Suzanne M.'s Profile

Like Julie, I got my dress at the Filene's Basement running of the brides sale for $250. But allow me to digress for a moment. I saw a fabo Manuel Mota sample dress at L'Elite on Valentine's Day. I was sure the stars were aligned and the price was right so I would get it. Unfortunately, it was about 4 sizes too small, but no biggie according to the cute lady at L'Elite, we can fix it up. Sure, we can fix it up for $1000 in alterations. Ew. No thanks.

Filene's Basement sale to the rescue! However, dress is a lil snug. Upon a recommendation from a friend who had Ludmila make her dress from scratch, I went to see the Russian seamgoddess and she made the dress fit perfectly for a very reasonable price. All of the beading was saved, and the elegant design remained.

Decent italian cuisine. Quiet, small, boringly tasteful interior. Friendly slow waitstaff. Gorgonzola noci gnocchi were delicious, but not enough noci. Pasta fagioli could have been more flavorful.  Hazelnut tiramisu was nice, but lacking substantive flavor and overkill with the mocha powder. Better than expected but still just ok.

We've been going here for years. They lost a tablecloth, but that's about it.

10% discount for students. Great wash/dry/fold and dry cleaning prices. No delivery but great service!

I love the atmosphere here. I honestly don't love the dishes (I prefer a Legal dinner to here) but it's such a fun place. We had a big birthday party here and the service was fantastic. They gave us the bar area and we served passed hors d'oeuvres, cheese & crackers, and then did cupcakes for dessert. It was a great time, and the staff was wonderfully easy to work with and very attentive.

If you've been to a UK Wagamama, don't expect the same. I'm with Allix - the food and experience is much different. The service was awful. We were there, it was dead, and the waitress screws up one of the orders. Ok, no biggie, but it isn't corrected until after we're almost *done* eating our meals. No apologies. We saw the same entree being served to other tables - don't you think it would make sense to serve it in order of who's been waiting the longest? I guess not. The food is not very flavorful - I'd opt for the Men Tei noodle house on Hereford.

Yes, the cheese, yes the wine, yes the produce, yes the naughty bakery / chocolates...yes to all that. But woah.........the CLASSES. I love a place where they take time to serve you well and offer and amazing selection and on top of that teach you.  Great classes! LOVE the glass bottle milk too - yum.

Update - April 2009

This place is back up to 4 stars for me. They must have high chef turnover, but this place is great *right now*. Go now, quick, before the chef leaves! I had my usual tuna dish for my anniversary dinner and it was fabulous! Not as great a flavor as the first time I had it but much better prepared.  Ask for *Steve Tuck* for your waiter - he's awesome. Super friendly, great food / wine recommendations, and totally on top of your experience. My glass was refilled the moment I put it down - love that attention. Love you again, TotH!

---------------------------------

Update - May 2008

I knocked a star off. Apparently, Top of the Hub has changed chefs and it shows. My all time favorite macadamia nut encrusted tuna is not so nutty and not so tasty.  Service was great - as always - but what happened to the food? I miss the old TH :(

---------------------------------

Original Review - Nov 2006

I go here every year on my anniversary, foggy or clear.  I always get the same thing - the nut encrusted tuna (yum)- so I can't tell you how everything on the menu is. We usually call well in advance to request near - window seating (like a month in advance), but honestly the windows are floor to ceiling there - no matter *what table* you are at you are going to see just fine on a clear night. And if you must look straight down to Boylston St you can walk over and look. Service has always been fair for us, food very good and consistent, and always expensive!

I'm so happy these guys are here - I hope they stay. I've been disappointed in the past to see doggie stores close down. They are friendly, have a great groomer, and have a nice selection of items. They special order food and deliver it - which is great (though I live so close I haven't needed to do that). Leo loves the chicken puffs that you can buy from the bins.

2 stars because the food is just + 4 stars for price & convenience settles me at 3.

I've eaten here more than any other place. It's a couple blocks from us, and it's consistently good enough. I love the spicy szechuan wontons with peanut sauce on top of white rice.  My fiance loves the pork fried rice and General Tsao's chicken. It's pretty cheap for the area and better than the other places within the neighborhood, but I would not go out of my way nor make this a destination location.

I asked a friend in grad school "Your hair is fabulous - where do you get your hair done?"  She gave me the name of her stylist - Kristine - and told me that she loves going to her because she treats you with care and precision, as if your hair was a piece of art. I thought my friend was a wacko until I actually had Kristine do my hair. That was five years ago. I have referred several people to her and have only received thank you's for doing so. From classic long looks, to short & spikey, to men's cuts, Kristine can accommodate pretty diverse needs. I wouldn't bother going to anyone else!