I Love Newton

Category: Good Eats

Restaurant reviews in Newton Massachusetts.

  • New! Cupcake City in Newtonville

    New! Cupcake City in Newtonville

    Do you like cupcakes? There’s a new cupcake store in Newtonville! PickyKidPix and I dashed in between errands to check it out.

    Cupcake City Newtonville, Newton MA

    The first thing we noticed was the enticing aroma of vanilla and other delicious aromas as we entered the store. The cupcakes are in attractive display cases and it’s hard to decide!

    Cupcake City Newtonville, Newton MA

    These were the flavors of the day:

    Cupcake City Newtonville, Newton MA

    Eventually, we decided on Red Velvet, Hostess, Lemon and Mint Chocolate.

    Cupcake City Newtonville, Newton MA

    It was hard to resist sampling in the car, at least for my daughter. She tried them all. Her favorite was the Hostess which tastes like a Ding Dong only so much better. It’s very chocolate-y with a moist, rich crumb. There’s a cream filling inside too. I got a bite but I would have liked an entire Hostess cupcake for myself!

    Cupcake City Newtonville, Newton MA

    The Lemon Cupcake has a lemony custard inside. It was delicious with a tangy lemon flavor.

    Cupcake City Newtonville, Newton MA

    I think the Mint Chocolate cupcakes are sculptural and beautiful. They were delicious too!

    The Red Velvet cupcake was the outlier. PickyKidPix said it was a little dry. It’s possible that it was an off day for the Red Velvet and, because it’s my daughter’s favorite, she can be a tough judge.

    Still, three of the four cupcakes were delectable. We’ll be back!

  • Seafood Fest at Whole Foods Walnut Street Nov 2nd!

    Seafood Fest at Whole Foods Walnut Street Nov 2nd!

    Seafood Fest! Hook, Line & Sinker on November 2nd!

    Ahoy mate! Join our Seafood Captain- Gavin and our Ship’s Chef -Toya Pierre for a demonstration on filleting, preparing and cooking seafood! You can participate and share your favorite creations with the entire crew!

    Seafood Fest at Whole Foods Newton

  • Soiree and Auction to Benefit Waban Library Center

    Soiree and Auction to Benefit Waban Library Center

    Whole Foods in Newton off Walnut Street is hosting a soiree and auction to benefit the Waban Library Center.

    There will be a live auction and a silent auction, food and beverage.

    Stephen Dean, auctioneer from Dean Associate sof Newton has donated his auctioneering services. Whole Foods has donated themed Gift Baskets, Thanksgiving Dinner and several other items for the silent auction.

    Please come this Saturday, September 21st from 5pm to 8pm!

    Whole Foods event for Waban LIbrary Center

     

  • Cook Restaurant Opens in Newton!

    Chef Paul Turano newest venture “Cook” opens Saturday, September 14th.

    The new 80-seat restaurant in Newton, MA is a true neighborhood restaurant concept.  There is something for everyone:

    – lighthearted “snacks” (house made pretzel ($3), caramel-bacon popcorn ($5) and sweet and spicy peanuts ($5)

    – starters (a bag of clams with ramp tartar, salt and corn chow chow ($13), Vietnamese glazed pork ribs with pickled carrots ($12) and Udon noodles with peanuts and ponzu ($10)

    – mains such as bacon wrapped trout with a lobster & cornbread stuffing with toasted almonds ($23) and braised eggplant with house-made cavatelli, fresh ricotta, basil and tomato ($18)

    The restaurant has a wood-fired stove with nine bar seats where guests can sit and order items directly from the chef, including various flatbreads and wood-roasted bites, while watching them be made.

    The 15-seat bar will host a from-scratch cocktail program, five rotating beers on tap, over 25 canned and bottled beers, and an extensive wine list featuring by the glass and bottle options as well as two draft wines.

    Cook will open Saturday, September 14th, 2013 at 4:30PM for its first dinner service and will serve dinner 4:30PM – Close (when there are no more customers), seven days a week.

    Cook will launch its first brunch Saturday, September 21st, 2013 and will be open for brunch on both Saturday and Sundays moving forward from10:30AM – 2:30PM.

    Lunch service will launch October 1st, 2013 and will be served Monday – Friday from 11:30AM 3:30PM.

    For more information on Cook please visit: www.cooknewton.com

    Watch as Owner/Chef Paul Turano creates his second restaurant “Cook” from start to finish. Cook is located on 825 Washington Street, Newtonville, MA 02460.

  • Hot Dog Throwdown at Whole Foods Newton

    Hot Dog Throwdown at Whole Foods Newton

    Come to a Hot Dog Throwdown at Whole Foods in Newton off Walnut Street! Celebrate with us  from 11:00 am to 1:00pm on July 20th.

    $1 Hot Dogs- Let the teams top your dog!

    Hot Dog Throwdown Whole Foods Newton, National Hot Dog Day

    A July 20th Event- National Hot Dog Day!

    Help choose which team has the best hot dog toppings! Now that’s a celebration!

    Hot Dog Throwdown Whole Foods Newton

    Whole Foods Market

    916 Walnut Street

    Newton, Ma. 02461

     

  • Waban Kitchen Has New Patio

    Waban Kitchen Has New Patio

    51 Lincoln’s sister restaurant, Waban Kitchen, in Waban has a new outdoor patio! So perfect for summer dining!

    Waban Kitchen patio

    Where do you like to go for patio dining in Newton?

    [polldaddy poll=7249524]

  • Newly-ish Renovated Volante Farms in Needham

    Newly-ish Renovated Volante Farms in Needham

    The renovated Volante Farms caught my eye driving back from a soccer party. I had never been there before the renovation but I had always heard people talking about it.

    volante farms needham

    I went to check it out and fell in love! This year-round Farmer’s Market of my dreams. The new building, completed about a year ago, has the space to expand their existing products, plus space to add in some new items. There is now have a full service deli, bakery, ice cream stand, and farm kitchen.


    volante farms needham

    It was raining heavily that day so I didn’t explore the extensive nursery but the plants looked unsually lush and vibrant.  They have annuals, perennials, vegetables, and shrubs as well as a multitude of vegetable transplants and hanging baskets. The hanging baskets look gorgeous.

    volante farms needham

     

    Volante Farms also has lovely pottery planters for your garden.

    volante farms needham

    Their bakery is sourced from just about every artisanal bakery in the Boston area. This is such a great convenience for bread lovers!

    volante farms needham

    They also have baked goods like muffins and scones.

    volante farms needham

     

    Though it was cold in late Spring, there was still quite an assortment of seasonal vegetables and fruit from local farms. There were also meat and artisinal cheese in the refrigerated section.

    volante farms needham

     

    Chef Todd Heberlein heads up the kitchen at Volante Farms. He has over a decade of experience in providing farm to table cuisine for the discerning customer.

    The kitchen staff prepares a wide variety of vegetables, salads, pastas, and meats ready for heating and eating at home or on the go. Many of these products are made with the vegetables grown here on the farm or with meat, grains, and dairy from local farmers.

    Products featuring their HOMEGROWN vegetables will feature a yellow and green VF sticker on them.

     

    Their Farm Kitchen prepares daily sandwich and/or soup specials for a hot midday meal.

    volante farms needham

    Have you been to Volante Farms since their renovation? It’s worth a visit!

  • Po Boy Has an Amazing Sandwich

    Po Boy Has an Amazing Sandwich

    This is exactly the kind of restaurant I love. Not too fancy. Very friendly. And with amazing food.

    I love New Orleans but we haven’t made it out there in over a decade. Now, the food has come to us! I feel very fortunate to have Po Boy in the neighborhood!

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    It’s a small neighborhood restaurant with limited seating. I noticed a brisk take out business during lunch.

    photo-2

    Owner Ed Cormier, on the left, made us feel welcome!

    owner of po boys, Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    There are other things on the menu beside the Po Boy sandwich, but that is THE item to order! I’ll have to come back to try the rest of the menu. I also hear that ice cream will be a new addition.

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    I decided to try the Fried Chicken. I love Southern style fried chicken and this surprised me by being more like chicken fingers rather than fried chicken on the bone. I would have liked it with a little more seasoning. It’s great for kids though though one of my kids would eat the Po Boy sandwich.

    fried chicken at po boys, Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    My husband ordered the Po Boy and it was perfect. It’s on ciabatta bread and it’s not too huge. The oysters taste of the sea and were perfectly cooked and crispy. The secret, besides impeccable oysters, is the sauce that is a tangy mayo spiced concoction. I really liked the bread choice. It sets off the fried oysters perfectly.

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches, po boy sandwich

    Here’s the Po Boy opened up so you can see the deep fried oysters. We also liked the onion rings which were thinly sliced and crisp.

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    Po Boy is located at 67 Crafts Street near the Whole Foods in Newton off Washington Boulevard. This is the kind of restaurant that I am reallly rooting for. Please stop by and check it out! It’s open Mon-Fri 6 am – 6:30 pm but I hear some weekends also. Call ahead, (617) 244-4005,  to order for take out.

    Po Boys, Poor Boys, Newton New Orleans Restaurant, Po Boy sandwiches

    Have you been to Po Boy yet? What did you think of it?

  • The Shake Shack at Chestnut Hill

    The Shake Shack at Chestnut Hill

    How long is the line for The Shake Shack in Chestnut Hill?

    Well, we went at 8:10 pm on a Saturday night and it was a mere twenty minutes. But, at 9:00 pm, the line was twice as long! Is it worth the wait? It depends who you ask.

    My kids say, “Yes!”

    My husband says, “No!” (but he hates to wait in line for anything!)

    You stand in line to place your order which sometimes snakes around the building. You also pick up your food at left corner window below. Behind the order and pick up line is a frenzy of chefs making the food. The open kitchen is fun to watch.

    The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill, how long is line at The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill Mall MA

    Study this menu on the wall while you wait so you can order quickly! The people waiting behind you will thank you for your decisiveness! The person who needs to know every detail about the limited menu options? Well…we got stuck behind one of THOSE people and it’s not a great way to make new friends.

    The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill, how long is line at The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill Mall MA

    Once your order is placed, you’ll need to find a place to sit. The seating is never easy but the room is pleasant. I sent my 11-year-old to save us seats. A pushy woman tried to steal the table my daughter had been waiting patiently for, but luckily the nice people leaving the table stood up for her. It’s a bit of a free for all, but the food coming out seems to match up with the dining room seating somehow.

    The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill, how long is line at The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill Mall MAThe Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill, how long is line at The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill Mall MA

    Now you wait for the food. It’s another good 15 minutes. But the food is worth it!

    The hamberger buns are house-made. They are not cut all the way across and are soft and pillowy with a nice exterior texture. The hambergers are small though! I have heard that 13-year-old boys need to order two hambergers and two shakes to get full!

    The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill, how long is line at The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill Mall MA

    The bacon is Applewood organic bacon and nicely crisp.

    The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill, how long is line at The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill Mall MA

    The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill, how long is line at The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill Mall MA

    The fries LOOK like the frozen mushy kind but they are freshly cut potatoes and perfectly cooked.

    The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill, how long is line at The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill Mall MA

    My kids concluded that the chocolate milk shake was the best thing on the menu. It was small but perfect. The right consistency without being too thick to go up the straw or too water-y.  The flavor was perfect: chocolate-y without being cloying. We shared one between three of us because we wanted to go to Pinkberry for dessert. I heard that the frozen custard was amazing at The Shake Shack too though.

    The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill, how long is line at The Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill Mall, shake shack onesie

    I’d say, if crying give the baby a milk shake!

    We’d come back but we still have to figure out the perfect time when there is no line. 4:00 pm? 10:00 pm? What do you think?

  • Le’s Pho in Dorchester is Worth the Commute!

    Le’s Pho in Dorchester is Worth the Commute!

    We have been going to Mr. Le’s restaurants for over a decade, starting with his tiny outpost (no longer there) in Chinatown, moving on to his Allston location, and occasionally making it to his Cambridge restaurant when we braved the parking challenges.

    We frequented Atrium mall frequently until it closed down last summer. And we even made it to Dorchester where we were treated to the Beef 7 Ways special feast. It was truly amazing. The beef is truly different in the seven different preparations and each version is more delicious than the last. But save room, you will be stuffed!

    My kids’ first meals were Pho too. And the crispy spring rolls. My toddler daughter, tired of eating baby food, one day snatched a crispy spring roll from the table and ate it. She didn’t choke (our fear) and it was clear that she enjoyed it.

    Now that my kids are 13, 11 and 8, I marvel that they eat everything Vietnamese including the roast quail (my personal favorite), they own versions of Pho, lemongrass pork and rice chowder without any  green stuff, please!

    My kids treat Mr. and Mrs. Le like extended family and indeed, they were willing surrogate grandparents for them, often carrying them around to see the fish tanks so we could eat our meal in peace when they were babies.

    We are so thrilled to find Mr. Le on WGBH Food! If you can make it down to Dorchester, it’s worth it for the extensive menu including Beef 7 Ways which is exclusive to this location! If not, Allston!

    Watch Episode 205: Duyen Le / Pho Le on PBS. See more from Neighborhood Kitchens.