Nu Burger

 

If you're anything like us the one thing you've been dying for during this pandemic is a great burger.  Well we recently had one at Nu Burger, a pop-up burger outpost at Anoush’ella in the South End.  It was everything and more that satisfied the hunger for a juicy, meaty experience.

I went with the Pesto Basilico with fresh mozzarella, basil pesto, roasted tomato, lettuce and crispy pancetta.  Medium rare, dripping with flavor, fresh ingredients and a toasted brioche bun it was all we had been craving for.  We've had other burgers during this pandemic but nothing nearly as good as this.

My dining companion enjoyed the Umami Truffle with pecorino, truffles, fried egg, tomato, balsamic shallot, arugula and aioli and reported equally satisfying results.  "The best I've had in years," being the exact quote.  There are a few other varieties you can find on the menu and we both vowed to go back and try them, as well.  Why go anywhere else when you've had the best?

It's really quite difficult during these trying times to report on the vibe of a place or even an area with most places that were once thriving now literal ghost towns, shocking us with an eerie emptiness but we saw more people out and about in the South End than in other locations, all properly masked and practicing covid-19 etiquette.  And the steady stream of takeout orders was impressive.  Then again, good food will always be in demand.

Anoush’ella

35 West Newton Street

Boston MA 02118

Telephone:  857.265.3195

Socials:

@anoushellakitchen

@thebostonfoodie

@deano_iam

@theboysofTBF

Frenchie Boston

We stopped by Frenchie Boston in the South End recently for a festive weekend brunch and were not disappointed.  It's a chic little spot with an authentic French bistro feel (after all, the owner is from Paris) in this fashionable, eclectic spot in the city.

We imbibed in a holiday cocktail as we tasted our way through the menu including a Buckwheat Pancake With Mushrooms that was quite nice.

The Frenchie Toast, laden with apples and sweet syrup was one of our favorites.

A Duck Confit With Egg was an unusual, delicious menu item.

Eggs Benedict were served up on a flaky, fresh croissant.

Crepes Nutella And Grapes was another nice dish for the sweet-lovers.

And what would brunch at a bistro be without a Crème brûlée perfectly flavored with a delicate, elusive vanilla nuance.

All in all a fine way to spend a leisurely weekend in Boston with a distinct Parisian feel.

Frenchie Boston

560 Tremont Street

Boston, MA  02118

Telephone:  857.233.5941

Socials:

@FrenchieBoston

@TheBostonFoodie

We attended this brunch as members of the media.  All opinions expressed are our own.

Date Night Deal At Coda Bar And Kitchen

We were recently invited to Coda Bar And Kitchen in the South End to experience their Monday evening Date Night special.

This is a special dining offer for two and, yes, we know that Monday may not be your typical date night but if you can make it then you'll be able to enjoy this really great value.

The deal is that you get two appetizers, very generous portions I must say, then split a main course and dessert all for forty dollars total.  Not bad!

 

I opted for this Endive Salad which was quite good and the runny egg you see there was every bit as perfect as it looks.  Of course both of us shared the appetizers and there was plenty enough to go around.

 

The Crispy Polenta was our favorite taste, however.  Perfectly done with a chicken confit inside and floating in a puddle of creamy tomato soup.  Really good.

Our main was this Half Chicken which, again, was perfectly turned out.  Somebody here really knows how to roast a chicken and the brussels sprouts were also excellent. 

For dessert we opted for these Ice Cream Sandwiches made with chocolate chip cookies and vanilla gelato.

All in all a great value and we did not leave feeling hungry.  The appetizer portions, as mentioned, were quite substantial.  In fact, this was more satisfying than the sea of "small plates" restaurants where one can spend a lot more and depart feeling like you now need to go somewhere else for dinner after dropping a hundred dollars on a few drinks and tastes.

Of course, there are other menu options to choose from as listed in the photo above.  A glass of wine will add about an additional ten to eleven bucks per person.  We went with a dry Finger Lakes region Riesling that was perfect.  So, Monday nights are it if your looking for a quality night out in Boston at a very reasonable price.

Coda Bar And Kitchen
329 Columbus Avenue
Boston, MA  02116
Telephone:  617.536.CODA

@CodaBarBoston
@TheBostonFoodie

We were invited to dinner as guests with no promise of any editorial coverage or consideration.

 



La Motta's

When asked to preview La Motta's  (a name easy to remember for that movie) we were curious.  It's the South End spot where Union Bar and Grille used to be.  Let's go.

The space has been pretty much revamped and centers on a large, lively bar but still manages to have that rustic Italian tavern-like feel.  We scored a seat behind the bar, a great perch to people-watch and overlooking what could actually be a courtyard in Italy.

The food is classic Italian-American fare and not skimpy on the portions.  The Chicken Parmigiana pictured above was exactly and as comforting as one would expect.  The mound of Burrata was, too. And the Garlic Bread.

As we visited before opening to the general public it's hard to gauge the entire experience before a revisit.  The crowd was well-suited South End gentlemen, eclectic couples, happy drinkers and a few fine-skinned boy model lookalikes who know where to buy shoes.  But it was a welcoming, congenial space and the fare was casual and right out of Momma's American kitchen.

We want to go back on a snowy night and look out the windows onto the street as we sip wine and enjoy the warmth inside, a welcome plate of familial goodness in front of us.

La Motta's
1357 Washington Street
Boston, MA  02118
Telephone:  617.338.5300
Twitter:  @LaMottaBoston
Instagram:  @LaMottaBoston