Chopp's American Grill

We recently dined at the newly-opened Chopps American Grill at the Burlington, Marriott, which has undergone an extensive multi-million dollar renovation.  The space was formerly Summer Winter, a fine restaurant that never really took off, operated by Mark and Clark of the famed Arrows in Ogunquit, Maine. Needless to say, Chopps is an American Chophouse with great food and a nice design in a casual setting. We began with drinks.  Pictured above is the Down The Cape:  Vodka, Cointreau and White Cranberry Juice, a nice take on the traditional Cape Cod.

We sampled quite a few of the appetizers.  This Yellowfin Tuna Tartar with White Soy, Ginger and Crispy Wontons.  The tuna was both fresh and succulent and the crispiness of the wontons held up well.  Great way to start the evening.

The Garden Tempura Veggies was served with a Citrus Soy and Green Goddess Dressing.  A perfectly-fried, light but crunchy tempura batter was excellent.  This is a certain choice for a vegetarian dish.

The Pork Shu Mai served with Sweet Teriyaki was steamed and of the right consistency, filling but not underdone or gooey.

The Fritto Misto:  Cornflower Fried Scallops, Shrimps and Calamari with a Lime Tartar Sauce.  This was a standout and our favorite of our initial tastes.  Everything in the basket was fresh and breaded and fried to perfection.  If you're not sure what to try you can absolutely not go wrong with this plate.

The Crispy Pork Belly with Hoison BBQ Sauce and a Napa Cabbage Horseradish slaw was also good. The pork was not overly fatty without compromising the rich flavors one expects.

For my main course I went with the Filet Mignon.  After all those appetizers the small portion was plenty enough and and nothing less than what one would expect in a great filet.  My side was the Tots which I felt had spent just a slight bit too long in the fryer.  Literally seconds less and they would have been perfectly golden.  They were still good.

My dining companion went with the Diver Scallops served with a Garlic Sauteed Spinach and Lime Essence. Plump, full of that fresh sea flavor and perfectly turned out.  excellent.

For a side I can heartily recommend the Grilled Jumbo Asparagus, crispy but not wooden a nice, bright green on the plate.

Our selection of desserts.  The Lemon Meringue Pie was definitely a favorite here.  The NY Style Cheesecake with Graham Cracker crust and Flourless Dark Chocolate Cake were also good but not as light and satisfying after a heavy meal.

Overall a great Chophouse meal in a new space that's both comfortable and inviting.  Sitting in the dining room you would never know that you were in a hotel.  Adjacent to the dining room is also a Great Room, featuring live music, low seating and lighting, a wall-long fireplace and a more casual menu of burgers and quick bites to share, for a more intimate, date night spot.

Chopps American Grill
1 Burlington Mall Road
Burlington, MA  01803
Telephone:  781.221.6643