Restaurants

You are currently browsing articles tagged Restaurants.

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.

Branch Line Watertown

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.

Branch Line

Branch Line

 

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.

Branch Line menu

porchettta at Branch Line

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. . .

 

Bubbly

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

Cheers!

rotisserie drippings

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

fried cheese

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.

roasted oysters

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!

mushroooms

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

porchetta Branch Line

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.

Branch Line chicken

 

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.

 

roasted garlic and steak

 

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?

 

roasted garlic

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.

fish carrots with yogurt sauce

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.

Brussels

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.

milk shake dessert

 

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.

Tags: Boston, Boston blogger, Dining out, Food, food blog, Restaurants, wine

Life lately. It’s been a jumble of pure joy and gratitude tempered with a lot of sadness and despair at the world we live in. I’ve found myself on many occasions feeling guilty for my happiness and safety, then remembering to be grateful and to do my best to extend happiness to others whenever I can.

Gratitude

We had a gloriously relaxed trip to Ireland, where we spent a ton of time with family. I’ll blog a little about that soon though, other than some gorgeous scenery and the Galway Christmas Market, there isn’t much to tell. It was just very simple, just what we needed.

Barna Ireland

mussels in Ireland We made our required visit to O’Grady’s on the Pier in Barna, just outside Galway City, for seafood and beautiful, stormy ocean views. A steaming pot of mussels from right outside, cooked in lemongrass and coconut milk, satisfied my craving for Irish seafood, and a cool Spanish white added that “vacation” aspect to lunch.

 

Worden Hall

 

Worden Hall pizza Around Boston, I’ve been trying to make a point of getting out of our Dorchester dining comfort zone and explore some of the new restaurants. I had a date with a friend at Worden Hall and absolutely loved it. I actually arrived early after a hair appointment and read at the bar for a while, a new favorite Friday or Saturday late afternoon pastime.  There’s something so comforting about a quiet bar and book as we head into this season of hibernation.

Shepard Cambridge

Shepard Cambrid

Periodista Cocktail

On a Cambridge date night, we wandered over to Shepard, which is just absolutely lovely. The white marble bar is beautiful, the cocktails were delicious, and the service was so friendly and warm. I felt like I could have lingered for a long time. The food was also stellar. We only had some small bites, heavenly scallops and bluefish pate, both were really excellent.

Blue Hills hiking

Based on where we live, venturing South of Boston has been fun over the past two years (We moved in two years ago today!). Hikes at Houghton’s Pond/The Blue Hills are a reminder of how exquisitely beautiful the area we live in is, and restaurants like the Tavern at Granite Links and their amped up comfort food, like these buffalo chicken puff pastries, remind us how vast and fun our restaurant scene is.

Granite Links - Tavern at Quarry Hills Last but not least, there’s work. I have been so incredibly blessed with referrals for new clients that I am swamped through the end of the year! I try not to mix client promotion too much into the blog, since this is for fun, but I love the clients I am working with and want to share them with you!

Olive Connection gift baskets

The Olive Connection Brookline is a beautiful, family owned store that has been working hard on delicious food gifts for their first holiday season. They are happy to personalize custom gift baskets for you to come up with the perfect gift for a loved one. You can also shop at their online store!

The BRUFFIN

I recently started working with the BRUFFIN ® on their holiday promotions, because they have been named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things 2015! Flaky, delicious, brioche muffins filled with all sorts of toppings. . . they are pretty amazing and make the perfect addition to a holiday meal or as a gift. the BRUFFIN has been incorporated into some pretty incredible meals too, like the BRUFFIN ® Benedict at the Conrad Hotel in New York City. You can order online or try them at the Gansevoort Market. Barre & Soul

Last but certainly not least, I just started working with Barre & Soul on their PR/Social Media. As soon as I walked into their Harvard Square space for my meeting, I knew I wanted to work with them. It’s a beautiful, serene space, and owner Andrea Isabelle Lucas is full of great ideas and philosophies, not to mention incredibly fit with a great, healthy attitude toward fitness and wellness. Her blog can be found here. I love that they offer virtual classes too; those will come in handy if this winter ends up being like last!

Tags: Boston, cocktails, Dining out, Food, Ireland, outdoors, Restaurants, Travel

I loved our trip to Chicago so much. It felt like the perfect mini getaway not too far away. The weather was great, we got to spend time with friends and family, we walked a ton, and of course, we did our fair share of eating and drinking. And with all of the restaurants in Chicago, we could go back many times to do much much more. Below is a round up of our eating adventures.

For more Chicago posts you can read about our Goose Island Tour and my Scenes from Chicago post.

Public Hotel Chicago

We stayed at the Public Hotel, which had two elegant, old school bars, the Pump Room and the Library and Coffee Bar, both offering incredible cocktails. The craft cocktail menu, small bites, low lighting, and general ambiance added so much to our hotel stay.

mimosa Our first morning in Chicago found us walking for miles along Lake Michigan then finally sitting down to brunch outdoors at LuxBar. Mimosas, Salmon Eggs Benedict, and a gigantic breakfast burrito were all delicious and enjoyed while people watching. Brunch on vacation is just the best.

salmon benedict

breakfast burrito

stuffed shells

My friend who was running the Chicago Marathon wanted to carb load the night before, and of course we joined her. Carmine’s was the place to be the night before the marathon. The red wine was flowing, and classic red sauce Italian dishes like my stuffed shells were being served up to noisy tables. The atmosphere was festive and perfect for the exciting weekend that was in it.

Pops Champagne Bar I couldn’t miss the opportunity to taste Champagnes by the glass at Pop Champagne Bar. It’s so rare to have the chance to taste several Champagnes in one sitting, and we took full advantage of the menu!

Pops Champagne Bar Finally, there was the post-marathon celebratory dinner at Hugo’s.We originally set out for Gibson’s but they were completely full, and the kind hostess had someone escort us to their sister restaurant Hugo’s, which serves the same steaks and great food. We felt so taken care of right off the bat; the hospitality all throughout Chicago was remarkable, and we really felt it the most at Gibson’s and Hugo’s.

We wanted the Chicago steak house experience, complete with giant cocktails, meat, and sides.

cocktails in Chicago There were martinis and Manhattans and wedge salads, one of my favorite steak house dishes.

wedge salad When the entrees started to arrive, my husband’s steak was way too rare, so they whisked it away and while it cooked brought him a complimentary shrimp cocktail so he had something while he waited. It was only a matter of minutes, and this little extra touch meant so much. The shrimp were so yummy too!

shrimp cocktail

While my plate doesn’t look very appetizing here, it was simply amazing. I had the steak and crab cake combo, which came with two phenomenal sauces including their pink spicy mayo. 

steak and crab ccakes

My husband’s steak came covered in crab meat and asparagus and was out-of-this world. We also all shared chipotle corn and asparagus.

Hugo's Chicago 

This meal was special, decadent, and so much fun, one of those must-do things if you get to Chicago. It kind of felt like dining in a bygone era, where we really slowed down to enjoy ourselves.

Tags: Chicago, Dining out, Food, Restaurants, Travel, travel blog

« Older entries § Newer entries »

new restaurant
WordPress SEO fine-tune by Meta SEO Pack from Poradnik Webmastera