Bostonia Public House

          This week I tried the recently opened Bostonia Public House in the financial district, in the old Kitty O'Shea's  location. I went in with the bf on  a Thursday night and the place was packed; it definitely seemed like a popular after work hangout. Between the crowds and live music we almost left because of the noise, but I'd checked out the menu in advance online and there were a few dishes I really wanted to try. 

          We started with a couple of appetizers - the lump crab cocktail with shaved fennel, grapefruit, and citron hollandaise and the tater tot poutine.The crab cocktail was a great combination of flavors; I've seen scallops and grapefruit plenty of times but never crab. The two worked really well together. The tater tots were a creative interpretation of poutine, which seems to be a growing trend in Boston. My favorite was the bottom layer where the potatoes started to fall apart and had a hash brown like consistency. 

 

          We each ordered the lobster roll, and agreed the lobster salad didn't even need the bun. I loved the yuzu cream, avocado, and bacon crumbs in place of traditional mayo. The fries that came on the side were also excellent, they were seasoned with both salt and pepper which gave them a hint of spice.



          For dessert we shared an order of berkshire bourbon glazed sweet potato doughnuts. These were warm and soft with a slightly gooey center - definitely a toss up with the lobster roll for my favorite dish.

          I really enjoyed the food at Bostonia Public House, and appreciated the creative interpretation of comfort classics. The noise was a bit too much for me, so if I went back I'd try to find a time when it's less busy. 

Brunch at Lincoln

          I mentioned a few weeks ago that I could see The Lincoln in Southie becoming one of my favorite neighborhood spots. That has definitely been the case; the bf and I tried them a second time in one week and went in for the brunch. We've seen long lines in the past, so we made sure to arrive just as they opened at 10AM, and had no trouble walking in.

          Shortly after being seated, our server brought over some delicious fresh baked cinnamon bread. Somehow I resisted the urge to inhale the whole thing, and limited myself to just a small piece.

          I ordered the crab louie without the English muffin. This came with crab salad, poached eggs, san marzano tomato, asparagus, tasso ham, Old Bay hollandaise, and, arugula salad. The hollandaise was lighter than some and just a little bit spicy - this dish struck a perfect balance between being filling and flavorful, yet still healthy.

          The bf enjoyed his corned beef hash with two over easy eggs, griddled english muffin.

          Of course we had to order a side of bacon; this was a generous portion cooked perfectly (not too crisp or undercooked).

          Once again The Lincoln did not disappoint. I can see why it's a local favorite; definitely one of the best in Southie!



Brick and Mortar

          Earlier this week I headed to Brick and Mortar for a few drinks and apps with some coworkers. Brick and Mortar is a speakeasy style bar in Central Square, and true to form it was in a very non-description location with no sign or indication it was there (upstairs, next to Central Kitchen). In fact, I've walked by that place dozens of times without realizing it. When we got upstairs we were able to grab a spot at a high top table across from the bar.

          We ordered some drinks from a fun cocktail menu which included drinks like Crush On A Stripper and Duck You Sucka! I went with the Temporary Fix, a mix of citadelle gin, citrus, and cassis. When it came out, it looked like a giant slushy!

          I wasn't quite sure whether to just drink it, or wait for the ice to melt a bit and actually try to eat it like I would a slushy. I decided to just go for it, and enjoyed it like a cocktail.

          I had dinner plans and wasn't planning to eat, but I was way too temped by these fries not to order them!

          They were Brick and Mortar's version of Poutine with crispy duck confit, jalepenos, and melted gruyere cheese. These were even better than I'd hoped (if that's possible); the cheese was warm and gooey and had a consistency more like fondue. These did not last long at our table.

          We also tried the fried pickled vegetables, which I enjoyed (but not as much as the fries).

          Although I didn't get to try the burger, it looked amazing and got rave reviews!

          I'll definitely be going back to Brick and Mortar for both food and drinks, and the unique atmosphere. It's a new favorite in Central Square!

Franklin Southie

          This weekend the bf and I decided to check out another popular spot we've been hearing about in the new neighborhood, Franklin Cafe Southie. The atmosphere is casual, with a menu consisting of modern American dishes made from local seasonal ingredients. The menu includes a mix of small and large plates, and can be ordered tapas style or more traditional salad or appetizer and a main course. We tried a mix of the small plates starting with some selections from the raw bar and moving on to some of the cooked dishes.

1/2 Dozen of the daily oyster selection - East Coast, Cape Cod

Salmon tartare with soy, cucumber, yuzu, and shrimp chips

Roasted acorn squash with pecan granola, maple, and chili

General Tso's chicken wings with cilantro and sesame

     I enjoyed everything we tried, but my favorite was by far the squash! There were so many other options I would've liked to try like the fried chicken, pork belly buns, and buffalo style chicken skins - I"ll definitely be back soon!

Lincoln

          If you follow my other blog, you know that I've just recently moved to Southie! I'm so excited to be back in the city, and have found a place with parking, walk in closets, a deck, fireplace, 3 bedrooms and bathrooms... Here are some photos of the new place:

          Before we were even officially moved in, the bf and I decided to check out one of the local restaurants we'd been hearing a lot about: Lincoln. We went in at 6pm on a Sunday night and were shocked at how packed the bar was. It's definitely THE spot for folks who live in the area.

          When we sat down I was excited to see this sign. Although we live within walking distance, it's a great benefit we could definitely take advantage of in the cold!

          The menu had tons of delicious sounding entrees like buttermilk fried chicken with sausage gravy and biscuits, but since I've been trying to eat healthy I ordered an app and a salad. I started with the Tuna tartare which came with avocado, shaved fennel, and lemon meyer vinaigrette. I loved the combination of the lemon with the tuna, and the diced onions on top also added great flavor.

           Next was the beet salad with frisee, toasted pistachios, goat cheese, and apple cider vinaigrette.  This was a huge portion of red and yellow beets, and could've been a meal in itself! I did my best but couldn't quite finish it.

           The bf ordered a burger with an extra side of grillos pickles which he also enjoyed (and took home some of the pickles)!

          While I'm excited to check out the other places around me, I can see Lincoln becoming one of my regular spots!