Aragosta | Battery Wharf Hotel

I have been to Aragosta a number of times since they opened in 2011; for media and blogger sponsored events, a ladies night at the chefs counter, and with out of town family to dine on the picturesque waterfront terrace. Located off the North End tourist path on Battery Wharf, I think they struggle to keep themselves on the radar year after year. The Battery Wharf Hotel is no longer a Fairmont Property and I am not sure if this changes anything. I know the chefs experienced a turnover since last time I was here.

The terrace is the real draw but it was not open on this particular visit, so we're seated in a cozy both in the back corner of the near empty hotel restaurant. I still feel like the interior might be in need of a facelift, especially compared to the sleekly attractive bar and lounge area which draws more clientele at this (7pm) hour. Our waiter is genuine and offers polished, prompt service throughout. 

We each start with a Bacon Old Fashioned ($13) - smokey and sweet, it is an admirable rendition. The only thing missing is a bacon garnish! 

The Buratta ($12) appetizer comes alongside delicate orange slices, golden beets and fig jam. The unexpected yet welcome pairings with the small pouch of cool, creamy cheese is a nice start to the meal. 

Aragosta is Italian for lobster and doing the namesake proud is the Lobster Bisque ($14). The show stopping broth is velvety, balanced and brilliantly flavored, poured tableside over a cluster of tender shucked meat with a dollop of crème fresh and cracked pepper. 

What doesn't entirely work is my Lobster Ravioli ($42). Hefty claws and large tails of butter poached Maine lobster are overwhelmed by a chunky fra diavolo-esque red sauce. Completely coating all that gorgeous lobster meat seems like a mistake. 

The Short Rib ($34) was outshined by the accompanying Lobster Smashed Potatoes (a side is $14) and nicely cooked spinach and asparagus. It wasn't a memorable dish otherwise. 

New restaurant openings in Boston are frequent and the competition is steep. I am not sure the entire menu is focused and compelling enough to keep locals coming back, but Aragosta is certainly a major draw for hotel guests. Strolling along the harborwalk with my Mom and sister a couple weeks later the patio is back in business, a busy scene during the late lunch hour; I'm happy to see them doing well!

Aragosta Bar & Bistro
3 Battery Wharf

Boston, MA 02109

 *this meal was complimentary, all opinions are my own*

spring in Boston

1. Rose Kennedy Greenway

2. Charlestown Navy Yard

3. roof deck Prosecco

4. Huntington Avenue

5. Fenway Park

6. North Street

It is one of the loveliest spring seasons that I can remember. Hope the view is just as pretty from wherever you are.

Brunch at Miel

Sunday, June 19th marked my sisters 25th Birthday and a more widely celebrated holiday, Fathers Day! The dual family celebration commenced with a brunch bigger and better than anyone of us expected, followed by a leisurely stroll along the Boston Harborwalk and a bottle of bubbly on my roof deck.

Hands down, Miel Brasserie Provençal tops the brunching experience in Boston. Exquisite organic cuisine celebrating France's Côte d’Azur region is served overlooking Boston Harbor's Fort Point Channel and The Intercontinental Hotel's gardens. Situated in between utterly charming landscapes, the aforementioned waterfront and The Rose Kennedy Greenway, The InterContinental Boston reflects all kinds of elegance beginning with its stunning blue glass and polished granite exterior right down to the macaroon trees offered at Miel's brunch buffet. Yes, I said macaroon tree. It blossomed with the soft chewy French delicacies in flavors of raspberry, hazelnut, vanilla, chocolate and more. But we'll get to that in a moment....

We arrived promptly for our 12pm reservation where a host greeted us warmly but wasn't able to seat us just yet. He disappeared into the restaurant. A different hostess appeared and spoke on the phone before looking up to inquire about our parties reservation. At the same time host #1 returned and attempted to seat us indoors. I politely reminded him we requested to sit outside. He looked rather confused and slightly bothered. While the interior looked picture perfectly inviting, it was a gorgeous day outside and we wanted to take full advantage. The hostess then jumped in to explain you can not make reservations for the terrace, it is a first come first serve basis. I understand this is typical of restaurants with outdoor seating. Confusion on my part was due to the conformation statement "You're all set for a party 5 on the terrace at 12pm" spoken when I made my reservation earlier in the week. Regardless, I again asked if were possible to be seated outside?? Turns out, we could be! Turns out, there were a number of open tables on the terrace, at least five or six. Outdoor seating policy is a moot point if you have enough open tables! Correct? Not to mention if you are an establishment advertising your outdoor dining space, you probably shouldn't make customers feel strange when they request to sit outside. Basically, it was a cluster of an arrival that I felt should have gone a lot smoother. However, our service from there on out was just the opposite; the waiters were charming, the execution of courses well timed and plates and silverware were cleared promptly after every course. When our waiter took the time to explain how brunching at Miel works, jaws dropped and excitement bubbled over. For $32 a person you have full access to the buffet as well as your choice of two entrees.

Not one, but two! Can't decide between savory and sweet? Get one of each! Want your Eggs Benedict and waffles, too? Then this is where you need to be brunching. The entrees are scaled down versions of a typical brunch entree, but still. Meanwhile, this is no ordinary buffet. There are your typical breakfast options including scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes, buttermilk pancakes, steel cut oats and a made-to-order omlets. I steered clear of these (remember: two entrees) and went straight for the cheese, fruits and vegetables. The French cheese board was outstanding, offering a serious variety of impeccable cheeses along with golden raisins, bunches of grapes and sesame breadsticks. The berry platter stood out with notably the sweetest most plump blackberries I have ever tasted, juicy raspberries and fresh strawberries. The melons were also in attendance with perfectly cut pieces of honeydew, watermelon and cantaloupe. A roasted vegetable platter from which I'd recommend the asparagus and eggplants and a meat platter all beckoned with their limitless possibilities for pairings. The dessert bar was home to not only macaroon trees and macaroon flowers and macaroons on silver platters, but creme brulee, yougurt parfaits, mini eclairs, fruits tarts and more.I wanted to eat the macaroons by the handful. Like I said, I kept it light knowing full well what lied ahead. I should also mention juice and coffee are included in the fixed $32 price. Miel has a fabulous selection of breakfast cocktails, but in a rare moment, I didn't feel like imbibing.

I did have a sip of of my sisters French 75 ($14) made with gin, fresh lemon, granulated sugar and bubbles. It was an effervescent cocktail fit for a birthday girl.

For my first entree I decided on the Provencal Baked Eggs, a sunny side up egg blanketing a bowl of Ratatouille. This was excellent and definitely something different than what I am used to eating for brunch.

My Dad and my sisters boyfriend Tray were equally as impressed with their Steak and Eggs which came over truffled hash browns and sauteed spinach.

My Mom and Leah both choose the Crab Cake Benedict - a poached egg with spinach, shallots, and roasted red pepper hollandaise. They seemed to rave more than the rest of us, insisting we should probably all order it for our second entree. Suffering from a case of food envy? Not a problem, because you can order that entree next! The Benedict was tempting, but I had my heart set on a Crepe. The Crepe Au Chocolat Nutella with sauteed bananas to be precise. Crepes are one of my favorite things about France, I ate them almost daily when I was in Paris. This crepe was flawless, with a little nostalgia in every bite. Everyone else really enjoyed their second entree, from Leah's Grand Mariner French Toast with a honey orange glaze, to my Mom's Waffles Les Gauffres with blackberry compote, to Tray's Crepe Aux Fruits Rouge with sauteed berries and shaved white chocolate and lastly, my Dad's Lemon Marinated Salmon Tartare with avocado, black olive dust (so cool!) and tarragon creme fraiche. Between the five of us, we ate every entree on the menu short of the Crepe Jambon et Fromage. With cuisine remaining true to the region of Provencal France, Miel's brunch dishes are innovative and executed with precision. In addition, their brunch truly embodies the age old concept that variety is the spice of life. Come for the buffet, come for savory, come for sweet, come if you are the type of bruncher who can never make up your mind about what to order. I felt like we had it all at our disposal.

We were nothing short of impressed. It was great to spend a beautiful day in Boston with my family! A very Happy 25th Birthday and Fathers Day it was!

Sam's Patio Party

With prime waterfront property on Fan Pier, Sam's located inside the Louis Boston building has a lot to offer, beginning and certainly not ending with exceptionally breathtaking views. Weaving through a construction ridden parking lot, I followed signs leading me to an industrial warehouse; the facade a seemingly misleading and trendy disguise for what it beholds.Sam's sits perched on the back half of the second floor, where at the entrance I was welcomed by owners Esti and Drew Parsons. It was an absolutely perfect day for an outdoor event as evidenced by sunny blue skies, a barely there breeze and calm waters. The stylish single room interior offers panoramic views out two toned glass walls. Globe lighting flanks the perimeter of the lofty ceiling while pristine leather couches back retro cafeteria style tables. A small bar with modern stools and a black counter top is perched in the corner. Directly to the right is the exit to the patio where the event was being held. The wraparound deck is home to a trifecta of jaw dropping landscapes. Boats pass by on the harbor, the city skyline parades in the distance over Rowes Wharf and just below an inviting bright green lawn expands to meet the Boston Harborwalk. Views in Boston don't get much better than this!The backside of the building is nothing like the front, where besides those pristine glass walls, multi-toned wood panels construct the rest of the exterior.I was excited to find this girl behind the bar, my friend Jess Li who is a former waitress at longtime favorite hangout DeLux. She knows me all too well and wasted no time explaining the signature cocktail created especially for the event.  The Less Than Three (<3) is an inventive blend of tequila, cassis, grapefruit juice, muddled cucumber, mint and lavender topped with a splash of club soda and garnished with a salted cucumber. Not to sweet, or too tart, with nice herbal flavors this was balanced and refreshing.Bloggers and other media reps were introduced to the talents of Sam's new chef Asia Mei through a sampling of passed appetizers. The chef excels at pairing exciting ingredients in creative and unique forms. From the Crispy Jalapeno Crab Rangoon with sweet and sour plum gastrique to Mini Lobster BLTs with candied bacon, I was impressed early on. One of my favorites was the Halibut Tartare cradled by a bibb lettuce leaf topped with thin crispy potato shavings. The Braised Endive, Grapefruit & Sesame Brittle was also a divine bite.Thick and juicy, tender and flavorful Pistacio Crusted Lamb Lolipops were up for grabs.Barbeque Pulled Pork Nachos topped with pickled cabbage and a dollop of crème fraiche had a spicy kick.A hearty Quinoa Salad boasting almonds, feta cheese, blueberries and orange segments was a nice introduction to these edible grain like seeds.Plate after plate of these inventive appetizers were offered, the waitstaff happy to accommodate our constant requests to photograph their trays. After another Less Than Three there was white wine. Basking on the deck in blissful weather sipping perfectly crafted cocktails and munching on fantastic appetizers was highlighted by the company of these ladies - from left to right -Lin, me, Susie, Meghan, Chelsee, Elizabeth, Christine, Lingbo, Bridget and Tina. Sam's is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The bar is open 7 days a week until 1 pm. I'm already looking forward to a return visit! Who is in?!

Sam's @ Louis

60 Northern Avenue

Boston, MA 02210