Ben "Ben Z" Z.'s Profile

Dave's is totally deserving of five stars.

The name is misleading--there's much more here than just fresh pasta. In addition to some of best sandwiches in the Boston-area, Dave's also has a great selection of wines, cheeses, desserts, and take-out meals. They also offer cooking glasses and weekly wine tastings. It appears that they're also expanding...I imagine there will be more seating and dine-in options.

A few notes:

- Lines can be long -- especially around lunchtime
- The staff is great for wine recommendations and pairing ideas
- Try the prosciutto, fig, and mozarella sandwich (grilled)
- Coupons are available on their site: http://www.davesfreshp...

The Butcher Shop has become by go-place for both casual meet ups  and scandalous rendezvous. I live around the corner and have been known to saddle up to the bar alone for a steak and a couple of nice glasses.

A combination urban charcuterie and casual wine bar, it features a great list of mostly European  wines (the daily red special is always a winner). The menu is mostly seasonal and best enjoyed in the form of small plates. The antipasti and and cheese plates are a perfect way to start your experience and can suffice as a full meal if your party is small.

The only reason I don't give a 5/5 is because it's a little over-priced. A fun place...not a real "a lot for your money" kind of place.

I love this place. State Street is perfect for guys who have graduated from SuperCuts but don't want that New Kids on the Block hairdo you get from the "stylists" in Boston (or just can't get comfortable at Le Salon).

The barbers are pros--they use scissors and straight-razors instead of those frightening shearing clippers. If you really want to indulge (and I do highly recommend it) get a hot-lather shave. Afterwards you'll fee like a new man, although you should probably first work up a day or two worth of stubble...it's a close shave!

The place is designed with lots of masculine oak paneling and cushy leather chairs. There's also a great selection of men's mags to read while you wait -- you can catch up on Maxim! And if you're really lucky they'll give you a beer while you wait.

A few tips for first-timers:

- Ask for Tom when you make an appointment. He's tough to schedule but is worth the wait
- Cash tips only (the way it should be)
- Not cheap. Haircuts run about $30...shaves are another $20
- A gift card from State Street is a great gift for a pal

I had a bit of splurge here over tax-free weekend. This is a great place for unique home decor and interesting design gear. They also carry a nice selection of Blu Dot furniture (great mid-priced items). The browsing/shopping experience is relaxed and staff (thankfully) doesn't circle you in a selling frenzy.

The store in Chinatown has a lot more stuff than the one in the South End, although it's a bit tough to access via car. The T is probably a better bet.

I've had a couple of great meals at this outstanding upscale diner. A friendly little escape from the throngs of tourists at Pike Place Market, Steelhead is great for lunch--try to get a seat at the counter overlooking the kitchen. I was lucky enough to get a couple of free samples from the chef. All the ingredients are local  and most likely from the market around the corner.

The Rich Boy sandwich (a spicy sausage sandwich served "Nola-style") will not disappoint; it was recently named "one of America's sandwiches" by Esquire. The Chorizo-like sausage is smothered with a creamy Louisiana hot sauced and garnished with hot peppers. Even better...for a real treat upgrade your fries to Poutine--fries served with cheese curds and beef gravy. You will not be disappointed.

While Steelhead isn't you grandfather's diner, it stays true to the concept with friendly staff and fantastic meals served up with style.

What happened to the Red Fez? It used to be an eclectic place to have a couple of drinks and savor a few Middle Eastern specialties. Who knows - maybe it has something to do with the multiple changes of ownership, but this place is simply no longer any good.

I went there over the weekend with my sister, who happens to be a vegan (or as Anthony Bourdain calls them, "the vegetarian's Hezbollah-like splinter group"). Middle Eastern food is normally a safe bet with omnivores. Anyway, it's a nice night and we get seated on their patio. The first think we noticed was how dirty it was. Trash on the ground, dirty ashtrays, half-full glasses left on empty tables.

The food and service were equally bad. The waitress had difficulty with basic English, and it took forever to put in our order. We ordered several mezze (babaganoush, kibbe, olives) and I ordered a lamb dish for the entree. The mezze were OK, if not a little "funky", but the lamb was atrocious. The dish sounded interesting -- lamb wrapped in eggplant served with yogurt and tomato sauce. The eggplant was like rubber and the lamb was overcooked to the point where it was barely "chewable".

Granted, the Fez is moderately priced by South End standards, but it was not worth the gastrointestinal distress faced later by what was clearly low quality food.

One of Boston's only 100% locally-grown organic markets, Lionette's is a tiny market on Tremont Street with a wide selection of grass-fed beef, cheeses, and prepared dishes all featuring products from local farmers.

Lionette's is great for grabbing a quick meal on the run. The prepared selections range from meats (try the flank steak or roasted lamb) to tasty salads (can't go wrong with the beet and almond salad or--when in season--the tomato and local mozzarella salad).

The staff is also knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful.

While it was sad to see Garden of Eden close down a few months back, South Enders are fortunate that Lionette's is staying put for the time being.

The Andelmans must think that their audience is incredibly stupid. They don't even try to hide the special treatment given to advertisers, which borders on fraud IMHO. The show has also become like a family movie for the Andlemans. Is the greasy one the only person in New England who knows anything about food?

The low-budget commercials for locals restaurants are the best part of the show and merit a second star.

The best one I've seen is for an Italian restaurant in Waltham (can't remember the name). "Come down and have a cocktail at our lounge...it's a beautiful thing!"

B&G Oysters is a treat for seafood fans--especially lovers of the raw bar. They normally have an excellent selection of oysters and the fried clams and lobster dishes are some of the best around.

The room is in sunken grotto, and the cool blue tiling and dark lighting give it sleek and minimalist nautical feel. The kitchen is completely open and situated behind the bar.

Servers are friendly and knowledgeable. If you're not a oyster expert, I recommend asking the servers for their suggestions. Oyster quality varies on a seemingly daily basis and the waiters seem to know what's good at the time. I've never had a B&G oyster I didn't love.

If you're still hungry after oysters entrees range from fried foods to lobster to fresh fish. My favorites are the lobster roll and the fried clam plate...always cooked to perfection and truly tasty.

You should know, however, that B&G ranks as one of the most over-priced restaurants in the South End, if not all of Boston. As good as the food is, it's hard to stomach paying $30 for a lobster roll. The wines by the glass are also mediocre and overpriced.

All in all, a solid four star.

Aquitaine stands tall in town full of mediocre French cuisine. I enjoy Aquitaine for both dinner and the occasional brunch (can get way too crowded -- don't even attempt without a reservation).

For dinner, I started with the mussels with sancerre, shallots & fresh thyme served with crusty bread. The mussels were sweet and the sauce was great for dipping. For the entree, I had their signature steak frites which cooked perfectly medium rare. The steak frites are served with a black truffle vinaigrette which makes for a tasty and bold undertone that doesn't overpower dish--which often occurs when chefs get crazy with truffle.

Profiteroles made for a fantastically French ending to my dinner.

Aquitaine is an excellent choice for the South End diner. Service can be uneven and be prepared to wait if you don't have a reservation.