619041 Mon May 11 13:37:48 -0700 2009 17 12 Boston Area 0 4674184 Had a wonderful Mother's Day trip to Boston, watched Sox beat Tampa 4 to 3. Had an early dinner Sunday at Eastern Standard. We did not like our cocktails - The Old Cuban, and the basic Champagne Cocktail. Just not to our tastes, not the restaurant's fault. Hangar Steak Frites was very good, the meat was chewy but not tough, and it was flavorful. The frites were seasoned well and good and hot. Herb roast half chicken was wimpy on my part to order, but I just wanted something simple. They serve a breast and a leg and it was tad overdone, but not dry. I liked the reduction/sauce with it. Our waitress was barely present, but she came the four times absolutely needed - to take drink order, take food order, ask once if everything is okay, and present check. Loved the vibe of Eastern Standard (fun, casual), will definitely return. I kept dinner light because I knew I would want to sample the new Kayem Fenway frank. It was good. I thought it was a bit heftier than the old frank, and was flavorful. We had Pavilion Club seats which has waitservice which makes it easy to overindulge. It was cold, so we had some hot chocolate (just hot enough to be hot and not nearly rich enough) which tasted like standard powder mix and hot water. And I confess... we shared a whoopie pie (like a large Hostess Suzy Q).... and I further confess, I thought it was pretty good, in a guilty pleasure sort of way. Although we didn't partake, fans around us were happily slurping clam chowder and eating lobster rolls. We stayed at the Omni Parker House which has tiny rooms, but amazingly comfortable beds and got a great night's sleep. The Omni is near a place called Finagle Bagel, and we decided to grab a bagel for breakfast. Yuck. Ordered a simple toasted, buttered raisin bagel and it was not really toasted and had the slightest dripping of butter. Plus the bagel was dry. Embarrassingly bad stuff. Clearly this wasn't a food trip, but we did enjoy Eastern Standard and the new Kayem Fenway frank very much. Mon May 11 13:37:49 -0700 2009 10726 TrishUntrapped 1 4674245 We recently went to Eastern Standard and were mildly disappointed. Everything was just a little off and lacked the wow factor of previous visits. The salt cod fritters were overdone and not served in the cute wooden baccala box, salads were overdressed. cassoulet, cod, and hangar steak were fine but not fabulous. Agree that the vibe is lively and fun. We've been twice to this previous favorite with similar results. Anyone else notice this? Mon May 11 13:54:00 -0700 2009 4674184 13803 gourmaniac 2 4674404 It seems to me that Eastern Standard is trying to emulate Balthazar in New York, which has the French Brasserie thing down pat. It doesn't quite succeed, but hardly any place trying this does. I didn't think the food was bad, just not wowee, and that's where Balthazar has them beat. Mon May 11 14:42:16 -0700 2009 4674245 10726 TrishUntrapped 3 4674422 No, I think it's trying to emulate a French brasserie, which is hardly a restaurant concept that Balthazar invented. Mon May 11 14:46:01 -0700 2009 4674404 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 4 4674852 I didn't say Balthazar invented French Brasserie, far from it. They have taken the concept and made it work for Americans. I think ES is trying to go the same route. Mon May 11 17:00:26 -0700 2009 4674422 10726 TrishUntrapped 1 4674315 Finagle is a local chain - I am a bit surprised - as chain bagel places go, they are usually pretty good. I assume you tried the one across the street from the Park St. T? Mon May 11 14:08:41 -0700 2009 4674184 11172 Bob Dobalina 2 4674397 Yep the one across from Park Street. Not impressed. Mon May 11 14:38:34 -0700 2009 4674315 10726 TrishUntrapped 3 4674887 Black Seed Cafe at 131 Tremont; a few doors south of Finagle has good bagels, full breakfasts (fresh squeezed oj) and Middle Eastern dishes for lunch/dinner..very good quality/price ratio. Mon May 11 17:15:42 -0700 2009 4674397 10111 9lives 3 4675987 i think the finagle bagels are disgusting. they are spongey soft and sweet as cake. yuk. Tue May 12 05:57:18 -0700 2009 4674397 30273 hotoynoodle 4 4680507 Ugh. I remember when I worked in Watertown and when I ran late the only place on the way I could grab something speedy (Harvard Sq.) was Finagle a Bagel....I loathe the bagels there. I usually just grabbed a panini which is only slightly better..... Wed May 13 12:10:08 -0700 2009 4675987 46235 Johnresa 2 4676073 Only "pretty good" for Boston. Out-of-towners should not eat bagels here, unless maybe they're from the Midwest. Tue May 12 06:31:24 -0700 2009 4674315 12233 Pia 3 4678719 After having by far the best bagel ever, better than I ever conceived a bagel could be, last weekend at Ess-A-Bagel in NYC, I agree. Don't come to Boston for the bagels. Tue May 12 21:05:33 -0700 2009 4676073 105892 pollystyrene 1 4678727 Trish, about your cocktails. Have you had an Old Cuban or Champagne Cocktail elsewhere and liked them? I ask because I've been working my way around the ES cocktail menu, and despite all the raves, have only found one drink that I'd order again. I was going to try something from the sparklers section next time, probably an Old Cuban, which I love at the Pegu Club in NY, but have never had anywhere in Boston. Do you think they were not well-made, or are those flavors just not your thing? Tue May 12 21:10:59 -0700 2009 4674184 105892 pollystyrene 2 4679955 That's a good question Polly. I never had either of those drinks before so I can't say if it was the ES version I didn't like or the cocktail in general. Funny you mention Pegu Club. I was there a couple weeks ago, for the first time. Sat at the bar, had no clue what to order, so asked the bartender to make me something with no gin and not too strong. The first drink he made for me was way too strong. I told him so and he took the drink back (he insisted) and made me a killer drink! I forget the name... Served in a tall glass, it had muddled mint on the bottom, layer, clear in the middle, and red (bitters) on the top...like an Italian flag.... filled with crushed ice... I loved this drink so much!!! That is my ideal, whatever it is called.... As for ES, I wish I ordered a straightforward Bellini. I love champagne, but not gin, and none of the other champagne drinks on the menu appealed to me.... I thought the champagne cocktail tasted odd, slightly medicinal, and attributed it to the bitters. Had our server come around or been visible I might have confirmed if the drink was made properly. But I didn't. Wed May 13 09:47:28 -0700 2009 4678727 10726 TrishUntrapped 3 4685051 Thanks, Trish. I guess I'll just have to do my own research, but I'm leary. I'm still dreaming about the Pegu Club. It's a good thing the subway runs all night because I made the most of my visit. Three of the four drinks I had were probably the three best cocktails I've ever had, one of them their signature drink, the Old Cuban, and I've never liked mint in cocktails before. I love a good Bellini, too, but am disappointed when they're made with liqueur instead of peach puree. The next time you're in town, Grotto makes an excellent Bellini (maybe just during peach season? I'm not sure.) Thu May 14 17:36:55 -0700 2009 4679955 105892 pollystyrene 4 4686450 Polly, here is a pic of a couple of the drinks we had at Pegu Club. The one with the flower is a champagne cocktail-type drink, can't remember the name.... The tall red, white, and green one is the exquisite one I had. Fri May 15 08:19:56 -0700 2009 4685051 10726 TrishUntrapped 2 4680387 ask them to make you a Flying Dutchman. pure tiki-inspired yumminess. Wed May 13 11:42:34 -0700 2009 4678727 12603 ScubaSteve 3 4685055 Thanks, Scuba. I'll take a flier on the Dutchman. Thu May 14 17:37:30 -0700 2009 4680387 105892 pollystyrene