Trina’s Starlite Lounge - Review

Trina’s Starlite Lounge is a Williamsburg, Brooklyn hipster spot right here in Inman Square. Formerly The Abbey Lounge, this new “southern diner with a twist” is retro-chic inspired by the 1940s and 1050s. Outside it looks like a dive. Inside, there’s leather booths, wood floors and plenty of period touches – vintage cocktail shakers, a ‘50s Maytag refrigerator, and old beer trays. Nostalgic pictures line the walls and the bathroom is covered with ads from old Life Magazines. The menu is a throwback as well. Great appetizers/sides include the sweet potato hash and the pepperoni roll. For main courses, try the fried chicken & buttermilk waffles with hot pepper syrup; or the pan seared sirloin steak with dirty gravy and onion rings. They also serve a variety of hot dogs (griddled, corn and chili cheese); pressed sandwiches like the applewood smoked turkey BLT; and Angus burgers. Also on tap is a healthy beer list (Miller High Life ponies anyone?) and creative cocktails like the fallen angel - spicy mango margarita and Angelique tequila. For a taste of underground cool on the Cambridge/Somerville border, Trina’s Starlite Lounge is the place to be.
Trina’s Starlite Lounge, 3 Beacon Street, Somerville, 617-576-0006.
http://trinastarlitelounge.com/

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Lord Hobo - Review

Lord Hobo Review – Lord Hobo is an upscale reincarnation of the beloved retro-dive bar, B-Side Lounge. The B-Side was one of Cambridge’s hippest hangouts, and when it shut down last year, it left a huge void in the local cocktail scene. The newly opened Lord Hobo hopes to pick up the slack with a comprehensive menu of wines, beers and creative cocktails, as well as elegant gastropub fare. Like the trendiest New York hotspots, there’s no sign outside (only the old “Windsor Cafe and Pickwick Ale” logo from owners past) and there’s a bouncer/gate-keeper at the door. After walking through a big curtain, inside there’s deep red walls, moody track lighting, modern art, and a rich mahogany bar with 30 taps. They offer 39 wines (Antinori Tignanello, Opus One); 41 draught beers (Stone Ruination, Dale’s Pale Ale); and 24 imaginative cocktails like Hot For Teacher ( white rum, St. Germain, limes, and mint leaves). But Hobo is not just an alcohol palace, owner Daniel Lanigan takes the food very seriously as well. For an appetizer, try the hand-cut truffle chips; or the fried sweet neck oysters with vinegar cabbage and remoulade. Excellent main courses include the hanger steak in red wine demi sauce; and the saffron risotto paella with mahogany clams, mussels and calamari. Also delicious is the Maine lobster mac & cheese. If you want to mingle with Cambridge hipsters while enjoying unparalleled liquor options with superb food, Lord Hobo is king.
Lord Hobo, 92 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, 617-250-8454
http://www.lordhobo.com/
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The Red House Restaurant Review

The Red House Restaurant Review – Eating in this charming 200-year-old home transports diners back to 19th-century Harvard Square. Built in 1802, this red clapboard cottage still has the original creaky wood floors, working fireplaces and crooked stairs. Situated in the first settled section of Old Cambridge, this historic residence was located near the jail house, blacksmith and local market place. On the second floor are romantic pine-paneled private dining rooms lit by Victorian lanterns. Downstairs, there’s a modern bar with flat screen TV, and a contemporary 55-seat dining room with a skylight. The Restaurant also has a wonderful outdoor patio enclosed by a quaint white picket fence. The menu features inventive new American cuisine with an emphasis on seafood. All entrees are offered European-style – in full and half sizes – encouraging patrons to sample multiple selections. Great appetizers include the Roasted Mixed Beets with toasted pecans; and the Pan-Seared Sea Scallops with mustard greens and apple-celery remoulade. For a main course, try the Linguini Con Carciofi with artichoke hearts, garlic, plum tomatoes & crushed red pepper; or the Lobster Risotto with wild mushrooms, Italian parsley & fontina. Though the food can be inconsistent, the décor and ambiance make up for any shortcomings. If you want to experience the magic of early Cambridge, a visit to The Red House is a must.
The Red House, Harvard Square, 98 Winthrop St., Cambridge, 617-576-0605.
http://theredhouse.com/
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Temple Bar Cambridge - Restaurant Review

Temple Bar Cambridge Restaurant Review – Located between Harvard and Porter Square, Temple Bar feels like an ultra-cool neighborhood bistro. This hip restaurant/bar offers sophisticated American cuisine in a trendy, yet relaxed environment. It’s named after a lively area in Dublin – a feeling which is immortalized in a mural of Irish partiers hanging on the restaurant’s back wall. Exposed brick, leather furniture and oversized mirrors mix with traditional oak paneling to creative a welcoming atmosphere for both hipsters and families alike. Chef Michael Scelfo’s flavorful new American cuisine only adds to the magical vibe. For an appetizer, try the Buttermilk Crisped Calamari with fennel sea salt and sweet shallot; or the Cider Braised Pork Belly with malt vinegar aioli. Great main courses include the Seared Scallops with house cured pancetta & sweet onions; and the Angus Strip Steak with rosemary-sea salted pommes frites. They also offer a late night bar menu with delicious flatbread pizzas and killer spiced crab cakes. In addition, there’s a buzzing bar area serving creative cocktails like the Tito’s vodka martini served with blue cheese stuffed olives. Temple Bar is a rare place that makes cool accessible to everyone, while offering great food and leaving the attitude at the door.
Temple Bar, 1688 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 617-547-5055.
http://www.templebarcambridge.com

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Dali Restaurant Review

Dali Restaurant Review – Simply put, this Spanish tapas bar is sexy. Dalí captures the seductive passion of Barcelona, and like its namesake (Salvador Dalí), is infused with a romantic surrealism aimed to shatter life’s daily dullness. Walk through the wooden doors of this blue shingled eatery and enter a festive party with an atmosphere of pure sensuality. A glowing copper ceiling, elaborately tiled tables, and walls packed with Iberian art and trinkets create the feeling of a mysterious gypsy lair. Spirited Spanish waiters roll their r’s as they bring sherry and sangria, and explain Dalí’s over 40 exotic tapas offerings. Diners flirt while sharing their small plates, and beaded curtains create corner alcoves for those seeking more privacy (last year there were over 15 marriage proposals in this magical bistro). Delicious tapas selections include Chipirones Rellenos – stuffed squid in its own ink; Gambas Con Gabardina – saffron-batter fried shrimp with mojo sauce; and Butifarras Con Brevas – pork sausage with figs. Excellent main courses include their mouthwatering Pescado a la Sal – tenderized sea bass baked in coarse salt (the fish arrives tableside in a block of salt which is dramatically smashed by your waiter). For dessert, try the amazing fruit-filled dessert crepe with chocolate sauce and orange liquor. For an exciting restaurant experience that arouses all the senses, Dalí delivers.
Dalí Restaurant, 415 Washington Street, Somerville, 617-661-3254 http://www.dalirestaurant.com/
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