I know a lot of families that don’t take weekend vacations because it’s just too much of a headache. You pack up your kids and your 85 suitcases with diapers, bottles and 8 changes of clothes per day (because you know food is going to get all over them at SOME point in the day) and you’re only out of your house for TWO DAYS. Well, yes, that is true. But you know what, someone is doing all the cooking and someone else is doing the cleaning. Sure, I’ll have my mountain of laundry waiting when I get home, but not having to clean my own bathroom for two days, worth it! So we pack up our bags an head over to Burlington, MA to the Boston Marriott Burlington hotel. A short drive from where we live, but it feels like a big new adventure. (I love to pack my kids up in Sea Bags. I just throw things in and zip them up, no muss no fuss. I have about 10 of them.) It’s an easy drive and unlike the city, parking is free.

I pulled up to the front and left my car while we checked in. The bellman helped us to our room with our 85 bags. The lobby is sleek – a water feature when you walk in the front door, a huge glass fireplace and comfy chairs welcome you to put your feet up. I loved the mood board in the lobby that shows you all of their design concepts. They offer complimentary cookies and lemonade in the afternoon/evenings which our family was a big fan of. Forget something at home? It’s inevitable. Don’t worry, the Boston Marriott Burlington has you covered. They have a great little store off the lobby where you can pick up toiletries, snacks, ice cream, or even a Red Sox shirt. They have a business area in the lobby where you can print out your boarding pass and they have these great maps that will get you to popular places nearby.

We stayed on the concierge level, in a corner room, which was a little more spacious than the regular rooms. Each room features a single serve coffee maker and a mini fridge (totally key if you have kids with you). I love the barn door inspired showers! The beds were super, super comfortable. Made waking up with the kids feel not as horrible :).

We had time to kill before my husband met us for dinner. So we headed to the Burlington Mall, just a short drive away. They have a complimentary shuttle that can take you there or to the movie theater as well. So what’s that great about the mall? It has your stores that you have in most places: Pottery Barn, GAP, J.Crew, Nordstrom etc. What are some things that you might not have where you live? Well, Primark to start. Head over for some affordable, trendy clothing and home goods. I love woops! macarons. You wouldn’t think much of mall macarons, but they are fresh and super yummy. The Keurig store is always fun to go into and browse. There are plenty of places to pick up your Boston themed goods to take home to friends, or head over to New Balance and pick up some super cool sneakers with “Boston” on the soles. (I picked up three pairs for all the guys in our family). I love Kneipp – a natural brand of bath and body care products. My kids love the pink sea princess bubble bath – it smells like raspberries! If it’s raining outside, this is a perfect place to let kids run around and tire themselves out. They have an indoor play space in the food court on the upper level of the mall as well. Mall not your thing? Make sure to check out HMart, an Asian grocery store that has a killer food court, just down the street from the mall. And pop into the Nordstrom Rack next door, they have a ton of great home decor items!

We headed back to the hotel for dinner at their signature restaurant, Chopps American Bar and Grill. The restaurant is cozy and dim in the front area by the bar and bright and spacious in the back dining rooms. We had the early, early, early dinner since we had the kids with us, which worked out really well. They are totally family friendly, and had a fun coloring sheet and stickers for the kids.

I was starving at this point, and ready to eat! Our waiter was personable, really great with the kids. First, let’s talk about those rolls. AMAZING. Warm, soft, so delicious I didn’t want to eat anything else. But I did. We shared the short rib mac and cheese ($15) which was so rich! Really nice flavors and I loved that it had toasted cornbread crumbs on it, just a little something different to make it stand out from all the other short rib mac and cheeses out there. So we were off to a great start. All the steaks here are served with whipped potatoes and Chopps sauce. I had the bone in ribeye ($54). The 20oz steak was 30 day dry aged and perfectly seasoned. The meat was tender, with just enough fat and cooked with a perfect cool pink center. The steak came from a local farmer in Brimfield, MA. I chose to swap my whipped potatoes for the loaded tots (for an upcharge). These enormous tots (top right) were stuffed with pancetta and cheese and just melted in my mouth. Literally swatted my husband’s hand when he went in to try one. Trust me on the not sharing. You’ll thank me later. They have a great menu of the kids too. We had the mac and cheese and the petit filet, which might just be the best deal in town. For $12, it came with fries and a side of fruit – just check out those grill marks!!

While I was completely full, I always have room for that something sweet at the end of any meal. I went with the hazelnut crusted ice cream sandwiches ($9). The vanilla gelato is from a local maker (Ice Haus Patissier from Natick, MA) and the dessert is topped off with a blood orange coulis. The ‘sandwich’ part of the cookies were dense, so the gelato was a nice way to cut through that. We all slept well, tired from our day and our bellies filled with delicious food.

The next morning we headed down to Chopps again for breakfast. They have a take out area where you can grab a muffin and a coffee if you’re in a rush, right at the entrance of the restaurant.

They offer a la carte and buffet style breakfast. We opted for the buffet, which was loaded with fresh fruit, cereal, yogurt, eggs, bacon, potatoes, oatmeal, breads, muffins, and so much more. I made my own omelet and the kids ate their body weight in bacon and fresh fruit. (It’s all about balance right?)

We headed out from the Boston Marriott Burlington to the CambridgeSide Galleria mall. A short drive away, parking here is one of the least expensive in the area (as compared to Boston proper).The mall is undergoing massive renovations, looking forward to when it is completed. They had this super cool touch screen computer (pictured above right) where you could find local attractions, see photos and get directions to a number of tourist friendly places.

We were there to take a ride on the Charles Riverboat Company‘s sightseeing boat. We hopped on the first tour of the day at 10am, and it wasn’t that crowded, which was nice. You can stand outside on the front of the boat or grab a seat next to the window. You don’t have to stay seated throughout the whole tour. It was a 70 minute ride down the Charles River and you were entertained by the first mate – you may have even learned a little something too. For instance, did you know that you can only paint your state house roof gold if a president was born in your state? How about that the BU bridge (Go Terriers!) is the only place where you can sail a boat under a train driving under a car driving under an airplane. Tickets can be bought on line or at the boat (docked just outside the food court at the mall), and are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and military and $10 for children under 12.

We have lunch at the mall, because of convenience and timing after the ride. The Cheesecake Factory is great for kids and we were in and out pretty quickly.

After naps we headed over to the indoor pool. They do have an outdoor pool but it was being landscaped while we were there was thus, was closed. The pool is clean and warm and we practically had it to ourselves. They have locker rooms for changing and a water cooler on the deck. They have a great looking gym, split up into a cardio area and a weight room.

After a great swim and shower, we headed over to Chopps for dinner. This time, the weather was nice enough that we ate outside on their terrace. Such a great space – and the kids were able to walk around without bothering anyone else.

We had the same server as the night before, and had another good meal. I started with the clam chowder – served with an adorable mini corn muffin. It was thicker than soup but not cream based. Perfect for a fall-ish kind of night. Of course we had to try the crab cakes, my husband practically has Old Bay running through his veins. These were tasty – not a lot of binding, so it was jam packed with crab meat. I love the grapefruit slice on top, such a nice flavor pairing. I had the bolognese ($27), house made tagliatelle with pancetta, veal and beef ragu. The bolognese *felt* like it was healthy, it wasn’t a heavy cream based sauce. The swordfish ($32) was decadent, served with chorizo whipped potatoes, spinach and lobster nage. The kids had a grilled cheese sandwich served with fruit and the chicken fingers served with French fries. All items on the kids menu are $7-$12.

For dessert, we shared the house made cheesecake with blueberry topping and fruit coulis.

For breakfast on our final morning, we went with the pancakes off the a la carte menu (make sure you ask for a menu if you don’t feel like the buffet). I had sunny side up eggs made at the omelet bar with the buffet. Buffet breakfast is $19.95, while a la carte items range from about $10.75 – $14.95.

Thank you to the Boston Marriott Burlington for the great weekend staycation! It was just what we needed to finish out the summer!

Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to stay at the Boston Marriott Burlington with my family. My room and meals were provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Boston Marriott Burlington

1 Burlington Mall Road, Burlington, MA

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosbu-boston-marriott-burlington/

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If you were looking for a family friendly restaurant in Boston, your mind probably wouldn’t go right to the Palm Restaurant. Mine wouldn’t either. I was pleased to hear about their new promotion that they are running through the end of February, Sunday Suppers. (Hurry up and get in there this weekend!!) They have a special kid’s menu and a featured dish: the Palm Classic Combo – a 9 oz. Filet Mignon with a Nova Scotia Lobster Tail or Jumbo Lump Crab Cake for only $49.50. The Sunday suppers are available every Sunday in February from 5pm – 9pm. I was pleasantly surprised to see quite a few other families here with toddlers and young children.

I love the decor, high ceilings, tufted leather banquets, crisp linens and the quirky caricatures on the wall.

So here is a look at the special kid’s menu, and let me tell you, Filet n’ Fries, now THAT’S my kind of kid’s meal!

Appetizers

Mozzarella Sticks with marinara sauce

Fresh Carrots and Apple Slices with ranch dressing

Entrees

Filet n’ Fries – 4 oz. Filet Mignon, French fries or green beans

Mac n’ Cheese – creamy cheddar cheese sauce and penne pasta

Cheeseburger with cheddar or American cheese, French fries or green beans

Grilled Cheddar Cheese Sandwich, French fries or green beans

Penne Pasta – topped with your choice of marinara sauce or butter and parmesan cheese

Crispy Chicken Strips – ranch dressing, French fries or green beans

Dessert

Vanilla Ice Cream – with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and cherry

Bag of Warm Doughnuts – dusted with cinnamon and sugar and served with chocolate and raspberry sauce

I started with the lobster bisque. Lobster meat was in the dish and the bisque was poured on top table side.

The sesame seated ahi tuna was sliced thinly and was served on a bed of seaweed salad. The soy vinaigrette had just the right amount of sweetness to balance out the salt.

Next came the coconut crusted sea scallops. They were served with watermelon radish and jicama slaw. We really enjoyed this dish and loved the crunch on the scallops.

I had the Palm Classic Combo, a 9 oz. Filet Mignon with a Nova Scotia Lobster Tail. The steak was cooked a perfect medium with a cool pink center. You can choose from the following sauces: Brandy Peppercorn, Lobster Truffle Butter or Classic Chimichurri. The lobster was also tasty, I love when there is no work on my part to get it out of the shell! (Yup, I’m lazy with my lobsters) I was so full that I ended up taking half of the steak home with me!

And speaking of steaks, the Palm serves USDA Prime beef, aged a minimum of 35 days. We also ordered the filet classic Oscar style, served with jumbo lump crabmeat, asparagus and Hollandaise sauce.

The Wagyu rib eye 12oz steak was pretty outstanding.

The sides are served family style, made for two or more people, but you can also order them in individual portions. The hash brown potatoes were amazing, loved the crispy edges. Surprisingly, we had some left over and brought it home. The next morning I made steak and eggs and heated up these potatoes for a killer breakfast. No, dear family, don’t get used to those kinds of breakfasts!

Brussels sprouts are still all the rage these days. These were simply served with shallots and lemon zest – delicious.

The green beans were calling my name. They are served with pancetta, pepper flakes and pine nuts, what a great flavor combination. You almost forget that you are eating vegetables.

So I am super full after all.the.meat. But wanted to try out their dessert and I never miss an opportunity to have a sweet treat! They have so many yummy options: flourless chocolate cake, a warm bag of doughnuts, New York style cheesecake, a big chocolate layer cake, iced carrot cake or creme brûlée. I went with the key lime pie, served in a graham cracker crust and topped with blueberry compote. I had never heard of blueberry compote on key lime pie, so I had to see what that was all about. The flavors actually paired nicely.

Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest of the Palm Restaurant to review their Sunday Supper menu. My meal for my family was provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Palm Restaurant

One International Place, Boston, MA

http://www.thepalm.com

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Waltham is on fire with new restaurants. One of the newest additions is Ruth’s Chris Steak House, located right off of I-95 on Totten Pond Road. I was excited to get a sneak preview of the space with the designer herself, Taniya Nayak. Nayak is a Boston native, and you may know her from one of her many appearances on HGTV and Food Network. She started her own firm in 2005 and has designed spaces like Back Bay Harry’s, Petit Robert Central, 88 Wharf, Bostonia Public House, and Lola’s Cantina to name a few.

The light fixtures here are amazing, they really set the mood for the room. Nayak points out the subtle nod to the historic watch factories in Waltham with the mirrors. The space is sophisticated yet approachable. In addition to the main dining room and bar area, there is a beautiful private room with full multimedia capabilities.

How romantic is this cozy nook for two?

The bar area is a perfect place for after work drinks. They have an amazing happy hour food menu at the bar. You can get a prime burger and fries for $9 (that’s USDA prime meat!!) or a steak sandwich and fries for only $9. See the menu below. The happy hour menu is available Sunday – Friday from 4pm – 6:30pm at the bar.

Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to preview Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Complimentary bites and beverages were provided. All opinions are my own.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

500 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, MA

http://www.ruthschris.com/restaurant-locations/waltham/

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Friday afternoons were meant for long lunches in the  Seaport, taking in the beautiful weather and the views of the water. Del Frisco’s has a great outdoor patio and I was invited to stop in and sample some of Chef Jason Carron’s new signature appetizers and entrees.

While the Double Eagle Steak House specializes in steak, some of my favorite bites of the day were the non steak items – take for example the tuna tartare.

If I were anywhere else, I might have been embarrassed ordering bacon as an appetizer, but here, it’s totally acceptable! The thick cut bacon au poivre is lightly dressed with a bourbon molasses glaze and will make you wish you ordered two servings!

The crab cake has tons of meat and is served on a cajun lobster sauce – a perfect option if you’re looking for something a little lighter at lunch time.

The prime steak salad ($21) comes with mixed greens, bacon, tomatoes, blue cheese, avocado, parmesan cheese, deviled eggs and is topped off with a horseradish dressing.

The restaurant doesn’t do anything to their meat, they just use the freshest meat available and season with salt and pepper, letting the flavor of the meat stand out on its own. They offer a variety of cuts of steak: filet, bone in filet, prime ribeye, prime strip, bone in prime ribeye, and prime porterhouse. For those of you looking for other options, they do have choices like lamb chops, chicken and and prime braised short ribs.

The wagyu tomahawk chop tops their menu off at a whopping $89, but hey, you only live once right?

Generally I steer clear of desserts at steakhouses, especially those that are large in size, because they are generally not worth it. After eating your weight in meat, do you really have room for dessert? At Del Frisco’s, the answer is yes. I’d make room for these desserts…

My favorite, and the restaurant’s most popular, was the butter cake. The cake has a nice crunch to the outside and is served a la mode – I may just skip the steak and come in for the dessert!

I’m generally not a bread pudding fan, but this banana bread pudding was pretty tasty. It was more bread than pudding, which I like , and it just melted in your mouth.

Stop in to Del Frisco’s and enjoy a light lunch or a gut busting dinner, but like I said, make sure to save room for dessert! Right now they are offering a business lunch special for $25, that includes a choice of starter (cup of soup, Del’s salad or Caesar salad) and a choice of an entree (filet medallions, salmon or chicken picatta). Oh, and if you’re drinking, make sure to try their signature drink the VIP, clementine vodka infused with Hawaiian pineapple!

Valet parking is available – they do not validate for the garage.

Disclaimer: I was invited to Del Frisco’s for a tasting event. My meal was provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House

250 Northern Ave., Boston, MA

https://delfriscos.com/

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My brother took us out to Ruth’s Chris Steak House for my niece’s birthday. Generally speaking, chain steak houses don’t really do it for me, Ruth’s Chris not being an exception. The restaurant looks like it belongs in a hotel. The service here was good, our server was attentive and she was super friendly.

We started with the calamari, that was lightly fried and served with a spicy asian chili sauce. The portion was generous for an appetizer but there wasn’t really anything that made this dish stand out for me. My brother and his family all had the petite filet mignon, that was an 8oz corn fed midwestern piece of beef that is broiled to your liking.

I decided to go outside the box and get the veal osso bucco ravioli that was a saffron infused veal osso bucco ravioli with fresh mozzarella cheese, served with a side of sautéed baby spinach and topped with a white wine demi glace.

The onion soup au gratin was delicious and was topped with a good amount of cheese. I personally love onion soup but hate eating it in public because the cheese gets everywhere, there is just no way to look lady like eating it.

As a compliment to the soup, to make it a main meal, my dad ordered the “side” of shrimp. The dish was average, neither outstanding or bad. Overall an ok dinner with an expensive price tag.

Ruth Chris Steak House

2010 Renaissance Park Pl, Cary, NC

http://www.ruthschris-cary.com

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My new thing is tourist destinations in the off season. I was first introduced to Tavern on the Wharf at the Norwell Farms Farm to Fork dinner. I kept dreaming of the short rib dish that I had at the event, so Leah, Robin and I decided to head down to Plymouth and try them for lunch. We always go down Route 24 to the Cape, never go Route 3, so this was a nice change of pace. While the weather was chilly and threatened rain, we still had a great afternoon out! The restaurant is fairly new, less than 6 months old, and has a young chef at its helm. Chef Johnny Sheehan put together a diverse menu and has managed to execute every dish with precision. I was a bit surprised, as he is in his early 30’s, but he mentions that he has trained in Ken Origner’s kitchens, and it all make sense. It feels like they have found their stride and I can only imagine what it will be like here when summer comes around again!

The main dining room feels open and airy and has great views of the water. Apparently the previous restaurant was all booths. Tavern on the Wharf only kept 2 of them in the back, which was such a smart move. The tables give them a lot of flexibility with their layout – they can handle a large party from 6 or 18 in the main dining room.

Chef Sheehan put together a wonderful tasting menu for us, showcasing his creativity and the local seafood. We started off with the oysters that tasted like the sea. The oysters come from right off shore, so you know they are fresh!

Next up, a not on the menu item, but the Yellowfin Tuna was too good for chef to pass up having us taste. The sushi grade tuna melted in my mouth and had a super clean taste.

The Szechuan shrimp ($15) comes flavored with Szechuan peppercorn, chili flake, garlic and scallions. I loved the flavor and the little kick the dish had.

Next was the beef carpaccio ($16), sliced filet of beef (it was paper thin), served with black truffle vinaigrette, Greenway Farm herbs and crispy sunchokes.

The fried burrata ($10) came out next. I have never seen burrata served this way, it’s usually served fresh on a bed of tomatoes. Chef described this as the adult version of a mozzarella stick – a totally approachable way to introduce burrata. The cheese is breaded with a panko crust and served with cream, roasted tomato, olive oil and basil. The roasted tomato in the dish was inspired by an evening meal on the beach, where they threw the tomatoes directly onto the coals to get a wonderful smoke char taste. I loved this dish – such a great twist on a classic.

The tamarind bbq ribs ($12) were a hit. The St. Louis style ribs were served with crispy onions and Korean chili. Trying to be lady like, I went at this with a fork and a knife, but the meat was so tender it just fell off the bone (no knife needed). I loved the flavor, a little sweet and a little salty.

The Portside Biscay ($26) was a great dish, another twist on a classic. Lobster bisque covered the bottom of the plate and was topped with a seared scallop, shrimp, lump Jonah crab and a roasted potato. It was finished off with hand torn biscuit croutons. I started with the potato and fell in love, which only meant great things if I hadn’t even gotten to the seafood yet. The bisque by itself was a little salty for my taste (and I do love salty) but was less so when you had it with the seafood.

At this point, well probably 3 dishes ago, I was stuffed. I should have worn sweatpants. Chef brings out one last dish with a grin on his face (we are so stuffed but of course we want more!). We were well fed and ready for a nap! Last up is the rootbeer glazed short rib ($26) that comes with a sake infused onion puree, crispy and roasted new potato, a charred cippolini onion and bok choy. He has definitely saved the best for last. The short rib is so flavorful – this is the ultimate comfort dish.

In addition to their main dining room, they have a great back bar – a great place for a party! The artwork on the wall was done by a local artist and the room has great views of the water. Off of the bar area, there is an outdoor patio (seats 80) that they will be renovating for the summer (adding in a bar and accentuating the view). They are open 7 days a week from 11:30am – 1am and they offer live music at night. On Tuesdays they have Italian night that I am dying to go back and try. They offer discounted Italian dishes and a $10 bottle of Cabernet or Pinot Grigio with the purchase of 2 entrees.

After lunch the general manager took us on a tour of the restaurant. It’s not every day that you get to check out behind the scenes in the kitchen. This kitchen boasts a HUGE line, one of the biggest kitchens I have ever seen. Another cool feature is this wall where all the employees leave their handprint. To me, this shows what kind of restaurant this is, one that really invests in its employees. And you know what, it shows. Our server was great, really personable and appeared to really enjoy being here. I can’t encourage you enough to head over to Plymouth and try out Tavern on the Wharf – I know that I’ll be back soon – tell the bulgogi and the buttermilk fried chicken that I’m coming for them!

Disclaimer: I was invited to sample the new fall lunch menu. My meal was provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Tavern on the Wharf

6 Town Wharf, Plymouth, MA

http://www.tavernonthewharf.com/

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We continued our evening over at Les Zygomates – for part 1 of our progressive dinner, click here. Les Zygomates is open for lunch and dinner and has $1 oysters, Mondays 4pm-9:45pm, Tuesday-Friday 4pm-7pm. On Tuesday – Saturday nights they have live jazz during the evening.

Les Zygomates’ wine list is impressive and at any given time they have 40-50 wines available by the glass.

For our main course of the progressive dinner we had the choice between a pistachio crusted striped bass, served with roasted potato, sautéed kale, caramelized onions in a lemon brown butter sauce or what I chose, the beef flat iron rossini. The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and was served with pomme puree, wild mushrooms, foie gras, truffle and madeira. The wine pairing for the striped bass was a 2013 Chateau La Dame Blanche from Bordeaux and the pairing for the steak was a 2010 Chateau Trill, a Grenache/Syrah blend, from France.The steak was impressive in size, by this point in the meal I was already full and ended up taking most of it home. To me, there is nothing better than a steak and mushroom flavor combination.

For dessert there was a choice of a vanilla creme brûlée, a chilled chocolate cake and what I chose, the poached apple Napoleon. The dessert was delicious, light as air with a taste of honey – such a perfect fall choice.

The art in both Les Zygomates and Bel Ari is by Janice Eve Dale. The art is from Dale’s “In the Garden Series” and is in sync with the re-design of the interior.

Disclaimer: I was invited to be a guest at Bel Ari and Les Zygomates. My meal was provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Les Zygomates

129 South Street, Boston, MA

http://winebar129.com

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Last week I attended Blog and Tweet Boston’s first progressive dinner. We started off at Bel Ari and moved over to Les Zygomates next door later in the evening. Bel Ari used to be Sorriso, but the restaurant went through a major renovation just about a year ago. The new space is amazing, with a private room in the back,. Their attention to detail with the design work is just lovely. The used the artwork of Janice Eve Dale in both the Bel Ari and Les Zygomates space, but more on that in part 2.

Owner Mark Tosi was at the dinner, walking us through both restaurants. We started off the evening with a whipped ricotta, made with honey and pistachios which was served with a crispy sunflower and cranberry bread. The ricotta was light as air and I love the honey and pistachio flavor combination – it’s one of those things I could have eaten all night!

Next on the menu was the Arancini Di Riso, a goat cheese stuffed risotto ball with basin and served with an onion marmalade. The onion marmalade made this dish for me. I usually don’t love goat cheese, as it can be too “goaty”, but this had a very subtle flavor that I really enjoyed.

For the pasta course, we had our choice of penne a la vodka or shrimp and lobster gnocchi. Of course I went with the gnocchi. The dumplings were light as air and it was served in a lobster cream sauce that was comforting without being heavy. The dish paired nicely with the 2013 Terre di Tufi, Toscano Bianco.

Check back tomorrow for part 2 on the progressive dinner!

Disclaimer: I was invited to be a guest at Bel Ari and Les Zygomates. My meal was provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Bel Ari

107 South Street, Boston, MA

http://belariboston.com

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The interior is spacious and perfect for large parties. They have a great open wine room near the back.

The salad buffet is impressive with a variety of meats, cheeses and vegetables.

Happy hour in the bar features smaller, lighter plates – quite the opposite of what is going on in the main dining room.

My drink guy, Mark, came along to sample the signature drinks. Pictured above is the Fogo Caipirinha: Silver Cachaça, fresh limes and cane sugar. A little on the sweet side, Mark enjoyed the citrus drink but wished that they offered some spicy options on their bar menu.

One of our favorite dishes was the warm hearts of palm and spinach dip – a spin on the classic, we loved the creamy texture and the bold flavor. The steamed spinach and hearts of palm  was served with crispy toast on the side.

The Picanha sirloin sliders came served on four cheese bread sliders and were topped with chimichurri aioli.

Not on the bar menu, but brought over as a special treat, the shrimp skewers were delicious.

The grilled beef tenderloin skewers were served with chimichurri salsa – this dish gives you a glimpse of what to expect in the main dining room.

The crispy parmesan polenta fries were served topped with grated parmesan and served with malagueta aioli. These were crispy and light – best served super hot!

Finally, the charcuterie board: assorted cheese, prosciutto, salami, figs and crostini. A really nice board with a fine selection of meats and cheeses.

The bar area was warm and cozy and the service was right on point, a great option if you are looking for some light bites and Brazilian inspired cocktails.

Happy hour is served in the bar Monday through Friday from 4:30pm-6:30pm.

Disclaimer: I was invited to participate in a media event at Fogo de Chao, they provided me with a complimentary meal. All opinions are my own.

Fogo de Chao

200 Dartmouth Street, Boston, MA

http://www.fogodechao.com/

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The room is made complete with a picture of Humphrey Bogart hanging above the bar.

The menu has four steaks, a half chicken and a vegetarian filet. The steak frites, $25, (above) are IPA marinated and served with a side of fries. The hanger steak was flavorful and I love mine rare/medium rare. The fries were salty and crispy, the perfect side for this dish.

That is, until the chef spoils you with some bone marrow ($4). Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! It was SO delicious!

And check out this lovely burrata salad ($15) served with proscuitto and cranberries with a balsamic glaze. This dish screams fall to me!

Bogie’s Place

25 Temple Place, Boston, MA

http://www.bogiesplace.com/adultsonly/

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