Since it's birthday season, both mine and others, the fancy dinners have been more frequent lately. Last Fri. I took a friend to Anago which I hadn't been to since it moved from Cambridge. The room's very nice and the overall experience was good (except for the stupid couple all snuggled together) but the food didn't knock me out. I never know what makes me bite into something and just melt or eat it and think, wish I wasn't spending this much. We got the tasting menu which I think is an anniversary special this month at $58 each. First course was foie gras and some salmon. Nice. The fish course was kind of disappointing, the swordfish was tasty but the lobster was a little boring and a mussel and shrimp were kinda just there. It was served with lentils and personally, I don't want lentils with lobster but maybe that's just me. The meat course was much better, a couple small medallions of lamb and beef tenderloin. The roast pototoes and little glob of mashed were quite good and this was definitely the best course IMO. I was very disappointed in dessert cuz both were frozen, a trio of sorbets which were very nice and a champagne ice type thing which wasn't too exciting. You'd think one of the desserts would be more torte/tart oriented but you'd be wrong. The wine was fine but I'm easy to please as long as it's dry. Okay but no big deal. On the other hand, I got taken to L'Espalier Tues. nite and it was everything they say it is (funny to see the article in the food section of the Globe right after eating there). Beautiful room, knowledgeable but friendly waiter. Amazing bread, you get a choice of about 6 kinds. They have a 3 course prix fixe and a couple tasting menus. I guess you could get something a la carte but it's not on the menu. They start with a little plate of goodies to get you going. There were about 8 or so appetizers to choose from, all very interesting. I got grilled quail with an onion tart and the quail was pretty easy to get at. My brother had a lobster and wild rice appetizer which he loved. He got pheasant and I got venison for the entrees, both came with different foie gras side dishes, foie gras was all over that menu. Plus he insisted on ordering one of the side dishes and we got a great beet risotto with mushrooms. My hazlenut mousse was quite good, nice that they had stuck one of those joke candles in it, but I maybe should have gotten something else. My brother got cheese which I just can't imagine eating after a main course, but that's me and my sweet tooth. I was surprised to see some people pretty casually dressed in there but it really is a place to go for a celebration and a great overall experience. Tonite is that venerable old insitution, Locke Ober. Joanie
Boston, MA