Michael "MikeTrap" T.'s Profile

Uber-cool bastion of THE Iron Chef, the quasi-mythical Morimoto san. Room is beautiful if a bit stark at times, but the crowd is hopping and packed with cool kids of every age. The food was utterly magical, though the oma-kase is overpriced to the point of inhibiting its enjoyment. I had the totally original Toro Tartare, and perhaps the best piece of sea bass I've ever eaten. Service was ok, but indifferent in spots and pushy in others. Go with the sake flight, it's a no-brainer. Bottom line: Go for the food.  A special place, worth a visit, especially with a dining companion who appreciates culinary genius and is willing to overlook the little things to get it.

Space, energy, service... all 10s. Older crowd but still happening, cocktails were generous but not expertly crafted. Menu is fantastic. Food was very good, with flashes of greatness (chicken livers, grilled octopus, and fried dough with proscuitto,) but not yet truly great overall.

A very good restaurant... still coming into it's own in a truly great space. I'll be back.

Sometimes you just have a great experience with a local merchant in his own store, and it reminds you what you've given up by spending most of your money in faceless chains. I had exactly that experience here, with a friendly, knowledgeable owner, in a clean and well-stocked shop, genuinely interested in helping our son choose and use his first pair of glasses.

Next time you need glasses, do yourself a favor and take your business here.

Had a great meal here tonight. Great room, great cocktails, great service, great food. A city Italian-place with a warm, Tuscan farm-style decor, right in the heart of Waltham. I'll be back.

One of the best Italian restaurants I've ever dined at. Attentive, friendly service from word 1, a warm and tidy but unfussy room. Great menu, the best ingredients, simply prepared. Great cocktail, nice wine list, amazing and original antipasto. The pasta was served at the table and was so perfectly cooked and sauced it was a highlight. This place is really something special, I'll be back.

This place is GREAT. Not suburbs-great. GREAT.

Nice room, despite mall-proximate locale. Great service from the time we entered, extremely knowledgeable and attentive waiter, jet-cold rye manhattan and first rate beer selection, food was really good. I had the spanish shrimp app and blackened cod on recommendation fo the waiter, both a home run. Other fish dishes were hits, as were perfectly cooked pork chops and lamb.

I chose this place because we needed something decent in the location, but I'd go back just to enjoy the place. Clearly care and thought in every aspect, worth a drive if you're even close.

I was no great fan of Sky, and arrived here with an open mind and an empty stomach.

The new decor is decent enough for suburbia... not quite as nice as Primebar up the street, but certainly a notch above your average chain place.

I ate in the "Tavern" in back... table was clean, service attentive. Tried the Blue Tenders, which were really excellent, then ordered a Sam Adams Octoberfest, which was promptly served in the right glass, ice cold. So far, so good.

My buddy ordered 2 salads (he has issues,) and I tried the Fusilli Alla Vodka, which was singled out as a signature dish on the menu.

The fusilli were homemade, which was a nice touch. But they were mushy and overcooked by about 5 minutes, sopping in a thick but under-seasoned tomato and cream sauce with peas, bacon, and white meat chicken chunks too big to eat without cutting. Heavy handed and sloppy, it was a dish with good intentions gone two steps too far, then poorly executed. Like the Iraq War on a plate.

My buddy's salads were both good - despite arriving simultaneously - and we managed to get through our drinks and catch a little Monday Night Football on a few of the big, clear plasma screens scattered throughout the bar.

Bottom line is I will probably go back to try something a bit less ambitious, but this place has a ways to go to become the neighborhood bistro we really need in the 'Bury.

Been wanting to check this out for a while, since it replaced Luigi's. To be honest I liked Luigi's as a family Italian place, even though we didn't seem to make it there too often.

The room is a HUGE upgrade. Tasteful and elegant, with a bar/dining room layout that seems to make a ton more sense. The bar scene was hopping, I could see it being a cool place to have a drink at some point.

But speaking of drinks... two attempts as a rye Manhattan ended in disappointment. This is not a serious cocktail place, though the foofie drinks at our table seemed competently executed.

As for the food.... it was "fine." As in, "decent for a suburban restaurant." Ingredients were fresh, seasoning was good, everything arrived hot and every plate emptied.

What it lacks is the 20% that separates a great restaurant from a good one. My wife had the Caprese salad, for example. If you serve a salad that showcases tomato in July, it better be a damn good tomato. But it wasn't. It was just a tomato. The tomatoes at Scampo are mind-blowing in November. Why? 20% more effort.

Therein lies my disappointment. Competent execution gets you to a pretty good place at a family red sauce joint, which is what Luigi's was. But in a matte-finished oak-paneled room with $22 entrees, the bar of expectations is a lot higher... especially with the always excellent Coach Grille just a half mile up the road.

Amazing views, fantastic service, excellent cocktails, very good food. I had the gnocchi which were good, but not gnocchi. The sole meunier was quite good and the better bet.

Solid overall, worth a visit if only for the breathtaking view of the city and Golden Gate.

This place is a must-visit if you find yourself in Tiburon one morning on a weekday (when Sam's is closed.)

We had a nice walk along the water in Belvedere, then dropped into what looked like a cheap breakfast joint, bustling with locals (always a good sign.)

Maybe the best Heuvos Rancheros ever, on a freshly-made tortilla. My wife had super-fresh eggs with just-right homefries and thick rye toast.

A real winner, check it out.