Boston100 Blog
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Rocca
Rocca is a posh Italian establishment located is the SoWa district of the South End. The ambiance is modern and sophisticated; patrons enter into a high-ceiling lounge, and eventually are led upstairs to a open dining room designed in earthy tones and decor. The menu serves up Italian cuisine with a contemporary flare, and also offers several traditional selections. We started with a Green Salad, which was average and perhaps a little on the boring side, and the Anti Pasti, which was top quality, but lacking in portions of meat (while being overly generous with the potions of pickled vegetables). Though the appetizers were mediocre, the entrees truly impressed. The Rigatoni Baked in a Pot was divine -- a hearty portion of pasta served with veal in a spicy tomato base. The Veal Milanese was also spectacular -- a thinly sliced veal chop topped with marinated tomatoes and fresh parmesan shavings -- a novel take on veal parmesan. We split our dessert, the Apple Crostada, which was tasty but nothing to write home about . Service was very good, as our sever was friendly, polite, and timed the meal well, but at times was too soft-spoken and hard to hear. Pricing was very reasonable, the entire three course meal and two glasses of wine ran under $100 before tip. Perhaps the best part of all has yet to be mentioned - the free adjacent parking lot. This is truly a unique offering, especially for an upscale restaurant in Boston proper. We almost felt like we were getting away with something by actually parking in a free lot. Overall, we'd recommend Rocca for the fine entrees, the reasonable pricing, the hip atmosphere, and the free parking. - posted by Mike Andrews @ 11:04 PM 0 comments
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Ashmont Grill
Located in Dorchester Center, Ashmont Grill has captured the essence of quality cuisine in a casual atmosphere. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting, as the gold-toned walls and exposed brick give the establishment a homey feel. The menu lacks the embellishments of most fine restaurants; despite having limited options, everyone should find something they like. For appetizers we went with the Organic Green Salad and the Beer-Battered Shrimp. The salad was simple but fresh and tasty, and the shrimp were ample and delicately covered in a delicious ale-flavored coating. We then moved on to the Rigatoni Bolognese and the House-Smoked Ribs. The rigatoni was hearty, matching some of the best the city has to offer. Similarly, the dry-rubbed rack of ribs impressed, served with a smoky barbecue sauce with a tangy flare. We finished off the meal nicely with two delectable desserts: Nanny Sheila's Big Ole' Carrot Cake and a Brownie Sundae. Throughout or meal, we also sampled two selections from the moderately-prices wine list, and both satisfied. Overall, a meal at the Ashmont is an incredible bargain for the quality, as our full meal ran less than $75. We'd be happy to return when we're in the area. Just remember to get there early, because the Ashmont doesn't generally take reservations and parking is seriously limited.- posted by Mike Andrews @ 10:54 AM 0 comments
