Burgahs and Burgahs and Burgahs...

At Wahlburgers there's more to eat than mere beef patties. Yes, there is Beef.
Where's the Beef?

Well at Wahlburgers right beside the Thanksgiving-Turkey Burger, Portabello Cap, and Salmon patty.
With a menu of fresh and common ingredients, there is still a collection of uncommon foods to be enjoyed. The Tater Tots come in the sweet and white potato varieties; the Onion rings which I did enjoy, were just coated enough to yield a crunch but not enough to at all mask the sweetness of the red onions it bound.

 Onion Rings are truly a thing of beauty...

I enjoyed the Salmon patty myself during my outting for an early Father's Day lunch. It was fresh and sweet - well cooked with a slightly crisp exterior from a good sear. A light aioli and fresh cucumber slaw. The bun was a heavenly brioche and just hugged its components.
My father enjoyed his Portabello burger and enough so that I didn't manage a taste but it looked delicious and messy. Just as it should be.

Small, yes; mighty, also

The interior of the restaurant is simple and modern, lined with large television screens and two different methods for ordering - table service or counter.

Give it a visit if you're on the south shore some time. It's reasonably priced, giving perfect not-too-big portions, and if you're a fan of Marky mark, a pilgrimage.

Enjoi!

Chez Henri; With it

So I got a Gilt City coupon for a 3 course dinner for two with 2 entrees, 2 starters, and a dessert. It's a service not unlike Groupon, Google Deals, or Living Social - I recommend them all.

So as an early birthday gift I took my mother recently and enjoyed what was among the best meals I have ever had.
Chez Henri is located exactly between Cambridge and Porter squares on a side street just off of Mass Ave in Boston. It's a fusion between French and Cuban; sauces and styles beckon to the Western culinary tradition as flavors and dishes tend to lean nearer the equator. Dishes such as Bouillabaisse, Steak-Frites, Ceviche, French onion Soup, chickpea crepes, Seared Flounder...
The list goes on, never mind an extensive and well liked bar menu including empanadas and what is called the best Cuban Sandwich in Boston.
I enjoyed what was perhaps some of the best service I've ever received at a restaurant and a comfortable environment, not to mention food. Oh the food!
I had the Bouillabaisse of shrimp, crawfish, Cod, Salmon, Mussels, Clams, and a Deliciously salty-spicy-garlicky broth. With a Ceviche of the freshest calamari and sweet mango, I was quite satisfied. My mother had a delicious and generous crab and blue cheese salad - two flavors which complimented nicely despite the strength of the cheese and mild sweetness of the crab - before a trout dish with rock shrimp and root puree. We each enjoyed our dinners immensly and hardly had room to demolish the amazing lemon-berry Creme Brulee that followed it all down.

I'd certainly frequent Chez henri were I better funded and closer to the city but I will be back, nonetheless.

Photos to come!

Veggies Out of this...

Galaxy! At Veggie Galaxy they just keep coming and joyfully so. For so long have I wanted to indulge the vegetarian/vegan getting pushed down by the burden of cafeteria food. But no longer; more specifically my craving is sent into temporary remission and now it will probably only be worse come March vacation.

Anyways, to the crooks of the matter: the food. Veggie Galaxy is owned and operated by the same people who run Veggie Planet at Club passim in Harvard Square. Galaxy is a more sit-down diner style joint whereas the former is a very noisy, less intimate (if a diner can be intimate) place. I love both restaurants' menus but Veggie Galaxy caters to a more comfort food-seeking audience.

Located In Central Square between Harvard and MIT, next to The Middle East and amongst so many good restaurants, it still stands out. It's flashy to look at and really serves food unlike most restaurants in the area. I've never been to the Cambridge location of Life Alive, just a few blocks away, but it's not at all the same in my opinion. The food is fresh and moderately healthy (still good diner style food remember) but creative and entirely enticing. Serving everything from omlettes to pancakes and French Toast, to Veggie Burgers, Open Faced Seitan Sandwiches, Mac and Cheese (ze) and Tempeh Ruebens. The fillings in the omlettes (also available as tofu omlettes) are many, as are the toppings for the burgers.

All That Burger Goodness. I'm a Sucker for a good house-made patty...

My fellow diner and I enjoyed the Salad special to start, an arugula salad tossed with a light balsamic vinaigrette topped with chopped walnuts, roasted squash, and a very light goat cheese, all dotted by tart dried cherries. It was sweet and very generous considering we split it. The waitress even split the salad before bringing it to us - very thoughtful!

I had the Mushroom Chickpea burger topped with sauteed leeks, roast Brussel Sprouts, and a corn-apple salad. It was all the vegetables I love this time of year tossed together. With a delicious homemade Brioche bun and Cabbage slaw, it was fantastic. I'm pretty sure I'm still full from it this morning. My fellow diner had some of the most delicious baked mac and cheese (vegan, if you so like) I've ever tasted, with a creamy herbed ricotta and crisp bread crumbs. It was spicy from cracked black pepper, spiced just right with oregano, maybe dill, some basil perhaps... I can't be sure but it was terrific.

The prices were very good and the desert looked amazing - all vegan and all enormous - but alas we were too full.

I'll go back as soon as I can. The food was great, the bill reasonable, the space clean, bright, and very lively; for a reasonably new restaurant the staff was on top of everything and very attentive. I'll recommend it to carnivores, omnivores, and veggies alike!

Galaxy Site

Enjoi!

Boston-Theater District-Teatro!

Teatro - Boston

Well, cheap for me. Having received a gift card for the Columbus Hospitality group back in November I finally found a good occasion to spend it. There are a few restaurants run by the group; I was recommended L'andand in Burlington but wanted to go into Boston for the night instead. To satisfy my need for a relatively wide Vegetarian menu, I ended up taking my better half to Teatro in the Theater District.

It's a nicely sized and well laid out space. Attractively designed and a bit loud, it was still a great space to have a nice long dinner. We split two plates: Robiola due Latti, Sherry Vinegar Sciroppo, Pine Nut Brittle - a sort of Brie which made her happy - and the Eggplant Rollatini, Ricotta, Tomato & Basil - a nice, warm, comforting app to me. They were well sized, not too large, and satisfying to say the least. Flavors balanced nicely in each dish and they stood out well from one another.

We tried different Entrees: I had the Pan Seared Scallops with a Celery Root Puree and a Blood Orange Piccata. The sweet earthiness of the celery root combined with the tartness of the orange sauce really brought out the flavor of the scallops and helped to keep my palate fresh, I suppose. She had the Chatham Haddock, White Clam Sauce, and Rosemary potatoes. She said the clams were a bit tough - I'm not one for clams myself so I couldn't really say - but otherwise she seemed very pleased with the dish.

For desert she tried the Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with caramelized pecans, I the Chocolate Crema. They were fresh, sweet, and a perfect ending to the meal. The panna cotta was light and just sweet enough and the Crema was rich and dark with a great sliver of Biscotti wedged in.

The service was very good; attentive and friendly. I would recommend Teatro to anyone, as the menu is wide, traditional yet adventurous, reasonably priced, and simply delicious.