Restaurant & Bar Reviews

This is a great spot in a small town of Rhode Island, really far above the standard that you might expect as a local spot. The view from the Boat House Waterfront is fantastic as the restaurant sits overlooking the water and you have a perfect view to the sunset or oncoming lightning storm (depending on the weather!) The service has always presented as classy and I’ve only had a tiny malfunction of receiving a dressed salad versus undressed. The entree selection is appropriate for the location and the wine list always has something worth tasting (last time I was here we had a bottle of Artemis) They happily customized a grilled scallop dish for me during my last visit. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating depending on the weather you choose! Only recommendation I have is to not sit outside at the far right side of the restaurant as their is a unique draft that you wouldn’t experience even a few feet more forward to the entrance.

What a surprise! We didn’t know what to expect when visiting Ottawa for dining. I am so happy we found this spot, the food was AMAZING. We made reservations not knowing their was a courtyard in the back, when we arrived we were given the choice and happy took the outdoor seating. The weather in Ottawa in August is phenomenal, we could have sat their all night without issue! Our meal started with a bottle of Hinterland Borealis Sparkling Rose. GORGEOUS! You could taste what seemed like a Malbec in the Fuchsia colored wine. We started with a Scallop dish and some steak tartar. Both were fantastic, the scallop was surrounded by a green coconut curry and poached lobster which completed the flavor perfectly. The tartar had some carmalized beef powder (freeze dried animal fat) that needless to say was avoided….. For the main dishes we had the trout and steak frites, exceptional dishes!

Luma in Toronto is an Oliver and Bonacini restaurant that I stopped into for lunch this past October.

The restaurant is located on the second floor of what looks like a cinema, there is a huge video displayed on an open white wall as you enter the complex. Find the stars on the right of the entrance and walk up, you’ll then find  LUMA!

The food and experience at the restaurant were top notch even though we stepped in just before lunch closed for the day.We were welcomed with open arms and a pleasant smile, the fresh prepared organic food that followed was delicious.

Our lunch consisted of the calamari and scallop special:

And the Mushroom flatbread with the soup of the day.

Both hit the spot and I would highly recommend stopping into LUMA for a meal or a drink if you have an hour to fill and an empty stomach!

After a long walk from our hotel the El San Juan Hotel & Resort we ended our day at a nice French restaurant Trois Cent Onze in Old San Juan.

They have Moët for $15 a glass.

We grabbed a scallop and tartar appetizers to hold us over until dinner:

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The space had a french feel with a contemporary edge, the light bulbs at Trois Cent Onze gave a nice twist.

Checkout  311 ~ Trois Cent Onze  the next time you’re in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Who would have thought the local movement would hit Puerto Rico?  It has and with over the top taste and service that you can experience first hand at 1919 Restaurant in San Juan Puerto Rico! This newly renovated spot is in the Vanderbilt Hotel and will deliver an experience to remember.

1919 Restaurant was recommended to us by our contact at the Hotel El San Juan, thankfully we both ended up getting dressed up otherwise we probably would have felt out of place (it was only suggested business casual.)

The service boarded on what we have received at spots like L’ESPALIER in Boston, very fine and exceptional food! It doesn’t stop there though, the food is locally sourced and organic when possible which kept the wife happy.

Everything was delicious, the service was impeccable and we found out they do an express style lunch for business type traffic during the day, so if you’re not up for an evening out, take a taste during lunch hour! The two dishes that stand out from our order; Scallops (the broth was fantastic) and the Tuna Tartar had a unique rice wafer.

Make a reservation at 1919 Restaurant in San Juan

CONDADO VANDERBILT HOTEL : SAN JUAN : PORTO RICO : 787.724.1919

Nobu is one of the most famous Japanese restaurants in the world. It has outposts all over the world including NewYork,London,Vegas and Miami .The Miami branch is located in the Shore Club on Collins Ave.While the hotel is very funky the restaurant is really simple with no real atmosphere . So you go there for the food.

As I said you come for the food and it is expensive.

We started with tuna sashimi which was excellent.

Rice cakes were good.

Rock shrimp was fantastic

Octopus was fantastic.

Pork belly was very good.

Wontons tasted like wontons.

The most disappointing part of the meal was the sushi.

I enjoyed my meal overall but thought that everything was just a little too pricey.
To make a reservation

We actually started the evening with a few drinks at ‘The Lobby Bar’ in the atrium of the Liberty Hotel. This building was previously “Boston’s Charles Street Jail which had been opened in 1851 as an experiment in prison reformation and closed more than a century later after a judge ruled conditions there were inhumane.” (NPR article)

The building re-opened in September of 2007 after a five-year, $150 million renovation, as the Liberty Hotel. Our night started with a ‘Harvest Margarita’ pictured below and a Besame, both were delicious.

We then moved into CLINK. to commence our dinner.

I was very happy to see they offered gluten free bread to start our dinner (along with normal bread)

We also found an exquisite bottle of wine to take us through the evening, it’s called Darioush (neither of us had it previously and it pleasantly surprised us.)

In regard to food, we started with the Beef Tartar (a little too pureed for our preference) though the ice cream on top was a unique pairing that went well with the overall dish.

When asked between the Tuna Sashimi and the Octopus with Yucca, the waiter said, hands down if you like Octopus this is the best in Boston. While it was good especially when compared with others I’ve had in Boston, I have had better in Argentina.

Our main dishes were another beef dish, and the scallops, both were good, but nothing off the chart. My scallops were especially interesting as they were accompanied by a mix of raw mushrooms and carrots, thankfully I like raw, for those who don’t this may be a little to overpowering to be bearable.

Overall, dinner was nice, the atmosphere entertaining and the wine and cocktails even better. We arrived for a 6pm reservation, the place was packed (Saturday night) by the time we left which was around 9PM. I recommend booking a reservation for CLINK. and heading over early to get a drink at the Lobby Bar and take the architecture and crowd in at your leisure.

Towne is the latest addition to the Lyons group of restaurants in Boston . It is located in Back Bay in the Hynes Convention centre.

The restaurant has not one but 2 of Boston’s celeb chefs, Lydia Shire and Jasper White.

There are 3 bars located on 2 floors and a great outside dining area.

I had the salmon which was excellent.

Deffo worth a visit.
To make a reservation

Fig and Olive in Melrose Place is the latest offshoot of the famous NewYork
eaterie.It is well worth checking out the neighborhood as Melrose Place is really happening at the moment.

Decor is very cool and the outside tasting bar looks like a fun place to hang out.

Food was excellent.

Tuna carpaccio was so good nearly forgot to take a photo.

Tuna and scallop salad was also great.

Veal wonderful

So was the Branzini.

Coffee great as well.
2 thumbs up To make a reservation

Brasserie Jo is located in the Colonnade Hotel on the edge of Back Bay in Boston.

Nothing really interesting about the decor or atmosphere. It is a comfortable place to eat though.

The wine list is excellent and they do serve Chimay my favorite beer.

Scallops were gluton free and very tasty.

Steak frites was very good. No complaints at all.

I do not indulge in dessert but I am assured that it was yummy.To make a reservation