One of my favorite Boston blogs, Chowder, from Boston Magazine, posted a blog entry about the future of Excelsior. While I’m sad to see Excelsior close, it looks like we have one, possibly two new hot spots to look forward to this fall. And you know how I heart inexpensive food/drinks in a chic atmosphere:
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RESTAURANTS
Fresh off the Boston Common and onto the uneven brick sidewalks of Charles St., the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro is one of the first stops in this charming neighborhood. Ranked as one of the top brunch spots in Boston, the Beacon Hill Bistro offers a fresh breakfast in a bright, cozy atmosphere.
Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro by Whiffen V. from Yelp
Decor inside the Beacon Hill Bistro is simple, with tables lining the long and narrow space. Light fills into the restaurant from large windows, accentuated by white walls, and simple tables. While tables are almost on top of one another, diners enjoy a relatively private meal, but still have a chance to scope out dishes from surrounding tables.
The bunch menu is french-inspired and features yogurt and house-made muesli, a variety of egg dishes, lunch staples, with something for the entire family. Recommended dishes include the fresh salads, the massive roasted mushroom omelet with comte cheese, and grilled chicken sandwich with pesto. For those with a serious sweet tooth, dig into the decadent vanilla pancakes with caramelized bananas, which recieved gasps from the large party next to us because it was the item many wanted to order, but deemed too rich.
Also available are great cappuccinos, and luscious cocktails- try the classic bellini, or blood red cosmo- at $10 they cost as much as most dishes on the brunch menu!
Beacon Hill Bistro, 25 Charles St
Place Setting by Alana Elliott from Flickr
Ladies and gentlemen, round up your friends, and get ready to taste some of the best food our city has to offer during the Boston Winter Restaurant Week! From March 4-9, 2007, choose from 89 local restaurants- either lunch or dinner- for relatively inexpensive prices: Lunch prices are $20.07, and dinner $33.07 for a three-course pre fixe meal.
SavvyBostonian Tip: Call early to make sure you get in to your first choice!
Here are a few websites to browse/signup at!
Sanctuary Bar by vsmoothe from Flickr
Flaunting the question- Heaven, Hell or Purgatory, Sanctuary is one of my favorite nightlife destinations in Boston due to its sophisticated atmosphere and killer martinis.
Situated on State Street just around the corner from Faneuil Hall, I recently discovered that Sanctuary also offers a stylish venue for a sex & the city inspired birthday dinner. With entrees ranging from $9-$21, my group of girlfriends was thrilled to splurge on specialty martinis and a deliciously inexpensive dinner.
Ironically, the majority of our table chowed down on cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, and the turkey breast “buddah roll.” However, for those with a more gourmet palate, Sanctuary offers entrees like an apple cranberry salad with goat cheese, ahi tuna tacos, pan seared salmon, and sirloin au poivre.
When it came to martinis, I think my group of girlfriends ordered the entire menu! Ones to try include the creamy Lusty Latte, sweet Wild Orchid, and my personal favorite tequila infused Satan’s Vice. Ranging from $10-12, they are not cheap, but are a good size even though none of us got the special garnishes!
Savvy Bostonian Tip:
- Go By 8PM: When I arrived at 7PM, the restaurant was half full, but if you want one of the cosy round leather booths in Purgatory, make a reservation. For larger groups, they will seat you upstairs in Heaven, which was awesome for my group because we had the level all to ourselves until the bar started to fill up at 9PM.
Overall, Sanctuary was a great start to a wild night of dancing with the girls! I was personally surprised that it was not more packed for dinner, but know that once more people discover what a great value it is, we will all be fighting to get in. Maybe I shouldn’t share such great secrets with the masses!
Sanctuary, 189 State Street, Boston
Stepping into Tasca in Brighton is like stepping into another world. With its dark, warm interior and intimately aligned tables, this relaxing little haven took me miles away from the hustle and bustle of Washington St. and Comm Ave.
Food: Once seated, pour over the large menu jam-packed with over 30 tapas options, as well as a good selection of entrees. Tapas plates range from $3.50-$6.50, while entrees are reasonably priced from $15-$20.
My group of 8 dove into the tapas menu, ordering two plates per person. I had a great seafood/pasta dish in a light white wine sauce, and a petit fillet mignon, which I ordered medium but came out a little dry. In sampling my dinner companions plates I tasted delicious goat cheese and tomato dips, crispy fried calamari, and a very generous, fresh tapas salad for about $4.
Savvy Bostonian Tips:
- You absolutely need a reservation: Due to the smaller size of this restaurant it packs up quickly. The last time they accept reservations is for 6:30PM, and after that you are on your own.
- Valet: Only $6! *Personally I would not recommend driving, but instead immersing youself in the Peach Sangria, which gave me a little extra warmth heading into the chilly winter night.
All in all, I found Tasca to be an ideal venue for catching up with a group of friends, or a fun, yet romantic date where you can split some vino and share generously sized, delicious tapas plates. Next time I am trying the empanadas!
For more information on Tasca, 1612 Commonwealth Ave. Brighton, http://www.tascarestaurant.com/