Dining out

Branch Line is one of the Boston area’s hottest new restaurants, with city folks flocking out to Watertown to get a taste of their rotisserie-focused menu. Right before I left to go home for Christmas, we got together at Branch Line with great friends to celebrate the holidays. It was the perfect choice for such an occasion; it would be perfect for just about any occasion though. This is definitely a restaurant you need to visit soon.

The space is beautiful, with high ceilings and an open kitchen, which we were seated right next to,  making for a warm and cozy dinner and a show. We couldn’t help but watch the kitchen action, including the rotisserie chickens rotating and getting golden.

When I first heard the Branch Line concept, I was a little skeptical about whether or not the menu would appeal to me, but in the end, I wanted everything. This is a good place to go with a bunch of friends who don’t mind sharing because there are a lot of small plates, sides, and meat dishes that come in good-sized portions, and you will want them all.

The porchetta . . . you have to get the porchetta. I first caught sight of it and had to grab this photo, which doesn’t do it justice. It was so beautiful, sitting right there in that open kitchen, just waiting for me to run away with it. . .

But first there were drinks. Our friends’ friends surprised us with a bottle of delicious bubbly, 2004
Château Tour Grise Brut Non Dose Gourdon, a sparkling Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley perfect for celebrating.

Cheers!

We started off the meal with appetizers, including fresh bread and a bowl of drippings from the chicken rotisserie. Um, amazing.

We also shared the fried cheese as well as the heavenly grilled oysters with bagna cauda butter. I am more into grilled or roasted oysters these days, and these did not disappoint.

And then there was dinner. Plates were flying around the table as we dug into our own meals as well as each others’, along with the sides that we ordered to share. I had at least a bite of everything; it was a true feast!

Grilled mushrooms came wading in more of the rotisserie chicken drippings, because, why not?

The porchetta was the best dish of the night. It wasn’t mine, unfortunately, so I had to be satisfied with a few bites, but it was absolutely insane – tender, juicy, and rich pork with a pop of flavor and crunch from mustard,  greens,  and pickled onions. Out of this world.

The chicken was another star of the dinner show, as we dreamed it would be. Branch Line specializes in rotisserie, and the chicken is really a must-order.

My entree, the Prime Bavette Steak with an entire head of roasted garlic was a tender, mouthwatering treat with gooey, caramelized garlic to spare. Can you ever have too much garlic though?

Pescatarians will be happy with the Baked Sicilian White Fish in a scrummy tomato sauce with olives and basil. I loved the simplicity of this dish; it’s something similar to what I make at home, only better.

My two favorite sides of the night were the roasted carrots which were resting atop a tangy, incredible yogurt sauce, a side that I would happily eat as a vegetarian entree. Brussels sprouts are always a favorite veggie of mine, and these were, like the rest of the meal, devoured by our group.

I could have easily stopped at dinner and rolled out of the restaurant, but we stayed the course for espresso and desserts. The milkshake is one I would pass up next time. I found it too soupy and not much like a milkshake at all.

The olive oil cake and this ice cream sundae, on the other hand, were well worth the extra calories even to someone who isn’t a huge dessert fan, like me.

Service at Branch Line could not have been better. We felt relaxed and at home as each dish came out. The list of wines and beers is interesting; note that Branch Line doesn’t have cocktails, but the wine and beer selection more than make up for that. Branch Line is a definite must-visit in the Boston area, and we will definitely be back soon.