Dinners in Old Town | Lagos

I posted a brief intro to Lagos and all the photos of Praia Dona Ana - but let's get into it, shall we? Our Airbnb was in a massive condo complex called IberLagos. As I mentioned, the proximity to the beach and the dueling pools were A+. There was plenty of parking and an elevator. It was a pleasant and quick walk to downtown restaurants. A bottle of white wine greeted us at check in. All great things! 

The pictures on Airbnb are super polished and while we did love it, and it was reasonably priced, it's not high end. The beds were sparse and not the comfiest. No vacation shattering issues, I guess I'm just trying to say the interior pictures on Airbnb sort of exceeded the real life feel. We loved the patio. There was a container of beach toys and an umbrella. It did feel like and ideal place for a family with small kids!

Camden loves to unpack and organize. Ryder is Livin' the Dream for sure. 

Grocery shopping at Lidl was our first real food shopping of the trip for breakfast and essentials. (Snacks. Super Bock). Groceries are inexpensive here. Generally Portugal is not an expensive place to travel, which is nice and a feels like a European travel secret that should be kept under the radar. 

Our dinners in Lagos were great. 

Our overall favorite experience was at: Arribale. off the main drag, somewhat hidden behind the old sea wall, seated in an azulejo tile both, VINHO VERDE always, the flaming sausage, the whole roasted fish, everything cooked on the chargrill, a true salt of the earth Lagosian waiter, and the bottle of Calem Tawny Port our he left on our table to drink to our hearts content during dessert. 

Another fun meal was at Imperio Do Mar.

On a very happening, boisterous, main street in the old town, we feasted here on the delicacy known as Percebes. Which are Barnacles. 

We are adventurous and discovering new foods. inquire within. 

One day it was not beach weather so we walked the sprawling pier and brunched.

An Aperol Spritz and an omlette with french fries and salad hit the spot. 

Nobody:

Me: obsessed with Aperol circa 2011 before the last Gen Zer was even born. 

We ate at Sal and Companhia on our last night. I'm starting to feel like a Lagos regular and settle into a gorgeous family vacation routine, right in time to break it. Bob and I are drinking the house red and really appreciating this trip and our family. We're eating green been tempura and seafood risotto rich with prawns and coastal mussels. Briny seafood essence is at its finest here in Lagos.

Ryder decided to try a lemon. I love this little boy. He keeps us laughing!

Lagos is a true gem. I'm glad we followed our instincts to the Algarve and stayed in this most excellent beach town.

I loved our after dinner strolls home, especially when the kids would drift off to sleep. 

Arribalé

R. da Barroca 40

8600-674 Lagos, Portugal

Imperio do Mar

R. Silva Lopes 25

8600-623 Lagos, Portugal

Sal & Companhia

R. 25 de Abril 67 

600-525 Lagos, Portugal

Bar Mezzana

Bar Mezzana opened this past spring in the South Ends new Ink Block development boasting an ultra modern atmosphere with sleek white subway tiled walls and crisp blue banquets. To match the glossy, airy space, Chef Colin Lynch is serving simple yet elegant Coastal Italian cuisine - beautiful crudo, thoughtful, approachable crostini and soulful homemade pasta. 

What we devoured (next time, more crudo is necessary!): 

Crudo: Salmon with green chile salsa verde ($12)

Crostini: Chicken Liver, bacon, onion ($10)

Cocktails: Five Days of Milan ($12) Mad River Revolution Rye, meletti 1870, meletti amaro / 

Stirred Beetle ($12) St George Terror gin, bruto americano, cocchi americano rosa

Homemade Pastas: Orecchiette ($21) sausage, fennel, radicchio / 

Farro Tagliatelle ($22) duck ragout. 

Dessert: Affogatto ($5)

Boston Magazine recently came out with their Top 25 New Restaurants of 2016 - a list I look forward to perusing to see which of my favorites made the cut and which restaurants I need to add to my list for 2017! Bar Mezzana comes in strong at #7. I concur - the food and the hospitality in this space are worth the hype. 

And because I am constantly getting asked for Boston favorites - new spots to take out of town guests, date nights, you name it - check out the new restaurants I am a big fan of that made the critics list, too! 
#18: Branch Line / #17: Little Big Diner / #11: Tiger Mama / #7: Yvonne's / #5: Little Donkey / #3: Waypoint / #2: SRV / 

Restaurant goals for 2017 include - #4: Uni / #4: Mamaleh's / #9: Juliet / #12: Season to Taste / #14: Saltie Girl / #20: Ganko Ittetsu Ramen / Plus: Asta, Café Sushi, Giulia, Hojoko + Shepard.  

{edited to add that in 2017 I made it to: Uni, Saltie Girl and Shepard!}

Since we're on a roll - Boston Magazine's annual list of the best in town -  50 Best Restaurants in Boston is worth a glance. I'm digging deep into the blogs archives for some of these....so if you need a recommendation, enjoy! Alden + Harlow / B&G Oysters / Banyan Bar + Refuge / Bergamot / Bistro di Midi / Brewers Fork / Coppa / Craigie on Main / Erbaluce / Grill 23 / Island Creek Oyster Bar / Kirkland Tap + Trotter / La Brasa / Mei Mei / Menton / Myers + Chang / Neptune Oyster / No. 9 Park / Oleana / O Ya / Row 34 / Sarma / Select Oyster Bar / Shōjō / Strip T's / Sweet Cheeks / Sycamore / Toro. 

What were your favorite Boston restaurant openings this year and where do you want to eat in 2017?!

Bar Mezzana

360 Harrison Avenue

Boston, MA 02118

New Eats @ TD Garden

During Celtic's preseason we were invited to take a tour of the TD Garden's sleek and shiny new digs, and to watch the game in a club level suite while sampling the latest concession offerings.

In a complete overhaul of levels 4 and 7, an impressive space comes to life with a design that emphasizes the cities industrial transit history and celebrates The Garden's sports legacy. Black and white subway tiled concession stands with nods to local fare team with sprawling bars serving craft beer on draft. Sports paraphernalia lines the walls to create an atmosphere that is fresh and exciting, as well as nostalgic.

What's also impressive is the reinvented line up of game day food and drinks. From the Tostitos or Doritos Top n Go Walking Taco, to Legal Seafood's famous lobster rolls and fresh baked chips, to a decadent, ultra rich mac n cheese topped with fiery Cheetos crumbles....and so much more! (I was skeptical of the bright red toppings, but those Cheetos are damn delicious.) There's even a stand serving gelato - the pumpkin spice was a real treat.

If you're headed to a Celtics or Bruins game this season - don't miss the new concessions!

If you've already been to a game, what did you think?