Not to be forgotten
Shame on us. There we were, scratching our heads over which Newport restaurant to choose as the destination for an visitor, and we didn’t think of the West Deck until last.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | August 27, 2008

Privius Lounge

Sashimi for the dancing set
I thought I had Privus figured out based on what owner Jarlath Quinn had done with his popular bar, The Kells, located right next door.
By ROBERT NADEAU | August 27, 2008

Sami’s

Not keeping late-night hours, but still delivering the Lebanese goods
Dining options for night owls are limited to a handful of Chinatown eateries and a few dubious diners. We also suffer from a dearth of good street food: what we’d give for one decent LA-style taco truck!
By MC SLIM JB | August 20, 2008

Benatti

Off the charts, off the map
Even a slice of zucchini makes you want more . . . zucchini. You are perhaps vegan? Order two of these and sneer at the carnivores of the world.
By ROBERT NADEAU | August 20, 2008

Rosticeria Cancun Dos

Two’s a charm
The first and most striking difference is that Cancun Dos has tables and a kitchen (at Cancun Uno, you had to settle for a counter and a stove).
By KENJI ALT | August 06, 2008

Shabu-Zen

The soup is definitely on
A new generation of Japanese water-fondue restaurants has won me over.
By ROBERT NADEAU | July 30, 2008

Pho Horn

Authentic Vietnamese plus
Strictly speaking, this is not a pho shop, like the more than two-dozen in Boston that offer countless variations, since it offers much more — nearly 100 dishes.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | July 30, 2008

El Potro

Curtido in disguise
Like a Mexican wrestling luchador, El Potro hides its true identity under a mask.
By KENJI ALT | July 23, 2008

Me and my tattoos

One Man’s Inky Voyage Toward Meaning
I know that most people get their first tattoo when they’re drunk, or infatuated, or when there’s a race war on their cellblock and they have to quickly join a gang — but not me.
By JAMES PARKER | July 23, 2008

Estragon

And you thought Taberna de Haro was authentic . . .
A divorce and new partners have put Julio de Haro in the position to open Estragon, a larger restaurant with a 1930s-tapas-bar theme. Nostalgia deepens authenticity, no?
By ROBERT NADEAU | July 16, 2008

Mamma Mia's!

Elegant meals with great flavors
This quaint but elegant little restaurant is serving some of the best meals south of Portland.
By BRIAN DUFF | July 16, 2008

Italian Corner

A treat, but not every night
Italian Corner offers gourmet grinders every day, but from 5:30 to 8:30 on Saturday nights — and Friday nights, come August — proprietor Osvaldo Pirrò comes out of retirement as a master chef (Golden Fork Award and all) — to provide dinner.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | July 16, 2008

Bright flavors

The Merry Table serves crêpes to linger over
The Merry Table, whose crêpes are quite good, deserves a better name.
By BRIAN DUFF | July 09, 2008

Tashi Delek

Fine Tibetan cuisine — freed from Chinese influences
The total Tashi Delek experience is larger than the food or the room, or even the caring service from the lone mid-week waitress.
By ROBERT NADEAU | July 09, 2008

Le Central

A winning French touch in Bristol
Le Central’s décor, like its menu, is a mix of bistro fare with updates on French classics.
By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | July 09, 2008

San Vivaldo Trattoria

In Chef Alfie we trust
Terms like “destination dining” and “authentic Italian” take on new meaning at San Vivaldo Trattoria.
By CHRIS CONTI | July 07, 2008

Wisteria House

Newbury Street’s loss is Cambridge’s gain
As one of Boston’s first Taiwan-style restaurants, Wisteria House had a 10-year run on Newbury Street. It has now moved its operations to Cambridge.
By ROBERT NADEAU | June 25, 2008

Taco Loco

Fresh reasons to break out of your rut
Like many Boston-area Mexican restaurants, Taco Loco is run by Salvadorans, here a friendly, hustling bunch serving cheap, very fresh-tasting tacos, burritos, and pupusas to local crowds.
By MC SLIM JB | June 18, 2008

Orinoco

Definitely worth the wait
So what’s all the excitement about?
By ROBERT NADEAU | June 11, 2008

New York Pizza

A pretty good slice, despite the dubious branding strategy
After years of willful neglect, I finally gave New York Pizza a whirl — and now regret not visiting sooner.
By MC SLIM JB | June 04, 2008

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