9lives

Good point...pretty sure Sparks dry ages their prime beef...as well as many other independents. The real surprise on the WSJ list for me was Capital Grille...where I've had some great steaks; though not recently. The Boston location has a big aging locker in the doorway...and is priced as if the steaks are prime...so it's a little disturbing that they both wet age and dry age..and offer both choice and prime. They are part of Rare Hospitality...which also owns Longhorn and Bugaboo Creek. I've excellent steaks at Morton's, Palm, Ruth's Chris...mediocre at Flemings (don't believe it was prime) and mediocre at Shula's.

Haven't been...but it's on 1 of my regular bike routes. I'll try to check it out for lunch later this week..for research purposes I'm not experienced with Algerian foods....the lunch menu looks fairly limited and maybe they'll let me order from the dinner menu? Any ordering advice? I'm a meat eater and also like spicy. I'll report back.

The article certainly indicates that S & W dry ages prime beef at all locations...but I've never thought of it as a "top steakhouse;" nor do I think most people do. Kind of the next tier down. Maybe they are buying the "bottom end" of prime. I'd stick to the Palm. I'm in Boston and they just opened an S & W..good steak, but not on a par with some others in town...great space though and worth stopping in for a drink. One thing that confused me a little..dealing with aging of filet mignon. I was in the local Whole Foods today and they have an aging case..beef aged 21 days. Most of the meat was porterhouse...few ribroasts.. in the case..but on the "ready to sell shelf," it was more aged NY strip, filets, and ribeyes..few butchered into porterhouses. The article also says that filet mignon is almost never USDA prime..but aren't ratings based on the beef carcass? not the cut? Seems a USDA prime strip would be 1 bone away from a USDA prime filet. Just curious, I rarely order a filet. ****** answering my own question..The filet must be in such demand, that in order to meat it , restauranteurs that serve prime strip might need to buy choice filet..and the lack of marbling would make the difference negligible..although the filet portion of a Peter Luger porterhouse tastes better than other filets I've sampled.

According to the WSJ article, the Palm wet ages at all but 1 store in NYC. I'm guessing that all the NYC Palms serve the same steak..Every Palm outside NYC wet ages. According the the article, Smith and Wollensky dry ages USDA prime beef at all locations. A few midwest steakhouses use the word "prime" to describe the meat as superb, premium,great, etc..but serve USDA Choice steaks..1 cut on the menu is USDA prime. Capital Grille ages both wet and dry...and sells prime and choice...so I guess you need to request a dry aged prime; if that's what you want. Morton's, Ruth's Chris and Flemings?? serve wet aged prime.

I've always thought RI chowder was a lighter broth than classic NE cream based..maybe a little milk. I had a good version atthe Clarke Cook House in Newport. Curious, I checked Legal Seafoods website. They offer their traditional cream based clam or fish chowder and also a Rhode Island chowder..which is tomato based. That would support the last post about different regions offering different versions. On the subject of RI food, I've had fried calamari with cherry peppers mixed in...called RI style..tasty.

Troquet is priced similarly to Pigalle..although there is a bar menu. Another good option in the neighborhood is Teatro..on Tremont/Boylston next to the movie theater. Modern take on Italian. Their prices have crept up...but still less than Troquet or Pigalle. In the North End, for traditional, mid priced, I like Artu, Trattororia Il Panino (original only..not the Express) and Massimino's Cucina. Higher end..Prezza or Sage. Neptune Oyster Bar Pizzeria Regina..original North End location only..Galleria Umberto...bread pizza..lunch only

You've gotten a lot of good advice. To add..or confuse you further #3...Troquet..just down the street..very good food, better wine list. divey..for breakfast, you're about a 10 min walk from Charlie's Sandwich Shop in the South End..great turkey hash..sort of an urban diner that's been there forever You're not far from Chinatown///my favorites are Hu Tieu Nam Vang /Vietnamese, Taiwan Cafe, Peach Farm Seafood, Hong Kong Eatery..roast meats and terrific in house made dumplings

I'm in downtown..so just 1 stop on the blue line to Maverick. We did look in that grocery store next to Santarpios; but didn't have a lot of time to stroll thi time. A few years ago, a group of us took an exploratory run through East Boston..pupusas at Tacqeria Cancun, seafood soup at a Columbian place (can't recall name), a few tacqerias, ceviche at Rincon Limeno..Peruvian..and lots of the bakeries and grocery stores...rotisserie chicken from Cancun Rosticceria takeout for dinner. I may be forgetting 1 or 2 places but it was a great time.

"Has anyone here got any nice memories of Al Forno to share? I'd be very happy to hear about them!" My 1 meal there was great. This was about 5 years ago. They were a "favorite punching bag" on food boards but I really enjoyed it...I remember the grilled pizza and a clam/sausage dish. They also ran a place in Louis/Boston that was very good.

Is this a guessing game Al Forno? Caserta's?

Made it over to Santarpios this week. Every bit as good as I remember..and your pics looked..need to move it into the "regular" rotation. Went over my old posts and unfortunately, I didn't make a note of name of the breakfast place...but I'll track it and post it after my next Gloucester trip.

yes, please, chris!! my stepdad was portugese from new bedford. he used to make portugese toast but never shared the recipe with me - any ideas? They're called "rabanadas" and pretty common in Portuguese bakeries. Do a google search..there's 1 recipe in English (though I've had it with crusted bread). I'd link but my copy and paste doesn't seem to work.

I think we may have eaten at "your" breakfast place. Is it sort of on the curve in the road..from Gloucester proper to Rocky Neck...on the left? good spot. If you drive a little further, there's a good bbq spot..guy with a smoker in a parking lot..pulled pork, chicken and ribs..few sides. The guy has been in a few spots on Cape Ann and puts out the real thing..sketchy hours..never open in the rain. As to the clam shacks, a lot of people favor Essex Seafoods. I always liked Woodman's and Farnham's...but haven't been in a few years. Most reports have been lukewarm (at best) towards them.

great pics...and those accomodations look awesome..That boat is a classic. If you go back, The Perfect Storm bar is called the Crow's Nest..on the main st right in town. I was there 2 years ago and it had not been gentrified. Looked just like the movie and not "Cheersified." Rough looking crowdbut couldn't have been friendlier. We actually ended up pulling up a bunch of tables..us and another tourist couple and about 6 fishermen..drinking, swapping lies, and shooting pool. Gloucester has a large Portuguese population ...you might want to check out Ocean Boulevard; for a little different takeon seafood. PS...Those Santarpios pics make me want to jump on the Blue Line

Sea to You had Maine shrimp this morning.

If you enjoy Thai, 2 of the best are short ride on the Green Line to Coolidge Corner..Dok Bua and Khao Sarn. Both are excellent. KS is a little more "upscale"..full bar. Dok Bua is more of a storefront, BYO, more "rustic"..maybe a 10 min walk..KS is right at the T.

[in Marblehead, a good breakfast option is The Driftwood...right by the town pier...simple but good...expect a wait on the weekend. Barnacle in Marblehead is in a great spot...probably a short walk from the b and b. Food is not as good as the view..but if you stick to chowder or fish you should be ok..or just cocktails For fried clams or lobsters, Essex Seafood, Farnhams and Clam Box are all great.

That's my recollection too..haven't been lately. There's a very good place in Manchster, NH..Down n' Dirty BBQ..great brisket http://www.downdirtybbq.com/Default.asp

For fresh seafood, try J Hook on the waterfront or Frank Guiffre's on Salem St in the North End. Morse Fish on Washington, South End is closer but a step down in quality,

5 or 6 chowhounds sat at the sushi bar and had a $125 tasting menu..few "enter the dragons" and some sake, dessert with tip it was appx $225 pp. We didn't have full orders of anything but maybe a dozen small plates..some that I recall was some raw scallop, rare grilled kobe beef, picchu rochas (sp)..a peruvian barnacle that is very rare, toro, uni and caviar... We also had a few desserts which were very good but I can't recall what they were. While everything was very good, I think the general feeling was that it was grossly overpriced for what it was. I know that was mine.

Atasca is mentioned as a good Portuguese place..reasonably priced. There are a few others..O Cantinho? Haven't been lately but generally hear good things.

While Uni is great, in no way could it qualify as cheap eats..I spent over $200 pp there. Think prices comparable to Nobu...$60 would get you 3-4 appetizers and a glass of water...cliorestaurant.com has a link to the menu. I'm a big fan of Barbara Lynch..love #9 and B & G..I've bought meat at Butcher Sop but haven't eaten at the bar...all great, but a long way from cheap eats..no9park.com links to the menus. Cheap eats..Pizzeria Regina..only North End location. Il Panino (not Express) on Parmenter off Hanover..NE. Dok Bua in Brookline for Thai. Taiwan Cafe and Nam Vang..Taiwanese and Vietnamese in Chinatown. Chacarero..Chilean sandwiches in downtown crowwing..midweek lunch only..Chilean sandwiches

I love #9 Park, but I think it's a little "dressier." The bar would fit your price range. Restaurant would push your budget

Teatro on Tremont is very good...right in your price range..and near the corner of Tremont and Boylston..on the Common ...http://www.teatroboston.com/frames.html It can be loud, and a short wait. It's next to the Loews movie theater and you can dress up or not. I consider it high end food at mid level prices.

Second that recommendation. And if you have access to a grill or kitchen, Menemsha has 2 great fish markets....right on the harbor..some of the best swordfish I've ever had.