Cheeky Monkey Brewery

 There are SO MANY NEW SPOTS in Boston. Have there always been this many new restaurants? Or is it because I am so busy planning a wedding and this upcoming winters ski trips (come on snow!!) that I can't keep up?

In new happenings on Lansdowne street, may I introduce Cheeky Monkey Brewery meets a revamped Lucky Strike Social. A shiny new energetic brew pub offering house and guest beers, plus shuffleboard, billiards, ping pong and an eclectic, entertaining, (why yes an incredibly cheeky!) array of monkey decor and light-bulb sinage is now joined with an energetic, super fun Lucky Strike bar and arcade. After a ping pong game and sampling the globally inspired fare downstairs, we headed up to play arcade games for hours on end while sipping Double Play IPA and Monkey Business Amber. What a great addition to the Fenway Neighborhood!

Cheeky Monkey

3 Lansdowne Street

Boston, MA 02215

Tiger Mama

A couple Fridays ago after the usual post work drinks and debating where to have dinner, I remembered that Tiffani Faison recently opened Tiger Mama. We arrived to a two hour wait for a table but lucky us, snagged seats at the crowded bar where service was convivial and on point. 

Our cities beloved Top Chef Alum has done it again. Tiger Mama is a GEM. Tiffani's playful take on Southeast Asian food is terrific. Dishes are spicy, crispy, bold, adventurous and inspired. The space transports you - décor is funky and exotic, it gives a vibe in line with the food. 

After some bracingly good cocktails that included an Indo Fizz ($11) old monk 7 year, turmeric-coconut milk, lime, ginger honey syrup, whole egg and the Flushing/Main St ($13) white oak, Dolin blanc, chartreuse, cacao, angostura - I made friends with their disco-ball elephant hostess. 

We ate Crispy Chili Potatoes ($6) with a sneaky spicy mayo, Hamachi Crudo ($15) with crispy dosa, Viet herbs and a sesame mushroom aioli, and a Crispy Green Papaya Salad ($7) with mint and tomato chili vinaigrette. I was highly impressed with all three! We were planning to order more food but these generous portions filled us right up. I can't wait to visit again. 

Tiger Mama

1363 Boylston St.

Boston, MA 02215

Loretta's Last Call

Loretta's Last Call has been a solid addition to the Fenway neighborhood since its opening in June 2014. Offering country music lovers an authentic experience; if you're like me, chances are you've been in on one or two occasions for live music or mason jar moonshine cocktails after a Red Sox game. Cowboy boots on, jamming out to a honky-tonk band in front of the raised stage earlier this year, I sent a snapchat to my ladies with a caption "Takes me back to Nashville!". 

Similarly, the interior is evocative of a country saloon with open hardwood floors space for boot scootin', wagon wheel light fixtures, neon bulb signage, an antique jukebox and walls lined with vintage country music paraphernalia. 

It had not crossed my mind to try the food at Loretta's until they invited me in for dinner. On a Tuesday night while most of the bar partakes in a free two step lesson, my sister and I sip cold beers while noshing on all things fried, tucked into one of the black vinyl booths with an up close vantage point of the dance floor. 

Loretta's will satisfy a craving for Fried Pickles ($8), these slices are served piping hot and golden crispy in a mini cast iron pan alongside small bites of fried jalapenos, pickled okra and a chili remoulade. 

We couldn't pass up fried chicken - a true testament to Southern cuisine. Both the Buttermilk ($15) and the Hot Chicken ($16) were enjoyable renditions, although the batter was heavier and thicker than some of my favorite versions down south. Still the skin remained crispy and the meat itself was tender and juicy. The Hot Chicken came with white bread and pickles to cut the heat from the deliciously spicy cajun rub. For me, it was the perfect amount of heat that kept me going back for more instead of reaching for my water glass in between every bite. They have traditional sides to choose from - the Collard Greens and Loaded Mash are both tasty and full of flavor.

Their draft list is small and non-exciting and the aforementioned moonshine cocktails that I've tried in the past were not calling my name tonight. The bottled and caned beers are where it's at, from a robust selection I was excited to see Lone Star ($5) offered. (More southern nostalgia, this time for Austin, TX!) I also drank a 21st Amendment Fireside Chat - a seasonal winter warmer full of festive spices. 

Last but not least, I was enamored with their off menu Bacon Waffle Sundae and appreciated that the waitress made sure to tell us about it at the beginning of the meal. A sturdy and crisp on the outside, fluffy an bacon loaded on the inside waffle is capped with a dreamy house made maple ice cream, a drizzle of maple syrup and heaps of fresh whipped cream. This sundae is destination worthy! 

Loretta's Last Call

1 Lansdowne Street

Boston, MA 02215

this meal was complimentary, all opinions are my own

shine on

 love you, Boston 

1. Downtown Crossing

2. Financial District from North Street

3. Fenway Park

4. Charles River from the Royal Sonesta

5. MBTA map

6. Fleet Street and Hanover

7. Bunker Hill Monument

8. Zakim Bridge at sunset

Sweet Cheeks Q

Sweet Cheeks serves up Texas Style BBQ in a refined rustic setting with heavily distressed wooden tables and delicate strands of white lights. Located on Boylston Street in the Fenway neighborhood, the exteriors signage is loud with exposed bulbs, a giant glowing BBQ sign presides on the corner.

The Biscuits ($10) which come four to a tin bucket with creamy honey butter, are as good as every single person who has ever set foot in this establishment (and ordered them) says they are. Flaky yet sturdy on the outside, warm fluffy layers on the inside, heaven. Do not let the fact that you must order four at once deter you, portion sizes are huge, so leftovers in general are highly likely. (In other words, take those biscuits home with your meat!)

 

Served in mason jars, cocktails stick with the theme of being on the large side. The Federale with tequila, habanero simple syrup, agave, grapefruit and lime was super spicy, a great drink if you like a punch of heat. A Genesse Cream Ale also makes an appearance. 

A tray of Berkshire Pulled Pork ($18) comes with white bread, tangy mustard pickles + onions and two sides - I chose collard greens and the carrot salad. I had heard lots of praise for that salad specifically; I guess that's the plus side of visiting a regularly hyped restaurant opened by a Top Chef Alum over a year after its debut. (I already knew everything I should probably order.) I would concur with the beauty of that cold scoop, it was memorable with thin shards of crunchy carrots, golden raisins, toasted walnuts and blue cheese crumbles in a zesty dressing that nicely tied everything together. As far as the hot scoop, I thought the collard greens were pretty amazing, too.

 The pulled pork was juicy and tender, a Texas style dry rub renders it subtly smokey and three types of tableside BBQ sauce add another layer of flavor. (Depending on which you choose - standard flare, intense heat or a sweet North Carolina vinegar style.)

It is completely worth it to muster room for dessert, the unassuming little mason jar of Butterscotch Pudding ($6) is terrific, super rich and smooth in texture, equally as sweet, and then balanced out by a cap of sea salted caramel.  

So if you're craving some good BBQ in Boston, I'm pretty sure this is where you want to end up!

Sweet Cheeks Q

1381 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02215