Ethnic and Regional Cuisines

Latest Articles

Review: Thornton's Grille

Giving people what they want
Restaurants are notoriously difficult businesses to start up, with survival rates not unlike those of small countries with larger, hostile neighbors. But some people know how to put them together so they'll stick around awhile.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | June 29, 2010

Review: El Parque

A Mexican oasis in Portsmouth’s Island Park
Recent talk of favorite eateries turned to places with "a good vibe." That certainly holds true for El Parque, a relative newcomer to Portsmouth’s Island Park neighborhood.
By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | June 22, 2010

Review: Basho Japanese Brasserie

A tasty fusion of new and traditional Japanese fare
Weirdly situated in the Fenway, this large restaurant from the owners of Back Bay's Douzo conveys an immediate sense of space well apportioned, with the minimalist fascination of the best haiku.
By ROBERT NADEAU | June 24, 2010

Beyond the State: What's reopening where

Venue Watch
As we enter Portland's busy season, there are several comings-and-goings (we'll focus on the comings and less on the goings) to keep track of as we plan our summer outings and evenings on the town.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | June 24, 2010

Review: Wu's

Turning up the heat in Westerly
When I heard that Wu’s was the favorite restaurant of a vegetarian acquaintance, I thought we might give it a try.
By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | June 08, 2010

Bombay Club

A favorite local Indian eatery finds a new home
As we were on our way home from dinner at Bombay Club, Mrs. Nadeau said, "We didn't try any curries — we missed that."
By ROBERT NADEAU | June 09, 2010

Review: Temple Downtown

From graffiti to Gorgonzola
Temple Downtown certainly has gone through changes.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | June 02, 2010

Review: Coppa

A complicated conception with a delicious finish
One of the strange features of the Great Recession is the incredible complexity of down-market maneuvers.
By ROBERT NADEAU | June 28, 2010

Review: Anna D Café

A creative spin on classic comfort food
A roadside diner on a busy thoroughfare like Route 138 on Aquidneck Island has a captive audience of New York-to-Cape Cod travelers and summer visitors to nearby vineyards.
By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | May 19, 2010

Classic Italian

JP’s Bistro offers a trip back to the Gilded Age
America has reached the point where strip-mall dining can make us nostalgic.
By BRIAN DUFF | May 12, 2010

Lee’s Store and Bakery

Another worthy source for one of Boston’s best budget sandwiches
I’ve long relied on Web sites like Chowhound and Yelp for tips on new restaurants.
By MC SLIM JB | May 14, 2010

Yasu

Tiptoeing into the shallow end of the Korean-cuisine pool
I adore Korean “BBQ”: marinated slices of raw meats that you cook on a little grill inset directly into your tabletop.
By MC SLIM JB | May 05, 2010

La Masseria

Exemplary Italian fare in East Greenwich
The first thing to say about La Masseria is that, despite its name meaning “farmhouse” and its décor focusing on earth tones with exposed brick and pitchfork tines hanging on one wall, it’s a beautiful space.
By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | May 05, 2010

Ardeo at Waterplace

A sturdy culinary link
There are two kinds of chain restaurants. Some are stamped out with cookie cutters and rely on customers being attracted to something familiar. And others go for quality as the common denominator, standardizing what has been fine-tuned but allowing for creative differences.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | April 28, 2010

La Galleria 33

A new, old-school-style addition to the city’s longest-thriving dining district
As you go deeper into the North End on Salem Street, the pretense drops toward the levels of old, pre-gentrification “Little Italy.”
By ROBERT NADEAU | April 28, 2010

Falafel Corner

A Middle Eastern takeout joint that’s way better than it has to be
Much anguished ink has been spilled on the mall-ification of Harvard Square, as many quirky veteran restaurants have given way to unremarkable national chain outlets. But things aren’t all dire: some interesting, worthy venues have opened lately with modest Indian, Korean, vegan, and other options on the way.
By MC SLIM JB | April 28, 2010

El Pelón Taquería

New home, same winning way with fish tacos
A 2009 fire in the Fenway destroyed an entire block of beloved independent restaurants, including the very popular El Pelón Taquería. It was the second fire in two years to hit this Baja-style joint, prompting my comment, “If there is a God, he’s an angry God, one who probably dines at Applebee’s.”
By MC SLIM JB | April 21, 2010

Cafe Mamtaz

Bracing subcontinental flavors burst into Southie
You have to admire pioneers in the restaurant business like Pho Republique, which took a big risk in 1999 by opening in a half-gentrified corner of the South End.
By MC SLIM JB | April 14, 2010

Second act

Veranda opens an excellent Noodle Bar
One of the fundamental principles of marketing is that since competition is inevitable, you might as well be your own rival.
By BRIAN DUFF | April 14, 2010

Tremont Street Cafe

Just your typical South End deli/bakery/cafe/juice bar/gelateria/organic convenience store
Many budget restaurants I review have a single-item focus: hot dogs, banh mi, zapiekanki. They say, “We do one thing, and do it really well.” Then there are the Swiss army knives.
By MC SLIM JB | April 07, 2010

Diego’s

No sombreros allowed
Sometimes you don’t want just a taco or two, or the usual burrito stuffed with rice and beans as the quickest way to fill you up.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | May 17, 2010

Barlow’s Restaurant

When in doubt, ask for a second opinion
It’s not unusual for this column to have a different opinion of restaurants than the column in the Boston Globe — I favor a flatter bell curve.
By ROBERT NADEAU | March 31, 2010

Restaurante Montecristo

Another budget-priced Eastie winner serving traditional Central American fare
East Boston is a treasure trove of Latin American restaurants serving delicious, filling fare.
By MC SLIM JB | April 01, 2010

Sonoma Grille

A lot more than retsina
Sonoma Grille has a lot going for it.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | May 17, 2010

Tallulah on Thames

World-class dining in Newport
The buzz about any new restaurant often takes a few months to circulate. For Tallulah on Thames, it took just a few days.
By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | March 24, 2010

SXSW 2010: British Invasion

WFNX honcho rates his four best English bands at SXSW
These four bands from the UK left me hungry for more.
By MIKE TIERNEY | March 24, 2010

Red Lentil Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant

No meat? No problem.
By now everyone knows Red Lentil is dog-plays-the-piano good. It’s the best all-vegetarian and lots-vegan restaurant Boston has ever had. The question before us is: is it actually good -good?
By ROBERT NADEAU | April 29, 2010

Symphony 8 Restaurant & Bar

Time to face the music
Everyone wants to have a gastro-pub with comfort food, but you have to be able to cook a little bit to sustain one. It also helps to draw a clean draught beer, maintain a quality wine list, and sweep the floor.
By ROBERT NADEAU | March 17, 2010

10 things to do on St. Patty's Day 2010

You don't have to be Irish to score some fun this St. Patrick's Day
Places to go, food to eat, and where to have fun on this Irish holiday.
By BOSTON PHOENIX WEB TEAM | March 18, 2010

Azama Grill

An Egyptian kebab shop rises above the Allston student-food stereotype
As someone who dines out nearly nightly in Boston at every level — from highfalutin snob joints to decrepit diners — I'm often amazed at the lack of correlation between prices and love.
By MC SLIM JB | March 17, 2010