Laura M.'s Profile

I like Christopher's and here's why:  the atmosphere is warm and cozy and inviting (I especially like sitting near the fireplace in the back on a cold night).  The food is truly really good.  They claim to have the best veggie burger in town...and they might be right.  As a vegetarian, I really love a good veggie burger and this one is so good, I have a hard time ordering anything else.  But, on my last visit, I meandered away from the burger (or 'burgah') section of the menu and ordered a vegetable gnocchi dish off the specials page.  It was delicious.  I mean, really really good.  So good I ate wayyyy to much and didn't have room for dessert.  The boyfriend got steak tips and fries.  He reported that the steak tips were cooked perfectly and the fries were quite yummy.  They were thick cut - more like wedges really.  

Another reason I like Christopher's:  the beer menu.  Their taps offering is always changing, and they usually offer a good selection.  Usually on the darker side, though, which is my thing, so I don't mind.  Service has always been really good when I've gone, even on busy nights.  Overall, a good place for a nice casual dinner and a beer.

This place would get 5 stars for the beer and wine alone.  I can have a glass (well, a cup really) of merlot while watching my movie????  And the beer is decent, I recall UFO being offerred.  Count me in!  But in addition, it's a really cute charming little theater.  Everyone who works there is friendly.  They have good popcorn and a good selection of candy.  The place is kept clean and is clearly well-maintained.  My one objection is the owl decor.  I.  Hate.  Birds.  But I can get over that.  Otherwise, the place has a really cool vibe.  $8 movie tickets, affordable food and beverages.  Decent video and sound quality.  My favorite place to see a movie, hands down.

I've been to Orleans a bunch of times, usually just for drinks.  But on my last visit, my boyfriend and I sat for dinner.  I'll stick to the drinks.

Honestly, I like this place.  I like the atmosphere:  trying to be sophisticated, but overall still casual.  I like the comfy couches for sipping my mojitos on (actually, I love them).  I like the DJ and occasional one-man band thing they have going on.  The waitstaff have generally been pretty attentive, although not overly friendly.  Nothing that will deter me from returning, though.

And about those mojitos...they are delicious.  It's actually pretty easy to mess up a mojito, so I'm impressed.  Not too strong, but just the right amount of mint and lime, and not too sweet.  My favorite is the mango.  Mmmmmmm.  They have a decent beer selection, which I appreciate.  On my last visit, my boyfriend was not fond of his margarita.  That didn't stop him from drinking two, though, so I guess they weren't terrible.  Anyway, if I was rating this place on drinks and atmosphere alone, they would get 4 stars.  

Now on to the food.  It's okay.  Not great, but not bad.  I got the black bean and veggie burger.  It was good, but a little sloppy to eat.  My boyfriend got the hanger steak w/ fries.  Again, he said it was 'good' but not great.  The bread and hummus they serve beforehand is really really good, though.  Slightly more expensive then typical bar food, but not outrageously priced.  But it's just not worth going back for.  Like I said, I'll stick to the drinks.

I love Thai food.  I mean, I LOVE Thai food.  Originally from NY, I have particular standards for my Thai (I know, I'm a snob sometimes).  Sweet Ginger more than delivers.  Generally, my go-to Thai in the Boston-area is Brown Sugar - however, I have recently come to realize that the over-crowding and overwhelming amount of loud college students is just not worth it.  Plus, I wanted to find somewhere closer to my current habitat - Somerville.  

Lo and behold - Sweet Ginger.  I'm partial to the stir-fries and the sweet and sour sauce here is really divine.  I order it with tofu (I'm a vegetarian) and it is heaven on my plate.  I can also highly recommend their pad thai, pineapple fried rice, and the curries.  I've ordered here for both lunch and dinner several times, and my food has always been ready and still hot within 15 minutes when I arrive.  I highly recommend Sweet Ginger for delicious, affordable, guilty-pleasure satisfying Thai food.