What is the best part of my parents coming to town? The food. Besides spending time with two of my favorite people in the world, I can always look forward to a weekend break from Usdan and getting out into the culinary world of Boston. This past weekend, while here for Fall Festival, my parents surely fulfilled my cravings; from Friday to Sunday we ventured to a grand total of five restaurants. It's a miracle I can even move after the massive quantities of delicious food we consumed over the three days.
After their mid-morning arrival, my parents and I went to In a Pickle, a local Waltham favorite. The small restaurant wasn't very crowded, as it tends to be at peak hours, and we immediately sat down at a table. I ordered coconut banana French toast with a side of home fries and two eggs, what they call "The Ringer." As far as French toast goes, I consider myself pretty well informed, so I can confidently say it was damn good. The bread was coated with coconut, then cooked and topped with sliced bananas. It was the perfect combination-a little crunchy, sweet, yet hearty. 7/10.
For dinner, we stepped it up a notch and went to Bistro 5, an upscale Italian restaurant located in nearby Medford that was the apex of my dining tour. After pouring over the extensive menu, we ordered appetizers-a delicious, warm golden beet salad with goat cheese on top and, my personal favorite, the crispy tuna. Wrapped in a phyllo shell, the raw tuna was incredibly fresh with a side of avocado and cilantro salad and wasabi tobiko sauce that compliments the bite-sized food perfectly.
As for entrees, I chose spaghetti alla chitara-squid ink and saffron pasta with assorted seafood. I was delighted and relieved that this dish met my high hopes. My companions ordered mushroom gnocchi, scallops and tagliatelle bolognese. The gnocchi was the ideal texture, the sauce was not too creamy, and it had the perfect amount of garlic expected from an Italian restaurant. The scallops were good, yet nothing special, but the plating was adorable-the scallops were over pumpkin risotto, some of which was served in a miniature pumpkin. Though I did not try the tagliatelle, I was told the mixture of veal, beef and pork in a savory red sauce was equally delicious, yet could have used more garlic.
For dessert, we had an apple torta that was perfect for fall and a rich chocolate torte, but the true standout was the evening special- caramelized spaghetti squash in a white chocolate cup topped with ice cream. I wouldn't think an obscure vegetable would make a good dessert, but it emerged as a savory-sweet blend of smooth and stringy textures. 8.5/10.
The next morning, we ventured out to one of my favorite restaurants, The Friendly Toast. Though I have been to this Cambridge restaurant a few times in the past, I always look forward to its eclectic d?(c)cor and perfect brunch fare. To start, I ordered a Pinky milkshake (vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and fresh raspberries). For my main course, I got the classic tofu scramble-tofu, vegetarian sausage, mushrooms, corn, feta and provolone served with a side of home fries. The spicy potatoes go perfectly with a bite of the savory scramble and the proportions of the ingredients were perfect. My table also ordered a pumpkin pancake that had chocolate covered raisins cooked inside; it was good, but I definitely think some of their other pancakes are better, like the King Cakes with bananas and chocolate chips inside, and peanut butter and whipped cream on top. 8/10.
On Saturday night, I went with a group of 14 people consisting of my friends and their families to Watch City Brewery in Waltham. Despite our reservation, we still waited at least 20 minutes for our table, but the manager did compensate for our wait with free appetizers. I was disappointed by my veggie burger, which I distinctly remember as having been much better prepared the last time I was there. The sweet potato fries, however, were once again perfect and the appetizer nachos were a great starter. Other highlights around the table included the lamb burger, which both people who ordered it agreed that it had to have been made in-house, and the steak bombers, which I understood to be a sort of Philly cheese steak egg roll. 5/10.
The last meal my parents and I shared was an impromptu Sunday lunch at Ponzu on Moody Street in Waltham. I had heard rave reviews of their sushi, so I was anxious to try it out, and Ponzu did not disappoint. Their menu truly has something for everyone, from sushi to fried rice. I ordered a shrimp tempura topped with a tuna roll, two pieces of eel nigiri and miso soup.
The shrimp tempura was especially delicious because it had the perfect amount of crunch in the breading, but melted in your mouth. We also ordered an Indonesian Gado Gado salad, consisting of cucumber, jicama, bean sprouts and string beans in a peanut dressing. Not only delectable, this dish was entirely unique and something I've never had at other sushi restaurants. 8/10.
After this weekend, I'm dreading the return to the dining halls and I don't even have any leftovers in my mini-fridge. But I'll be waiting for the next time my parents come for a visit, most likely armed with a handful of new restaurants I'm dying to try.