525476 Tue Jun 03 16:46:42 -0700 2008 55 12 Boston Area 0 3746774 So we've been in Boston for nearly a year and thanks to you all we've eaten so well. We've been renting in Back Bay and are moving to Brookline for hopefully better chow (well we're moving for other reasons but we are excited for better food options). I would love your input for the hits and misses of Brookline...we've been to a bunch of places already but I want to makes sure not to miss anything (or to skip it on purpose). Thanks so much as always. Tue Jun 03 16:46:43 -0700 2008 94969 gramercyfoodie 1 3746975 for me, some of the bests in the area are shiki (japanese--izakaya/fusion style), brookline family restaurant (turkish), rod dee (thai), and japonaise (japanese pastries--edge of brookline, at st mary's), and prepared foods at bazaar. probably some others i'm forgetting! i think i try to repress the memory of places I'll never go back to, but for sure fugakyu, anna's, upper crust, and a bunch more dislikes that are maybe personal/idiosyncratic enough that i wouldn't issue general-purpose warnings about them :) Tue Jun 03 17:51:36 -0700 2008 3746774 49653 another_adam 2 3747278 i completely agree with : SHIKI, i would go for the authentic dishes, they're pretty good, but you can get better sushi elsewhere rod dee is prob one of my fave restaurants here. all my asian friends love it too. japonaise has awesome bread desserts. i love the strawberry short cake, chocolate horn, doughnuts, sandwiches, rice balls, heavy cream bread, fruit tarts 7 subs in coolidge corner has really good subs. my fave is the potato/roast beef/bbq sauce but disagreeing with anotheradam, i like fugakyu (certain good dishes, hatate kaiyaki, chicken katsu curry, the sushi's are not bad either). i also like upper crust but the crust can be a lil too thin/hard sometimes. my least favorites are both in washington square. GOLDEN temple is sooo not authentic, and even for americanized chinese food (which i love and sometimes crave) its horrible. they all taste the same, too salty. Tue Jun 03 19:29:33 -0700 2008 3746975 127438 kweesee 3 3862967 we just tried 7 subs today for lunch - the sandwiches tasted like candy...mmm...I really can't wait to go back. thanks! Sat Jul 12 14:38:39 -0700 2008 3747278 94969 gramercyfoodie 1 3746996 welcome to our neighborhood. bests by category: dinner/bar: washington square tavern, orinoco. pub food/bar: beacon street pub by a hair because of its outside seating, publick house, matt murphy. value for lunch: fireplace grill's excellent hamburger. expensive treat: la morra, lineage. best sandwiches, michael's deli. Asian and Indian: lemon grass, rod dee, duk boa, khao sarn, szichuan garden, shanghai gate down harvard street to the brighton border. expensive but imho (not shared on this board) best american chinese in boston, golden temple, with best bar hands down (best martini in boston/brookline). go for the clams, the special ribs, the shanghai chicken, the beef udon noodles. best bakeries: clear flour which would win anywhere including nyc and sf. very very good bakeries: japonnaise for pastry, tattes if you don't mind spending too much, athans for baklava, lemon sponge cake, and european style cookies, fruit tarts (not for morning stuff imo). Shiki for best japanese, Super Fusion for best take out japanese. Pinos at cleveland circle for best old fashioned gloppy pizza, no where for really great pizza (go to cambridge, gran gusto). For chains, Panera on harvard for decent coffee and a good sitting space, starbucks on beacon street in washington square for sitting outside. lots more. worst: village smokehouse, the indian buffet place on beacon near harvard, the korean place on beacon near center, pastries from kupels (bagels are tolerable), any food at any starbucks, lucky chinese takeout on beacon. Good breakfast: zaftigs if you don't mind expensive, family,and busy bee if you like very plain with crappy bread which i do not. Lots more: this is a town you could eat out in every day. Tue Jun 03 17:56:08 -0700 2008 3746774 14809 teezeetoo 1 3747090 My favorites... Pad kee mao from Khao Sarn (nb: I haven't been to dok bua or rod dee--I am disgracefully lazy and love this one, and it is closer to me than the other two) Spinach leaf pizza (reheated to fix the crust) from Upper Crust Falafel in pita from Rami's (with hot sauce) or Shawarma King (no hot sauce, but crisped-up bread). If only they would combine these two... Bahn Hoi (grilled chicken or lemongrass chicken--can't remember) at Pho Lemongrass (I'm sure there are better Vietnamese restaurants out there, but this one is convenient, has some good value on the wine list, and they don't laugh at me when I make a hot mess trying to roll up the bahn hoi. And I've liked 90% of what I've tried there.) Potato pancakes at Zaftig's Butterscotch pudding at Lineage Blue cheese burger at Washington Square Tavern (even though the roll doesn't do much for me, I love the space and the burger itself is good) I'm not sure about misses...maybe I've blocked them out? I've found Chef Chow to be yucky for everything except peking duck (that wasn't bad). And there are lots of places I haven't tried yet... Oh, and the farmers' market (Thursday afternoons/evenings) is definitely part of the best of Brookline. I may work from home Thursdays during the summer just to make sure I can get there :). Tue Jun 03 18:20:52 -0700 2008 3746774 10768 cmd 2 3747285 khao sarn is quite overpriced. rod dee and dok bua are much more authentic and delicious and cheaper! im guessin more asian/thai ppl go there than khao sarn. Tue Jun 03 19:32:09 -0700 2008 3747090 127438 kweesee 1 3747214 Clear Flour. Tue Jun 03 19:05:30 -0700 2008 3746774 97314 porcospino 2 3747287 how could we have forgotten about clear flour! i loveeee their croissants. i buy them every weekend. Tue Jun 03 19:32:34 -0700 2008 3747214 127438 kweesee 1 3747714 I've lived in Brookline for over twenty five years. The two most overated places are Zaftig's and Golden Temple. The best places are FuGaKyo, LaMora, Pomodoro and Lineage. I go to both the Washington Sq and Beacon St. Taverns, having friends running both places. I love the decor at Zenna's, as well as the food, and over the years, I've become friends with Gina who operates Dalia's west of Washington Sq. I also go to Jae's, which a lot of chow's don't seem to appreciate, but at this location the food is pretty good. There are so many ethnic places form the new Orinoco to Rubin's which probably has been here forever, you'll never lack a dining destination. Tue Jun 03 23:17:39 -0700 2008 3746774 182304 ghostcat 1 3748189 Welcome to the neighborhood! Here are some of the places that I like and others that I don't. My Favorites Michael’s Deli ---The best deli that Boston has to offer and decently priced for nicely stacked up sandwiches loaded with quality meats Super Fusion---quality and decently priced sushi Rod Dee---Good stuff on the specials board behind the register. The daily specials that they run are also very good and authentic Dok Bua---Good stuff if you order from the picture book. I will choose Dok Bua if I want to sit down for a meal and Rod Dee if I am taking away. Publick House for a great craft beer selection Shanghai Gate---Not really Brookline, but pretty authentic Shanghainese food Shawarma King---The good stuff here is their daily specials. Not a fan of their falafels or hummus, but their chicken and beef lamb shawarma sandwiches are pretty tasty. Least Favorites Fugakyu---overpriced, overrated and underwhelming GoldenTemple---terrible food at high prices. You can just go to any hole in the wall Chinese takeout joint and get the same thing for a quarter of the price Village Smokehouse---Fake BBQ Zaftigs---Rip-off alert for overpriced breakfast fare. I can’t believe that ppl wait an hour for that stuff. Upper Crust---$22 bucks for a large pie is highway robbery in my opinion. Not bad if you’re in the area and just want to grab a slice or two. Forget delivery unless you want to wait two hours just to have a guy show up on a bike with cold soggy pizza. Wed Jun 04 06:55:54 -0700 2008 3746774 17080 Chrispy75 2 3748260 on shopping, trader joes and whole foods, of course, but also the Russian stores are often the best buys for jams (wonderful european ones), fruit (variable in quality but always cheaper, just look before you buy, and they carry the thin skinned baby cucumbers) and takeout (Bazaar has wonderful eggplant salads in about 5 varieties) Bazaar is my favorite but the Russian deli in washington square is quite good. Indian groceries good for picking up chutneys and spices: I use the one on Harvard near the stop and shop. Butcherie for kosher chicken and brisket as well as smoked fish, kosher salamis and knockwursts. I don't care for Wolfs fish and go to Courthouse in cambridge or New Deal if i can't suck it up to pay whole food prices. Wed Jun 04 07:19:40 -0700 2008 3748189 14809 teezeetoo 2 3749070 Golden Temple does have the highest prices of any chinese food probably in the country but to say that the food is hole in the wall is a bit harsh Wed Jun 04 10:47:08 -0700 2008 3748189 76455 xperteater 1 3748287 I have lived in Brookline for 23 years. Rod Dee and Dok Bua are the best Thai places and I go there regularly. Pho Lemongrass is one of my favs too (mmm Pho Ga). Beacon Street Tavern is always a guaranteed great meal and wine + they just got an excellent new chef. The Fireplace is also another great go-to places for more special occasions. For Pizza - I only do upper crust and Pinos. For Jewish delis - Zaftigs and Michael's. For bagels - Kupel's since I was a kid. For Chinese - Chef Chow's since I was in a stroller (Golden Temple is below average and ridiculously over priced). We're soo glad Orinoco just came and La Morra is definitely exceptional as well, though I don't eat much Italian. Bottega Fiorentina USED to be good but the new management is cheap. For sandwiches/subs and our beloved townies - it will always be the Brookline Spa. And for breakfast I will pick Sealys over Zafitg's anyday. Wed Jun 04 07:28:45 -0700 2008 3746774 118583 pink dress 2 3748391 Which Bottega are you talking about? The one in Coolidge Corner has the same owner/management. They closed the one in Brookline Village and it was going to open as something else. As for Sealys, I tried it once based on the local hype. I found the breakfasts to be nothing special and the people to be unfriendly and unwelcoming. Maybe it's different there if you are one of the regulars. Wed Jun 04 07:52:12 -0700 2008 3748287 11079 chuck s 3 3748566 I'm pretty sure there was a sign outside the Coolidge one that says "Under new management." Eitherway, the quality has gone way down. Considering I used to crave their pressed caprese paninis, the last time they gave me 2 slices of mozzerellas as thin as the proscuitto - very disappointing. Sealys is a no frills diner that has been there for almost a century. I've been going there for 10 years now, so obviously we're on a first name basis. It's run by a hard working Greek family and if they seemed unfriendly it's probably because they get up at dawn to open their doors at 6am - yikes. It's guaranteed good traditional breakfast - eggs/bacon/buttery toast. Wed Jun 04 08:41:43 -0700 2008 3748391 118583 pink dress 4 3749512 The Bottega in Brookline Village has reopened under a new name but looks pretty the same to me, has the same menu, has the same people, and still makes the best Italian sandwich in town. And, since Pino's was recommended for pizza (great slices), I'll have to add Presto's (practically next door), which I prefer for take-out. Wed Jun 04 12:24:08 -0700 2008 3748566 19863 drb 4 3749535 Nope - the Coolidge Corner Bottega has not changed management or ownership. The Brookline Village one has re-opened as Bottega di Capri. Never been to Sealys and I don't even know where it is, but keeping early hours is no excuse for an unwelcoming vibe, especially for food that's no better than "no frills diner." Not a good recommendation for a newcomer to town if they're only nice to their regulars. Wed Jun 04 12:28:37 -0700 2008 3748566 18512 Allstonian 4 3749884 "if they seemed unfriendly it's probably because they get up at dawn to open their doors at 6am" Boo hoo wah. You don't wanna get up that early, don't run a diner. Not that hard. Wed Jun 04 14:00:50 -0700 2008 3748566 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 1 3748483 I'll second Michael's Deli, excellent sandwich for the money. The worst? That's easy - Lineage. We went with friends one night and got 4 thoroughly mediocre meals, very disappointing. To be fair, however, the butterscotch pudding was quite good, just not enough reason to return. Wed Jun 04 08:19:06 -0700 2008 3746774 173225 terrystu 1 3748962 this is a great list! has anybody mentioned pomodoro in brookline village? pomodoro is one of my favorites - excellent food, great atmosphere! as a note, they only take cash. Wed Jun 04 10:20:40 -0700 2008 3746774 120748 vballgal 1 3749110 Maybe nothing new, but my 2 cents: Favorites: Fugakyu - yes expensive, but good sushi and good extensive Japanese menu (comparing them on price point to a Shino's or similar joint is a disservice, since their quality is much better). If I compare them to meals I've had at Sakurabana or an Oga's, I'm not sure I'm paying that much more. Dok Bua - my favorite of the local Thai restaurants Pho Lemongrass - maybe a little biased since I know one of the owners, but I love their sweet and sour soup with catfish/salmon Japonnaise - what more can be said about their azuki cream puffs? I don't tend to remember bad restaurants unless it was horrifically bad, and thankfully I haven't had that type of experience in Brookline (yet). Wed Jun 04 10:55:49 -0700 2008 3746774 13028 kobuta 1 3749249 Favorites: Dok Bua Rod Dee Michael's Deli Publik House Bazaar Khao Sarn Clear Flour Ok: The Butcherie Mr. Sushi Wed Jun 04 11:24:22 -0700 2008 3746774 15217 gini 1 3749579 I think you will be very happy living here in Brookline. It's a great community with so much to offer. Clear Flour Bakery makes the greatest breads, apple tart and croissants. La Morra is wonderful and I have always had great meals there. Pomodoro is one of my all time favorites Brookline destinations. Rami's has excellent falafel tastes just like you were in Jerusalem. I had an Upper Crust pizza last night for dinner and as always crispy and delicious. New England Soup factory has great matzo ball soup as well as gazpacho and chicken pot pie. Bottega Fiorentina makes delicious sandwiches. Wolf's fish market is the best fresh fish in town. Fugakyu is expensive but always good, I really like their sweet potato nori roll. I know a lot of people say they do not like Golden temple but I was raised on it every Sunday night growing up. It's open late too. Michaels Deli has delicious Corned beef and pastrami sandwiches. JP licks makes great ice cream, try the cucumber in the summer. When I need pickles I go to the butcherie. Wed Jun 04 12:40:05 -0700 2008 3746774 175523 macadamianut 1 3749858 My favorites: Michael's Seven Subs The Spa I am in the minority on this but for sushi in Coolidge Corner, I prefer Jae's to Fugakyu or anything else in CC. Never tried any of the non-sushi items at Jae's. Rod Dee for Thai as many have suggested. I think Chef Chows is decent for what it is (standard americanized Chinese) Wed Jun 04 13:53:40 -0700 2008 3746774 116470 Gordough 1 3752970 Welcome to Brookline! I agree with the general line of recommendations here (Shiki, Clear Flour, Japonaise, Rod Dee, La Morra, etc), but have to say if you want Vietnamese I think you won't find much in Brookline. I have found Pho Lemongrass to be less than tasty..if you really want Vietnamese, for something a bit better (but nothing outstanding) in Brookline there is Zenna. Just don't want anyone to have high expectations for great pho in town; but there is plenty of other great cuisines! Thu Jun 05 11:46:27 -0700 2008 3746774 15326 amatto 2 3753135 PhoViet at the Super 88 food court in Allston is about 50 yards from the Brookline town line, certainly close enough to satisfy locals. Thu Jun 05 12:24:07 -0700 2008 3752970 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 3 3753334 The OP should realize that there are many wonderful places to eat in Allston/Brighton -- a search would bring up many exciting options. Ken's Ramen is one of my current cravings. Tried Gitlo, too recently, and was very pleased. Thu Jun 05 13:08:48 -0700 2008 3753135 14347 pamlet 2 3753143 Remember parts of Brookline are just as close to Allston as to other parts of the town. Lots of good eats there also: Super 88 food court, the Reef Cafe, Carlos Cuccina, etc. Thu Jun 05 12:27:03 -0700 2008 3752970 11079 chuck s 1 3753317 Just wanted to reiterate the shout-out for the Turkish Family Restaurant and add a mention of Virginia's in Brookline Village for its lovely sandwiches and nice takeout salads etc. I'm also fond of Mangia's pizza (I've been underwhelmed by Upper Crust -- so often soggy), which is two doors down from Virginia's (although Mangia's isn't always consistent). Just mentioning these places because no one else seems to! Love Shiki, too. Used to love La Morra, but was disappointed by my last two visits. We should also note that technically Oishi is Brookline and it is excellent sushi. No one has mentioned Party Favors, either. Although views different wildly, I think most people would agree that it's worth a try if you love cupcakes. (Like many people, I avoided it for a long time because its exterior isn't exactly promising.) We've also gotten a good cake or two from Rosie's. Thu Jun 05 13:06:14 -0700 2008 3746774 14347 pamlet 1 3755756 Looks like most of my favorites have already been mentioned repeatedly, but I'd add one more that hasn't been: Gari. While I'm not generally a fan of any sort of fusion cuisine, this one gets it right. It has improved since it first opened about a year and a half ago, and now (in my opinion) represents one of the better sushi options in the area. The chef's choice sushi and sashimi plate in particular is a great value - I had it last Friday and for $28 got 3 - 4 pieces each of three types of excellent sashimi, five assorted sushi on rice, a maki that was sort of like a california roll with flying fish roe, and a cocktail glass full of a delicious marinated seafood salad with herbs. And they still have the coolest restroom in town! Fri Jun 06 08:27:16 -0700 2008 3746774 14386 BobB 2 3760018 I too am a fan of Gari. But I worry that since few venture to that location (near the Stop and Shop) that it might not survive. Wonderful sushi in a very cool setting. Sun Jun 08 04:22:36 -0700 2008 3755756 11079 chuck s 1 3755795 By your handle I'm assuming you moved from New York? That's where I was living, till very recently... As a (presumed) fellow transplant, what restaurants have made you feel less homesick? Fri Jun 06 08:34:28 -0700 2008 3746774 187674 High Heels and Frijoles 2 3760010 Hi there - you got it. Our favorites so far: -Neptune Oyster -Franklin Cafe -Metropolis Cafe -Parrish Cafe We've had good/great meals at: -EVOO -No. 9 Park (bar menu for more casual fare) -Oleana The thing we miss most about NY eating is the number of affordable but high quality options (over $10/plate but under $20/plate). I'm hoping Brookline will help with that, and if so, it's just a hop and a jump for you from Back Bay. Sun Jun 08 04:00:50 -0700 2008 3755795 94969 gramercyfoodie 1 3755882 I too am going to be moving to Brookline from Back Bay come August (I'll be in Coolidge Corner). Japonaise Bakery is one of my favs as is Taberna de Haro. I've never been to Clear Flour Bakery, but I'm dying to try it out. Rod Dee is also one of my favorites. I can't wait to explore more when I move! I do love Back Bay, but it's food options stink for the most part. I often go to the S. End, North End, or other places to dine. Fri Jun 06 08:59:32 -0700 2008 3746774 15632 BackBayGirl 2 3755985 I can't say enough good things about Clear Flour. You MUST have a morning bun there -- and go early, because they sell fast. I just moved to Boston and live in Back Bay -- the food options do sort of stink. Were there any places that you frequented in a pinch? Fri Jun 06 09:25:49 -0700 2008 3755882 187674 High Heels and Frijoles 1 3760206 I highly recommend Presto Pizza in Cleveland circle. Really truly good Italian pizza. Nice people run the place and you can usually find a parking spot out front. Sun Jun 08 06:54:42 -0700 2008 3746774 15351 catspercapita 2 3760331 The main thing I miss about eating in Manhattan is the chance to test a restaurant's food at a reasonable price at lunch. There is a lack of serious lunching (covered in another thread) within a relaxing, comfortable atmosphere with a nice glass of wine. But there are some options. Zenna's is fine, as is Gari. Oishi is fabulous, though no one ever called it a comfortable spot. I love Orinoco, though I haven't been there for lunch. Matt Murphy's is OK if you stick to the soup and/or the cheese plate. At least they're open so you can meet a friend and relax. Sun Jun 08 08:23:52 -0700 2008 3760206 145206 SSqwerty 1 3871345 Best Sushi: Super Fusion by a mile - order from here at least once a week and it's consistently fresh; inventive rolls and appetizers Best Pizza: Pizza Republic on Beacon Street - rarely mentioned on this board, but has superb pizza with medium crust (thicker than Upper Crust, but not too doughy) and gourmet toppings and whole wheat crust available. Pastas and subs are pretty good here too. Best Italian/Date Night/Value: Pomodoro's (technically in Brookline Village) - make a reservation and you'll be treated right...we've always gotten at least a free appetizer or dessert...pastas and main entrees are delicious. Small, cozy place with great atmosphere. Best Breakfast: Martin's Coffee Shop (also in Brookline Village) - tiny little place, but more of a "diner" like feel than any other place in the area. Omelettes made to order with a ton of options for fillings (incl. egg whites) and crispy home fries. Best Ice Cream: Emack and Bolio's - original and more "crazy" flavor options, plus fat-free and frozen yogurt. Best Pub: Washington Square Tavern/Beacon Street Tavern (outdoor seating a plus) - limited menu but it changes every few months to keep it fresh. Also enjoy LaMorra, Publick House, Fireplace (brunch only), Cafe Nicolas (panini sandwiches, subs), Athens (paninis for lunch and gelato only - other desserts are sub-par at best), Zenna Noodle House, Ana's Enjoy all that Brookline has to offer! Tue Jul 15 14:24:50 -0700 2008 3746774 80139 gator14 1 5185856 So, now that you've lived in Brookline, what are your faves? Nobody mentioned Chef Chang's and next door Ginza, just past Japonnaise bakery. The Peking Duck is fabulous. I also order beef chow fun with spicy black bean sauce (not on the menu, suggested to me by my NYC brother ins law), and it's wonderful. Ginza is always v. good. Mon Nov 16 11:04:46 -0800 2009 3746774 1090797 CookieLee 2 5187077 Hi there - Now that we've been here for 1 yr + our fav places are: - Mr Sushi - really think it's the best sushi/value in Boston. Always exceptionally fresh. - Seven Subs - Zaftigs - Pho Lemongrass - Dok Bua - TBD!: Regale Beagle Mon Nov 16 17:40:51 -0800 2009 5185856 94969 gramercyfoodie 1 5186945 I've been working in coolidge corner for about four years now, and i tend to get a lot of lunches at paris creperie. it's not amazing, but theyve got a number of pretty tasty crepes on the menu, and theyre less likely to hustle you out of there than michaels deli. also, ive got to say that although mr. sushi isnt spectacular, its a lot cheaper than fugakyu or tsunami. Mon Nov 16 16:47:36 -0800 2009 3746774 193985 the modern serf 2 5187185 My son & I are quite fond of the crepes, particularly the ham & cheese. The folks that work there are v. personable. Michael's Deli is just too weird for me. I was there while my husband had a sandwich. Michael told the young couple behind us to put away their deck of cards and eat up! I've only eaten at Mr Sushi once. I have a big problem eating in a space w. no windows. Even Fugakya is a problem for me. I like Ginza, and I would like to try Gari. I'm a regular at Dok Bua, I just love it there. Mon Nov 16 18:23:20 -0800 2009 5186945 1090797 CookieLee 3 5187876 Agree w/you re: Michaels. Not into his customer unfriendly attitude. Tue Nov 17 04:16:31 -0800 2009 5187185 94969 gramercyfoodie 4 5188264 That's too bad as his corned beef and pastrami are so good. When Michael's Deli opened he was extremely friendly and funny so we put up with the customers who hogged the tables with their books and newspapers and waited for a seat. I agree that the deli has changed but it's a tiny place and they have to turn over those tables to stay in business. It's still hard to get a seat but not as bad as the Creperie. I've been trying to get a table in there for three years. Lately we've been going to the Shawarma King on Beacon. We love the roll ups and the mango drinks. I don't think that readers and card players would be welcome there either. Tue Nov 17 07:51:26 -0800 2009 5187876 66281 ginnyhw 5 5194501 FYI - I have had bad experiences at Michael's that didn't involve sitting at a table. He does not subscribe to the theory of the customer is always right... Thu Nov 19 12:00:03 -0800 2009 5188264 94969 gramercyfoodie 4 5190043 I eat at Michael's a lot and like him as a person. You might try talking to him a little because he has a ton of opinions about his business and he's extremely willing to talk about them. Note that business has gone up since he stopped taking credit cards - and believe it or not he's willing to share the economics of why he made the decision. I feel strongly that one of the reasons you own and run a business is to make yourself happy. He feels he serves his customers best with his rules and he certainly delivers on product quality, quantity and price. (BTW, an iced coffee comes in what I think is a quart soup container.) I wish he'd carry Yona Schimmel's knishes. Tue Nov 17 17:08:54 -0800 2009 5187876 71350 lergnom 3 5187989 I'm puzzled about your comment re: windows at Mr. Sushi - are you possibly thinking of a different place? Mr. Sushi has a full frontage of windows, pretty much like any place around there on Harvard Street. Tue Nov 17 05:53:04 -0800 2009 5187185 18512 Allstonian 4 5188580 The seating at Mr. Sushi is in the back, not near the windows. I get that "closed in" feeling just thinking about it! I think I go to the Creperie "off hours", and it's practically empty. I've not been to Shararma King, all these yrs. I'll have to ask my son if he's been there. If you think Michael's corned beef & pastrami are good, you should go to Sam LaGrassa's - they have the best in this area. Tue Nov 17 09:26:40 -0800 2009 5187989 1090797 CookieLee 5 5188923 since the OP was interested in Brookline options, I'd still recommend Michael's over Sam Lagrassa, since Sam's is not convenient to Brookline. I'm not a huge fan of the creperie which I find a dark and not terribly comfortable space, but its ok. For takeout sandwiches, Seven Subs is another option. Haven't tried the new place (Reagle Beagle?) on Harvard, but, as the posts have pointed out, you won't starve in Brookline. Tue Nov 17 10:55:35 -0800 2009 5188580 14809 teezeetoo 3 5189036 Michael's Deli has, what, three tables? I can understand the desire to play a game of cards at a place that's a) not busy, b) has enough empty tables so that other people can sit down and have their food, and c) is conducive to sticking around and possibly ordering something else later, like a bar or a coffeehouse. But no, sorry, I'm with Michael on this. There is not enough space in there to encourage dawdling, so that table is yours only for as long as it takes to eat your sandwich. Playing cards there is just rude -- not to Michael, but to the other customers who'd like to not have to stand on Harvard Street and eat their sandwich off an electrical pylon. Tue Nov 17 11:26:08 -0800 2009 5187185 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 4 5189166 there are more than 3 tables. it wasn't busy when we were there. this pair was steadily eating their sandwiches and had out some cards. you know what? they weren't "dawdling". The guy STANDS OVER YOU. Now that's conducive to comfortable eating. He isn't nice, he acts like he's doing you a favor by letting you eat. Tue Nov 17 12:01:29 -0800 2009 5189036 1090797 CookieLee 5 5189270 Look Cookie. We've had this discussion before. Michael can do whatever the heck he pleases in his own restaurant. You can choose to take your pastrami money to Sam LaGrassa. Card playing over a proper pastrami sandwich would be almost impossible, not to mention annoying. Tue Nov 17 12:37:45 -0800 2009 5189166 10232 yumyum 5 5189338 I eat in Michael's a fair amount, and I've never had anybody STAND OVER ME. Wonder why that is. Oh, right, because I've never played cards while I'm eating my chicken salad club. Tue Nov 17 12:55:54 -0800 2009 5189166 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 6 5190037 That's right yumyum, and I don't plan on going in there again. Maybe what I should have said is that I was surprised by his lack of tact. I wasn't even eating, just having an iced coffee, while my spouse ate. WE weren't playing cards, and the man stood right in front of me. That's all I'm saying. Tue Nov 17 17:05:10 -0800 2009 5189338 1090797 CookieLee 1 5195740 GOOD: Dorado - relatively new Baja-style fish taco place between Coolidge Corner and Comm Ave. They are hands-down the best taco place in Boston imho. Basically the only place to get fish tacos, now that Baja Fresh have all closed down. And Dorado's is pretty damn good. Rod Dee's - agree with everyone else's assessment of this place. Not a comfortable place to eat in, but a great take-out place with some of the best Thai food in Boston. New England Soup Factory - just great soup, esp their corn & clam chowder. Jae's - I realize some people knock this place, but their lunch specials are some of the best deals around. Very tasty and lots of goodies packed into a bento plate. AVOID: Fugakyu - I'm glad that so many people agree with me that this place is overrated and overpriced. The sushi's are very unimpressive there. Some of their $20 items (like tonkatsu with asparagus) are just plain and boring and complete waste of $. Thu Nov 19 23:45:33 -0800 2009 3746774 1081177 chowmouse