Teriyaki House - Back Bay

If you're a student at Berklee or Northeastern then you probably already know about this place. Please, feel free to go back to your respective student activities like "jamming" out on your guitar while you walk around outside or wearing a black North Face jacket.

But in all seriousness, I guess I can allow you to stay and read this.

Teriyaki House is a like a diner, fast food joint and an Asian restaurant rolled up into one storefront. They have a sit down area where you can be waited on and they deliver, but the quality of food is certainly above that of your model fast food place--plus they serve sushi and wok-style dishes. The focus here is on the cost--everything is very cheap and the quality is adequate; portions are decent . For the range of tastes they have, the low prices and the speed at which they deliver this place is a great place for the budget-minded eater.

I enjoy places like this because one can afford to order a slew of dishes and present themselves witha variety of tastes in one meal, which is satisfying to say the least. In this case, I sampled their teriyaki chicken rice bowl, orange chicken, gyoza, Alaskan roll, and spring rolls. Sounds like a lot of food, right? It was and it only came out to around $40; aside from the appetizers everything cost around $5.

In terms of quality, there's not much to harp on. The chicken was juicy and slightly greasy as expected of teriyaki chicken, but the orange chicken was much more crispy than what I am used to as result of its generous breading and it wasn't spicy at all. Both came with rice, but the teriyaki bowl came with vegetables too, which I don't think we're frozen, but I could be mistaken--either way they were crisp and not overcooked.

The gyoza was good as are most dumplings in the world, although they might be a little too greasy for some. The spring rolls were very crispy and remained on the lower end of the greasy scale--good for them. Lastly, the Alaskan rolls were a lot better than what you would expect from a place like this--definitely on par with places like Shino Express.

Good prices and portions, decent food for cheap here--just don't think you'll be getting the most nutritious meal, although it's definitely better than your typical fast foods.

1110 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02215, 617 236 1008, www.teriyakihouse.us

Peapod Contest - Slurp it

If you've read the previous post about Peapod you might be familiar with it already and use it regularly or you may have just been introduced to it. Either way, here's a way to try it out yourself and maybe get a $20 discount on your next order. But it's not going to be easy to get this discount. You'll have to think. You've probably already closed your browser, but I'll continue for my own amusement.

The contest is as follows:

1. You decide you want a chance at getting $20 off your next Peapod purchase
2. You decide that $20 off a Peapod purchase would be useful to you
3. You think of two words that describe your favorite eating methods and post it in the comments section of this post or email to sean@dineordeath.com
4. I judge your words--literally and decide who has the most creative self-reflection via food words
5. I give a code to the winner for the $20 discount

Pretty simple, right? So you may be thinking what words does this strange internet man speak of? To overcome your dilemma I have prepared some boring examples:

- chew and sip
- gnaw and munch

I think you get the point, feel free to get creative and not make my life any more boring than it already is--that would be impressive though. Two of my personal favorites are scarf and slurp as in:

Dude, I totally scarfed an entire cheese steak before class and now I gotta take a wicked "no."

and

Have you ever had quahog before? I make it my duty to slurp them judiciously.

By the way I would appreciate the use of exemplary sentences for your words like those above.

Good luck.

Peapod - Is it right for you?

Things have changed. The world is crazy: George W. Bush, Terrorism, the cost of oil, natural disasters and the upcoming election. And have you heard of this Peapod thing? What will we think of next? Groceries delivered to your house that you buy on a website by using something called the internet.

OK, so maybe it's not that crazy, after all you can get anything on the internet--anything. Being the somewhat urban citizen I am, I decided to check Peapod out and evaluate it to a degree. I ordered a small amount of groceries that included mostly non-perishables aside from some deli meats. I figure that if you're like me then you'll want to personally inspect your fruits and vegetables and if you're not that intimate with your fruits and vegetables then you should be.

Here's what I received:

Don't get excited--the cat did not come with the delivery. Everything came intact so that's a good thing. I ordered two bottles of Pom, but only one seemed to arrive. Apparently they were out of stock and could only spare me one bottle, which is fine--but did I get refunded? The answer to this was somewhat ambiguous and I'm still not sure if it was ever charged or not. This is also where I am honest with you and tell you I wasn;t too peeved because Peapod paid for my groceries. There, I said it--at least I'm honest.

It came to around $60 for the above items. There are a couple things to think of when ordering from Peapod.

1. Only certain brands are available on Peapod
2. The prices are generally higher, but not always
3. Depending on where you live there may be a varying order minimum ($60 in my case)
4. The delivery times are not exact times, but a large range e.g. noon-6:30 p.m.

These are mostly negatives, but the biggest positive Peapod has is that you don't have to do anything but click some buttons on your computer and wait for it to arrive. For a lot of city-dwellers that's more than just convenient--especially if you don't have a car. Another upside to it is that you can plan out your groceries visually by seeing everything on the screen as opposed to rushing up and down the aisles or succumbing to impulse buying.

In conclusion, there are higher prices and you have to use the internet, but you don't have to move your lazy ass anywhere or buy a car to get your groceries. So maybe Peapod isn't for everyone, but to a lot of people it may be a sweet deal. Live on the tenth floor of a building with elevator? you'll probably want to get Peapod.

Equator - South End (again)

I don't think this place is that popular so I deemed it worthy of a second post. You should go here. It's hard to find a quiet, moderately priced and non-crowded restaurant like this. Their dishes range from Thai and Japanese to Korean and Mediterranean fusion. Service is pleasant and fast.

The decor is relaxing and it's one of the only places you can go to on a weekend night and whisper to your dining mates without straining to hear each other. I've only been there once when I had to wait for a table and it was a very short wait. I've sampled a variety of their dishes and have never been disappointed. Also, the portions are large--very large. I suggest the chili duck especially: mildly spicy, crispy, it goes well with rice and comes with a bed of vegetables in a generous slathering of chili sauce.

It seems like not many people know about it, because the quality is more than adequate, but it doesn't ever seem to be overly crowded. It might be because of it's location; it's on the fringe of the South End by Mass. Ave. and Ken Oringer's Toro among a few other more hyped restaurants that are on Washington St. right before it.

1721 Washington St., Boston, MA 02118, 617 536 6386, www.equatorrestaurantma.com

Panificio - Beacon Hill

Panificio has neighborhood charm as an Italian bakery and bistro. I am always a bit hesitant when going to places like this for the first time--especially on a Sunday during brunch among scrambling tourists. Upon entering the line to order I couldn't help but overhear a lengthy discussion between a couple of people coming to pick up take-out orders and an employee about mixing up orders. Their dilemma seemed to last for quite a while and although there wasn't a stereotypical customer dissatisfaction speech, it certainly added to my weariness since the place was packed at the register and there were no seats available--hectic, to say the least.

I ordered my huevos rancheros and a rasberry zinger and promptly waited with my number for a table to become available. Surprisingly, the wait was not that long and the food came shortly thereafter. The breakfast burrito was good, but seemed like it was missing something after the black beans, eggs, sour cream, and guacamole--I supplemented some bacon for extra cash, but still it seemed to be lacking something more. I still ponder this missing link often--was it a basic meat? Or something nontraditional to offer some obscurity to my breakfast like an outlandish seasoning? We may never know. A little sparse on the sour cream and guacamole too.

The rasberry zinger was sweet, just how I like my tea. I don't drink coffee--I'm still a child apparently. But I've heard good things about their more mature drinks. The overall meal was certainly good, but left me a little hungry and slightly overpriced at around $15. A friend of mine who lived in Beacon Hill informed me that prices are drastically lower on weekday mornings and to avoid weekend brunches when they capitalize on tourists. Duly noted.

144 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, 617 227 4340, www.panificioboston.com

Huntington Theatre opening night

This past Friday I attended the opening night party at the Huntington Theatre. Praise to the party planners--it was a success. The food and drinks were certainly the highlights; the dance floor was left mostly unscuffed unfortunately.

There were a number of dishes readily available throughout the converted scene shop. Barbecued roast beef with mashed potatoes stood at attention and in perfect ranks--tender and slightly tangy. Well balanced salads of glazed walnuts, greens, goat cheese, and potatoes dressed with a light oil carpeted many tables around the party.

Probably most notable, was the Asian style sea bass: glazed in a light sauce, firm, juicy and all-around the most impressive dish present. In contrast, the dessert table was sub-par. Chocolate brownies with over-hardened caramel were a chore to eat and the oatmeal raisin cookies were standard. Apple turnovers were the highlight here, but even then they weren't amazing, flaky, but not as crispy as you'd expect.

One was reminded of the seasonal transition at the bar where Sam Adam's Oktoberfest was already present along with the dignified Boston Lager. Catering was provided by Max Ultimate Food.



281 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, 617 266 7900
www.huntingtontheatre.org

Steve's Greek - Back Bay/ Faneuil Hall

Looking for some decent Greek cuisine that doesn't break the bank? Well, you might want to keep looking if you're a college student with a financial crutch, but there aren't many options in Boston.

Steve's is a pretty good choice, although it's Newbury St. location has unsurprisingly steeper prices than similar diner type restaurants in different areas. That's not to say it's unreasonably priced at Steve's--just appropriately priced for Newbury St.

Pictured above you'll notice a very gyro-esque looking pita, but it's a "steak sandwich," which is a but misleading because it's neither a sandwich nor is their a solid steak in there. It's a made-to-order sandwich albeit, but I can't really visualize them putting thinly chopped up beef like this in a more conventional layered sandwich. Also, if you order the steak sandwich it is literally only the meat and the bread you choose. Peppers and onions, cheese, and other ingredients that actually make a sandwich will cost you almost a dollar or more per extra--I genuinely grumble at that; $9 for bread and steak and then you're going to charge me a $1 for cheese on top of that? Are Grecians known for their audacity? Apparently.

Besides the awful price points, the "sandwich" was pretty good and large--but not that large. Standard shredded beef and if you're not willing to shell out the extra few bucks for all the toppings then it's going to be a mediocre and/or bland experience. The fries were fantastic, they boast something called "crystal covered fries" and I guess it has something to do with the frying process, but they were exceptionally crispy.

I think if I return I'd like to try a more authentic Greek dish so I can get a better perspective on the place.

316 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115, 617 267 1817, www.stevesgreek.com
1 Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA 02109, 617 263 1166

Spike's Junkyard Dogs - Back Bay/ Allston

Fast food is bad, right? But I think a more appropriate sub-category for this franchise would be moderately quick food. Eating at spikes won't make you feel terribly guilty--at least I don't think it will. Their hot dogs are made with real beef and they boast a complete absence of filler, sweeteners, and other artificial by-products. I generally feel better giving my money to a higher quality and smaller franchise like Spike's than to some mega corporate chain devoid of emotion anyways.

On this particular visit I embraced my nationalistic gun-toting vigilante side and ordered a Texas Ranger Dog. This patriotic hot dog is covered in barbecue sauce, bacon and cheddar--not one of the healthiest choices--perhaps it is allegorical? If it is, then it is a delicious allegory, which just so happens to be my favorite kind of symbolic representation.

Some adjectives that come to mind while munching on this dog: juicy, cheesy, tangy, crunchy, off the hizzle. The bun is no ordinary bun either, it's a lightly buttered and freshly made french roll--soft and doughy. The fries are salty and curly and don't lead me to believe they are made with an abundance of chemicals and artificial preservatives.

All of this for $5 and some change? Sounds like a good reason to stay away from places like Burger King or McDonalds. Now you have no excuse.

108 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 02134, 617 254 7700
1076 Boylston St. (Corner of Mass. Ave.), Boston, MA 02115, 617 266 0909
www.spikesjunkyarddogs.com

Mild by curry, wild at heart

My friend Taylor made this curry with glee and determination. Tangible ingredients included many things of which I cannot recall, because of the unexpected consumption of unsaid ingredients by unnamed third parties.

The point: Taylor makes a decent curry from sparse ingredients.

Congratulations.

A story about lobsters

I have a few things to say about these shining red knights of the sea. Did you know that lobster was once considered a poor man's steak? There were even referred to as the rats of the sea. Incredulous yet? Ironic, now that lobster meals often cost much more than a steak. But, let's get to the point--and the point is that I ate three lobsters.

The plate, or platter rather, was set before me like a miniature barracks of aquatic heroes. Three glistening warriors equipped with pincer weapons and scarlet armor challenged me to a battle for gustatory victory. Stalwart as ever, I accepted the daunting challenge. For don't we all live for battle?

After many a crackling of steel and bone and carapace, all that was left was a graveyard of fallen heroes. Nay, this trio of warriors never returned to their Atlantean paradise. For eternity they reside in the netherworld. After the war drums were silenced, I sat up wearily and brushed the white blood of my victims off my beard and jaw.

May the Gods forgive us for our petty wars.

Parish Cafe - Back Bay

This is a good place to go if you're looking to splurge a little bit. Sandwiches range from $13-$16 dollars, but they're large and come with a side. Decent selection of beers as well.

$13 for a sandwich is a bit much, but when it's a sliced flank steak with portobello mushrooms on french bread I can make an exception. The steak was thick and juicy too--I had to literally tear it up, which I enjoyed doing thoroughly; maybe a little too much. The potato salad was mild and well proportioned. Definitely worth the money. I'm glad too since I had always thought most places like this were tourist traps on Boylston. Can you blame me though? $15 for a sandwich?

I also enjoyed a large BLT. Thick white toast enveloped a generous amount of crispy bacon and lettuce with adequate dressing. Cape Cod chips are a big plus here. This meal was on the cheaper side at around $11. Here's where menu tactics come into play though.

Let's think about this. It's $11 for a BLT, and that's a bit much for something simple like a BLT. For a couple bucks more you can get the aforementioned steak sandwich. Logically, you get more and better for a small price gap with the steak sandwich.

On another note, Longtrail is a good beer.

361 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, 617 247 4777, www.parishcafe.com

Pigalle - Theatre District

Restaurant Week is a funny thing. If you don't know what Restaurant Week entails then I'll give you a quick rundown. Restaurants that participate in the event offer a prix-fixe three-course lunch and dinner for $20.08 and $33.08 respectively. This means that upscale restaurants and average-budget restaurants cost the same for the week. The advantage to this is that you can go to a high end restaurant and not have to pay an absurd amount of money.

This is how I was able to go to Pigalle for a seafood dinner. Dimly lit with a very formal environment, Pigalle isn't a place I would frequent, but it was a good experience. Also consider that this meal probably would have easily cost over $100 normally.

I began the night with oysters on the half-shell, which I have craved for some time, but never tried. I am fond of mussels, but the gelatinous consistency of oysters had always eluded me until now. Dressed in a light salsa, the oysters seemed a little overpowered by the dressing--oysters do not have a very potent flavor naturally so that coupled with the chilled temperature and dressing made it very difficult to determine what the natural oyster flavor was. Regardless of crustaceous authenticity or not, they were a nice light introduction to the meal.

Next was the entree, crusted Salmon on a bed of greens--cilantro and bok choy if I can recall correctly. The salmon was juicy and cooked to a good consistency, the moist bed of vegetables underneath it was flavorful and complemented the salmon well. A good plate overall, but about halfway through it I think the flavor became a bit tedious--the mixture of the greens and seafood started to take its toll in a monotous way. I think a plate like this would benefit greatly from a side of some sort to distract from the salmon every once in a while--maybe a fancy mashed potato or salad.

For dessert, a coconut panna cotta in a strawberry sauce. This was good pairing with the seafood. Oddly enough, I found that this was my favorite part of the meal--and I do not have a sweet tooth. The mild flavor of the panna cotta was a great vessel for the sweet strawberry sauce.

If you're lucking dump some cash out of your wallet and you can get over the whole French thing then you'll probably like this place. I think my palate is a bit taxed by upscale restaurants like this. You should definitely take advantage of Restaurant Week when you can though.

75 Charles St., Boston, MA 02116, 617 423 4944, www.pigalleboston.com

Home away from home

After a long day spent in the cotton mines of American Apparel, several co-workers and I organized a ritual imbibing of liquids and mastication of wheat, meat and other various compounded edibles. Certain amicable fellows were present such as Austin Bousley of the infamous Vallon and Taylor McVay of the House of Quality.

Other art bureaucrats included Benjamin Clay Lee and Travis England--and yes, they do have quite regal names. New Castle and Longtrail beers were provided and home made tomato sauce with sausage, meatballs and chicken cutlets were delivered via hidden ancestral trails. Fancy cheese and baguettes were present, but continually scoffed at as the cheese proceeded to literally deflate immediately upon arrival.

Here, we see that the festivities were not all merry--a brooding fork strike accompanied by a sullen, downcast, stare left us all in a state of bewilderment.

Pour House - Back Bay

Scene:

A trio of male sophomores garbed in baggy khaki shorts, baseball caps, and polo shirts huddle around a golf arcade machine in a bustling bar with loud music.

The song Sunglasses at Night by Corey Hart comes on and they chuckle maniacally. The words "dude" and "pissah" are exchanged frequently and homophobic insults seem to arise from nowhere.

Lacking female companionship and retreating to their cavernous dorms for slumber. Each bro reclines in their respective beds and sheds a single desolate tear in mourning of their arrogant facade . . .

End scene.

That said, the Pour House is a great bar. I enjoy it thoroughly: cheap food and drinks in large portions--all is well. Venture to it on a weeknight and find that cheap food is even cheaper with Mexican night accordingly offering half off all burrito, tacos, and tortilla blanketed meat items of all sorts. I bet you can't guess what Chicken Sandwich Night entails. The beer mugs are very tall and frosted so you get your money's worth and then some. Service is quite fast and the constant blaring of 80s and 90s hits guarantee that you or one of your comrades will be acknowledging the music selection at some point.

This place continually surprises me. I got a hot dog meal that consists of two hot dogs, baked beans, and potato salad. I expected mediocre fare since the meal was only around $7. Yet the dogs were quite good with toasted buns and a slight buttery taste. The potato salad was impressive with a proportionate amount of mayonnaise--amazing considering most restaurants take this as an opportunity to skimp. Last of all, the baked beans were great. I am a baked bean connoisseur of sorts and I do declare that the amount of bacon and caramelized onions in the baked beans completed the meal dutifully.

I strongly suggest all to take part in the Pour House's delights. A night of good drinking is to be had here with cheap h'ourderves--$8 for 26 hot wings, or a mountain of nachos for a similar price. Drink merrily with friends and munch on these treats! I command it. Do beware of cold weather though--the constant opening and closing of the door on Boylston makes for a draft that some may not deem bearable. The music downstairs is really loud too. So if you have delicate sensibilities you may have to confront some peeves.

907 Boylston St., Boston MA, 617 236 1767 www.pourhouseboston.com