Winsor Dim Sum Cafe

After a late lunch at Neptune Oyster (or was it an early dinner?), we weren't exactly hungry until later that evening.  I wonder why we don't call it dunch or linner?  I digress.  Anyways, being late, we weren't in the mood for traveling far for food.  Since we had a steady diet of lobster rolls, clam chowder and burgers for the past few days, it was imperative we changed things up as well.  Being located next to Chinatown, it seemed like a good idea to go for some comfort food (because we are Chinese!) nearby.  How about Dim Sum for dinner at Winsor?  Yes, being from Vancouver, there was a good chance that we wouldn't be impressed, but we had reasonable expectations.

We were actually surprised by the selection considering we were having Dim Sum for dinner.  On the topic of comfort food, we got the Preserved Egg and Salted Pork Congee to begin.  I found the broth to be decently thick and cooked down while lightly salted.  However, there was barely any ingredients to be found.  I've never seen preserved egg sliced so thin in my life!  As for the pork, it was lean while tender at the same time.  Next up was the Xiao Long Bao which were serviceable with all things considered.  The dumpling skin was relatively thin except for the top which was not dense either.  Inside, there was a decent amount of soup which was mostly one-note being sweet.  The meat was pretty loose and lacking in texture.

Looking legit, yet ultimately being rather average, the Ha Gau (shrimp dumplings) featured thick dumpling skin that was doughy and slightly chewy.  I found the filling to be texturally okay with a meaty snap while being buttery.  However, the flavor was a bit too shrimpy for my tastes.  It was quite overwhelming.  As for the Siu Mai (pork & shrimp dumpling), the textures were a little off.  The chunks of pork were soft and missing the desired rebound texture.  There was also very little shrimp to be found.  However, flavours were okay though being balanced with the taste of shiitake.

For my offal fix, I ordered the Honeycomb Tripe sitting atop fried tofu.  This was a very modest portion sporting strips of bounce textured tripe that rode the fine line between chewy and soft.  There was a slight gaminess, but the ample Szechuan-type seasoning helped masked it.  Therefore, the dish ate on the spicier side of things.  Seemingly not fried enough, the plump Phoenix Talons (chicken feet) featured soft skin and tender cartilage and fat.  Other than that, I enjoyed the overall texture of the chicken feet as well as the balanced seasoning (could've used more garlic though).

We got the Steamed Black Bean Spareribs atop rice noodles because we knew the kiddies love rice noodles.  Yes, this was a hit with them as they dusted it off.  Not sure if the flavors actually penetrated the noodles, but they were soft while still having an elasticity.  I found the ribs to be tender with a nice rebound.  They were well-seasoned with noticeable garlic and black bean hits.  We decided to try the Fried Shrimp Bean Curd Skin Rolls in an attempt to see if my son would eat it.  Nope, there was too much cilantro for him and really, for me too.  The piece of celery inside was rather strange as it didn't seem to go.  As for the shrimp, there was nice bounce to it as well as being sweet.

Our last dish was the Shrimp Mousse Stuffed Eggplant which were served piping hot.  We found that the oil was not drained properly from the deep-fry and made the dish really greasy.  We were also not sure of what type of sauce was on the plate. The eggplant was nicely textured though being soft without disintegrating.  Like the bean curd skin rolls, the shrimp mousse was on point.  Overall, the Dim Sum at Winsor was serviceable with all things considered.  Would it ever be confused with great Dim Sum?  Of course not, but we already knew that going in.

The Good:
- Inexpensive
- Serviceable
- Fairly large selection

The Bad:
- Serviceable, but not great
- What service?

Neptune Oyster

So our first lobster roll in Boston was at Luke's and the bar was set pretty high already due to the quality and reasonable price.  We then went high end with our visit to Island Creek Oyster Bar and had a totally different version with a more dressed version and a denser bun.  However, the one roll that was in the back-of-my-mind was the infamous version from Neptune Oyster in the North End.  There was a big problem though - they don't take reservations and sometimes the wait can be hours long (also due to the small space).  We ended up waiting 2.5 hours for a table and in the meantime, finished the Freedom Trail.

Before we got to the mains and the lobster roll, we celebrated National Oyster Day with 1/2 dozen consisting of Thatch Island, Bee's River and Summerside.  These were shucked well except for one which had a few shell fragments.  All were really fresh, briny and creamy.  I thought the Bee's River had more of a mineral finish though.  For the 3rd time in Boston, we had a bowl of Wellfleet Clam Chowder, yet this one was made-to-order with live clams.  Hence, the flavour was really fresh and briny rather than plain salty.  Of course being fresh, the clams were chewier, but they were still buttery.  I found the broth to be more soupy than chowder-like.  I didn't mind this as it wasn't too heavy.

Okay, getting right down to it, we dug into the large Maine Lobster Roll featuring lobster stuffed into a soft, warm and sweet roll.  It was over-stuffed with large chunks of lobster which were springy and super sweet.  I have to say that the lobster meat was practically perfect with an appealing bounce texture and chewiness.  Seasoning was on point while the amount of butter was sinful, yet at the same time, super tasty.  Even the side of fries were good being crispy while still potatoey inside.  We also got the Neptune Burger prepared medium-rare.  The meat was tender and juicy while meaty at the same time.  The whole thing was flavorful with the abundance of melted aged cheddar, garlic mayo and crunch of the tangy relish.  To top it off, literally, were 3 fried oysters which provided even more moisture, crunch and a sweet brininess.

Lastly, we got the Roasted Icelandic Char with celery root puree, forest-harvested shiitake mushroom and olive oil.  For us, this was also perfectly-prepared where the center was still rare.  Hence, the fish remained buttery and tender.  It was beautifully seasoned where the natural sweetness of the fish was enhanced rather than masked.  Underneath, the buttery and aggressively-salted mushrooms were tender and super tasty. Okay, a 2.5 hour wait is pretty ludicrous and if I actually had to stand in line, I wouldn't even consider it.  But given the circumstances and the outstanding lobster roll, it was certainly worth it in this case.

The Good:
- Dat lobster roll...
- Expertly prepared fresh seafood
- Service was good for us

The Bad:
- So small and cramped, not comfy at all
- Dat wait    

Island Creek Oyster Bar

On our quest to find a better lobster roll than the one we had at Luke's, our journey brought us to Island Creek Oyster Bar near Fenway.  It was tough making a reservation for 8 people, but we did it, albeit eating at 5:30pm!  No matter, we ended our Freedom Trail festivities early and headed back to the hotel for some rest before dinner.  It was easy as taking the Green Line out to Kenmore and walking across the street.  Still not sure if we enjoyed the NYC subway more or the T in Boston...

Getting down to business, Viv and I started out with both the Clam Chowder and Lobster Bisque.  A touch on the watery side, the clam chowder still ate creamy enough.  Packed with tender bits of potato and slightly chewy fresh clams, the broth was somewhat briny.  We weren't really sure of the bits of still-crunchy onions though as it took away from the rest of the softer ingredients.  As for the bisque, it was smooth and creamy with the essence of lobster.  There was a subtle hint of wine while the whole thing was sweet with only a mild saltiness (which is a good thing).  I thought there could've been a few more chunks of buttery lobster though.

Continuing with the appies, we tried the Salmon Tartare served with various chips.  We found the salmon to be buttery with a slight chew being fresh and bright.  It was mixed with a good amount of sesame oil which made it aromatic and flavourful.  The hard crunch of the kettle chips ensured that it was both a good textural contrast and held up to the wet ingredients.  We only got 6 oysters as there was too much food already (don't they have a smaller plate???).  They consisted of Island Creeks, Aunt Dolly and East Beach.  We found them expertly-shucked, sweet and lightly briny.  Since I requested more creamy oysters, these were exactly that.

For our entrees, we went straight for their Lobster Roll.  It was substantial in size and stuffed with plenty of lobster.  It was lightly dressed and hence, there was a certain saltiness to it.  Furthermore, the bits of onion added a crunch (which I didn't find necessary).  There was also a slight background tang.  I found the roll to be on the denser side and aggressively toasted.  This was totally different than Luke's and hard to compare.  We also got the Lobster Roe Noodles with oyster mushrooms, beef and large chunks of fresh lobster.  I found the noodles to be al dente and dressed in a considerable amount of oil  This was necessary to distribute the roe flavour.  It did eat heavy though, especially with the addition of beef.

My son didn't stray too far from his self-imposed dietary restrictions and got the Colorado Angus Burger prepared medium-rare.  It was done just right in that respect where the meat was not as juicy as it appeared since it was rather lean.  There was a nice meaty texture with the accompanying beefy flavors while the outside was seared well.  I found the bun rather hard and dense though.  My daughter ended up with the kid's Fish & Chips which was rather large (we wondered what the adult size would be like).  The thick cut fries were somewhat crispy while totally soft and potatoey inside.  The fish was flaky and moist while the batter was slightly thick, yet crunchy.  Not sure about the tartar sauce as it was tangy, but missing the bits of pickle and onions.

Costanza also shared a lobster roll with Elaine, but also got the Seared Monkfish which was done beautifully.  The outside was crispy and well-seasoned where the inside was flaky and almost buttery.  Not bad for a fairly firm and not usually fatty fish.  We loved the addition of clams as they added an added component of seafoodiness to the broth underneath. Costanza's son had the Fish Sandwich served with Old Bay fries.  The fish was on point much like the ones in the fish and chips.  The bun was airier and softer than the burger which worked well with the delicate fish.  Tossed in Old Bay seasoning the fries were nicely spiced and flavourful.  Although on the pricier side, the meal at Island Creek Oyster Bar was solid and well-prepared.  As for the best lobster roll, Neptune was definitely next up.

The Good:
- Nice dining space
- Solid eats
- Fresh seafood

The Bad:
- On the pricier side
- Both of the signature lobster items were good, but not great  

Mike's Pastry

Sometimes, being known as a "foodie", "food person" and/or "food connoisseur" does have its disadvantages.  Other than the possible weight gain, possible health problems and dwindling savings, there is "judgement".  Ah yes, the "why the heck would you eat/or visit THAT place???".  C'mon, one can enjoy food without being a food snob right?  So when I'm on vacation, I'm going to unapologetically visit touristy places because I want to.  Therefore, when we were in Boston's North End, we did exactly that and followed the lemmings into Mike's Pastry.

When at Mike's Pastry, one must get the Lobster Tail aka La Sfogliatella in Italy.  To be clear, the lobster tail pastry is unique to the States as the one in Italy is smaller and not necessarily filled with cream.  As much as I've been told that Modern Pastry has a better version, I just had to have the most well-known one.  So how was it?  Well, the thing was really large and filled to the brim with sweet fresh white cream.  I found the pastry itself more dense that I would've expected with only some layers being crisp.  It was still good, but after a few bites, I had to pass it off as it was too much for one person.

Well, we can't have one item and call it a day right?  So we let the kiddies choose a few more goodies.  My son made a real good choice with the Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cannoli.  We thought this was much more memorable than the lobster tail as the cannoli itself was crisp and fairly light.  The creamy ricotta filling was lightly chocolatey and only semi-sweet.  There was so much of it, it was overflowing out the two ends.  The chocolate chips added a nice crunch as well as more flavour and sweetness.

My daughter insisted on the Chocolate Fudge Cake which looked really heavy.  However, it ate much lighter than it appeared.  The cake portion was fluffy and only semi-sweet, hence we could taste the chocolate.  The icing portion was naturally sweeter, but not as much as one would think.  I hate things that are too sweet, so this actually worked for me.  Even with this small sample size, it was pretty clear to me that the lobster tail is indeed a tourist trap in itself.  At least I got to try it!  The other 2 items were actually quite good!

The Good:
- You can tell people you had a lobster tail at Mike's Pastry
- Solid cannolis
- Good pit stop if you are doing the Freedom Trail

The Bad:
- Super busy
- Lobster Tail somewhat of a letdown

Sam LaGrassa's

One of the things we had planned to do while in Boston was the popular Freedom Trail.  It consists of significant historical sights and spots along a 2.5 mile stretch of Downtown Boston.  It is marked by a narrow brick line along the sidewalks it snakes down.  So it was only natural to eat lunch somewhere along the trail right?  That brought us to Sam LaGrassa's (self-proclaimed world's #1 sandwiches).  Featured on the Food Network, the place sports fresh made-to-order sammies with house-made ingredients.

With that in mind, Viv decided to try their Pastrami Corned Beef Combo as an unofficial comparison to the one we had at Carnegie Deli (yes, different city, we know).  Well, the one here won hands down.  The meats were better prepared in our opinion as the corned beef was buttery soft and well-spiced while the pastrami was even more flavourful.  The addition of Swiss Cheese, Russian dressing and tangy coleslaw added extra layers of Earthiness, salt, creaminess and zip.  On the other hand, the whole thing was wet which made the bottom slice of light rye disintegrate.  My son opted for the Chicken Parmigiana with marinara sauce, mozzarella and fresh basil.  This was decent with a soft chicken breast (a little too soft and the coating was mushy) smothered in a tangy sauce.  I would've liked to see more basil though.

For Costanza, he had the Triple Club featuring turkey, ham and Black Angus roast beef with bacon, Russian dressing, provolone, lettuce and tomato.  This was a massive offering which featured tender and meaty turkey, sweet and salty ham and tender buttery medium-rare roast beef.  Again, this ate a bit wet, but was good nonetheless.  For myself, I went for the Cuban with herb-crusted roast pork and honey glazed ham with chipotle mayo, monterey jack cheese and dill pickles grilled on an Italian Sesame Roll.  This was very substantial as the amount of meat was impressive.  I found the pork super tender and well-spiced and the amount of pickles really made them impactful.  The whole thing was not an actual Cubano, but was pretty good still.

Costanza's son tried to finish the Roast Beef Blues with horse radish, caramelized onions and crumbled blue cheese dressing.  He thought there was a touch too many onions as to which I completely agreed.  However, the onions were appealingly sweet while the blue cheese added a nice sharp creaminess.  Again, the roast beef was on point being medium-rare and tender.  So we were not sure that these were necessarily the best sammies we've ever had, but they were still very good.  Considering the price point and the massive portions, Sam LaGrassa's would be on my list of Freedom Trail lunch break options.

The Good:
- Inexpensive
- Large portions
- Tasty

The Bad:
- Some sandwiches were too wet
- Gets busy, may have a hard time finding a seat