Hidden Gem: Renzo's Pizzeria

Margherita Pizza

Just looking at this picture makes my mouth water. It also makes me want to rethink my decision to cut pizza out of my life until my birthday. (OK so my birthday is only a few weeks away but STILL, no pizza for three weeks is a pretty serious commitment in my book.) Normally I'm a NY style fanatic. You know, that crust that isn't quite deep dish but isn't thin and crispy either. I like to feel my carbs. The weight, the doughiness. You get what I'm saying.

But along came Renzo's and I found myself face-to-face with brick oven pizza like I've never had before. Garlicky, crispy, melty and just plain satisfying. More than satisfying. I mean I'm writing a flipping blog post about it so clearly it's something special.

"The Boulevard" (Grilled chicken with pancetta and BBQ sauce)

 Be warned: you do not go to Renzo's (located on Revere Beach) for the ambiance. The view of the ocean in Revere isn't the worst but it also isn't what I would consider the best either. But you're still on the water so that counts for something, right? And on any given night you can find a suffering musician, performing under seizure-inducing disco lights, singing along to tracks that your grandparents love. 

Truth be told though, after a glass of their delicious sangria, I've completely forgotten about the bad entertainment and am stuffing my face with cheesy goodness. The pizza is THAT good that we go back once every few months. Their prosciutto-wrapped asparagus appetizer is also worthy of a mention. AND you're a few miles outside of Boston so you know you're getting your money's worth.

So next time you're up for a little bit of a drive and are craving the best pizza north of the city, head to Renzo's. You'll thank me.

xoxo,
L

Restaurant Review: Redbones BBQ Somerville

It's baffling to me that I've eaten at this restaurant easily 10 times and I am just now writing a review. If you like good, down-home, stick to your ribs (pun intended) barbecue, this is your place.

pictures from google images

I'll admit, I'm not a BBQ connoisseur and I wasn't born and bred in the south so I go strictly off of what tastes good to me and what makes me do a little happy dance in my chair. Anyone else do a dance when their tummies are content? No? Okay moving on.


It was at Redbones that I was first introduced to fried pickles. These come to your table piping hot and just begging to be gobbled up. Cue salivation. They're served with something reminiscent of a ranch dressing... but so much better.


I rarely step out of my comfort zone when it comes to my main dish because I'm not the biggest fan of pork and I don't particularly care for ribs. They must both be delicious though because my boyfriend and his mother refuse to order anything else. I personally have a love affair with their pulled BBQ chicken. Perfectly saucy and delicious. Call me boring but try it once and you'll understand.


The stars of the show, however, are the side dishes. Specifically the corn pudding. It's savory, cheesy, salty -- all rolled into one bite. I can't fully put into words how delicious it is, you'll just have to try it for yourselves. Luckily, the nice people at Redbones posted the recipe right to their website! I know what I'll be doing this weekend...

pictures from google images

Other notable side dishes were the mac and cheese (recipe here), the cornbread, the corn fritters served with real maple syrup, and the potato salad. These are not to be downplayed because I didn't go into detail about each and every one of them. I promise you will not be disappointed with anything you have there. And they serve lemonade and sweet tea in mason jars. How fun is that?


Sadly I've never tried any of the desserts at Redbones because I've always been too full. And for someone who is a dessert fanatic, that's saying something about their food. But they have choices such as pecan pie, key lime pie and a white trash sundae. Your guess is as good as mine as to what exactly a white trash sundae is.


The decor is that of a hole in the wall bar. The wall is sprinkled with colorful murals, t-shirts, old school photos, etc. It's totally understated but comfortable and exactly what a BBQ place should be. It's a very affordable lunch or dinner spot and prices range from $2-$9 for appetizers, around $10 for sandwich (served beans and potato salad!), and around $20 for entree combos. Service has always been fast and friendly any time I've gone.


Redbones is located at 55 Chester Street, Davis Square, in Somerville, MA. They have a full catering service as well as a food truck that visits downtown Boston during the spring/summer months.

Photo from The Phoenix

I recommend this restaurant to anybody who likes to enjoy great food in a relaxed atmosphere without spending a ton of dough.

xoxo,

L

Restaurant Review: All Seasons Table

Boston has plenty of amazing restaurants and I still have a long list of places I'm dying to try... But sometimes I just need to get out of the city. Is that weird? Maybe it has something to do with my small-town roots. Either way, exploring the 'burbs one restaurant at a time has been a recent hobby of mine.


One of my favorite finds so far is All Seasons Table located at 64 Pleasant Street in Malden. A year ago I wouldn't have been able to find Malden on a map. Now that I've broadened my horizons, I've found a restaurant that offers delicious food and the perfect backdrop for both nights out with the girls AND romantic date nights with your significant other.


On certain nights they have a jazz band playing in the main dining room. The music is soothing and the ideal volume for enjoying the music or carrying on a conversation. They recently expanded and added a second "room" to incorporate more seating. Along with more seating, they added a second bar and sushi bar in this room. The decor is simple and inviting. There are bonsai trees and Asian sculptures scattered around but they do not overwhelm the space.

Their menu is lengthy, but there is something for everyone. All Seaons Table offers Pan-Asian dishes such as Basil Duck with Chili Thai sauce along with more American favorites like crab rangoon and sesame chicken. They also have a full sushi bar with plenty amazing choices. Call me boring, but my favorite is the spicy tuna roll. It's fresh and delicious and I've never been disappointed with a meal here. If you like spice, get the spicy edamame. They are the perfect (healthy!) appetizer. I also happen to LOVE the pineapple fried rice. Not exactly the healthiest option, but sooo yummy and totally worth the calories.


Now for the mai tais. Oh my are they amazing. I used to think all mai tais were created equally but not so at this place. I don't know what they do differently but one sip and I swear, you could easily close your eyes and wake up on the beaches of [insert favorite tropical destination here.]


Note: For those of you who think the mai tai is a "girly" drink -- order the Man's Mai Tai. And then tell me just how manly you were while dealing with your hangover the next day.


Malden is only a quick five mile ride from downtown Boston. Or a 10 minute ride on the Orange Line, if you dare.


Next time you're craving sushi or Chinese food, resist the urge to order in... Make the drive to Malden and you won't be disappointed, I promise!


Until next time,
L