The other day I received an email with the following information. I usually ignore these monthly statements, however, check the date in bold below. US Airways Dividend Miles E-Statement:
Member since: 2008
Last activity date: 03/27/2009
Beginning balance:10,973
Miles deposited:0
Ending balance: 10,973
To keep your account active, earn miles before 09/29/2010.
I must keep my account active! Luckily I am a member of US Airways Dividend Miles Dining Program. There are a lot of restaurants in the area that I can dine at to redeem miles. They even have a special going on this month: "Change of Scenery Bonus: Spend $30 at a restaurant, bar, or club where you've never earned miles before and become 500 miles richer."
I had previously purchased a $30 Groupon t0 OSushi which just so happens to be on the Dividend Miles Dining list. This means I need to spend $60 on lunch - $30 to cover the Groupon and the other $30 on my credit card so I can become 500 miles richer, ensuring I don't loose the hard earned 10k miles in the bank.
OSushi is located at 10 Huntington Avenue inside the Westin Copley Plaza Hotel.
I was greeted right away by the woman who would end up being my waitress. She sat me in the corner next to the sake case and presented me with both a drink and lunch menu.
History: I have been to OSushi before. Twice in fact, both times for dinner. The first time was when My Mom, sister, Aunt Cheryl and cousin Cayla were visiting me in the summer of 2005. I did not fully move to Boston until 2006, however that summer I lived 4 days out of the week in Allston completing an internship at what is presently the company I work for. The other 3 days of the week were spent on Cape Cod. That was an awesome summer! I digress. The second time here was a date night way back when Adam and I first got together. As a result of these two outings I am a big fan of their sushi.
They have an extensive wine list by the bottle and a fun martini menu too. In the end I chose to start my afternoon with a carafe of cold Nigori Sake. It drank light and smooth with subtle hints of juicy pear and apple.
Originally I was not going to tuck into in a bowl of Miso Soup ($3) but it was quite chilly in the restaurant. Piping hot, full of salty soybean flavor and plenty of scallions, thick strips of seaweed and tofu chunks, Osushi does a great job on this staple starter. They even add baby mushrooms to the mix earning them extra credit.
Lunch.is.served.
The Tako Nigiri ($4) is a smooth slice of fresh, clean tasting octopus fastened by a belt of nori atop a block of compact sushi rice.
I could not pass up a longstanding favorite Unagi ($6). It is delicate, soft, umami laden and melt in your mouth. I savored the nigiri sushi in between bites of my almost-too-pretty-to-eat lunch rolls.
The Hamachi Hako ($12) is yellowtail, garlic, scallions + shiso, topped with daikon and jalapeno served on top of pressed rice. Pearly pink and super smooth yellowtail tops a block of sticky rice where the strong flavors of garlic and jalapeno give off just the right touch of heat.
For my final roll: TNT Maki ($8.50) with baked spicy salmon, avocado and cucumber is served atop a homemade hot sesame oil with a firecracker of lettuce and a sprinkle of black sesame. This awesome roll kicked things up a notch.
This meal continued the winning streak. OSushi is my favorite among Japanese cuisine in Boston for sure! What is yours?
I finally made it to Neptune Oyster! It has been on my list all summer long. Scratch that, it has been on my list all two years and four months long (the amount of time I have lived in the North End!) In that time I've developed an infinite love for Salem Street and its restaurants, cafes and boutiques. Even the True Value on Salem is a huge asset to the neighborhood! How have I been literally everywhere else on this street except the beloved Neptune Oyster? Named for the Roman God of the Sea and one of the most delectable creatures to come from it, but today we weren't here for the namesake. 
It wasn't a solo mission this afternoon as co-workers (not mine, each others) Gretchen and Lizzy of Clean Green Cuisine and Food to Run for, respectively, joined me on their lunch break. 
A table for three in the back corner opened right as the girls arrived at 1:15. Good thing I was right around the corner, because without your entire party you will be denied a table. Reservations are not accepted here, but the woman on the phone whom I spoke with a few hours earlier was kind and helpful when she explained a party of three coming in at 1:00 would be a 0-20 minute wait. We lucked out with zero! If you do encounter a wait it is without a doubt worth your while to stick it out.
Ice cold Peroni on draft were necessary to compliment our first hot buttered lobster roll experience.
Yes, I said hot. Maine Lobster Roll ($25). As Gretchen would say, it's an investment.
The plate before me boasts a toasted brioche roll overflowing with sweet succulent portions of Maine lobster drenched in warm butter. You do have the choice to order this delicacy cold with mayo, but how often are you presented with an option for the former? Those deep golden brown french fries are delightfully crispy in texture and well seasoned with salt and pepper. 
With each refreshing sip of Peroni, each bite of warm buttery lobster meat, and each hot french fry dunked in cool ketchup: the ultimate summer lunch combination has been achieved. 
The service at Neptune was friendly and prompt. The place itself oozes class and character. Seating is shared in a long red leather booth with granite tables adjacent a bar that runs the length of the small space. I'd love to come back and dine at the raw bar but for now 63 Salem Street is officially checked off the summer lunch bucket list!
Bova's Bakery - a North End tradition since 1926 is located at 134 Salem Street, on the corner of Prince.
