El Pelon

I can't understand why it's so hard to find great mexican food in Boston.  Well not anymore.  
El Pelon is located near Fenway Park and offers authentic mexican fare. 


The location is fairly small and does mostly take out business.  The menu offers enchiladas, tacos, burritos, and various appetizers.  I personally love the enchiladas.  They are made with a verde type sauce and are filled with your choice of chicken, pork, or beef.  I have had everything on the menu and can say it's all great authentic recipes.  The company is owned by a small family who wants to bring their great recipes to Boston.  I am sincerely grateful.  


With spring around the corner this place will be packed because there is no other place to find such authentic mexican food. 

Starbucks near Fenway

I have gone to pretty much all the Starbucks in Boston and I can honestly say that this is the best location.  The baristas make a great espresso and just in case your wondering, it's not as simple as you may think.  It's all about setting the machine correctly and not burning the beans.  


I am pretty much on a first name basis with the whole staff because they are so friendly.  They are great at suggesting new combinations for my latte.  Unlike some of the other locations in the area, they really care about their regulars and already know my drink before I even approach the counter.  


The food is also great at this location, always fresh and made by people who obviously care.  They just remodeled the inside and it looks fantastic.  I love Starbucks, definitely can't go a day without my latte.  Iced of course.  


Definitely stop by this location for a great latte and wonderful customer service even at their busiest times. 


I just love Starbucks.

Espresso Royale Cafe

Like most of you, I have been to a ton of cafes.  Most of them are pretty forgettable.  Totally not the case with Espresso Royale.  This a tiny cafe below street level on Newbury Street.  It has a typical cafe atmosphere with 20 somethings working on their MacBooks.  The espresso drinks are fantastic and when ordered to eat-in they often come with a fancy design on top.


The bagels are hands down some of the best in Boston.  What sets them apart from other cafes is that they season both sides of the bagel whether it be poppy or sesame etc. There are a huge selection of flavors all homemade.  I highly recommend ordering a sandwich which comes on a bagel of your choice.  My favorite is the sunrise sandwich, which contains egg, bacon, sausage, or ham and your choice of cheese. 


Baristas at this cafe really know how to brew the best stuff, unlike some other cafes.  The service is very friendly.  Next time you come to Newbury forget Starbucks and check out Espresso Royale for a great beverage. 

Boloco

I have walked past this place on numerous occasions with the idea that it was just fast food.  One day I decided to try it.  I was amazed by how good it was.  The options are endless and one can always customize any of the items on the menu.  This was a very attractive feature to me because I eat healthy and at some restaurants getting them to omit an ingredient is an act of congress.  Not here.  Boloco is a great option for a quick, quality lunch or dinner.  I hope to see more open up around Boston and across New England.

Gourmet Dumpling House

The photo explains it all.  Come to Gourmet Dumpling House for the most amazing soup dumplings in Boston.  For those of you that don't know they are a pork dumpling that contains a broth that just melts in your mouth.  I am craving some as I right this review. 


When you enter the tiny restaurant you notice that the tables are very close and it is extremely loud.  At first I thought it was going to be a negative but some of the people were so friendly and recommended certain dishes that our group should try.  


The Mapo Tofu, Mini Pork Buns, Ants on tree, Eggplant with Basil are all fantastic. 


Get to Chinatown to check out this great place. 

Flour Bakery and Cafe

Ate here for lunch.  I had the grilled chicken sandwich with brie, arugula, caramelized onions, red peppers, and guacamole on toasted wheat bread.  It was a great sandwich that had the perfect balance between all the ingredients. The cookies were good too, I had the double chocolate chip and their special cookie.  The double chocolate was nice and thick also very moist.  The other was kind of sweet.  It was chocolate chips with pecans, and coconut.  There was definitely enough chocolate chips for me and it lacked the richness of the double chocolate.

Overall it was a good experience so if your in the South End and looking to grab a bite.  Check it out. 

Upper Crust Pizza

Always great!  Pop in for a slice on white or wheat for $3.31.  Who could beat that? Their crust is hand-tossed and toppings always fresh.  My go to when I can't get to Pizza Regina.

Basho Japanese Restaurant

Very fresh sushi.  The amount of fish in each roll is fairly large.  The rice is cooked perfectly so it creates a great balance with the fish.  These upscale Japanese restaurants are popping up all over the place because they offer great cocktails and really creative rolls.  Not much of a sushi person?  Don't fear because Basho offers a great selection of robata (grilled meats).  If you want good sushi, check this place out before a night on the town.  You can't go wrong with the relaxing atmosphere.  Douzo is the sister restaurant of Basho and it is just as great.   

East Coast Grill

Located in Cambridge, I had been wanting to try East Coast Grill for a year but had been too lazy to drive from Boston over the river. The experience was every bit worth it.

Upon entering one immediately feels relaxed in the laid back atmosphere.
My friend and I started with the mussels appetizer which she suggested would be amazing. I have never really been a huge fan of mussels. This dish was one of the best I have had in a while. The mussels were in a garlic sauce and served with a giant piece of bread for soaking up the delicious liquid. These were the cleanest mussels I ever had in my life.

My entree was amazing as well. A Portugese style stew with shrimp, mussels, crab, mussels, and swordfish. The seafood was so fresh.

Service was very friendly and welcoming. 

The drinks were pretty standard but we came for the food.  ECG is famous for having "Hell Night", a few times a month.  This is a tasting of the worlds spiciest pepper.  Many come and many end up crying all the way to the bathroom.  One guy forgot to wash his hands before going so his eyes weren't the only thing that was burning. 

I don't get over to Cambridge that often but next time I do I'll be sure to stop by again.

VAi