Besito Mexican Restaurant | Burlington, MA

I am spoiled by living in Somerville. I can literally walk or bike to a large variety of different restaurants and bars anytime I wish (even though I always find myself going to the same few places).

With that being said, it's rare for me to venture out (to the 'burbs, no less!) for a meal. And if I do, that meal better be damn good.

Thankfully, my recent meal at Besito Mexican Restaurant was well worth the short trip over to Burlington.

Besito Mexican might be in the Burlington Mall, but after walking in, you'll forget you're in a mall at all. The setting is borderline stunning, with fabulous lighting and decorative touches throughout. I also immediately appreciated how flawlessly clean and wonderfully quiet the restaurant was.

My cousin and I were seated right away in a comfy booth. We decided to start our meal with some tableside guacamole ($11.95) (made mild, medium, or spicy - we went for spicy) and a round of margaritas (when in Rome, right?).

My cousin ordered the first margarita pictured, the Pepino Margarita ($11), made with Avion blanco tequila, cucumber, jalapeno, Cointreau, agave nectar, and fresh-squeezed lime. I went for the Classic Margarita ($9), made with Blue Agave blanco tequila, triple sec, and lime. Both drinks were spot-on in terms of flavor, and I loved how they both had a nice kick of booze without being overly strong (or worse, too sweet). The tableside guac was plenty to feed two people, and I loved the kick of spice from the jalapenos. (The complimentary chips and salsa here are also super fresh and delicious).

For an appetizer, my cousin and I both enjoyed a Taquitas de Camarones ($11.95), made with crispy shrimp, shredded organic romaine lettuce, pico de gallo, chipotle cream salsa, cilantro, and queso fresco. 

This appetizer is SO worth ordering. The plump shrimp was cooked well, and the accompanying vegetables and sauces blended beautifully with the flavor from the shrimp. This was an ideal way to kick off the rest of our meal.

For entrees, Besito has a large variety of Mexican dishes, including tacos, enchiladas, and "main course" entrees. I went with one of the main course dishes: the Pescado Con Pipian y Atole ($23.95), which featured pan-seared mahi mahi with a blue corn and crab crust, pumpkin seed pipian, sweet corn atole, cilantro, and chayote salad. 

The sauce underneath the mahi mahi was wonderfully silky and well-seasoned, and I adored the crust on the well-cooked fish. 

As a side dish, we got the Platanos con Crema ($4.95), which were fried sweet plantains with crema and queso fresco. They were indulgent and delicious, without being overly greasy or heavy.

All in all, we had a fantastic meal at Besito Mexican. I'll definitely be venturing out of my Somerville bubble again soon to have another meal (and margarita) here!

Have you been to Besito Mexican Restaurant yet? If so, what's your review?

This dinner was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

The Painted Burro in Somerville

Davis Square is probably one of my favorite neighborhoods in Somerville, and we're lucky to live right outside of it. Davis is full of great craft beer, delicious food, and even has a movie theatre where you can drink beer while watching a film. Yeah, Davis is pretty much the coolest.

One of Z and I's favorite restaurants in Davis is The Painted Burro (brought to you by the same folks behind Posto and the soon-to-be Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar). The Painted Burro consistently has delicious, innovative Mexican food and fantastic margaritas, which both pair well with the fun atmosphere and the friendly waitstaff. (Remember when I helped judge their Guac Off?).

I returned to The Painted Burro on a recent humid night for drinks and dinner, and the Pineapple Habanero margarita was an ideal way to kick off the evening. (I didn't mark down the price, but it's probably around $10-$11).

This refreshing margarita on the rocks was slightly sweet with a kick of subtle spice. It really hit the spot on such a hot evening. 

A meal at The Painted Burro always begins with complimentary chips and salsa, but I highly recommend ordering some Mango Guacamole ($10) to help use up your chips with. 

This fun take on traditional guacamole adds juicy mango and serrano chile to the mix for a sweet-and-spicy flavor. The guac was obviously fresh, and borderline addicting (as most guacs are).

Another appetizer worth getting here is the "Cholo" Corn Cob ($6).

Perfectly split between three people, the grilled corn is smothered in garlic mojo mayonnaise, cotija cheese, and cayenne. I loved the flavors in this corn, and the cayenne was present without being overwhelmingly fiery. The corn's definitely messy to eat, but isn't that the fun of eating corn on the cob anyway?

For our entrees, everyone at the table ordered tacos, and I went with the one vegetarian taco option (that's on the summer menu): Grilled Summer Squash ($7).

The summer squash tacos were piled high with fire-roasted tomato salsa, basil puree, and cotija cheese. I originally thought a summer squash taco sounded kind of boring, but the abundant, flavorful toppings really made this taco delicious and surprisingly filling. 

The Painted Burro also has a few fish tacos on their menu right now, which always remind me of summer. One of my dining companions ordered the Mahi Mahi a la Plancha taco ($7.50), served with avocado, jicama, pineapple and serrano salsa, and frisee, and she highly recommended it.

Overall, I had another great meal at The Painted Burro, and I love how they tweak their menus with the seasons (especially considering how often I go there). If you haven't been yet, I definitely recommend checking them out for the consistently good food, strong drinks, and inviting atmosphere. (They also apparently have a great brunch, which I need to check out soon).

What's one of your go-to restaurants? 

This meal was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Blue Lobster Brewing and The Community Oven | Hampton, NH

If you're heading up to the Hampton Beach area this weekend, I have two great places to recommend for pizza and beer - and they're right next door to each other.

Z and I wanted to check out Blue Lobster Brewing Company two weekends ago (after a round of mini golf, of course), but we knew we had to eat something before going in. Thankfully, right in the same plaza is The Community Oven, which serves up great brick oven pizza - as well as a few on-draft Blue Lobster beers (among others).

We decided to order the Balsamic Veggie pizza ($13.25 for a small; $17.75 for a large), which was topped with artichokes, red onions, red peppers, broccoli, and organic diced garlic tomatoes. The pie's then finished with a balsamic reduction, a blend of cheeses, and The Oven’s seasonings.

The pizza was fantastic, and we both loved the thicker, airy crust that still had a little crunch to it. The balsamic reduction was also a wonderful addition to this pizza, and gave each bite a hint of sweetness.

After we had our fair share of pizza, we walked next door to Blue Lobster Brewing. 

Blue Lobster Brewing is a nano-brewery with a spacious, comfortable tasting room. Their freshly brewed beers are available for sampling and for sale at their brewery, and I highly recommend sampling one of each of their beers - as we did.

Besides all of Blue Lobster's beers being quite delicious, Ian - one of the head brewers, along with another guy named Ian (true story) - also made our experience that much more fun. Ian is clearly passionate about his beer, and is excited to tell anyone who walks into his doors about it. Ian even showed us (and the other patrons) the back room, where they brew all of their beer. It was interesting to see how their beer is made, and it made his beer taste that much better, knowing the love and work that goes into every keg.

So, if you find yourself in the Hampton, New Hampshire area this weekend (or anytime this summer, for that matter), definitely give Blue Lobster Brewing and The Community Oven a try. I mean, what's a weekend without beer and pizza anyway? 

Have a safe and happy 4th of July! What are you doing for the holiday weekend?

Belmont Station and APEX | Portland, Oregon

This is the final recap from our four-day Portland trip. So I guess that just means we'll have to visit again, so I can post more recaps...right?

One of our favorite spots on the trip was Belmont Station, a beer store and biercafe featuring 1,201 beers (and 17 uncommon drafts).

We spent most of our time sitting and sipping in the biercafe's seating area in the back (where it's much brighter and open to outside). The biercafe offers over 20 rotating draft beers, which always features a cider and dedicated gluten-free beer tap, as well as a naturally carbonated cask-conditioned beer. On the day we visited, Firestone Walker was in town, and we got to try a vertical of Parabolas (I believe the years were 2010-2013). Parabola is one of my current favorite beers (but watch out: it's strong!), so I loved being able to compare each year side-by-side.

Belmont Station sells a few snacks to munch on, but the real treat is The Italian Market food truck that's usually parked outside. Menus are available in Belmont Station to peruse, but all you have to do is walk outside to order. Z and I split a pretzel with Cheez Whiz for dipping (naturally). It was OK, but nothing like the pretzel at Deschutes Brewery. 

If you're looking for beers to-go, Belmont Station has an impressive bottle shop adjacent to their biercafe. 

Another spot worth checking out in Portland for good beer is APEX. 

Located right across the street from Portobello, APEX was a great place to stop for a beer before dinner. We enjoyed our brews outside on their monstrous patio, which was scattered with large picnic tables.

Oh, and if/when you find yourself in downtown Portland, definitely check out Bailey's Taproom. It's a really fun spot with great beer, and there may or may not be a secret upstairs bar with even better beer options. (But you have to ask the right people to find the entrance).

In case you missed any of my other recaps from Portland, here they are:

• Brunch and beers at Bad Habit Room and Saraveza
• Vegan dinner at Portobello
• Lunch at Deschutes Brewery
• Sour beers and an epic cheese plate at Cascade Brewing

Do you have any travel plans this summer? We're actually off to Iceland the week of July 14th, then going to a wedding in Mexico in August!

Cascade Brewing | Portland, Oregon

On one of our last days in Portland, Oregon, we stopped in at Cascade Brewing Barrel House for some beers and a snack. (Clearly, we made our rounds when it came to Portland breweries).

If you enjoy sour beer, Cascade Brewing is the place to go when you're in Portland.

They've termed their Barrel House the "House of Sour," where 18 rotating taps are available for your sipping pleasure - the majority of them being sour beers.

Cascade Brewing's beers are so good that they even have a 100% score on Beer Advocate right now - an extremely rare score to achieve. 

In addition to their solid brews, Cascade Brewing Barrel House also offers a simple yet impressive menu (with recommended beer pairings to boot). We weren't super hungry when we were there, but we did manage to eat every last crumb of the Artisanal Cheese Platter ($14).

Piled high with local and imported cheeses, this was one of the more outstanding cheese plates I've had in a long time. I loved the accompanying baguette slices and large, thin crackers, as well as the medley of pickled vegetables. The slices of fresh watermelon also added a necessary sweet bite to the mix. 

Cascade Brewing also has a second location in Portland called the Raccoon Lodge & Brew Pub. We didn't visit that location, but if it's anything like the Barrel House, you won't be disappointed.

Are you a fan of sour beers? 

Deschutes Brewery | Portland, Oregon

If you find yourself in Portland craving really good beer and pub food, then get yourself to Deschutes Brewery.

Deschutes is a large space with a big open bar area, as well as a separate dining room area. The large open kitchen lets you peek at what's being prepared "backstage," which is something I always appreciate. 

We stopped into Deschutes for lunch on our first full day in Portland and, since we were on vacation (and at a brewery), we started with a beer. The first beer we had was actually from their bottle list: a 22-ounce bottle of Planete Rouge ($22). (In addition to bottles, Deschutes also has 19 beers on tap featuring mainstays as well as a selection of seasonal and experimental beers developed and brewed right on-site).

To pair with their beer, Deschutes serves up an impressive offering of pub-style food. We wanted to have a lighter lunch, so we opted to split a few dishes. First up: a Brewery Pretzel ($7.75).

The pretzel was served with a creamy white cheese and Black Butte Porter stone ground mustard. Although this was a delicious combination all on its own, we also found ourselves dunking our pretzels in the honey mustard-like sauce that was on every table.

The backside of Deschute's beer menu also displays some affordable snacks that are meant to pair well with beer. We were intrigued by the Deviled Eggs ($1.50 for one egg), which were sprinkled with smoked black salt and had beer in the yolk mixture.

Z and I are both big fans of deviled eggs, and we absolutely loved these. The menu was right, too: they paired very well with beer, especially a 22-ounce bottle of Big Red ($15), which is only available at the brewery.

One of the specials on the day we went was a Ruby Ale Salad ($11), which consisted of ruby greens, grilled corn, roasted red peppers, chile roasted cashews, and Raschera cheese, all coated with a fresh-squeezed ale and pink grapefruit vinaigrette. I didn't snap a photo, but the salad was OK - nothing too special, although I loved the addition of cashews and Raschera cheese.

Deschutes also does growler fills and sells kegs to-go, for anyone who's interested. And if you have the time to stay and have a beer - whether from one of their pub-only bottles or on draft - I highly recommend it.

Bad Habit Room and Saraveza | Portland, Oregon

When a weekend-only brunch spot is attached to a craft beer bar and bottle shop, you know you're in for a treat.

A slew of people recommended Saraveza Bottle Shop and Pasty Tavern to Z and I before we left for Portland, and it's clear to see why. This place has an impressive rotating draft collection, as well as bottles to-go, and on the Sunday we were there, Firestone Walker was in attendance to pour some rare brews. Before we dipped into the beer, however, we decided to have brunch at Saraveza's next door brunch spot (and event space), called the Bad Habit Room.

The Bad Habit Room offers brunch every weekend from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Chef Matthew Simons mans the kitchen. The small restaurant - which features several family-style and smaller tables amidst exposed brick walls - features Saraveza meats, Red E Coffee (so good), and Sugar Pimp baked goods. For those who like to imbibe at brunch, they also had some great-looking cocktails on their menu.

Our brunch began with piping hot mugs of Red E Coffee, which we ended up buying a bag of before heading home. (Red E's located right behind the Bad Habit Room).

Since we were on vacation, we decided to treat ourselves to one two of Bad Habit's made-from-scratch Pop Tarts. (I didn't mark down any prices - sorry!).

These Pop Tarts were incredible. Filled with blackberry (or blueberry?) and raspberry filling, these tasted just like regular Pop Tarts - but without all of the scary ingredients. Let's just say I'm so glad Z convinced me to order two, versus share one!

For our entrees, we both went with the Breakfast Burrito. 

Stuffed with pinto beans, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, avocado, and fresh pico de gallo, this made for one hearty breakfast. 

Our burritos came with a side of chipotle cream which was fabulous with the crispy, well-seasoned potatoes. The lemony arugula salad on the side was a welcome addition to the plate, and Bad Habit's hot sauce was a fabulous addition to our burritos.

After our delicious and indulgent brunch, we walked next door to Saraveza and had a glass (or two) of Firestone Walker's brews. We sat outside at one of Saraveza's few picnic tables and sipped under the sunshine. (That is, until it began to rain...something you get used to in Portland!).

What's your favorite brunch dish? Breakfast burritos are a favorite of mine, but I also love a good egg sandwich on a bagel. 

Portobello | Portland, Oregon

Hello! Z and I just returned from a fantastic trip to Portland, Oregon, complete with lots of craft beer and delicious food. We ended up renting bikes for the four days we were there (from Cycle Portland), and riding those ended up being a great way to get around the city. (They also helped to burn off all most of the calories we were consuming!).

I realized on our trip that Portland is one of the only cities (that I've been to, at least) where you can consume Cheez Whiz and beet tartare in the same day. The Beet Tartare ($9) we had at Portobello Vegan Trattoria...the Cheez Whiz I'll explain in a future post.

Portobello is an intimate, elegant-yet-casual restaurant that serves innovative vegan dishes (it actually reminded me a lot of True Bistro in Somerville). Z and I opted to sit at the small, cozy bar on this particular evening, and we just had to start our meal with the Beet Tartare. This vibrant dish consisted of diced, roasted beets with carrot aioli, fines herbes, and capers atop a cashew puree - all served with a ton of crusty bread to spread it on. 

The Beet Tartare was incredibly fresh and borderline rich thanks to the cashew cream. I loved the salty capers in each bite, too.

Portobello offers a variety of pizzas, burgers, pasta dishes, and salads, but I opted for the Beet Burger Royale ($14). I must have been on a beet kick that night.

The Beet Burger Royale is a homemade beet burger topped with cashew cheddar, caramelized onions, smoked portobello, carrot aioli, ketchup, lettuce, red onion, and tomato on a focaccia bun. The restaurant was out of cashew cream when we went, so I opted for the Vtopian Peppercorn Cashew Brie instead. This was a massive burger that was slightly hard to eat thanks to the beet patty's enormous size, but the flavors were still spot-on - and I [surprisingly] loved the vegan Brie cheese. (You honestly wouldn't be able to tell that it was vegan!). The accompanying fries were also well-seasoned and delightfully crispy. 

Although I didn't snap a photo, Z ended up ordering the Mushroom Cavatelli ($18) for his meal, which was comprised of housemade cavatelli, roasted leeks, mushrooms, fines herbes, and porcini truffle "butter." It was divine, and [almost] made me wish I had ordered a pasta dish.

All in all, we had a fabulous meal at Portobello, and I highly recommend checking them out if you find yourself in Portland. Although it's a vegan restaurant, there are a ton of creative and well-done dishes here that I think any omnivore would enjoy. (It also doesn't hurt that Portobello is right across the street from Apex, a fun craft beer bar with 50 beers on tap and tons of outdoor seating).

Have you ever been to an all-vegan restaurant before?

Penguin Pizza in Boston

Venturing into the Fenway/Kenmore area - or, Boston in general - for pizza isn't something I would normally do, especially on a weeknight. We're spoiled here in Somerville - we have every kind of cuisine we could ever want within a short walking (or biking) distance. So why would I take several T lines to eat pizza in Boston? Let's just say our friends spoke very highly of Penguin Pizza, so we agreed to meet them there for dinner last week.

And thank gosh we did. Penguin Pizza makes some damn good pies. (Their menu also boasts a variety of other options, including appetizers, sandwiches, and pasta dishes, but the real winner here is the pizza).

The first pie we tried was The Pimento ($11.99 for a medium 14"), topped with roasted red peppers, red onions, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, and goat cheese.

The second pie we ordered came highly recommended from our friends: the Roasted Eggplant Pizza ($12.99 for a medium), piled high with roasted eggplant, dollops of creamy ricotta cheese, and fresh basil, all drizzled with a balsamic vinegar glaze. 

(Sorry for the photos - I forgot my camera and used my iPhone! #badblogger).

I loved the thinner, crispy crust Penguin Pizza makes. Even though the toppings and cheese were plentiful on each pie, the crust still held up to the weight of the toppings. The smoky eggplant with the rich ricotta and the sweet balsamic vinegar glaze was a divine combination in the Roasted Eggplant Pizza, but I think the Pimento was my favorite. I adored the varying textures (especially the crunch from the broccoli), and how can you not like goat cheese on pizza? It's fantastic.

At Penguin Pizza, all vegetarian pies are marked as such with a "V," and gluten-free and whole wheat crusts are also available for each pie.

In addition to great pizza, Penguin also has a decent draft and bottled beer list, as well as wine.

Needless to say, it was worth venturing into Boston for this meal.

Do you normally venture out of your neighborhood for dinner, or do you stay closer to home?