482899 Fri Jan 25 07:31:36 -0800 2008 7 16 Mid-Atlantic 0 3331357 The opposite of 'love' isn't 'hate'. The opposite is 'indifference'. Love and hate are both passions that inspire, the former to posses or merge with the love object, the latter to destroy it. Indifference, on the other hand, requires nothing and inspires nothing. And so it is with Gabriella's Portuguese restaurant in Somerville. There's precious little to commend or condemn it. The high point of our meal was the warm, home baked rolls served at the start. From there, the descent into mediocrity was steeper than a triple black diamond ski slope. We shared an insipid Caesar Salad that yearned for a hint of either garlic or anchovy, and was graced (sic) instead with sliced tomatoes. We've come to bury this Caesar, not to praise it. For an appetizer, we shared the Chorico Assado, a too-chewy sausage barely redeemed by a nice charring. The main dish was the Cataplana De Marisco, a benign paella-like stew that would have been instantly forgettable save for the $27 price. All in all, if you're looking for good Portuguese food, perhaps a trip to Portugal is in order. This place is a major ho-hum yawn that only a mother could love or a misanthrope could hate. Us? We're indifferent and won't return. You? Don't bother. Fri Jan 25 07:31:36 -0800 2008 122377 mmgpsych 1 3331386 Great review mmgpsych. I will avoid Gabriela's. Fri Jan 25 07:40:55 -0800 2008 3331357 31617 bgut1 2 3331799 Ah c'mon! You are going to avoid a restaurant because of a single negative review, by someone you don't know, on an on-line forum? Where's your spirit of adventure? Things change at restaurants but I am here to tell you that my husband and I enjoyed a very good dinner at Gabriela's. It was almost a year ago though so it's of course possible that the restaurant has gone downhill since then. Or, perhaps it was just an off night when the OP visited. I cannot remember exactly what we had (except that my hubby had seafood) but I still have fond memories of the desserts. They were outstanding. Hopefully, others will comment on their opinions of this Somerville restaurant. I feel the need to go back to see if the OP's comments have merit. Fri Jan 25 09:20:04 -0800 2008 3331386 118924 mountebank 3 3331958 "perhaps it was just an off night when the OP visited. I cannot remember exactly what we had (except that my hubby had seafood)" With respect, my wife just chided me for being overly kind and charitable to Gabriela's. Caesar dressing with less taste than I've had in the bottled diet variety, and sliced tomatoes topping said Caesar salad (which have as much place there as they might on an Angel Food cake) have nothing to do with an 'off night'. Though we didn't try the desserts (thrice bitten, fourth time wiser and shyer) the fact that you can't remember what either you or your husband ate that night might, in itself, speak volumes. Us? We're trying to develop that very same amnesia for all of Gabriela's cuisine ASAP. Be adventurous, if you like. I'm all for it. But don't say you weren't warned . . . Fri Jan 25 09:51:52 -0800 2008 3331799 122377 mmgpsych 3 3332492 Actually, yes, I myself will avoid a restaurant - under the right circumstances - because of a single negative review. mmg was quite specific about the reasons why they disliked the place and I can be pretty certain after reading the review that I would not enjoy this restaurant. The prices at Gabriela's are fairly high and I am not willing to gamble away that much money on what would most likely turn out to be a disappointing experience. In the "spirit of adventure" my family and I are disappointed way too often when we dine out. We do not have a huge entertainment budget either, so I appreciate warnings like this and hopefully will steer my family's dining out dollars to a venue where we are likely to be happier. Fri Jan 25 11:51:42 -0800 2008 3331799 63569 flourgirl 1 3331430 Thanks for saving us money. DH and I were planning on trying this place and now we won't bother. Fri Jan 25 07:51:20 -0800 2008 3331357 63569 flourgirl 1 3377803 Wow, mmgpsych, you are one tough cookie – criticizing mountebank because she couldn’t remember exactly what she ate at a restaurant a year ago! LOL. I don’t think that speaks volumes about anything, except perhaps that she doesn’t keep notes about restaurant meals. Personally, I’ve never had any issue with the food at Gabriela’s. It is by no means a destination restaurant but if we’re in the area we will often go there (or to The Main Street Bistro next door). We were last at Gabriela’s in September at which time I had two skewers of beef, pork, chicken, chourico and vegetables. The pork and chicken were a tad dry but the beef, chourico and vegetables were top notch. My friend had stuffed shrimp and pronounced it “really very good” (she is VERY picky about shrimp). I tried one of the shrimp and agreed wholeheartedly. We don’t usually have appetizers so made do with the small house salads. They were fine – nothing special and what you’d expect for the price. It’s pretty hard to make a memorable house salad! BTW, I NEVER order a Caesar salad in a restaurant any more unless I know exactly what’s in it. My experience has been that too many restaurants nowadays, even really good ones, use the Caesar name for all kinds of concoctions. Like mountebank, I especially remember the deserts at Gabriela’s. I believe they’re homemade but don’t quote me on that. The last time we were there we both had the pear tarte and it was as good as ever. I have no doubt that you were not bowled over by Gabriela’s. As I mentioned, I haven’t been in over four months so, like mountebank, I’m planning to go back ASAP to see if something has happened there. I hope not. Fri Feb 08 11:48:26 -0800 2008 3331357 57768 ambrose 2 3385204 Ambrose, I'm glad there's at least one other person out there who enjoyed Gabriela's! I don't come on the forum all that much but it sure seems there aren't many foodies out here in the western part of the state. For what it's worth, I was looking at Gabriela's on-line menu over the weekend and it seems to me that it's changed somewhat. We'll be going there in the near future so I'll let you know how things turn out. PS I agree with you 100% about Caesar salads. We've had some truly strange "Caesars" in the last few years. There was an interesting discussion about Caesars on the Manhattan board if you're interested. Mon Feb 11 08:05:48 -0800 2008 3377803 118924 mountebank