Central Kitchen

[coweepooh]

We have a last second dinner planned at Central Kitchen for tomorrow (Monday night)

Was trying to see if anyone had thoughts or recs on dishes there?

I just looked real quick and noticed people mentioning that it's Mediterranean? Any example of dishes we may find there?

My bf's not a huge mediterranean fan but I'm hoping we'll find some things he can enjoy (the dinners with a group of people who picked the place)...I didn't see a menu on their home page, so didn't quite know what to expect!

But I trust my fellow chowhounders much more than most people who say "they like to eat good food too!" LOL, so I'm usually more skeptical about people I meet who claim to be "into food" and sadly, more often than not, the places they pick tend to be the more popular/well known but not necessarily known for its culinary experience or unique flavors (this doesn't mean it has to be high-end and table clothes, I find many hole in the wall gems too where the cookings done by a couple and they serve authentic dishes you'd find in their home countries etc)...

Anyhoo--hope some people who've gone to Central Kitchen can chime in :)

Thanks!

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Central Kitchen
567 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

[BackBayGirl]

Has anyone been to Central Kitchen recently (2011). How is it? I was thinking of going there w/ my mom on Saturday. I'd love to hear some feedback from recent visits.

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Central Kitchen
567 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

[Spenbald]

I've been for lunch a couple times since the winter. It's a lovely, quiet spot for a weekday lunch, and their moules frites are really top notch. Have not been for dinner for a couple years now, but remember enjoying it quite a bit.

It's infuriating, though, that they have never bothered to update their web presence.

[BackBayGirl]

I hear ya! I couldn't find anything online for them as far as a menu, etc.

[ginafly]

Long-time Central Kitchen fan. They do a great steak frites--have the boy just get that. I love the chicken fricasse that they sometimes have in the winter. Ultimate comfort food. They also do a nice grilled octopus and chicken liver mousse. The restaurant has been VERY consistent over the years. Oh, I particularly love their wine by the glass selection.

Ah, now I see you went Monday and it is now Wednesday.... How was it????

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Central Kitchen
567 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

[BostonZest]

Oh, is it Chicken Fricasse season yet. That is one of the best dishes in the area. I'm going to have to call and check. Has anyone noticed it on the current menu?

Now I'm hungry!

Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/

[dulce de leche]

I haven't had dinner there in at least six months, but have gone with some regularity over the years, and the menu doesn't change drastically. There almost certainly will be a steak frites, moules frites, some kind of pan fried fish dish, some seasonal preparation of duck confit, a couple of salads, in this season some kind of braised meat or cassoulet kind of thing, and they always have some raw bar and "cure" option (like a pate or cheese or sausage). I am pretty sure I've never seen a pasta or pizza on the menu.

They make a nice drink there and play good music and it's very easy to enjoy yourself there!

[gini]

These are all great recommendations. They also sometimes have a burger on their dinner menu that is absolutely fabulous.

[yumyum]

+1 on the burger. I've had it at lunch and it's a big juicy meaty mess (in the best way).

[StriperGuy]

Right up there with the burger at Russel House Tavern ;-).

[yumyum]

I haven't had that yet, smartie pants. Have you? The english muffin bun kinda puts me off. Plus heathermb told me it's big like the Sully's burg. Not my favorite style.

Also, they don't give me a kickback like RHT does. ;-)

[StriperGuy]

I haven't had it either, was joking...

[MC Slim JB]

The Russell House Tavern burger is pretty good, if not quite a Top 10 burger. Quality grass-fed beef, good bacon and cheddar, onions that are advertised as "charcoal" but just seem plain old caramelized. The English muffin bun works for me (praise jeebus it's not brioche). A big pile of very good fries and really fine pickles. Worth $11.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

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Russell House Tavern
14 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

[jgg13]

I'd agree. I'd rank it as perhaps my favorite at that particular price point (say the 10-12 burger range), but not the mouth orgasm that some of the luxe burgers are.

That said, out of my friends that have had it, I'm one of the very few who think this way, most of them say "meh".

[MichaelB]

I thought the Russell House burger was good but not particularly special. yumyum, I don't remember it being particularly big (certainly not like O'Sullivan's horrible meatball) but the english muffin bun didn't really work for me. I'd rather go across the street to Tory Row. The RHT pickles, however, were *fantastic* and worth the journey. I'd go back just for those.

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Tory Row
3 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

[jgg13]

I really dug the english muffin bun. I've even used them on my home burgers since I first had the RHT bun. Guess it's just one of those things.

[barleywino]

i like the salad that comes with the burger (upon request) instead of fries...plus when you ask for rare, you really get rare (but still with that peppery char crust on the outside)