pnapoli

i vote for 7 or later, so i have at least a fighting chance of making it. don't want to miss 2 in a row! btw, are there any great burgers to be found in the vicinity of Grand Central? i'm going to be attending a seminar later this week and would love to get in a good burger, but i won't have a lot of time so i need somewhere close to the hotel (42nd & lex). any suggestions are welcome. thanks!

awwww, man. i'm sorry i missed that. well, maybe not. sorry we couldn't join you. i did, however, have a burger last night in honor of the club. the so-called 'cuban burger' at la isla in hoboken. made of spiced pork, beef and chorizo, and topped with chopped raw red onion and tiny potato sticks, it was tasty but perhaps too unique for the club's purposes. and it did suffer from a very unsatisfactory bun-to-burger ratio. if we end up creating a splinter group dedicated to non-traditional burgers (oh no, another proposed splinter group), well maybe this could be added to the list. but anyway, glad you had a great time.

rosie--thanks for remembering all the names of the dishes--i didn't have a pen with me. it's funny that you say that about the doro wat because we had the same conversation this morning. i've had the dish many times and generally it is served with one leg, one thigh and one egg (and that's how it was served last night). i agree that, given the portion size (it was a pretty small thigh), that was too expensive. in fact, my immediate reaction to the menu before we were served) was that the prices were a bit higher than at some of the places i've been in NY.

went to mesob tonight and had a delicious meal. it's located on bloomfield ave. in the site formerly occupied by saporito and grill fish. the formerly nondescript room has been transformed into a spare but warm and elegant space with a few traditional 'mesobs' (woven tables) in the front windows, and tables along the walls in the center and back of the room. when we arrived at around 9:30, several tables were full. we sat up front at a mesob (more on that later). we started with a lentil 'salad' that was actually a puree of lentils, garlic, onions and lemon juice served with small squares of injera that had been lightly fried in butter and berbere--delicious (around $5). mesob doesn't offer combination dishes, but all meat entrees (which are priced in the mid- to high teens) are served with a choice of 2 vegetarian side dishes (there are 4 to choose from). we ordered doro wat (chicken thigh and leg in a rich berbere sauce served with a hard boiled egg), and bozena shiro (minced beef in a chickpea puree). vegetarian sides included 2 chickpea dishes (one mild, mashed with turmeric, and one a spicy puree), collard greens with onion and pepper, and a spicy split pea puree. although both entrees were described as 'hot' on the menu, i'd describe the doro wat as 'medium' and the bozena shiro as 'mild to medium.' still, i enjoyed both very much. the bozena shiro was the only dish that i'd never had before and i'd get it again although i'd ask about the heat level--if it's supposed to be a 'hot' dish then i'd like to try it that way. i don't recall if they offered desserts--i think so, but i just had an espresso (nothing special there). the only downside to the meal was the seating--if you go, i don't recommend sitting at the mesobs because the benches are pretty uncomfortable (no cushions). i hope they fix that. but sitting there allowed me to hear many departing diners' comments to the woman who i believe was the owner; all were quite positive. looks like they are off to a good start.

goddam that pizza looks good. where the hell is middletown?

elyse, i apologize but didn't see this til now. i was hoping to visit since i was planning on going into work late today, but my plans changed.

elyse, what time do you get there usually?

according to a sign in their window last weekend, this place was scheduled to open yesterday. the name unfortunately escapes me at the moment, but i think it is 'meesob.' it looks very nice--i'm going to try to check it out this weekend.

FG: thank you. that was wonderful to read. and i'm dying to try this place now.

i've noticed this place several times and wondered about it. hmm, great burgers and chocolate, you say? this could be the beginning of a BC tradition... have you sampled the chocolates?

that's Elyse & forkAndPen

had a great time again with y'all. although i liked the molly's burger better than ToJ's, this one had its good qualities too. and any deficiencies were more than compensated for by the 1) company and 2) AMAZINGLY good spicy hot chocolate across the street

Make 'em eat a soy burger . . . well done.

pnapoli and mr. p will attend.

it's a damn shame. a damn shame.

i'm tired and a wee bit hungover so...... ....what jamie said! i'd def. go back to Molly's though. cool place. oh and, i guess i have enough energy to add: burger club rocks! thanks to elyse and everyone else for such a fun time. ps: i had tried to take a close up pic of suzanne's burger w/my camera phone whilst she dangled her tiny flashlight above it, but it didn't come out too well.

hoboken eddie's

how important is the quality of the food? are you cool with decent pub grub? if so, sunset grill & tap in brighton is good and has extensive food & beer menus to boot. linwood grille in the fenway area has pretty good bbq. not sure if sports depot in allston is still around---lots of TVs, so-so food. boston beer works is right near fenway and has better than average pub food. cornwall's in kenmore square may be worth checking out--i haven't been there since they moved across comm ave. a few years ago, and in their previous location there was no TV, but their new space is bigger and they may now have some. like sunset, cornwall's also has an impressive beer menu. those are off the top of my head, if i think of any other places, i will let you know. have a great time!!!

i'm so there. thanks!

yay. how would you rate the mole against el gran mexicano's?

in!

Is there any place you don't want to go to? nope

unfortunately, this weekend is out for me.

UH oh...listen you guys, i realize that it's probably far more convenient for most of you to do these during the week, so don't worry about it. but, i do know that i'll be in the city at a seminar in midtown on 11/13 & 11/14 (thurs & fri), so if y'all don't mind planning that far in advance, maybe we can plan to get together on either one of those days?

wondering if there's anything new and noteworthy on or near capitol hill? i'm heading down for just a day later this week and given the time crunch, am looking for a good reason not to shlep over to rockland's. thanks.