156510 Wed Apr 19 14:25:53 -0700 2006 9 12 Boston Area 0 842302 hi chows, heading to the middle east for a show tonight and plan to eat in central beforehand. as the principal food lobbyist in the group (of course), i am considering pushing for CK (which disappointed me before) or rendezvous, but want to have some more low-key backups in case those are deemed too chi-chi for the evening. so. the plough and stars' new menu has some appealing *looking* options, but i haven't seen the space since it repoened and am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea of eating a pate/cheese plate in that venue. anybody have any thoughts on the new menu and how it would compare to similarly styled/priced options in the area (e.g. miracle of science)? other suggestions welcome, as always. -cori Wed Apr 19 14:25:53 -0700 2006 0 co from tx 1 842303 i liked the new plough and stars. i had the cuban, and it was good, and the price was right (i think about $8). it's loud inside and can get pretty full pretty fast -- i was there around 7:30 on a weeknight, and it was packed, save one table. why not check it out, and if you don't like it, head over to the miracle? service was a little hit and miss, but that was a month ago, and it's probably better now . . . this may not be what you're looking for, but pepper sky's thai is really good, too. i went before bluegrass night at the cantab, and it was nice, relaxed, and delicious. i had the muddy curry -- i think it was on their specials menu -- and i couldn't get enough of it (coconut and peanut curry with pork and green beans). good luck! Wed Apr 19 14:33:46 -0700 2006 842302 0 dchow 2 842315 The new Plough is good; try the sausage sandwich on potato bread, the rack of lamb or any of the soups. But if I were in your shoes, I'd give Central Kitchen another chance. The atmosphere is more mellow (you probably don't want live music if you're going on to another show), and it's a shorter walk to the Middle East. The moules frites are the best I've had in Boston. Entrees are sometimes a bit of an (expensive) disappointment, but you won't go wrong with any of the substantial appetizer plates. You might also consider getting a very good burger at the Miracle of Science. Wed Apr 19 15:30:31 -0700 2006 842303 0 katielp 3 842334 Yeah, 9 times out of 10 CK is a hit, but that once in a while... Last week I had an outstanding grilled octopus salad there. Wed Apr 19 17:47:15 -0700 2006 842315 0 MB fka MB 4 842363 I agree with all of the above. The Plough & Stars is really good...although I can't help thinking they've tried to (successfully, though) add a dash of the River Gods. So, going to the original-- the river gods, that is -- is an option. Man, do I love that little place (every neighborhood in boston needs something like that) CK has won out for us about 49/50 times, as has the Miracle of Science. Such great burgers Thu Apr 20 06:27:00 -0700 2006 842334 0 NickCambridge 1 842307 Rivergods is another option in the area which may be a good mix with a show at the Middle East Wed Apr 19 14:43:16 -0700 2006 842302 0 snowflake 1 842311 There are a few posts if you search the board. Favorable reviews. Wed Apr 19 15:01:50 -0700 2006 842302 0 Shefood 1 842327 Regarding Central Kitchen, if you have a big group it's hard to get a table since most are four and two tops. Wed Apr 19 17:12:40 -0700 2006 842302 0 Dax 1 842433 reporting back after all the great suggestions: we ended up heading to plough and stars and had an enjoyable, if not outstanding, meal. i chose the paté/cheese plate, which i thought was the least successful of the choices. the bluefish paté and duck rillette were perfectly serviceable, but i was not so into the very large portions of three very boring cheeses--a waxy cheddar, a chalky and extremely strong blue, and a dull swiss. i'd prefer to see smaller quantities of good cheese, and perhaps more of the greens/pickled onions to balance out the massive amount of fat on the plate. DCs got the banger press and the cuban, both of which were as tasty as advertised. nice sausage on the press (good enough to satisfy the irish friend who ordered it, who presumably knows his sausage). and while the cuban doesn't best the one at henri's crib, it's got its merits--a stronger showing by the pickles, and a surprising kick to the mayo. i would've nabbed more of the pleasingly salty fries, but there was no space left in my arteries after the cheese and paté. washed everything down with a few bottles of fin du monde, which seemed to be a quebecois beer in the style of a belgian triple. all in all, it was good fuel for the high-energy concert that followed. thanks, chows. Thu Apr 20 12:21:39 -0700 2006 842302 0 co from tx 1 842434 reporting back after all the great suggestions: we ended up heading to plough and stars and had an enjoyable, if not outstanding, meal. i chose the paté/cheese plate, which i thought was the least successful of the choices. the bluefish paté and duck rillette were perfectly serviceable, but i was not so into the very large portions of three very boring cheeses--a waxy cheddar, a chalky and extremely strong blue, and a dull swiss. i'd prefer to see smaller quantities of good cheese, and perhaps more of the greens/pickled onions to balance out the massive amount of fat on the plate. DCs got the banger press and the cuban, both of which were as tasty as advertised. nice sausage on the press (good enough to satisfy the irish friend who ordered it, who presumably knows his sausage). and while the cuban doesn't best the one at henri's crib, it's got its merits--a stronger showing by the pickles, and a surprising kick to the mayo. i would've nabbed more of the pleasingly salty fries, but there was no space left in my arteries after the cheese and paté. washed everything down with a few bottles of fin du monde, which seemed to be a quebecois beer in the style of a belgian triple. all in all, it was good fuel for the high-energy concert that followed. thanks, chows. Thu Apr 20 12:21:55 -0700 2006 842302 0 co from tx