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"Yelp. It does my body good."
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Review votes:
268 Useful, 261 Funny, and 235 Cool
Boston, MA
Yelping SinceJanuary 2009
Things I LoveSouthie, jameson, the North End, red wine, filet mignon, eyeliner, a perfectly poured martini
Find Me InSouthie
When I'm Not Yelping...I'm slowly killing my inner child
Why You Should Read My ReviewsEh, maybe you shouldnt.
The Last Great Book I ReadCupcake Brown
My First ConcertSteve Miller when i was like 7
My Last Meal On EarthMy mamas chinese stewed chicken... mmmm
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...i have no intention of paying my taxes anywhere NEAR on time
Most Recent DiscoveryPineapple rolls from china town. Oh mama.
Current Crushrondo
Date
We ordered our usual Jameson and ginger ale and waited a few minutes for the bartender to bring us some food menus. We ordered the mini cheeseburgers with fries. Seriously though, what is ON those french fries? Crack sauce? They were delicious. And the mini burgers? Also friggin awesome. I always run into the not-enough-burger-for-the-bun issue when I order mini burgers but at the Brickhouse, that's not an issue. I had two mini cheeseburgers and it was enough for my meal with the fries. They were juicy, delicious and on a soft asiago bun. Definitely give these a shot if you stop in here and are in need of a burger fix.
Once we had filled our bellies with magical burger and french fry goodness, we headed upstairs to the venue. What a great space. The bar is big enough to not have to wait for a drink for 15 minutes every time you need one, but not so big that it intrudes on the space of the room. This place was packed and there was still room to move, room to grab a drink and clearly... room to form a mosh pit where you and your mohawked friends can beat the hell out of each other in the name of metal. Sorry to the guy I heeled in the chest when I was shooting the show... but actually? Ya know what? Sorry I'm not sorry. If you can punch yourself in the face for fun, I'm sure my heel to your chest was no big deal.. and besides, you almost crushed me to death. Moving on...
The staff at the Brickhouse is friendly, efficient and attentive. The girl with the dark hair in the upstairs bar greeted me each and every time I approached her with a smile and a hello. I think that counts for something. Drinks are reasonable and well made and the sound up there is great. Check it out.
Thanks Brickhouse, see you soon.
Another reason why this place soars to 4 stars is because of the bed. Holy crap. Its really really comfortable. Our King sized bed had us rested and off to Vermont by the next morning. The pillows are amazing, the linens are nice (minus the grandma-esque comforter) and the mattress had a pillow top that made me wanna stay in bed past the 11 AM check out time.
I doubt this will be the last Brickhouse show, and I doubt this will be the last time we get a room at the Days Inn in downtown Dover.
Boston, MA 02127
(617) 269-1003
Franklin Southie
Categories: American (New), Lounges
Neighborhood: South Boston
Mom was in town with 2 girlfriends doing some shopping for the day. They let me know they wanted to check out The Franklin, and since I live in Southie I was game. We met at about 6 and my mother's girlfriend's daughter joined us. We were seated in big comfy booth away from the door and greeted by our adorable waiter Fransisco.
We started with a bottle of the Terraces Pinot Noir that was both remarkable and affordable. My mother even took the label home with her in order to stock the house. DEE-LISH.
My mother and I ordered the organic crispy vegetable and green salad and the other ladies ordered the crispy pork and yam salad that was served with these yummy little wonton chips. Good way to start. The salads were fresh, crisp and dressed perfectly. Though I did not try the pork and yam salad, the OOOOHHHS and AAHHHS coming from the other side of the table were enough to let me know that it was worth a try on my next visit.
We chatted some more, drank some wine and anxiously awaited our entrees. When they arrived they most certainly delivered. The local cod with a green olive crust served over creamed spinach with a balsamic reduction, the braised short rib, the lamb ragu over pappardelle with marscapone , the duck confit with the smoked fennel sausage over a white bean cassoulet, and the poached salmon over the lobster and butternut squash risotto with apple.
Yes, it IS all as good as it sounds. Wonderfully plated, deliciously prepared and perfect to warm our bellies on such a chilly February night.
Next we asked our darling waiter Fransisco for the dessert menu. He informed us that the do not have a dessert menu but that the two housemade desserts of the evening were a caramel flan, and a double chocolate pudding with Devonshire cream and toffee crumbles. Yep. We'll take two puddings please. We were worried for a moment that we may have ordered too much dessert having ordered two portions, but the daunting idea of not ordering ENOUGH pudding was far more horrifying.
When the puddings arrived in their little cute sealable mason jars we all cooed like a bunch of little kids on Christmas morning. We grabbed our spoons and dove in. Do you want to know what happened inside of my mouth at that very moment? Well, I wish I could adequately describe it with words... but words? They aren't enough. Just go there and try it. You will NOT be sorry. The perfect consistency in the pudding, the freshness of the Devonshire cream, the adorable presentation- it added the 5th star to the experience. We crushed them in about 3.5 minutes and sat back to admire our work. Good thing we ordered two, huh ladies?
The only complaint about the food was the portion size. While not miniscule, it's all so delicious that a few extra bites on that plate might be something to think about. My salmon portion could not have been over 4 ounces. My mothers friend was absolutely raving about her short rib, and also thought that three more on the plate would have been the perfect size. Will the portion size keep me from coming back here? Absolutely not. But it had to be mentioned...
The service was friendly, attentive and informative. He offered to take the label off of the wine and mounted it onto a piece of oak tag for my mother to take home with her. Fransisco was wonderful, and I'd imagine we'll be asking for him by name on our next visit to The Franklin. It's a refreshing change to the culinary scene in Southie and I only hope to see more places like this popping up along Broadway. Thanks Franklin, see you soon.
1 Previous Review: Hide »
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6/16/2009
Okay so the first time I went to this place I wasnt impressed. I actually didnt review it because it was in the beginning of its time here in Southie and I figured they hadnt worked out all the kinks yet. Last night the boy was playing a late round of golf so I took the opportunity to call my old roomie and ask him if he wanted to grab dinner somewhere. I hadnt talked to him in so long that I had no idea he had moved to Southie TOO. When he suggested the Franklin I was hesitant but he assured me I must have caught it on a bad night and that he goes there quite a bit. I usually trust his culinary oppinion so I headed there around 7. He wasnt there when I first arrived so I bellied up to the bar. Carrie (spelling?Kerri? I dunno.... ) was behind the bar and she greeted me sweetly and gave me a drink list. I started with "The Mo" which is basically vodka, lemon juice, and a dash of chambord... it was delish. I went ahead and ordered a half a dozen Duxbury oysters and then Chewy (the old roomie) walked in. We crushed the 6 I ordered and hit up another 6. They were incredibly fresh, and the perfect temperature. I hate when they arent chilled down enough. We also ordered the tuna tartare... It wasnt typical tuna tartare.. it was more pulpy than chunks of tuna but it was still enjoyable. After sitting and talking for about an hour, we ordered another 6 oysters, 6 jumbo shrimp, and the scallops rockafeller. The scallops were yummy but tasted a BIT over cooked. The bartender was super friendly and chatted with us the whole night. She didnt mind a bit that we parked it at the bar for 3 and a half hours but then again.. it WAS Monday night. I think I'll go in on Monday nights when I do go because I like the one on one attention that it lacked last time I was in there. I think they have finally worked out the kinks, and I will definitely back. Cant wait to try their brunch.
Foxboro, MA 02035
(508) 543-5640
Showcase Live
Categories: Music Venues, American (New)
I'm pretty sure my boyfriend had a different experience of Showcase Live considering he was chastised by a large group of women and told to not stand in front because he was "too tall". We spent the concert about 100 yards apart while my best friend and I were front and center having the time of our lives. Sorry babe. Its not like Ani Difranco is exactly his opinion of Artist of the Year or anything. The tickets were my christmas gift and he was able to brave the strong willed ladies and check her out with me and some of my friends. Brave man.
The sound was awesome, the drinks were strong (though I think 8.75 bucks for a whiskey and ginger is pretty steep) and the staff was great. There was security around and present but they let everyone have a good time.
Another great thing? Free Parking. Anyone who's ever ventured to Gillette or Patriot Place on game days knows about having to take out a second mortgage to park your car here. On off nights parking here is free and easy.
So aside from the angsty women that separated me from my boyfriend quickly and with much precision, we had a great time. And come on... at Ani Difranco? He had to see that coming...
My advice? Pregame, eat something cheap somewhere else (Patriot Place is loaded with other options that won't drain your account), and get here on time to grab a good spot at the stage.
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 254-1331
Sunset Grill And Tap
Categories: Bars, American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
So. My boyfriend was playing in a show down the street and his whole family was attending. We had decided to all meet at Sunset before the show to grab some dinner and hang out a little. My mother, step father, brother and brothers girlfriend were going to come to meet his family for the FIRST TIME on Saturday as well. My best friend and I arrived at Sunset at 6:10. We put our reservation of 12 in and were told it would be about a 60-90 minute wait. Its Saturday. Its Sunset. I saw it coming. Thats why we arrived so early. His family wasnt arriving until 7:45. So in essence, that time slot would have been perfect for us.
We bellied up to the bar and ordered the artichoke dip (which as always came out quick and was delicious) and two Dirty Ho's (Allagash and Lindemens Framboise mixed together). The drinks came, the food came and the night was off to a great start. Here and there his family began to arrive. After a little over an hour and far too long standing around at the bar oggling at peoples food, my friend went to the hostess stand to check on our table. We were told we were behind ONE other 8 person party and that following that table, we would be seated. We were quoted 30 minutes. Okay. So slightly longer than I expected but still, doable.
After more than a half an hour my friend again went to check on the table. The show was going to start at 11 and we wanted to have time to eat and get the families fed. My friend comes back and says "We arent getting sat for at least another hour. The hostess told me that the owner called in a last minute party of 10 and that we had been bumped down the list". Insert controlled "I'm around my boyfriends parents" rage here. I quickly slipped from my bar stool to go deal with the issue myself.
After waiting in front of the not at all crowded hostess stand unnoticed and completely ignored I spotted a guy walk by with the usual manager attire on and I stopped him on his way. "Are you a manger here?" I asked him. "I am, what can I do for you?" He greeted me nicely enough and I explained to him the situation. He further reiterated the fact that they had a last minute party they had to take (he did NOT mention the owner) and that he was sorry. He asked me what he could do for me. Well sir, you can get me and these families the table we have been waiting around for almost 3 hours for. I could care less about the dumb ass owner and his poor management skills calling in a last minute party. Seriously? On a saturday night? You are gonna bump a party of 12 thats been waiting (and SPENDING) at your bar for as long as we have? OH HELL NO. At first the manager told me he did not and would not have a table. But I insisted there had to be something he could do.
After a short spell of going back and forth with the manager I told him he needed to fix it. That was all. Just get us seated. I didn't care if we had to squeeze into a table.. I just wanted a seat under my ass and a WHOLE MEAL OF FOOD in front of me.
About 15 minutes later a server approached me (who by the way was extremely friendly and adorable) and he told us we would be sat at a 10 top and that a two top would be slid over as soon as that two top (they were finishing up an awkward first date) had vacated their table. The manager came over to apologize again and then was off to fight the masses gathering at the bar.
Our server was pleasant and efficient and the food was the same as it always is: not extraordinary and not bad. We finished, paid and left. Off to the show in just enough time to grab a drink and see our boy set up.
Seriously Sunset, I'm sorry your owner throws his staff under the bus on busy Saturday nights... If he didnt have the most remarkable beer selection around, this place would be just another Allston has been. You can get huge plates of nachos and MEH burgers a lot of places. Clean up your act Sunset. I think this time you've really lost me.
1 Previous Review: Hide »
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11/16/2009
Oh Sunset. Such a love hate relationship we continue to foster. I'm giving you 4 stars based on your spinach and artichoke dip (even if you secret ingredient IS crack), your delicious amazing allston village 4 cheese style turkey burger, and of course your infamous beer selection. Although your service sometimes leaves quite a bit to be desired... I continue to come back again and again.
I had some friends in from out of town and after we toured the Sam Adams Brewery, they were itching to try some more beer. We sat down in the "garage" on the lower level and ordered up some drinks. A hophead flight, a lindemens peche and the blackberry wit. Good shit Charlie Brown. My friends ordered the tropical salmon special, the fajita pita and I of course, for the turkey burger. What IS it about the turkey burger at this place I love so much? I have no idea. Its smothered in cheese, has a nice soft bun and i cover it in dijon mustard with pickles and LTO. I love it.
Our server was a sweet guy and didnt get mad at us as we sat for 2 hours and had an intense debate about the healthcare crisis in America which later lead into what ended up being an intense therapy session for us all. He didnt rush us once and was nothing but smiles the whole time. When we were walking out we realized that there was a legit wait outside and that it was nice (we are all ex industry people) that we didnt even get the sense from him that he was trying to flip the table. Thanks for letting us catch up after 4 years apart.
Of course I will be back... I just wish that there werent as many employees as draft lines... Once I find a server I like I can never find them again.
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 254-9743
Harper's Ferry
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
So ya... its a great spot to see a show. However, this is really not enough to float a place. What would make Harper's Ferry more successful? A stocked bar. Bartenders who actually greet you with a smile, and maybe a pass through the bathroom with some renovations... or some sort of a sanitizing steamer.
Its a rock bar! You say? Sure, I get it. I love rock bars. But what part of rock bar automatically means that when you approach the bar, the bartenders look at you like you just murdered their first born and threw it in the mosh pit? I ran up quite the tab... as usual, and they would have seen a much nicer tip had they not been so miserable.
Additionally, I approached the bar and waited for service. The girl sauntered over on her own time and just stared at me. No hello, no how are you, no what can I get you... Not even a "Hey shitbag, what're ya havin??" which would have been SOMETHING at least. After a short lived staring contest when I actually realized she was there to take my order and not cast a spell on my soul- I asked for a Jameson and ginger ale. "We don't have Jameson". Sweet. I guess I'll have a jack and ginger. She retreats to the bottles and brings me back my drink. I start a tab. About 20 minutes later, I go to the bar again "Hey, Can I get a Jack and ginger?"..."We're out of Jack, you drank it all"... What? the 4 ounces of Jack that I had in my drink is ALL the Jack you have in house? I thought this was a rock bar...and way to make me feel like a booze bag while you're at it. Its not like I drank a liter to my face...
At the end of the night I tabbed out and she stuck the copy I had to sign directly into a large puddle of pooled beer on the bar. Sweet. Have fun decoding that thing.
The bathrooms? EEK. Ladies, lets just say i recommend the hover method.. unless of course VD is your thing. In which case.... sit your heavily eyelinered ass right on that bad boy.
Will I stop going to Harper's? Not a chance. But do I hope this review falls on deaf ears at Harper's Management? Sure don't. It really would only take a few things to make this place a really enjoyable place to take in your favorite local.
I'm updating to 5 stars because this place holds it down on the breakfast tip. Every single time I go in there I get a laid back server who knows their shit and some food that makes my tummy smile.
Open 24 hours from Thursday night on?! Ah. Thank god for Yelp... otherwise I never would have figured that out. So not only can I go the morning after for my bacon eggs benny... I can go late night to fill up on a grilled cheese, a burger or one of the other amazingly delishtastic entrees.
They serve booze, they play great doo wop music and the food is consistently YUM. I couldnt be happier to have an option to stumbling into South Street and fighting the crowds of amateurs on a weekend night...
P.S Try the cupcake trio... Vanilla bean, red velvet and chocolate on chocolate... all stuffed with a chocolate truffle and buttercream frosting? Dont mind if I do...
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4/24/2009
I really love this diner. The first time I went here was to meet my new roomate for dinner before moving into his apartment in southie with him. I had the mac n cheese with pancetta and it was delicious. It was such a huge portion I ate it TWICE the next day.
The next time I went, which is more in keeping with what I go there for most often.. BRUNCH. I have always sat in the back room where more often than not there are two male waiters who are roomates that take care of the back room. They are always super friendly and even when its busy they dont ever make me feel rushed. The eggs benedict is my favorite thing on the menu. The hollandaise is perfect and the eggs are always JUST soft enough to soak the english muffin. MMMM. The homefries are delicious and the portion is significant to say the least. The nutella pancakes are pretty much en edible form of sex. I cant even tell you how delicious they are, just go there and try them yourself. There is nothing like eggs benny or nutella pancakes to soak up the amount of whiskey I have in my stomach on a typical Saturday morning.
The diner has a really adorable home cooking diner feel. I love the hot pinup with the wings they have on the front door and on the menus... I assume this is their "Victoria".. either way.. I love it. I have seen everything from young couples to old couples to gay couples to families in this place. The waitstaff is so nice and they are okay with special orders (I dont eat canadian bacon). I love it here, and I dont see this place going anywhere for a long long time. Check it out.
I'll start by saying, I'm an artist. I'm particular. I am picky about line work and fussy about placement. As soon as I arrived she pulled out the drawings she had been working on and I immediately loved them. Not only did she listen to me in keeping the lines delicate and feminine, but she put her own spin on my ideas and made the addition of the moon that will compliment the windbars and fingerwaves (also an addition to my traditional piece) very nicely.
I sat for a little over 3 hours. In tattoo terms, thats pretty long... right? Well, ya. But Ellen is awesome. We get along great and spend most of my sittings talking trash. She works quickly, has a light touch and is an extremely talented tattoo artist.
I really suggest scheduling a consult with this chick.. shes the shit.
And to Ellen... great job bitch. See you soon...
CHECK MY PROFILE PICS FOR THE PIECES ELLEN HAS DONE FOR ME
1 Previous Review: Hide »
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4/22/2009
Okay well in my opinion this place lived up to the "hype" some reviewers claim it has. I went here for my rib cage piece with Ellen. I'm not sure if she is still here but I hope so because I am going back next weekend to try to get her to map out my other rib piece. She was completely professional and totally chill. All together my piece took 9 hours so we broke it up into 2 sessions. You can look in my photos to see both the first session and the finished piece. It is absolutely beautiful and I am still in love with it. I had explained to her that I didnt want it to look like the cartooney style of cherry blossoms people had been getting but rather much more realistic and delicate. She achieved my expectations and then some. The whole experience was phenomenal and I cannot wait to get in again (now that my bank account has recovered). I would have paid double what I paid for this tattoo. Its such quality work. She really listened to exactly what I was looking for and carried it out perfectly. I get compliments all the time like "Wow. I'm not even a tattoo person and thats gorgeous". I let her know that I wanted to do a large piece while still keeping that area of my body looking feminine and delicate. See for yourself. She is a genius. Thanks Ellen, you're the shit.
Boston, MA 02127
(617) 269-9509
Shenannigan's
Categories: Restaurants, Lounges
Neighborhood: South Boston
The service is always great. I really have never had one bad experience service wise at any time. I have gone in on Saturday nights as much as I have stopped in for a cure to my hangover on a Sunday afternoon. The bartenders are quick, friendly and know how to mix a drink.
The food? Its actually really friggin good. I swear! Not good as in "good for pub food" good... good as in genuinely delicious. Their burgers are juicy and piled high with cheese and irish bacon (just the way I like it). If a menu offers irish bacon on a burger, it pretty much has already won my heart.
They run great daily specials and their brunch/breakfast is wonderful too. Good run at the Irish breakfast too.
SO if you were like me, abusing Shenanigans the way I abuse my right as a woman to change my mind, my clothes and my hair color... think again. Stop in on an off day and see what you're missing!
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5/7/2009
I love Shenanigans. I believe over the past month I have reached "regular" status here because I drive by it on my mile ride home from work and usually stop in for a drink or dinner, or both. The bartenders are awesome. They greet you right away and make sure that ever important first drink is in front of you as soon as possible. Its very clean and the bathrooms are even nice. When its nice out they open up the big windows that face the street and its wonderful in there. I have eaten here a number of times and have never been disappointed. Sure it isnt gourmet but as far as food at bars in southie go, its delish. Their garlicky green beans are my favorite thing to eat there. They have great onion rings, a great steak tip salad, and the shepards pie is HUGE and yummy. The best part about this place is their pricepoint. For the quality and service you get at Shenans it could be more but it isnt. ITs clear they want to establish themselves as a reliable nieghborhood bar, and in southie.. it is fast becoming just that. Thanks Shenanigans... See you at 5!
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1 Event
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Free Wedding Reception Giveaway!!
Thursday, Feb 25, 4:00 PM
First off, I think its pretty clear from my reviews how much of a burger gal I am. Burgers make me really happy. I love a good burger and I love a good burger joint. Juicy, covered in cheese and medium rare please. When I have a craving for a burger, you best hope I'm not disappointed. It's pretty much the worst sadface you'll ever see. On this particular day? I had a burger craving. We were in the car just off a 3 hour drive from Boston when we spotted the Maple Leaf.
Maybe I'm fond of tiny little places with 6 bar stools and a smiling face behind the bar, or maybe I just can't dream of knockin a place when it serves one of the most delicious burgers around. Okay. Actually... considering you can sneeze and miss driving through "downtown" Wilmington... it probably IS the most delicious burger in Wilmington. Not really sure if there's much competition.
That said, Mark and I stopped in here on our way to the family rental on Chiminey Hill because we were starving and did not feel much like dining on the tofu my mom told us about on the ride up. We found easy parking and bellied up to the bar inside this warm and cozy little place. Though we were clearly not locals(our first stop in was before ski season had started), we were greeted warmly and offered a beer list and menus. I ordered a Smuttynose Shoal's Pale Ale and Mark got the Maple Leaf Brewing Co. Maple brown ale. Yummins.
That's when I spotted my destiny, this burger came with blue cheese and locally sourced natural bacon. The boy ordered a jalapeno burger with cheddar and guacamole. I ordered fries for myself and he ordered onion rings... for myself haha. When my burger came out I had tunnel vision. I'm pretty sure Mark spoke to me about his burger being glorious, but I barely heard him as I devoured my burger. The best part? The bacon. Holy pork pleasing god of the underworld. It was this thick cut, perfectly cured, AMAZING piece of bacon. I've never had anything like it. I'm used to the sometimes crispy, but usually floppy piece of bacon some restaurants slap on their burgers... but not this place. This bacon gives all other bacon that I've ever come across a bad name. This bacon is the King of Baconland. The ruler of all Bacondom. The most amazing bacon that has ever graced my lips. MAN. My mouth is watering just thinking about this burger. Okay. You get the point right? I cant believe I was up there this weekend and didn't stop in.
I know most people rarely get up to Wilmington, but id you are in the Mt. Snow area... make it a point to check this place out. For you naysayers out there ... give this place another shot.. and GET THIS BURGER.