Our friends moved to Portland a few years ago so when they are back in town everyone gets together to catch up. I was excited when our friend picked The Hawthorne. I love the relaxed, yet sophisticated, atmosphere.
I tend to get intimidated by limited cocktail menus that encourage you to order off the menu. I really wanted a cocktail, because Hawthorne is known for their cocktails, but the first time the waitress came around for orders I was too nervous so I just ordered a glass of Cava. The Cava was lovely, and I do love bubbles, but watching everyone else with their fancy cocktails I was determined to order something the next time. My next order I asked for something with gin and mint and the waitress said, we have a gin gimlet, you'll like it. I didn't just like it, I loved it! It was perfectly balanced and very refreshing. We also sampled some appetizers. My favorite was the pretzel bites with honey mustard. Delicious, although horribly overpriced at $10 for three pretzel bites.
Just like the other two times I've been here, I was really impressed with the service we got. When we arrived there was only two, round standing tables available. That was fine but when the lounge seating upstairs opened up the hostess let us know in case we wanted to move. I'm glad we did because the couches and chairs, around a coffee table, enabled us all to catch up.
On our way out I noticed that they had a small patio. Perhaps we'll have to go back :-)
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Ferry Street Food and Drink
I hadn't seen my dad in forever so we squeezed in a visit on a Friday night of an extremely jam packed weekend. My dad usually wants to go to one of three places- Annie's (a small Mexican/Italian place at the end of his street), Margarita's, or John Brewer's. It was a little surprising when my dad suggested a different place, Ferry Street Food and Drink. We had been there once last year and had a good experience so I was excited to check it out again.
Ferry Street reminds me of the Druid, only larger and with better service. The interior features lots of wood paneling and mismatched old fashioned chairs. The large windows are screened in so you can get a nice breeze when the weather cooperates. The menu is small but with a nice variety. I ordered the cucumber salad and deviled eggs and both were good but I wish I had ordered what my dad got. He ordered the rigatoni with banana peppers and chicken. The pasta was cooked just right and the banana peppers offered a nice tang to the sauce.
While the food was good, what got this place on my blog was the service. My dad has clearly been in a bunch and everyone was so nice to him. They checked in to see how he was doing and were just so pleasant to him. My dad loved showing the place off to us, much like I love showing off our neighborhood spots to him.
Ferry Street reminds me of the Druid, only larger and with better service. The interior features lots of wood paneling and mismatched old fashioned chairs. The large windows are screened in so you can get a nice breeze when the weather cooperates. The menu is small but with a nice variety. I ordered the cucumber salad and deviled eggs and both were good but I wish I had ordered what my dad got. He ordered the rigatoni with banana peppers and chicken. The pasta was cooked just right and the banana peppers offered a nice tang to the sauce.
While the food was good, what got this place on my blog was the service. My dad has clearly been in a bunch and everyone was so nice to him. They checked in to see how he was doing and were just so pleasant to him. My dad loved showing the place off to us, much like I love showing off our neighborhood spots to him.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
It was a Lone Star Taco Kind of Day
The last week of school is brutal. It's busy and not busy all at once. You're not really teaching anything, and since you don't want to correct anymore papers, it's pretty much just busy work. You're just holding down the fort and hoping the kids don't lose it, all while trying to pack up the classroom in such a manner that you don't have to sacrifice too many of your precious summer days setting it all back up again. And have I mentioned the filing. The filing is a killer and requires that lots of other people do their jobs on time, which lets face it, they can't. It's not really their faults, because there are 1.2million things going on and no one can spare any time to actually work on what they are supposed to work on.
So it was no surprise when I came home Monday, of the last week, in a bad mood. I felt so defeated and exhausted. This time, when JO asked me where we should eat, I had an answer already prepared, Lone Star Taco in East Cambridge. I was determined to sit on their patio and eat guacamole until I wasn't worried about my filing anymore! This would be no small feat, as the patio consists of just a few tables, and I have never once driven past Lone Start Taco without the inside, and outside, overflowing with people.
The patio Gods must have realized that the universe owed me one because we easily got two seats outside. Lone Star features lots of "boutique" tacos for lack of a better description. Each taco features interesting toppings and sauces. It's not your regular taco bar. We started with the guacamole and margaritas and each tried an order of tacos. I feel like this was so long ago, but it was really just two weeks, but I can't remember which tacos we got and I don't understand why the only picture I have is this:
a half eaten container of chips. Everything was yummy, and delicious, and perfect. Although, I probably should go back again to make sure my love of everything wasn't unduly influenced by the last week of school.
To cap off the evening, I realized that Slumbrew was actually on our way home, so we made a pit stop for some Happy Sol before headed home.
So it was no surprise when I came home Monday, of the last week, in a bad mood. I felt so defeated and exhausted. This time, when JO asked me where we should eat, I had an answer already prepared, Lone Star Taco in East Cambridge. I was determined to sit on their patio and eat guacamole until I wasn't worried about my filing anymore! This would be no small feat, as the patio consists of just a few tables, and I have never once driven past Lone Start Taco without the inside, and outside, overflowing with people.
The patio Gods must have realized that the universe owed me one because we easily got two seats outside. Lone Star features lots of "boutique" tacos for lack of a better description. Each taco features interesting toppings and sauces. It's not your regular taco bar. We started with the guacamole and margaritas and each tried an order of tacos. I feel like this was so long ago, but it was really just two weeks, but I can't remember which tacos we got and I don't understand why the only picture I have is this:
a half eaten container of chips. Everything was yummy, and delicious, and perfect. Although, I probably should go back again to make sure my love of everything wasn't unduly influenced by the last week of school.
To cap off the evening, I realized that Slumbrew was actually on our way home, so we made a pit stop for some Happy Sol before headed home.
Two Classics
Classic spots. Every city has them. Those restaurants that aren't fancy but are steeped in history. Those places that are "must visit" even when you aren't a tourist. JO and I hit up two such spots recently- Mr. Bartley's Burgers and The Barking Crab.
We hit up Mr. Bartley's Burgers one night when I had to run some errands in Harvard Square. The printer wasn't working at school and I only had a few days left in the year to get my kids' National Parks projects printed. I was feeling pretty frustrated so when JO asked me where we should eat I didn't have a good answer. I was kind of disappointed when JO picked Mr. Bartley's Burgers but my disappointment quickly went away once we got a table. I forgot how fun this place is. There are typed up signs letting you know what famous person sat at your table and if you don't chuckle reading their menu than there's something wrong with you. Plus, I'm not really a burger person, but these burgers are fantastic! I kind of already want to go back!
That weekend, I was having major Summer Fever and I felt liked steamers were the only cure. We decided to head to The Barking Crab because really, it's always summer there. We were lucky to get one of the last spots in the covered dock, ordered some drinks and steamers, and did some fabulous people watching. We decided to extend our visit by ordering lunch, as well. I went with the fish tacos and they were the best I have ever had. The fish was perfectly fried, and the aioli was creamy with a kick. Just like Mr. Bartley's, there is nothing fancy here, I mean you grab your own silverware from the communal container on the picnic table, but the atmosphere is fabulous. Even if you aren't on vacation you feel like you are.
Picnic by the River
I've said it before, but we do not take advantage of the Kendall waterfront (aka- the Charles River path) enough. One Monday, early in June, it was absolutely beautiful so I decided we should go on a picnic. We bought some slices at All-Star and headed over to the river.
It's a bit longer of a walk than I remembered but we found a bench, and the views were spectacular.
It was so nice to just sit out and enjoy the city. We got out to eat a lot, and I love that, but it's nice to just take advantage of these great city spots.
It's a bit longer of a walk than I remembered but we found a bench, and the views were spectacular.
It was so nice to just sit out and enjoy the city. We got out to eat a lot, and I love that, but it's nice to just take advantage of these great city spots.
Freedom Run 5K
We ran our last 5K of the season at the beginning of June. The temps cooperated, although it was pretty humid, and I ended up with my best time yet!
Kikas Tapas and State Park (Again!)
There is no tired like June tired when you are a teacher. I came home from school super exhausted with my give up pants on but JO convinced me to rally. Since we were mobilizing late we weren't sure where we could go. I had been craving tapas for a while, and Kikas Tapas had posted a picture of their patio, so we decided to try it.
I had never been to Kikas Tapas, and wasn't exactly sure of where it was, so I was super excited to find it nestled in "restaurant row" in Kendall Square. Kikas Tapas is joined by EVO, Za Pizza, an Indian restaurant, and Commonwealth on a side street in Kendall with huge, expansive patios. There was outdoor seating as far as the eye could see and no crowds at all. #winning
We got a table on the patio and started perusing the menu. There were lots of choices at a variety of price points so we had lots of options. We got the serrano ham, artichokes, braised beef, and something else that I can't remember. Each dish was good. It wasn't the best tapas I had ever had but it was good and the patio was great. The inside looks really neat too. It would be a good place to check out in the winter.
After dinner, I was feeling my school stress melt away a bit so when we walked past State Park we had to go in for the Old Cuban. We got two seats at the bar and just relaxed and it was lovely!
I had never been to Kikas Tapas, and wasn't exactly sure of where it was, so I was super excited to find it nestled in "restaurant row" in Kendall Square. Kikas Tapas is joined by EVO, Za Pizza, an Indian restaurant, and Commonwealth on a side street in Kendall with huge, expansive patios. There was outdoor seating as far as the eye could see and no crowds at all. #winning
We got a table on the patio and started perusing the menu. There were lots of choices at a variety of price points so we had lots of options. We got the serrano ham, artichokes, braised beef, and something else that I can't remember. Each dish was good. It wasn't the best tapas I had ever had but it was good and the patio was great. The inside looks really neat too. It would be a good place to check out in the winter.
After dinner, I was feeling my school stress melt away a bit so when we walked past State Park we had to go in for the Old Cuban. We got two seats at the bar and just relaxed and it was lovely!
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