It's been awhile but I'm back in the foodie saddle! I've got some recipe updates but I thought I'd share two restaurant reviews first.
Persephone is a new spot located in the up and coming Fort Point Channel area, just a short walk from South Station. The premise of the place is a bit too hip for me - it's a restaurant located inside a clothing boutique. But, in reality you just walk past the clothes to get to the restaurant and it's not a huge deal. I guess you're supposed to be lured into dropping $300 on those designer jeans that you won't be able to fit into after you eat, but whatev. We were seated promptly at a lovely table by the windows. The space has an industrial, modern feel to it but still maintains some warmth and liveliness. On our way to the table, we walked through the bar/lounge area which looks like a terrific spot for the after-work crowd. In addition to several flat screens showing the Sox game, there are also two screen connected to Wii's. Patrons can try their skills at Wii bowling or any other number of games - all while sipping delish cocktails and nibbling yummy bites.
Alright, back to the food. The menu is set up, rather annoying I might add, by size. We had to ask what would be an appropriate amount to order. Luckily, our server must get the question a lot because she had the answers down pat. We decided to do several appetizers and then split an "extra large" entree. Anyone who knows my husband knows there is no way he'll pass up the chance at a 34 oz. sirloin steak! The apps were terrific. K's raw bar selection was fresh and good; the red curry wings were a terrific update to your average buffalo wing; and the Duck egg/mushroom/toast dish was tasty enough. I'd highly recommend the wings if you visit. The gigantic steak arrived next, with a delicious basket of fries and a side of creamed spinach. The meat was well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. We devoured most of it, and took the rest home for the yummiest steak and egg breakfast sandwiches ever the next morning. The wine list was reasonably priced and had a few interesting bottles. Cocktails were superb. Service was friendly and efficient. The bill ended up being more than we had figured - the steak was probably overpriced by $20 but it was so delicious that we quickly came to terms with the extra dough being shelled out. Can you tell I really loved the vibe of Persephone? It was cool, but not too cool for an almost-30 something who has left the scene behind. Two thumbs up, highly recommend.
And then there was our trip to Rialto. I had been longing to give this restaurant a try since we moved to Cambridge but K had been before and hadn't been terribly wowed so it fell to the bottom of our list of restaurants. And frankly, it could have stayed there. Our dinner was good, but not great. My pasta was rich and delicious, but seriously involved like six pieces of gnocci. My stuffed veal was dry and a bit bland. K enjoyed his little neck appetizer and his steak but thought the one we got at Persephone's was better. Full disclosure: I wasn't a huge fan of the wine we ordered, which certainly isn't Rialto's fault, but it probably had an impact on my opinion of the food. Dessert was banana fritters that tasted little like banana. Luckily there was some homemade chocolate ice cream that accompanied them which was delicious. Service was attentive and excellent. The decor is beautiful. And the food is good, but I doubt we'll be back. Mixed thumbs, recommended with reservation.