Eat This: Cheese Plate at The Independent

One of my biggest pet peeves = unnecessarily small cheese plates served at restaurants. I get that a cheese plate is not supposed to fill you up before a meal (assuming the cheese plate is offered as an appetizer), but I’d like more than two bites, please.

Well, The Independent in Union Square serves the most generous cheese plate I’ve seen in the Boston area. Maybe I don’t get out much? (It’s possible). But look at this cheese board, piled high with three artisanal cheeses and several accompaniments, including yellow beets, walnuts and some awesome sesame crackers:

Z and I were at The Independent last week to celebrate (more on why we were celebrating later), and this impressive cheese plate was a fantastic way to start our evening. We were able to plow through this between the two of us, too, without ruining our appetites for dinner. Take note, other restaurants – us diners can handle more cheese.

What was the best thing you ate this weekend?

Eat This: Huevos Rancheros at The Friendly Toast

If you find yourself with a hangover at any point this weekend, I highly suggest you head on over to The Friendly Toast and order this:

The Friendly Toast’s Huevos Rancheros ($10.75) consists of cheddar cheese melted on their anadama bread, topped with two poached eggs, avocado and fresh salsa. Crispy, well-seasoned homefries are also served alongside this perfectly heavy dish.

The poached eggs were a little too overcooked for my liking, but the silky yolk still managed to envelop the thick cornbread and creamy avocado beautifully. The refreshing salsa also helped to counteract the decadence from the rest of the ingredients.

I ordered this at The Friendly Toast’s Portsmouth location, but the Cambridge restaurant has the same menu.

What's your favorite hangover food?  

Eat This: Patata Rossa from The Upper Crust Pizzeria

Warm, melt-y fontina. Thinly sliced red bliss potatoes. Sweet, caramelized onions. Fresh sprigs of rosemary.

That pretty much sums up one of The Upper Crust Pizzeria's newest pies: the Patata Rossa ($20.75, large). Not only is it fun to say (pa-ta-ta!), it's also incredibly delicious. It's a white pizza with a beautiful blend of toppings - and the crispy, thin crust is always a welcome base.

As a bonus, Z and I used one of our Eversave coupons to buy this pie, so it only cost us about $2 after taxes.

What delicious dishes have you discovered lately?

Eat This: Avocado Eggs Benedict

If you haven't noticed by now...I love Cambridge Common. Z and I are regulars there. It's within walking distance from our house, the food is consistently good and affordable, there's rarely a wait for a table, and the staff is friendly and efficient. For the drivers, there's also a small parking lot behind the restaurant, which is super convenient considering Cambridge Common is right on Mass. Ave.

Since we're such fans of CC, we almost always take out-of-town guests there for at least one meal. So, when a few of Z's friends were in town from NYC last weekend, we decided to all go to CC for Sunday brunch before our guests headed home. I ordered one of my favorite brunch dishes from CC that day: the Avocado Eggs Benedict ($7.95).

Served with giant home fries and fruit, this is one decadent dish (and a great hangover cure, FYI). The creamy Hollandaise sauce and the runny eggs envelop the fresh avocado and fluffy English muffins underneath in a sultry, luxurious fashion. I had all I could do to not lick my plate clean.

What's your favorite brunch dish?

Eat This: Pierogies and Flatbread at The Beehive

Last week, a few co-workers and I surprised our friend (and other co-worker) at The Beehive in Back Bay. I had only been to The Beehive for cocktails before, so I was excited to return for a sit-down dinner.

A few of us at dinner.

My meal started with the Truffled Potato & Cheese Pierogies, served with caramelized onions and sour cream ($10.50). I shared these with Colleen.

The pierogies were wonderfully crispy on the outside, while the inside was bursting with savory, salty cheese and fluffy, whipped potatoes.

For my meal, I went with the Mushroom and Ricotta Salata Flatbread Pizza ($12) - I'm guessing on the name and price, as their website menu is not updated.

The large, fresh shavings of ricotta over this crispy flatbread pizza were the star of this dish for me. Paired with the wilted greens, "meaty" mushrooms and delicate drizzles of olive oil, this was one surprisingly elegant and satisfying entree.

Although the prices at The Beehive are a little more than I'd prefer to pay - especially for a weeknight dinner - I must admit that the quality of food, jovial service, and lively atmosphere (complete with live music, nightly) were worth the extra few dollars.

Eat This: Shroom Melt at Sunset Grill & Tap

Portobello mushroom "burgers" are a pretty easy vegetarian dish for restaurants (especially bar/grille-type restaurants) to include on their menu. Sometimes, it feels like a cop-out. Can't the chef come up with anything a little more creative than grilling a portobello and slapping it between two buns? Thankfully, the folks behind Sunset Grill & Tap in Allston decided to get a little more creative.

Meet the Shroom Melt ($8.99): grilled portobello mushrooms tossed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, topped with roasted red peppers, buffalo mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and a little bit of basil pesto on a toasted ciabatta roll. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

The combination of the salty tomatoes with the thick, melted mozzarella and the meaty, flavorful mushrooms was delicious - not to mention innovative. I really appreciated how Sunset took that small extra step to make the same-old, same-old portobello sandwich just a little bit different (not to mention tastier).

What's something delicious you ate this weekend?

Eat This: Buffalo Fried Brussels Sprouts at Highland Kitchen

Buffalo Fried Brussels Sprouts ($6.95) at Highland Kitchen. 

This innovative twist on buffalo chicken bites is incredibly addictive. I happen to love both Brussels sprouts and buffalo sauce, but even those who aren't fans of the bite-sized cabbages can enjoy this dish. The crispy, saucy exterior complements the soft, "meaty" interior surprisingly well. Dunked in creamy, blue cheese dressing, these spicy bites of heaven are worth the wait for a table at this consistently popular Somerville joint.