I’ve tried numerous Gong Cha locations, and I’ve never had something that I didn’t enjoy. Mango milk slushes, creme-brulee brown sugar milk teas , and tea lattes never disappoint. Furthermore, the main attribute that separates this chain boba shop from the rest are the options offered. However, his chain definitely does not sacrifice quality for quantity with any of their delectable drinks. With nine toppings and too many tea options to count, you can satisfy your cravings for tea, slushes, or yogurt blends. Along with the different topping options, Gong Cha also offers a plethora of ways to customize your drink, such as different sizes, ice levels, and sugar levels. Select locations also offer food options, such as bubble waffles in the Newbury St. location in Boston, MA. The price is more or less the same as other shops–boba is always going to lighten your wallets by at least $5. If you haven’t tried Gong Cha, you’re missing out.
This is one of the best Greek restaurants I’ve ever been to. Located on Beacon Street in Brookline, the restaurant has that perfectly cozy feeling of home. At the start of the meal, we were greeted with a brief story behind the slightly kitschy appearance of the interior, as they are inspired by the traditional cuisine of the Vlach people, a group of mountain pastors in Greece. The food here was exemplary - we started off with the psomi, bread, and a variety of dips. Although I don’t usually enjoy eating eggplant, the eggplant dip ended up being one of my favorites out of the variety we were served. A warning though, while I personally enjoy goat dairy, goat cheese is definitely an acquired taste that is not for everyone. We then got the fried oyster mushrooms, which were delightfully savory. Bar Vlaha is a family-style restaurant, so we got lamb chops, rainbow trout, and the rib-eye. For me, the highlight of this meal was definitely the lamb chops, which were juicy and flavorful. The rib-eye was cooked very well, and I ended up eating most of that. I’m not much of a fish person, but the rainbow trout was also delicious. I also enjoyed the pickled onions and flaky salt that came with the dishes - it created a nice contrast to the rich flavors of each dish. Overall, I would greatly recommend Bar Vlaha if you enjoy European food.
The Sea Level Oyster Bar, in Salem, MA, is the best seafood restaurant I’ve been to. Depending on your mood, you can choose either to sit indoors in their spacious building, or on the patio with a lovely view of the Atlantic Ocean and the historical town of Salem. The oysters and littlenecks were impeccably fresh, and the calamari fried to a perfect golden crisp. Even after the great seafood, the pizza did not disappoint. The margherita pizza had a crispy crust, and the balsamic vinegar drizzle brought out the creaminess of the mozzarella really well. Visiting the Sea Level restaurant after touring the museum, town, and historic shops was really a nice end to the day.
My family and I often go to Posto on the weekends when I’m free. We first stumbled upon this restaurant while ordering chicken parmesan for delivery one time, and since then it has become one of our favorite restaurants. The highlight of Posto is definitely their pasta, though I also enjoy their pizza. A staple of my family’s meals at any restaurant is calamari, and Posto did not disappoint. My favorite pizza at Posto is the meat and mushroom. The mushrooms provide the perfect umami taste to complement the meat. I’ve tried several pastas at Posto, including the chicken parmesan, bolognese, and the spicy shrimp. (I’m not sure if the spicy shrimp pasta is still available, as it is not on the online menu anymore). Each of these pastas were delectable. Definitely try out Posto if you have the chance!
