Restaurant Review: Union Oyster House in Boston, MA

Boston University's School of Hospitality (SHA) has a Diner's Club, which meets a few times a semester to try restaurants and learn more about the food and beverage industry. Today we had the pleasure of dining at the Union Oyster House in Boston, which is the oldest restaurant in America (est. 1826)! Fun fact: it is the only restaurant in the country to have status as a National Historic Landmark! The restaurant has tons of history associated with it: JFK had his own booth when he was a senator, a king of France lived on the second floor while in exile, and it was once a pay station for troops during the revolutionary war. The walls of the restaurant are covered in historical plaques, paintings, and dioramas.

The "Freedom Trail" Room, which has a 3D model of each site on Boston's Freedom Trail

One of the SHA professors, Chef DiFronzo, is also the executive chef at Union Oyster House. He gave us a wonderful tour of the building. There are multiple dining rooms on multiple levels, as well as a cocktail bar and the oyster bar, which has been there since the restaurant was opened.

The Original Oyster Bar

The Diner's Club was seated in a private dining room on the second floor. While we waited for everyone to arrive, we snacked on cornbread and butter. Our three-course meal began with the restaurant's famous clam chowder. I can honestly say that it was the best clam chowder I've ever had: it was thick and rich and so delicious!

Our entree was grilled salmon, served with steamed veggies. The salmon was a perfect medium rare and was incredibly moist. Chef DiFronzo later told us that he didn't put a sauce on the salmon because he wanted us to taste the fish itself. He explained that the restaurant uses farmed Canadian salmon because it is cheaper than wild salmon and much easier to get fresh. Wild salmon usually comes from the Pacific, whereas the farmed salmon comes from only a few hours away. The salmon is the only seafood that the Union Oyster House gets from outside of New England.

For dessert, we had Boston Cream Pie! Although I had never had Boston Cream Pie before, I think that it was excellent.

Not only does Union Oyster House have excellent food, but it provides such a fun experience. Wandering through all of the rooms is like walking through a museum. Next time I will be trying their renowned oysters!

Union Oyster House
http://www.unionoysterhouse.com/
(617) 227-2750
41 Union St.
Boston, MA 02108

Restaurant Review: Regina Pizzeria in Boston, MA

Tonight we took Elise out to Regina Pizzeria for her birthday! Elise, a Massachusetts native, had recommended it to us and we decided to give it a try. Regina Pizzeria is also on the Boston Eater 38 and Food & Wine Magazine lists it as one of Boston's best value restaurants.

Regina's normally has a line out the door, but since it was Tuesday night, we were lucky enough to be seated immediately. The atmosphere is very family-friendly and casual. One of the walls displays a fun collection of police patches from all over the country.

Our waitress brought us paper plates and menus listing dozens of different pizzas, including a make-your-own option. All of the pizzas can be ordered as either 10" or 16". We ordered a 10" classic margherita and a 10" sausage cacciatore to share.

Our pizzas arrived quickly and we immediately dug in. The crust was incredible: it was crisp and light but still sturdy enough to hold the toppings without bending (although after a few minutes the sausage pizza crust started to soften). The margherita came with chopped fresh basil and was absolutely delicious.

The sausage cacciatore, topped with onions, mushrooms, and green bell peppers, was fantastic as well. All of the ingredients were of good quality and freshness.

Regina's original North End location has been in business for almost 90 years, and it's easy to see why it's so popular. If you want great pizza for a great price, this is the place to go.

Regina Pizzeria
http://www.reginapizzeria.com/
11 1/2 Thacher St
Boston, MA 02113

Regina's also has locations in Allston, Faneuil Hall, Fenway, the Prudential Center, and South Station.

Restaurant Review: Tatte Bakery and Cafe in Brookline, MA

I finally got over to Tatte Bakery and Cafe, something I’ve been meaning to do for ages.

At 1:30 on a Sunday, the cafe was out of many menu items, not surprising with the line to the door. Tatte's popularity is well deserved. It’s like stepping into a little piece of Europe with its rustic furniture and decor. Old-fashioned baskets hold packages of fabulous-looking baked goods. The menu offers several breakfast/brunch dishes as well as a variety of lunch sandwiches.
My friend and I managed to find a seat at a counter after ordering. Our deliciously creamy and comforting lattes, made with Stumptown coffee, arrived almost immediately, followed quickly by our breakfast sandwiches.

My avocado sandwich came with tomato, feta, and eggs done perfectly over-easy on toasted brioche. The soft, tasty brioche was the best part.

Sophie’s Croque Monsieur was on brioche instead of the usual croissant, as they had run out. She described it as "biting into a cloud," so no great loss.

I will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu and to indulge in some of those baked goods! Tatte also has locations in Cambridge and on Beacon Hill.

Tatte Bakery and Cafe
http://tattebakery.com/
(617) 232-2200
1003 Beacon St
Brookline, MA 02446

Restaurant Review: LoConte's in Boston, MA

Today I had the pleasure of visiting LoConte's Italian Restaurant in Boston's North End!

For a Saturday afternoon, LoConte's was surprisingly empty, likely due to the snow (darn you Boston!) My friend and I were seated at a four-top table in a windowed nook. Bread arrived at our table quickly, with olive oil, butter, and parmesan/herb combo. Delicious! Our garlic bread appetizer was reminiscent of the one I make at home, with olive oil, parsley, and parmesan.

My generous Chicken Cacciatore entrée was accompanied by a choice of pasta, which, while good, paled in comparison to the main dish.

The Cacciatore was hearty, with a zesty, chunky sauce of fresh veggies.

Elise ordered the Chicken Marsala, which was smothered with mushrooms and a sweet Marsala wine sauce.

The service at LoConte's was warm and attentive. The pricing was also reasonable: my entree was $21 and could have fed three people! If you’re looking for a new place to try in the North End, check out LoConte's.

LoConte's
http://locontes.com/
(617) 720-3550
114-116 Salem St.
Boston, MA 02213

Restaurant Review: Panza in Boston, MA

Reviewing restaurants for TasteBUds, Boston University's online food publication, has awakened the food critic in me, so I'm going to include reviews in my blog, too.
Recently, visiting friends treated me to Panza, having discovered it the night before and wanting more. It is a relatively small North End restaurant on Hanover Street. The entrance was crowded, even for a Monday night, but our reserved table was ready on time. Panza is decorated simply with a quiet, intimate atmosphere of white tablecloths and low lighting. I loved the white stone walls and rustic decor.
We were quickly greeted with bread and olive oil. Goat cheese and wild mushroom spring rolls and grilled Italian greens arrived on warm plates. These delicious appetizers were what brought my friends back a for a second night. The spring rolls came with a honey thyme sauce, which added just enough delicate sweetness to balance out the goat cheese flavor. If you need only one reason to come here, these spring rolls are it.

The greens, served over soft polenta that had been sauteed enough to give it a crispy bottom, were equally praiseworthy. These were served with a well-balanced gorgonzola and balsamic sauce.

I ordered the Penne Amatriciana, which came with a flavorful, fresh tomato sauce, pancetta and eggplant.

The generous portion of pasta was perfectly cooked. The pancetta was chopped and added a great crispy element to the texture. I also loved the large chunks of tender, fresh eggplant.
My friend let me try her butternut squash tortelloni, another repeat order that also lived up to its praise. Extra bits of butternut squash topped the dish, along with a rich cinnamon butter sauce that had a dessert-like sweetness.
The service, while a little rushed, was overall very friendly and helpful. Our water glasses were never empty and everything arrived at the appropriate time.
Grateful to my friends for introducing me to Panza, I plan to return soon, eager to try the rest of the menu. Boston's North End never disappoints, but this is a new favorite.

Panza

http://www.panzarestaurant.com/

(617) 557-9248

326 Hanover St.

Boston, MA 02113