Mama Maria

Graduation was nearing so my parents came all the way from Beijing to attend my commencement. I thought it would be a good idea to bring them to the North End to get a taste of the Italian cuisine here in Boston. I made a reservation for Mama Maria after reading many excellent reviews on Yelp. The menu is seasonally inspired to ensure that the freshest ingredients are used yet are still heavily focused on traditional Italian dishes and cooking. After walking up a small flight of steps up to the restaurant we were greeted by a very gracious hostess who informed us that our table would be ready soon. Our table took longer than expected yet the hostess and the other waitstaff were very polite and apologetic which eased the displeasure greatly. We were led into a small room filled with three other tables, the decor of the restaurant was very elegant with pastel colors, delicate light fixtures, and dim lighting. Although classy, the restaurant did not feel overly stuffy or pretentious.

Beef Carpaccio with shaved truffle, arugula, capers, and parmesan cheese 
Amazing. Each bite of the carpaccio was a burst of perfect seasoning and texture. The dish was not merely drizzled with truffle oil but was generously flecked with large bits of shaved truffle. The truffle flavor was immense and heavenly. The nutty flavor of the arugula and the tangy saltiness of the capers all added to the perfect harmony of flavors of this excellent first course. 

Cape Bretin New Brunswick Oysters baked with Prosecco Zabaglione
The oysters were fat and juicy and although slightly heavy, was a delicious and hearty dish. The juiciness of the oysters were furthermore enhanced by the creamy texture of the sauce ladened on top of them and the baking of the dish resulted in a delicious cheesy crust on top. I usually prefer my oysters raw and fresh yet this preparation was still very enjoyable. The deep fried garnish on the top was very delicious although I failed to find out what it was. 

Lobster Pasta, Silky Agnolotti filled with Fresh Maine Lobster, Pan Roasted Mushrooms, and Crumbled Guancale
Once I bit into the pasta I could instantly tell that it was freshly made. The texture and flavor of the pasta was impeccable and could only be made from the freshest and highest quality ingredients. The pan roasted mushrooms had a lovely nutty flavor and also added a great textural aspect to the dish. The  delicious hearty chunks of lobster was fresh and contrasted with the silky texture of the pasta which wrapped around it. 

Pan Seared Canadian Halibut with Maine Fiddleheads, Oregon Morels, Fresh Herb Salsa Verde, and Creamy Parsnips
The fish was cooked perfectly and was tender and full of flavor. The fiddleheads were very curious to me for it is not something I eat often, this may be due to personal preference but I was not particularly enthralled by their taste or their appearance. The fresh herb salsa verde added a nice kick to the dish. A light and nicely made dish. 

Overall the experience at Mama Maria was excellent and I would love to return again to feast on such high quality Italian cooking.

Mama Maria
3 North Square 

Boston
MA

02113

The Butcher Shop

After a raging good time in Miami for Ultra, I am back in Boston and pretty miserable about the weather and normal life overall. The weather has been utterly terrible but fortunately today it started to look a little better with some sunlight. I decided that I had to keep myself occupied in order to avoid descending into a post Ultra depression therefore I went to try out The Butcher Shop which was a restaurant that I have been looking forward to. I love the concept of having a refined butcher shop inside the restaurant. The weather was lovely and the restaurant had large windows to allow the sunlight in and for diners to engage in some street/people watching.

The large bar table that dominated the majority of the restaurant's space 

Great idea with the large windows to let the beautiful sunlight in 

Steak Tartare with Pickled Onions and Toasted Brioche
The steak tartare came premixed in a generous portion. The pickled onions added a nice kick to it and the brioche was toasted to golden perfection. I liked how the brioche was used for it was thicker and heartier as compared to normal toast and more suitable for something so strong in flavor such as steak tartare. The tartare was seasoned very well and full of bold flavors. Very delicious but I must say still not as good as the tartare I had at Sportello! 

Ricotta Gnudi with Bolognese and Parmesan
The gnudi had a nice bite to it, not too soft but still maintained that light delicate feeling. The bolognese had a rich meaty taste and one could tell that it was made with care. I felt that it was lacking a tad bit of salt yet overall was a very satisfying dish. 

Merguez
Failed to note down the full name of the dish. Felt that the presentation was a little bit off on this one, the dish looked scattered and disorganized. The arugula and nuts along with the sausage made for a very interesting and enjoyable texture and flavor combination. Although delicious, felt that the sausage was rather large and one would get tired of eating a entire dish of this as a main course. 

The butcher shop at the end of the restaurant. The chopping board area also served as a waiting area or a place where people could grab a casual drink. I thought this entire concept and set up was very innovative and charming. 

Overall the meal was enjoyable yet there weren't any specific dishes that blew me away. I think it is worth it to come here for the experience and perhaps it was lunch time therefore we were unable to taste the true strength of this restaurant which is its meats. The dinner menu consists of items that uses meat as its main component such as steaks and lamb chops therefore I will try and come back for dinner to taste whether the quality of the meat is truly of high standing. The store had honey, chicken stock, truffle oil, pâté, and of course, many cuts of meat. Will definitely buy some to enjoy at home if I return again to The Butcher Shop. 

Il Capriccio

Although located in Waltham, Il Capriccio has long been known to be one of the top italian restaurants in Boston, topping the lists of various websites for "Best Italian Food", beating out even some restaurants in the North End. I took advantage of the fact that it was Restaurant Week and made a dinner reservation on Friday. The restaurant had a classic and simple decor and was rather maze like with many hallways. The Restaurant Week set menu had a lot of decent choices and my housemate and I decided to order all different things and share everything so we could try out as many things as possible.

Tuna Tartare with Avocado and House Chips
The tuna tartare was very fresh and the hint of onions gave the dish the perfect amount of kick. The avocado was creamy and wrapped the entire dish together. The crispiness of the chips balanced out the soft creamy texture of the tartare.

Seared Foie Gras, Balsamic Onions, Reduced Apple Cider and Pear
Foie Gras is one of my all time favorite foods. This was actually quite a disappointment. The foie gras was overcooked and did not have that silky melt in your mouth fattiness that I am so fond of. The flavor was also lacking, it almost tasted like chicken liver. The balsamic onions and pear was done well but the star of the dish was not impressive. 

Vermont Quail with Sweetbread Stuffing, Marsala, Roast Potatoes and Trumpet Mushrooms
This dish was very flavorful and was enjoyable. The quail was tender and the sweet bread stuffing was complemented the quail very nicely with its rich taste. A decent but not mind blowing dish.

Pan Roasted Giannone Chicken "Schnitzel", Fried Egg, White Wine, Cipolline, and Potato Tart
Chicken was well done and the skin was very crispy. Once again, decent taste but not amazing. I also felt that the side dishes on both the first Secondi and this one was the same: carrots, cauliflower, and some other greens. This could be because of restaurant therefore the restaurants are not as detailed as usual but I believe that a truly good restaurant should ensure their dishes are exquisite and top notch regardless of what promotional period it is. 

Lemon Creme Brulee
The dessert was expertly prepared. The touch of lemon flavor was genius and made the already creamy and luscious creme brulee even more delicious. 

Warm Chocolate Budino with Whipped Cream
Delicious chocolate cake that ended the meal perfectly. Cake was smooth and rich with a bold chocolate flavor.  

Overall food was fine but it was not something that blew me away. Service was excellent and very attentive. Wine list was also very comprehensive and impressive. The food was prepared well yet there wasn't any particular dish that made me think "I must return here again for this". In terms of Italian food in the area I definitely thought La Campania was better. Still a enjoyable evening though for I am always happy to try new restaurants.

Neptune Oyster

After hearing and talking about this place for YEARS I finally step foot into the famous Neptune Oyster in the North End neighborhood of Boston. Seeing as I adore oysters and seafood its ridiculous that it has taken me this long to try out this place. It is said that this place serves the #1 lobster roll in Boston. It was an absolute disaster looking for parking and my friend and I circled around for the longest time trying to find a spot. Finally the gods smiled down upon us and we found a great spot right outside the restaurant. The restaurant was packed and we had to wait for around an hour for a table. They do not take reservations so it is a good idea to get there early. They had a special menu with all the oysters and clams available and specified the size of the oyster, the salt level, and the aftertaste. 

The restaurant was dimly lit and the bar table took up at least half the restaurant. It was very charming with specials written on the mirrored walls and vintage tiled walls and lights. 

Decisions, decisions.

Failed to note down the names of the oysters but we picked ones that were medium-large in size, high salt level, and with a fruity and sweet finish. 

The oysters were very fresh, you could taste the brininess of sea water. The oyster were very juicy and adequately sized. I felt that the condiments were not up to par with the quality of the oysters and did not complement them as well as they could have. 

Ricci Di Mare - Santa Barbara Sea Urchin Pork Butter Toast
This was absolutely phenomenal, the urchin was creamy buttery glory served on top of a crispy crusty piece of toast. My only complaint was that it was so small. I could eat this all day. My best friend needs to visit me to take a bite of this!

Main Lobster Roll Hot with Butter
The infamous lobster roll. Absolutely amazing. The lobster chunks were huge and drenched in buttery goodness. The warm toasty roll soaked up all the flavors perfectly. Was a little bit of a messy affair but that made it all the more delicious. I also loved those rustic fries that were fried exquisitely. It was a very rich and succulent dish yet it did not leave you feeling heavy and unwell. 

Because everyone loves a close up 

We ordered a bottle of white wine and some bellinis to go with our meal. The wine list is very decent and has a good range of prices. The had 3 mouth watering bellini flavors: peach, blood orange, and pomegranate. We tried the blood orange and pomegranate and both were very delicious. Service was decent and quick. A must try if you are in Boston!

Toro

I absolutely love tapas, I love the idea of having small plates of food to share with your table, allowing each person to try various different dishes at once. So happy to finally try out Toro. Have been hearing incredibly positive reviews about this place from many people. There are no reservations taken at this restaurant so it is wise to come early around 5 or 5:30 to avoid waiting for hours for a table. I got here at 5:30 and shared a pitcher of sangria with my good friend and had a seat at the bar while we waited for our table. The sangria was delicious, sweet and fruity with still a strong hint of the red wine. We initially asked for the white wine sangria but was told that was only served during summer. The atmosphere was laid back and cozy, dark wood tables with a long communal table in the middle of the restaurant. I felt that the restaurant was a little bit too dim and that the ventilation system could be improved because it was rather smokey and the aromas of the food became a little overwhelming. The food was excellent though and I will go through them under the captions of each dish. 

A view of the bar table 

Red wine sangria 

Roasted bone marrow with radish citrus salad and oxtail marmalade.
Bone marrow was rich and very fatty. The flavor was perfect and the oxtail toast was delectable. Salad was a little bit too sour with the lime slices. Still highly recommended. 

Mini Kobe burgers with smoked tomatoes, alioli, and pickled red onions.
The burger patty was juicy and meaty, all the elements worked well together and the small size of the burger left you satisfied yet not too full to try out other dishes. The pickled onions was a nice tangy touch that wrapped up the entire dish. 

Crispy pork belly with sunchoke and fried potato bites in a cream sauce.
The pork belly was perfectly fatty but not overwhelmingly so. The skin was thin and crispy and worked perfectly with the succulent meat underneath. The cream sauce along with the lightly fried potato pieces all came together into the perfect bite. A must try!

Grilled corn with alioli, lime, espellete pepper,  and aged cheese.
One of toro'st most famous and popular dishes. The corn was sweet and roasted to perfection. The lime gave the entire dish a kick and the creamy cheese smothered over the delicious kernels of corn was absolute heaven.

Rabbit and escargot Paella
The paella was a little more watery than I would have liked yet the flavoring and texture of the rice was well done. The rabbit was cooked well and was tender. Was definitely not the best paella I have had but since I have been to Barcelona this does not mean that it was not a decent one. I would recommend trying their tapas over their paella though.

Other dishes that we ordered and are not pictured are as follows:
Foie gras with pear chutney on toast: so so, typical foie gras nothing special I thought. Very small portion.
Pressed Uni sandwich with miso butter and pickled mustard seeds: DELICIOUS. I adore uni and this sandwich was rich creamy and everything glorious about uni. Only wished the piece was a little larger!
Brussel sprouts: Typical buttery brussel sprouts. Not bad yet not something I would specially try out here since there are so many delicious options.

Overall the food was delicious and the dinner was very enjoyable. I would definitely recommend coming here and I will be back again very soon!