Hope and Anchor - Red Hook

After a few hours of wandering the harrowed halls of the new Ikea in Red Hook our fellowship took refuge in the serenity of the Hope and Anchor a place many would deem upon entering as "hip." Whatever that means.

Aside from having a sweet name for a diner, the small bar and diner was quiet and had friendly staff--our waitress was more amicable than most. I ordered a classic with a twist: the turkey club, but topped with sweet onions. They even split it into quarters to create a miniature fortress for my fries--I'm down with that. Wash it down with a smooth Belgium Ale a la Wittekerke and that's one solid lunch.

The sandwich was good, crisp tomato and lettuce and a satisfying amount of turkey and muenster. Crisp bacon makes everything feel OK in the world too. The sweet onions were a good addition in theory, but I think I would have preferred the standard red onions only because the sweet onions were much colder than the rest of the ingredients (kind of weird?) and didn't really mesh well with the rest of the sandwich in temperature and texture. Fries were better than average, not greasy, thinly sliced, and exceedingly crispy.

Sandwich and beer: $12. Definitely worth it. For three people? $40 minus tip. Highly recommended--plus they do karaoke!

http://hopeandanchordiner.com/index.html
347 Van Brunt St., Brooklyn, New York 11231, 718-237-0276

New York Field Trip - Don't be mad.

So I was in New York for a few days visiting friends and taking it easy in general: walking around, going to the new Ikea in Red Hook, window shopping, and most importantly eating. I know it's a bit early in this blog's life to be heading out of town--but my stomach doesn't discriminate.

I want to thank my two friends Caitlin and Paris for setting me up with a place to stay and for being great dining company:



Good food is great, but good dining companions make food taste better too.

Giorgiana's - South End

I know I've talked about the Italian subs here, but here is something a bit more appropriate for the Greek deli/cornerstore: their gyros (pronounced phonetically as 'yuh-ro,' and not to be confused with the European currency of a similar sound).

I've always had an interest in trying one of these gyro-thingers out and now that I have I can't stop thinking about them. Thoughts of lamb meat cut fresh off the spittle and large chunks of tomato drenched in tzatziki seep into my thoughts at night and I awake in a cold sweat and a small puddle of drool on my pillow.

Maybe it's best you stay away from these wonderful pita-packaged prizes.

Delusions aside, they certainly are sumptuous--no skimping on any of the 5 ingredients: thick pita, lamb, tomato, onion, and tzatziki. So for a gaping void of a stomach like mine it is a treat.For 8 bucks it's definitely worth it to me, but I can see how that is a little steep for a single meal.

Although, this is an instance of quality and quantity matching up--always a good thing.

532 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116, 617-542-0101

That's Brutal.

In lieu of the Dethklok show at the Worcester Palladium I decided to have the most brutal breakfast beforehand: cider donut, fried eggs, thick bacon, baked beans, and a rib eye steak. If that's not a metal breakfast I don't know what is. Top it off with some Arrogant Bastard Ale and you're ready to die for Dethklok.


Bacon and Cider Donuts courtesy of the Copley Farmer's Market every Tuesday and Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Bukowski's - Back Bay

Naming a bar after Bukowski makes sense if you know anything about the great poet/novelist. He was crude, honest, vulgar, brilliant and full of alcohol--all things that sum up a great bar, right?

Sure, Bukowski's has a vast beer selection and that whole Dead Author's Society thing is cool too--if you can afford to do it (I can't), but what about the food? If you're like me you've heard faint whispers here and there about peanut butter burgers and decent burgers in general.

So what do I order? A Cuban:

Girlfriend: "What kind of Cuban was it?"
Me: "What do you mean?"
Girlfriend: "Was it tall and sketchy or short and messy?"
Me: "Tall and sketchy."

So there you go, it was tall and sketchy. Which I took her to mean as thin and compact for some reason, which is what it was like. Crispy bread, tangy pickles, melted cheese, and a adequate amount of meat made for a pretty good sandwich. I was hoping for more of an overloaded messy Cuban and the sauce wasn't that tasty so I had to utilize some Tabasco. Fries were superb though.

My pals both got burgers and confessed that they were definitely above standard--and a buck or two cheaper than my $9.50 sandwich. A Cuban with fries and a PBR came out less than $15. Not terrible, but I think I would opt for the burger next time.

50 Dalton St. behind Hynes Convention Center/Prudential Center Boston, MA 02115, 617-437-9999
Note: There's also another Bukowski's in Cambridge on 1281 Cambridge St.

Beans for Breakfast

Once in a while you just need to make a little breakfast.

English: 1463, from break (v.) + fast (n.). Cf. Fr. déjeuner "to breakfast," from L. dis-jejunare "to break the fast." The verb is from 1679. The English word derives from the concept that sleep prevents eating, thus an involuntary fast occurs during sleep; this fast is broken by the first meal - called breakfast.

Giorgiana's - South End

I love Italian subs. I am partially Italian, which is great--and might have something to do with my proclivity for the classic sub of salami, ham, provolone cheese, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, oil, hot peppers--you get the point. The fact is that every deli has their own Italian and their own interpretation.

Sure, Giorgiana's is a Greek place, but let me tell you this: the Greek ex-pat owner must have taken a detour to the boot-shaped peninsula before ending up in Boston's wonderful South End. As you can see, the sub is overflowing with goodies. The bread is hearty and chewy, great for those of us blessed with flesh-ripping canines and the equilibrium of meats, cheese, and assorted toppings pushes the limit without exceeding it. Not bad for $7 and some change. I opted to take my prize back to my lair, but you really should take a seat outside the quaint delicatessen/convenience store that looks out onto Tremont St. with the BCA, Cyclorama, and new Beehive right across the street.

They even have a small wine cellar that stocks some unfamiliar Greek wines--I've tried a couple and as a strict beer drinker I had to admit that they were smooth and enjoyable. The pictured combo: sub, bottle of merlot, and large bag of chips came to a cool $21.

This is the sort of place that allows me to claim that the South End has the best corner stores in Boston . . . just remember to enunciate your order most of the employees aren't native English-speakers.

532 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116, (617) 542-0101

Fajitas and Ritas - Downtown Crossing

It's hard to find a good Mexican place. Probably because Mexican is easy in practice, but difficult to master (in Boston at least). Fajitas and 'Ritas (as in margaritas) is a pretty standard Mexican place with emphasis on margaritas--the margarita machine is in the middle of the restaurant and once in a while you'll see someone dumping a huge jug of tequila into it--yum.

Not very expensive, it was $7.14 for a chicken burrito. Sadly guacamole and sour cream cost extra (almost $2.00 more! albeit it was a lot more, see picture). A pitcher of margarita is $12.36 and holds around 3 glasses. Did I mention these were frozen margaritas? They are. Sweet, not too sugary, we had a large group so I got to try the mango, strawberry, and the lime--all good although I suggest the strawberry.

Standard burrito: beans, chicken, rice, but the lettuce and tomatoes are served on the side so you have to shovel them in--same with the guacamole and sour cream. Nothing special here, I think it would of been a lot worse if I hadn't ordered the guacamole and sour cream truth be told. So if your looking for a burrito I suggest just going to an Anna's Tacqueria, Chipotle, or Burritos on Fire. But if you want to get something to eat and then take a few steps over to the bar for more margaritas then Fajitas and 'Ritas is a good bet.

The check for 8 people was $102.50--that's including gratuity. Not bad even with a couple people not ordering food. Plus it's in Downtown Crossing so it's close to everything like the Common and the Orange and Green lines for the T.

25 West St, Boston, MA 02111, (617) 426-1222, www.fajitasandritas.com

The King and I - Beacon Hill

I don't get Thai very often, but I have been to The King and I several times and I've never been disappointed. It's right near the Charles T stop and it has a nice, formal interior. Everything seems to be prepared fresh--no limp veggies. Which goes hand-in-hand with their vegetarian-friendly attitude and their option to make any dish "vegetarianized."

I got the Matsaman Curry, which was a pleasant blend of green beans, cashews, potatoes, tomatoes, and beef drenched in a mildly spicy curry. The flavor overall wasn't overpowering and was a well-balanced meal. After clearing the plate I didn't feel bloated or gross--simply satisfied. Definitely worth the $11.95.

Our check came to $55.50 for three people: 3 entrees and 2 appetizers--not bad at all for a nice, dare I say classy, dinner. This is a good place for a date. It's really quiet inside and the staff is very friendly--your water glass will never be empty.

145 Charles St # 1, Boston, MA 02114, (617) 227-3320 www.kingandi-boston.com

Gnaw man

Boston Gnaws is a blog dedicated to revealing slowly, but surely, the multitude of places to get your "gnaw" (and your drink) on in Boston, Cambridge, and Allston. Perhaps we are destined to present current Bostonians with information they already know, but we continue in hopes of perking their interest to a new restaurant in town or even one they (shutter) never knew about. And of course all you newcomers to, er, "Bean Town" (no one calls Boston that) might be able to find somewhere to chew.

Most of the places featured will be from low-moderate spending levels--so don't expect to find reviews on caviar encrusted lamb medallions.