Boston Restaurant Blog -- December, 2010

The other day, a few of us were talking about meals at restaurants that are so good that no one even speaks while eating them--in other words, the food is so good that words cannot describe it. I have had a few such experience over the past several years or so, including some recent dishes at Boston-area restaurants. I could probably list many such experiences from over the years, but have whittled it down to ten memorable ones, starting with meals at local eateries and working my way out through New England and beyond (all the way to the West Coast, actually). So without further ado, the list:

1) Bucatini Carbonara from Metropolis Cafe, Boston (South End)
One of my top three overall dining experiences in 2010 was at this little restaurant on Tremont Street in the heart of the South End, with the absolutely sublime bucatini carbonara taking my breath away. The hollowed-out pasta was the perfect choice for this meal, as it allowed the amazingly rich sauce to filter into the pasta. The combined tastes and textures of egg, cheese, pork, and pasta within this marvelous dish at the Metropolis Cafe is one that I still dream about nearly every week.

2) Nutella-Smothered French Toast from Victoria's Diner, Roxbury
I've had this breakfast item a few times at this little-known diner in an industrial section of the city near South Bay and Newmarket Square, and I can never tell whether I stop talking when I eat it because I'm in awe of the rich and sweet nuttiness of the Nutella mixing with the savory taste of the French toast, or whether it's simply because I'm slipping into a food coma. This is NOT a dish you want to eat if you have a lot of plans for the day, but if your plans are to sit on the couch and watch bad TV, this sinful and decadent dish from Victoria's is hard to beat. [PHOTO]

3) Pressed Cuban Sandwich from Chez Henri, Cambridge
I have had the pressed Cuban sandwich (or Cubano, if you will) at Chez Henri several times now, and it seems that each time I do, I position myself into a hunch (much like Guy Fieri in "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives), pick up the sandwich, and eat it without saying a word. I've been noticing that my dining companions sometimes do the same, which indicates that a) I'm not being anti-social, and b) they are as amazed by this wonderful mix of pork, ham, cheese, pickles, mustard, and bread as I am. [PHOTO]

4) Curried Mushroom Soup from Strip-T's, Watertown
Strip-T's doesn't look like much from the outside, but some of the best dishes I've had anywhere have come from this little cafe between Mt. Auburn and Arsenal Streets. And the one dish that nearly made my eyes pop out of my head was one that I tried for the first time not too long ago, perhaps because it is not always available. But the curried mushroom soup is ridiculously good, with its impossibly deep and rich-tasting broth and its plethora of yummy mushrooms that soak up the warm spices mixed into the soup. If only they offered it every day, I would be even more of a regular here.

5) Roast Beef Sandwich from Nick's Famous, Beverly
Another place that doesn't exactly scream out "Look at me" when you drive past it, Nick's Famous Roast Beef on Route 1A in this North Shore community is nevertheless THE place to go for a roast beef sandwich. I still remember going there for the first time; we ordered our sandwiches and grabbed a table, squirming around in anticipation of what was to come. And it didn't disappoint, as the freshly-sliced, paper-thin, slightly warm roast beef and the hearty sauce made for an experience that made me almost feel like I would never need to go anywhere else for a roast beef sandwich (or any kind of sandwich) ever again.

6) Idli Sambar from Kabob and Curry, Providence, RI
For those who think Indian food is all about red-hot spices, it is simply not true. Some dishes are downright mild, including the tremendous idli sambar from Kabob and Curry at College Hill on Providence's East Side. But this doesn't mean that this steamed rice and lentil dumpling dish is bland; indeed, the mouthwatering breadlike dumplings are mixed with a delicious lentil sauce that has various warming herbs and spices, including curry leaves and mustard seeds. When I tried this dish earlier this year, I had the Homer Simpson look going, chewing quietly with my eyes closed and not saying a peep. I'm not sure Homer would like this food item, but I certainly did.

7) Pizza from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, New Haven, CT
The first time I tried the pizza at Frank Pepe's in the "Little Italy" section of New Haven, I remember we were talking a mile a minute about various things when we were first seated, from music to movies to food. When the pizza came to our table, however, an instant hush came upon us, which lasted until the last bite was taken. It was one of those "in the presence of greatness" moments, when you know you have had a nearly life-altering moment. And in a way, we did, because ever since then, I have been constantly comparing pizzas to those at Pepe's, which to me has become the standard-bearer for pizza in the Northeast. [PHOTO]

8) Grilled Maple Bread from 158 Main Restaurant and Bakery, Jeffersonville, VT
I could almost simply say "See #2" when it comes to this dish, as both the Nutella-smothered French toast from Victoria's and the grilled maple bread from 158 Main are similarly coma-inducing. But they are also very different, as the breakfast dish from this local haunt in the tiny Northern Vermont hamlet of Jeffersonville is covered with a maple glaze that may be the richest thing I've ever tasted. The freshly-made griddled cinnamon raisin bread used for the dish is similarly over the top in taste (and calories), making this a dish you might want to eat if there is a couch or bed nearby that you can use.

9) Pizza from Di Fara, Brooklyn, NY
Speaking of pizza (see #7), a pie that comes awfully close to Pepe's in New Haven can be found in a mostly pleasant little neighborhood of Brooklyn (Midwood) that is just far enough away from Manhattan that Di Fara remains a bit under the radar. We went to this tiny spot a few years ago to try the pepperoni pizza, getting lost a couple of time before finding it. I was in awe of this place from the start, with its history and near-legendary status, and silently ate a few slices of the astoundingly good pie in the corner while ignoring the outside world. Our minor quibble of too much olive oil on the pizza can't take away from the fact that this was another "in the presence of greatness" moments, much like that of Pepe's. [PHOTO]

10) Double Cheeseburger from Hodad's, Ocean Beach, CA
I've always said that if I didn't live in Boston, a place I would gladly move to would be the Sunset Cliffs near San Diego's Ocean Beach. But the beautiful homes and gorgeous ocean views are not the only reasons for me; another is that the cliffs are within walking distance of Hodad's, an offbeat little burger joint frequented by surfers. Easily the best burger I have ever had, the Hodad's double cheeseburger wrapped in wax paper indeed left me speechless when I bit into one for the first time, not only because the juicy goodness of the sandwich was one for the ages, but also because my jaw nearly locked trying to get my mouth around it. And yes, I would definitely consider flying 3,000 miles for this amazing food item again.

Unfortunately, there were several other great dishes that I had to leave off this list, so perhaps I'll do a #11-20 list at some point in the future. In the meantime, I need to find something to eat because this list has made me very, very hungry.

Posted by MH, Boston's Hidden Restaurants, on December 21, 2010.
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