MAX BRENNER

I was watching "The Best Thing I Ever Ate..." on the Food Network and Max Brenner's chocolate pizza was mentioned. Since I saw that episode over 6 months ago I have been dying to eat at Max Brenner. Lucky for me, a couple of months ago, one opened in Boston on Boylston Street. I finally got to indulge at Max Brenner in Boston 3 weeks ago. They have a very extensive menu - if you are indecisive I recommend looking at the menu online prior to going. I went around 10 or 11pm on a Saturday. It was busy, the bar was packed but the service was fabulous and very quick! I ordered the banana tempura fondue it was amazing!! If you are a banana lover, which of course I am, I highly suggest ordering it. Everyone was extremely happy with their dish as well. I cannot wait to go back and try the chocolate pizza. I highly recommend going to Max Brenner.

My rating is 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars.

Smoothie time

Yesterday, I took the blender out and decided to make a healthful filling smoothie and that I did. This recipe is for banana lovers.

1 large banana 

3/4 cup crushed ice

1 cup almond breeze milk (i use original, 40 calories/ cup)

1 tablespoon of peanut butter (optional)

Blend and in no time you have a delicious and very healthful smoothie!

Al Dente

Al Dente is a very small, rustic italian restaurant in the North End. I went for lunch on a Friday with 8 other people. I ordered the grilled fig salad to start. I thought the figs would be hot and cut up but instead it was cold, which was fine, but I would have preferred if the figs were cut more than just in half. I ordered the gnochhi for my entree; it was one of the best I have ever had - no complaints. One person in my party ordered veal parm and another chicken parm and the server mixed up the dishes but by the time they noticed they werent going to swap and neither wanted to return the dish. Another member order penne al vodka but the pepper seasoning was too overpowering. Another, ordered pesto with pasta but it was very oily- it was more like pasta with oil and a little pesto mixed in which was quite disappointing. Although, I had a fantastic pasta dish the rest of my guests were not thrilled which is disappointing since the North End usually never fails.

Modern Pastry, Not So Modern Recipes

Despite the name, modern pastry uses quite old and traditional recipes... thank goodness for that! I have been to Mike's Pastry many times so I wanted to try out Modern. I walked in with friends and family. Modern is much smaller than mikes and also has a much smaller selection. There also wasn't nearly as long of a line that Mike's typically has. I would say not off to a great start. We ordered a linzer tart, well i should say attempted because they dont have those nor knew what I was talking about. I then proceeded to order a rainbow cookie (3 layered cookie red, yellow and green). We also ordered a couple of lace cookies and a canolli (ricotta filling with chocolate chips). Now for the tasting review: I have eaten a fare share of rainbow cookies and these were not good. The lace cookies were okay. However, the canolli was fantastic and I am not one for canollis but there was nothing not to like. 

Side note: I love these cookies and have made them twice; it was quite the undertaking but they came out pretty good. I would also consider myself a rainbow cookie connoisseur. I buy them everywhere I go.

Next time I am in the North end, I will probably go to Mike's Pastry unless I am craving a cannoli and then I am crossing the street and walking into Modern.

Not your mothers Lavagna

Last Saturday evening it was pouring in NYC so My boyfriend and I did not want to venture that far so we went to Lavagna. It is a very small restaurant with a romantic rustic feel. The bread was fresh and the dipping oil had olives in it and was very flavorful.


We had one of the specials of the evening to start - white pizza with asparagus. It was good.


Then I ordered the fedelini fini (type of spaghetti) with toasted garlic and rusted tomato sauce. It was pretty good but a little spicy. The portions are a perfect size; not too big, not too small.


Dinner didn't stop there, for dessert we ordered the apple torte that sat in a pool of the most delicious butterscotch sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream. We ate all the sauce and was on a sugar high later. I have one critique, I didn't taste much apple at all - there was more dough than apple.


I rate this restaurant 3.5 stars out of 5 stars

Symphony Sushi

Symphony sushi is the place to go when you are craving some Japanese food.

Salad with their scrumptious ginger dressing is typical of any japanese restaurant - but it never fails to get old. The edamame are also a must!

The sushi is good and fresh. Obviously, cucumber inside out rolls are my go to.

However, my favorite dish there is the brown vegetable fried rice. I have never had it before Symphony Sushi. I order it almost every time I go here. Its amazing, I eat it all up! Its a nice change and a little healthier than the typical white fried rice.

The mochi is really good too! Its a night and light way to end the meal.

Symph Sush is always busy and the service is great; everyone is very friendly and accommodating.


** They also deliver

Would Beethoven approve of Symphony 8?

Symphony 8 Restaurant and Bar is almost 2 years old and has done very well for itself. Before this was an asian restaurant called Tiger Lily.

I've eaten here on numerous occasions, in small and large groups. As for the actual food - they have a good margarita pizza. However, do not get the flatbread veggie pizza. I think they buy pre-made flatbread, sauté veggies and put it on top. This makes the flatbread extremely soggy and practically inedible. I'm not saying they have to make the dough but they can buy pre-made dough and make the veggie pizza the same way they make the margarita pizza. I have had their mac and cheese, its just okay. Nachos are my guilty pleasure and Symphony 8 makes them pretty good. 


The service is absolutely terrible. Once you get a menu you can wait 30 minutes before they take your order, especially if you're in a group. You can then wait another half hour for your meal. Oh and say you may want a lemon or bbq sauce well, you'll have to wait a while.


Despite the bad flatbread and poor service, I would go back for another meal because they have a very extensive menu.


** Symphony 8 is a very popular bar on Thursday - Saturday nights.

Go to HIGHPOINT BISTRO to start your day on a HIGH

If you are looking for a new brunch place in NYC make sure to check out Highpoint Bistro on 7th Ave between 22nd and 23rd street. I've gone in a large group of about 10 people and as small as just me and my boyfriend.

Highpoint truly lives up to its name. Instead of bread or muffins, they serve freshly made donut holes, its the perfect way to start the day!

I've had 2 eggs over medium there which is my typical go to brunch item. It was good but the side dishes proved to be a highlight. The french fries were great. The first time I ordered the mac and cheese it was just scrumptious. I dreamt about it so the second time I went to Highpoint I made sure to order it again but it just wasn't as great. I've also tried their buttermilk pancakes with lemon thyme butter which made them more savory. However, I found their pancakes too dry. If I'm eating pancakes, I'm going all out and I expect fluffy pancakes and I just didn't get that from Highpoint. I've heard their french onion soup is just delicious. All in all, I enjoy going to Highpoint and look forward to their vegetarian split pea soup and stuffed french toast, on separate occasions of course. I may also give the mac and cheese another go.

Its a pretty small place but both times I've gone its been pretty empty. The service is fairly good.


Overall, I rate Highpoint 3.75 stars out of 5 stars. 


* As you can see I am making up my own rating scale. Highpoint was better than a 3.5 but not quite a 4.

And after brunch you can go to the wholefoods close by, go grocery shopping and have some samples.

Bagels and smear but not too much smear

One of my favorite breakfast choices is an egg sandwich but bagels come in as a close second. There really aren't any delis you can go to in Boston for an egg sandwich - that is, a scrambled egg on toast. Although for some that includes cheese and is on a bagel.

On a weekend you can go out to brunch and order eggs with toast but that's about it. So I made it my mission to at least find a decent bagel place.

As a new yorker, not only do I think we have the best pizza but I believe we also have the best bagels. I did however, find a place with pretty good bagels, Espresso Royale Cafe (ERC). There are a few locations- Gainsborough Street, Newbury Street and Commonwealth Avenue. What I really want to recommend is their veggie tofu cream cream. Even if you are not a lover of tofu, I suggest you give it a go. I love scallion cream cheese and just never took to veggie cream cheese but the tofu veggie cream cheese is so different; its delicious. You must order a whole wheat bagel toasted (scooped out of you wish) with veggie tofu spread.

I don't know if you have had this experience but I hate how places put way too much cream cheese/ butter on bagels - they would never eat that much themselves so don't serve it like that to me. I might as well just put cream cheese on a spoon and eat it. I must embarrass my friends because sometimes when I order a bagel and cream cheese I ask for a 'normal' amount. I know it sounds silly and yes, sometimes they laugh at me but from time to time it works in my favor and other times not so much. I once barely got any cream cheese on my bagel like seriously none. However, I have found this is not a problem with the veggie tofu spread and I think it's because the consistency is a little different.

*also erc is very hipster and their coffee is very hot

Do you want fries with that?

About a month ago my boyfriend and I went to Pommes Frites on Second Avenue in NYC. I'm not sure how to describe it, its kind of like a shack and completely dedicated to selling thick 'authentic belgium' fries with a variety of dipping sauces. It may seem ridiculous to have a food business dedicated to one thing, but in NYC its not crazy there are places that just sell soft baked pretzels and places that specialize in donuts. It also follows the old adage, if you do one thing really well, people will come.


They have a menu with all of their sauces - take a look on their website. The fries are twice fried and made right in front of you, they are so hot and fresh. Not the healthiest option but once in awhile won't kill you. My boyfriend and I ordered regular fries with the dijon mustard sauce. It was delicious. There are three sizes of fries: regular, large and double - the regular was plenty for us to share!

If you are in the area, you must stop by and get some fries. They have very little seating but its easy to eat and walk around with. Its a very European thing to do. When I was in Amsterdam two years ago we ate fries as we roamed the city. 


I want to go back just to try more of their dipping sauces.