine, and martinis are also available.

Rating: 7

Service
Our waitress was super-friendly and professional, but slow. On this busy night, it seemed as though Bob's could have benefited from one more server.

Rating: 7.8

Ambiance
You cannot see inside from the street, so a sense of mystery builds as you walk into the restaurant. As you enter, you are transported to another era. Bob's masterfully exudes both a private jazz club and neighborhood bar feel.

Rating: 8.7

Et Cetera

Trivia: Bob's Southern Bistro, formerly known as Bob The Chef's, has been at its current location on Columbus Avenue since 1968.

Live Music: Bob's features live music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The cover charge varies, ranging from $3 to $5.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu

Reservations: Bob's Southern Bistro is on OpenTable

Transportation: It is usually easy to find street parking. Via the T, take the Green Line to Symphony or the Orange Line to Massachusetts Avenue.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Bob's serves sick meals Monday through Wednesday from 5:00PM to 10:00PM; Thursday and Friday from 5:00pm to midnight; Saturday from 11:30AM to midnight; and Sunday from 2:30pm to 10:00PM.

Smith & Wollensky

2007-03-15T20:13:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (84 out of 100)

101 Arlington Street
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-423-1112

Smith & Wollensky is a national steakhouse chain with locations in Chicago, Miami Beach, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Columbus, Houston, New York, Washington DC, and Boston. The stunning Boston location, "The Castle" at Park Plaza, is a prominent stone and brick medieval structure.

Smith & Wollensky serves superb steak in a supreme dining environment. However, superfluous prices stop us from coming back on a regular basis.

Our History at Smith & Wollensky
We have dined at Smith & Wollensky in Las Vegas, Miami, New York, and Boston. Our most recent Boston visit was on a Saturday at 6:30pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers include Wollensky's famous split pea soup, crab cake, a thin crust pizza, and tomato & bufala mozzarella salad. Exquisite seafood bouquets include lobster, oysters, shrimp, muscles, clams, and lump crabmeat. The bouquets are available in two sizes at whopping price points - $54 for the Charlie Smith bouquet and $99 for the Ralph Wollensky bouquet. Otherwise, appetizers range from $6 for the split pea soup to $28 for a crab cake for two.

At the suggestion of our waiter, we shared the tomato & bufala salad for $13 - a beefy stack of juicy tomato slices, fresh mozzarella, and aromatic basil.

In the past, Smith & Wollensky served a basket of soft pretzels - a SickMeals.com favorite. Over time, this basket diversified, and it is no longer a basket at all. Freshly baked biscuits greeted us on this visit. The biscuits were OK, but the pretzels were beloved. Bring them back!

Rating: 8.9

Main Dishes
The New York Times referred to Smith & Wollensky as "a steakhouse to end all arguments". It's hard to disagree, but you pay dearly. Prices range from $36 for a 10oz filet mignon to $44 for a bone-in ribeye or bone-in New York cut sirloin. A porterhouse for two is available for $88. Other entree options include lobster tail, grilled seafood, and roast prime rib. Delicious sides are served family-style and include highly-recommended whipped potatoes, creamed spinach, and sauteed mushrooms. The sides go for $8.

We enjoyed a juicy 14oz filet mignon for $40. At Smith & Wollensky, the steak never disappoints. The fillet mignon is available au poivre, oscar style, gorgonzola crusted, cajun seasoned, or simply grilled.

In addition, at our waiter's suggestion, we decided to try the Tristan Island 10oz lobster tail. Unfortunately, the lobster was a monstrous disappointment. It was not sweet as advertised. It was rubbery. And the seafood stuffing seemed like a smattering of dry bread crumbs. All for $59!

Rating: 7

Drinks
Smith & Wollensky mixed delightful cosmos and martinis. Most mixed drinks fall in the $10-$12 range. An extensive wine list features 650 U.S. wines including selections from Robert Mondavi, Harlan, Hanzell, and Jordan.

Rating: 8.5

Service
We received professional but unenthusiastic service. Repeated visits to Smith & Wollensky in Las Vegas and Miami were magical experiences - and top-shelf service played a paramount role. Despite lavish accommodations and impeccable ambiance, the Boston experience does not quite match up.

Rating: 7.9

Ambiance
Four floors include mammoth, roaring fireplaces, magnificent chandeliers, and miles of mahogany. You truly feel as though you are dining among royalty.

Rating: 9.5

Et Cetera

Trivia: Charlie Smith and Ralph Wollensky are fictional characters.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu

Reservations: Smith & Wollensky is on OpenTable

Transportation: Take the Green Line to Arlington or valet for $16.

Dress: Business Casual

Hours: Smith & Wollensky serves dinner Monday through Thursday from 5:30 PM to 10:00PM; Friday from 5:30pm to 11:00pm; Saturday from 4:30PM to 11:00PM; and Sunday from 4:30pm to 10:00PM.

Cottonwood Cafe

2007-03-03T17:18:00.001-05:00

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (85 out of 100)

222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-247-2225

Searching for sick southwestern cuisine? How about a pitcher of Boston's sickest margaritas? Look no further than Cottonwood Cafe, located steps from Copley Square on the corner of Berkeley Street and Stuart Street.

Our History at Cottonwood Cafe
Our sixth visit to the Cottonwood Cafe was on a Friday at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
For starters, we opted for chips with four dips. Homemade, tri-color tortilla chips are served with house-made red and green salsas, guacamole, and chile con queso. The dips were sick and the crispy chips were oven-fresh. We enjoyed the fresh, creamy guacamole, chock-full of tomato and onion chunks.

Other appetizers include grilled mesa shrimp, artichoke and spinach dip, snakebites, cowboy potstickers, and crab & brie quesadilla. Prices range from $6 to $11.95. Also available are several soups, salads, and stews such as six chile chili, black bean soup, and Santa Fe caesar salad.

Rating: 8.5

Main Dishes
Cottonwood offers signature dishes such as seafood paella and enchiladas as well as open grilled specialties such as angus ranch strip and twice stuffed chicken. We decided to go with enchiladas verdes and barbacoa - shrimp and chicken breast grilled and served in house-made bourbon-barbeque sauce.

To create their famous enchiladas verdes, Cottonwood bakes grilled chicken, jack cheese, scallions, and pico de gallo in soft corn tortillas. A perfect balance of spicy and creamy, the dish is served with tomatillo green sauce, achiote rice, ranch beans, guacamole, mixed greens, and sour cream.

The barbacoa is both sweet and spicy, giving you healthy portions of marinated, grilled shrimp and chicken breast smothered with bourbon-barbeque sauce. Baked banana, ensalada mixta, and achiote rice cool your palate in between bourbon-barbeque bites.

Entree prices range from $16.95 to $24.95.

Rating: 8.5

Drinks
A sick margarita lineup includes frozen or straight up drinks by the glass or pitcher. The "Cottonwood Classic", Cottonwood's most popular margarita, integrates Sauza Conmemorativo and Citronge. The ultra-smooth "Tradicional" is made with Sauza Tres Generaciones and Cointreau. Indulge in Cottonwood's "Platinum" margarita and choose from Milagro Anejo, El Tesoro Reposado, or Patron Silver with Cointreau served straight up.

Margarita pitchers range from $25 to $40 and glasses range from $6.25 to $9.95. Beer, wine, and other mixed drinks are also available.

Rating: 9.6

Service
Cottonwood's table service is friendly but frequently unspectacular. Our waitress did not inform us of the evening's specials. She forgot to give us knives. We received lackluster answers in response to our entree questions.

Rating: 7.6

Ambiance
Blue and purple lights dance off earth tone-colored walls to create a distinct Southwestern theme. A long, bustling bar serves as an ideal venue for drinks.

Rating: 8.4

Et Cetera

Trivia: Patio dining is available during the spring, summer, and fall.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu and drink menu

Reservations: Cottonwood Cafe is on OpenTable

Parking: Cottonwood offers two hours of free validated parking in the Back Bay Parking Garage on weekdays starting at 5pm and any time on weekends.

Dress: You may dress casually at Cottonwood.

Hours: Dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 5:30pm to 10pm; Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm to 11pm; and Sunday from 5pm to 10pm.

Mantra

2007-02-20T18:45:00.000-05:00

Overall Rating: Failure (58 out of 100)

52 Temple Place
Boston, MA 02111
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Phone: 617-542-8111

Overpriced and sterile, Mantra makes a mockery out of fine dining. Want to go clubbing in the Ladder District? Mantra is a potential destination. Looking for sick meals? Don't go here. Mantra represents the antithesis of sick meals.

Our History at Mantra
Previously, we only visited Mantra to go dancing. For dinner, we recently tossed a bunch of money in the garbage on a Saturday night at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
Mantra fuses French and Indian flavors with seafood, poultry, meats, and produce. Our party sampled several appetizers that illustrated this fusion style of cooking, including spiced scallops and tandoori stuffed quail.

Spiced seared diver scallops were served with mango, cumin, black pepper relish, and red pepper coulis. This rub delicately complemented the large, tender scallops. The tandoori stuffed quail was served with balchao sauce and a tiny portion of mustard mashed potatoes. We liked both appetizers, but four scallops for $19 and unspectacular quail for $17 is highway robbery.

Other appetizers include a tasting of oysters, saffron tandoori shrimp, and "menage a foie". For $23, the cleverly-named menage a foie gives you a variety of miniature delicacies: torchon of foie gras with winter fruit compote, pate with black truffle and brioche toast, seared foie gras with lobster, morel and goat cheese dumpling, and sour cherry Chambord gastrique. If you like foie gras, do yourself a favor: forget Mantra and go to The Butcher Shop.

Mantra peddles a bottomless supply of naan while you await your meal.

Rating: 7.5

Main Dishes
Overpriced to the extreme, Mantra's dinner menu includes pork tenderloin roulades, grilled rack of lamb, veal tenderloin, deconstructed tasting of game hens, fresh coconut herb crusted halibut, and steamed marinated gulf prawns.

Our party tried the veal tenderloin for $32, the deconstructed tasting of game hens for $39, and the fresh coconut herb crusted halibut for $39.

The veal tenderloin, served with garlic spinach, herb Idaho potatoes, and port glazed madras onions, was undercooked. The deconstructed tasting of game hens - quail, squab, and duck breast - was served cold with broccoli raab and mediocre yogurt, mustard, chili, and fig dipping sauces. Mantra's "fresh" coconut herb crusted halibut tasted like a dry, bland slab of fish with a few breadcrumbs sprinkled on top. We detected no coconut in the crust. Accompanying curry leaf coconut sauce resembled a pool of mayonnaise.

The halibut dish was supposed to include grilled asparagus, bean sprouts, and peppers. Adding insult to injury, we received three asparagus, a few red pepper slices, and bean sprouts - all "barely steamed" more than grilled.

To put it lightly, the menu over-promises and under-delivers.

Rating: 4

Drinks
Cocktails, sometimes carelessly mixed, go for about $10. Like everything else, much of the wine list is stratospherically priced. On the other hand, Mantra made several mean martinis, helping us forget the calamitous cuisine.

Rating: 7.6

Service
The staff wandered around like zombies and seemed bored as they awaited the main event - the transition of Mantra from a restaurant to a club. Our waitress took forever to deliver drinks, and it was no wonder: we watched as she took our drink orders and then went behind the bar to mix the drinks. Bartenders were missing in action. Sid Vicious cleared our plates.

Rating: 5

Ambiance
Cold, airy, and empty, Mantra has no heart. We felt as though we were intruding on preparations for the evening's clubbing activities. Signs of the previous night's clubbing showed up on dirty curtains. Men relieve themselves on ice; a few hours into a visit, the bathroom becomes downright raunchy.

Rating: 5

Et Cetera

Trivia: Mantra makes a better nightclub than a restaurant. Slip in before 10:00PM to avoid a $20 cover and sip a drink in the smoke-free hookah den.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Mantra is on OpenTable

Transportation: Park in several nearby garages or valet for $15.

Dress: There is no reason to go here unless you want to go dancing. With this in mind, dress for a night of clubbing, or go elsewhere.

Hours: Dinner is served Monday through Saturday from 5:30PM to 10:30PM.