Carol J.'s Profile

So, you're having a REALLY bad day, as in waiting  for the Dept. of  Revenue to take a boot off your car, what is a girl to do to raise her spirits....when there is no bar open at 1:15pm?  Yeah, fortunately for me, the blessed event took place right in front of Cozy Nails.

I walked in, probably looking a little ragged and asked if they could take me.  I was suddenly welcomed to wait next to a jar of Tootsie Rolls and awesome magazines.....and 5 seconds and two Tootsies later (hey, it was a bad day) I was whisked away by the sugar sweet Lily to begin my mani.

The atmosphere was extra chill (thanks big guy) and everyone was so friendly, happy and upbeat they didn't really let my distressed aura rain on their parade.  Vibrant colors, relaxing music and well spaced stations.  Extremely  clean!  Lily changed with someone else for reasons unknown but I didn't care, the replacement was just as awesome.  The owner was very welcoming and really sweet too.  A neighbor stopped in to say hi and show off an adorable  baby and they were so excited and nice, it actually kinda raised my spirits. a little. Lets not forget what brought me here.

The manicure was awesome and the OPI colors were super hot!!!  And when I sat under the dryers they gave me a brief but much appreciated mini shoulder massage.  When I waited an excessively long time, explaining my situation with waiting for the boot man and all, they did not give me any extra stress relief, but they were nice about me waiting inside during the rain!  

Oh and get the Cozy Card!  They will offer it to you, take it, you get moving towards a free mani from the get go!

I will admit I am a little sad because I loved the original Block that was on Webster, down the street from my first apartment in Chicago.  But people change, they move, life goes on.  End of rant.

Cooking classes, lemon zesters, apple corers, wine openers, juicers, nutcrackers, pizza cutters, spatulas, aprons, toques, tongs, kitchen shears, honing stones, butcher knives, cookbooks, corn cob holders, peanut butter, olive oil, EVOO, spices, bamboo cutting boards, cheesecloth, plaques, salt and pepper shakers, oil drizzlers, balsamic vinegar, steak knife sets, chopping blocks, plates, place mats, trivets, cloves, bread makers, food processors, serving trays, baking stones, citrus juicers, pouring spouts, fine wines of the world, gift sets, cheese spreaders, wine glass charms, decanters, diffusers, fish knives, sugar caddies, coffee cups, coffee grinders, espresso sets, cocoa, frothing vessels, cinnamon sticks, baskets, bottle toppers, roasting pans, sturdy skillets, colanders, pasta forks, veggie steamers, dessert ware, sprinkles, candy thermometer, basters, roasting racks, casserole dishes, souffle pans.  End of rant.

I was really kind of pleasantly surprised by the B&B.  I've been a few times and its been consistently decent service, always slightly crowded and passable food.

Most recently attended an after party following a charity event and aside from the fact the staff wasn't really ready for the onslaught, they pulled it together pretty quick.  Our super sweet server, Jen?, even figured a way to wrangle us drinks of choice while getting us Sugar Free Red Bull which wasn't part of the deal.

Tons of plasma and a huge wall projector made it possible to see the world series from any given angle. Comfy booths, with and without taps.  Nachos were really good, truffle fries okay.   Crowd was a nice mix of post work Mart employees, hotel guests and randoms.  Very good looking crowd.  Adorable staff.  Really clean bathrooms!  

Did I mention they serve SUGAR FREE RED BULL?

So my Drunkie McDrunkster friend picks me up from the train station in a cab with a six pack of Bud Light at 10 am I knew I was in for a treat on Labor Day weekend.

Fast forward five hours and I've been dragged to pretty much every bar in the Park Square area by the self proclaimed Pope of Park Square (dubbed Dope of Park Square by me).  I end up at the "friendliest Pub in the Hub", drink heavily and then remember I have to pick up a rental car and get my ass to the Cape.  Whoa!  I will give them the friendly thing because they took me under their wings when they realized I was with the drunkest man on the planet and had no idea where I was.  

When the boozer could no longer speak in full sentences, they amused me and  they let me pick the lottery tickets from the machine and everyone won cash.  I scored $400 myself, $50 for the bartender and a few  hundred for the randoms that were rubbing me for luck (yeah right).  The food was awesome and had a magical sobering power that eliminated the buzzed factor stat!

There was nothing spectacular about the place except the excess of winning lottery tickets in the dispenser, but hey, I'll take it.  Paid for my whole trip!

Definitely a landmark property.  Ornate and visually appealing from the outside, a little dated and tired on the inside.  But again, those three magic words, location, location, location and do they ever have location going for them.

Stayed here a few times and each time the service was decent and friendly, the location, well consistently awesome but the rooms are a tad musty and old.  We did get reasonable rates each time through some divine twist of fate and when you are really just using the room to store your things, it works out well.  A little smaller than the standard rooms of hotels constructed post 1970 (and not in NYC) but it still is a grand old dame of a place.

Seriously, I'm the first to review this place.  Wow!  Okay, spend a lot of time in this area, hate to impose, usually grab a car.  From here.

When my best friend was getting married I arranged a rental here.  I asked for a compact as part of my strategy to not become the resident chauffeur but unfortunately, my fate was sealed when someone was tardy bringing my mini mobile back in time.  So, they offered me a beautiful SUV for the Internet weekend price I had secured of like $10 per day.  Yeah, a school bus sized SUV for $10 a day.  

The staff was awesome and even picked us up at the T station from the airport, printed out maps of all the key locations in the wedding festivities and when we dropped off the vehicle, they drove us back to the train and helped with our luggage.  Hello, can you say awesome customer service?

Very professional, efficient and accommodating.  And its Enterprise, they'll pick you up!

Oh god I love this place.  The owners are the nicest people in the world and they are always super accommodating when our group of 10 grows to 16 and then some.

The food is fantastic and I've tried just about everything (hence the beauty of dining with the Daboul family, everybody shares) on the menu.  I've even done the sushi and I don't sushi.  And I liked it.  The freshest seafood ever!

Now back to the facts, the decor is nothing spectacular, humble and does the job.  The piano in the front adds to the dining experience especially when they let random family members jump in and belt out a few numbers.

They have crazy drinks ala Trader Vic's and apparently there are limits on the number you are allowed.  Another plus of dining with the bestie's family is they have never enforced said rule on me.  I don't know what magical potion they put in those drinks but they are delish.  Fresh fruity concoctions that pack a potent punch, yet they go down so smooth.  YUMMMY.  

Did the beef and broccoli, love the egg rolls, enjoy the cashew chicken,  shrimp fried rice, and a few of the specials "Emperor's something"  "Imperial something"  I don't know, just know that I love, love love this place and the people that run it!

Also, I always get a really awesome fortune in my cookie!

Okay, in case you don't really get it, Ken's is a steakhouse that has really awesome salad dressings.  In fact, they're so good, someone offered to bottle them.  Its not a restaurant built on packaged salad dressings.

Ken's has been around for a long, long time.  In the restaurant industry, its known as a landmark or legacy property.  I've been visiting my bestie's family in Framingham since the mid 90's and Ken's has always been on the agenda.  Nothing has really changed.  Its that place that tugs on the heartstrings of nostalgia and a simpler time when gentlemen wore skinny ties and jackets to dinner and people puffed on Pall Malls over desserts and Harvey's Bristol Creme.

So yeah, no trendy decor, no "servers".  Old school waitresses that call you "sweetie" or "doll" but will probably box your ears if you talk back.  Drinks are cheap and the food is reasonable.  Stick to the steaks and the basics because its what they do best.  And the humble little iceberg wedge of a salad takes on a whole new life when doused with the delightful dressing.

The bar area gets lively with locals living large on payday and the piano gets played with all the swagger of a Rat Pack reunion.  I don't know why I think the cast of Mad Men enjoys their  three martini lunches there, but I do.

A few years back, I threw a bachelorette dinner here for my bestie who hails from this neck of the woods.   The food was spot on, the staff was awesome and the drinks were delightful.  There were a few very difficult diners in our group and the server never missed a beat and accommodated everything from the ridiculous to the sublime.

Fast forward a few years and we hit Newbury Street again only to stumble upon Sonsie and say, why not, they were awesome last time we were here and they didn't tell us never to come back....and the desserts were fantastic.

Again, enjoyed great bistro fare, potent cocktails and really great service.   The server was really sweet and hooked us up with a table downstairs somewhere (I don't know if it was part of Sonsie or not but it was there or next door) that was a chic little apres dinner lounge.  Yummy dj, lightening fast bartender.

This is actually a really awesome Starbucks!  Near my doctor's office, I always pop in for a tea and a goodie when I'm in this area.   Yes, its a Starbucks but it has great staff and tons of parking and is never overcrowded with pretentious people taking up all the space with their coats, bags and attitudes!