Aimee and I decided to try a new spot in Inman Square this evening that had some really high praise associated with it from the Boston Globe – including comparisons to the heralded Momofuku in Manhattan.  The place had a rather interesting name “East by Northeast” (EXNE…just like the annual South by Southwest conference in Austin!), but the menu on the website looked really interesting and delicious – a sort of China meets France feel.  It definitely didn’t disappoint.

East by Northeast is only 8 weeks old, but the chef has already established some really excellent dishes as well as specials that we found amazing at their best and pretty good at their worst.  This place is really almost like a Chinese Tapas sort of menu, with small plates being the theme – each around $10 or less for the most part.  The chef recommends around 3 dishes I’ll review all of the dishes we tried here, in the order of our favorites to our least favorites:

1. Home made Thick Cut Noodles with Pork Ragout and Chili Vinegar (topped with a poached egg) – This was our consensus best dish of the evening.  The noodles were divine, thick cut and really good all around, and the ragout was seasoned really well and perfectly cooked.  One of the great things about ExNE’s (as they call themselves) noodle dishes is that you can add a delicious poached egg to any of these dishes.  I highly recommend doing this, especially on this dish.  The side of this dish was a small amount of chili vinegar that we (on our server’s recommendation) poured on top of the dish.  The vinegar mixed with the egg yolk and created a pretty amazing taste and texture throughout the dish.

2. Crispy Pork Belly, Mantou Bread, Daikon and Sweet Bean Paste (with Pickled Onion) – This was likely my favorite of the night…ok, ok, I admit – I’m a sucker for pork belly (who isn’t).  This version of the meat was braised first, then sliced thinly and cooked until crispy.  Served on some house made Mantou bread (which is a sort of Chinese dumpling-like roll) and topped with some pickled onion and some sweet bean paste.  This was really, really tasty – like a little slider.  The pork was moist and insanely delicious.  I’d come back and order 2-3 of these for myself anytime.

3. Mapo Tofu, Spicy Veal Sauce and Smoked Silken Tofu – As you can see from the picture, the presentation of this dish was a little bit surprising to me, almost like a sort of tofu steak, topped with the veal sauce that was actually really spicy (not too spicy though).  But from what the presentation lacked, the dish made up for in flavor, which it was big on.  There was also some delicious dabs of sauce on the plate that seemed like it was made out of parsley or spinach – it was very green.  The combination of the spicy veal and smooth tofu with a little of that smoky flavor is what made this dish for me.

4. Pork Dumplings with Butternut Squash, Five Spice-Pork Jus – Though I am partial to Mary Chung’s amazing house made pot stickers, these dumplings were a welcome start to our meal for sure.  Reading the menu, I was mostly expecting to see the butternut squash incorporated inside of the dumplings, but it was actually more of a puree that was served underneath the dumplings, along with the jus.  The mixture of these two garnishes was excellent, and overshadowed the dumplings themselves, which I’d have to call rather average.  Delicious and innovative nonetheless.
5. Salad of Napa Cabbage, Honey, Rice Vinegar and Grapefruit – This salad was fresh an really delicious.  I was a little skeptical of the raw cabbage at first, but I’m glad we ordered it in the end.  The combination of the bitter grapefruit, tart but smooth vinegar and the tender cabbage was divine.  Balanced with the honey, this dish was a winner for sure, something I’d be happy to order again.  We shared this, but I also could have eaten one of these small salads on my own.
6. Crispy Bun Duo – Pulled Pork and Smoked Pork Confit – A rather interesting presentation, this small dish was one part mini-slider that included the smoked pork confit, and another part pulled pork, encapsulated in a delicious dough and cooked until the sides were rather crisp.  This was a really nice pair, but the flavors weren’t as memorable as some of the other dishes we tasted.
7. House Made Lamb Sausage, Short Rice Noodles, Carrots, Parsnips – This was our least favorite of all the dishes we tasted at ExNE.  I think part of the reason was the noodles themselves – rather short and shaped like small, thick cylinders.  I found them to be rather gummy in the middle, and not particularly enjoyable to eat.  The sauce in the dish seemed to be seasoned with curry powder and cumin and was good, not great.  The lamb sausage was delicious, but in the whole dish we only found 3 pieces of sausage.  Probably wouldn’t order this one again, but it was interesting to try in any case.

Overall, our experience at East by Northeast was an enjoyable one.  We sat at the bar, and the servers were great at explaining and recommending.  We even got a view of the kitchen as the chefs were preparing everyone’s food.  Cool spot, I see good things ahead for these guys, and wish them the best of luck -

Service: 9/10

Food: 8.5/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Value: 7/10

Overall: 8.5/10 – great spot!

After living in Central Square for exactly a year this week, I thought it would be an appropriate time to write a post in honor of my neighborhood.  For those of you who don’t know much about Central Square, Cambridge, it is a fascinating place.  Some remarkable things have occurred here over the years – not only is it the location where Alexander Graham Bell made his first telephone call, it is also where the sewing machine was invented.

To this day, Central Square hosts some of the largest candy productions in this country as home to Necco and Tootsie.  Just in the past couple of years, a company called Harmonix produced a game which has become a  phenomenon in this country – Guitar Hero.  Perhaps this neighborhood’s location at the very midpoint between Harvard and MIT has had a creative impact.

Central Square more than anything else is home to an enormous amount of history and diversity, which only takes a brief walk around Mass. Ave and Prospect St. to recognize.  Amidst the multitude of colorful murals and eclectic restaurants and shops, many of which have inhabited this neighborhood since the early seventies, one place in particular offers and iconic Central Square experience.  Brookline Lunch, which has been owned and operated by the same family for several decades, offers the most delicious, inexpensive, no-frills breakfast experience in all of Cambridge.

When you first walk in to Brookline Lunch, which will most likely be after a bit of a wait, especially on the weekend, you will probably be confused.  First of all, it is not in Brookline, but in Cambridge, and you’ll notice that most of its patrons are not, in fact, eating lunch.  Furthermore, you will see mismatched crooked booths and an odd mix of local art.  The old floors and walls have dust-filled cracks and every spare bit of space is occupied by a potted tree or plant.  There is even an inaccessible corner of the restaurant that is full of extra tables and broken booth benches.  You will inevitably ask yourself why so many people are waiting to get into this funky spot.

There is usually only one waitress, the matriarch of the family who runs the place.  She alone serves all the tables, assisted by someone from the generation below her only to bus and clean tables.  As you can imagine, the service is often slow, so you may want to come with your own coffee and read the menu quickly so you may order as soon as she gets to you.  Somehow, this remarkable woman can serve an entire restaurant without writing anything down.

The menu is simple but extensive, offering both American and Middle-Eastern options for breakfast and lunch.  I suggest ordering their breakfast, which is served with toast,  home-fries, and a heaping serving of a medley of whatever fresh, seasonal vegetables they have on hand.  Depending on the time of year, this might include Brussels sprouts and squash or tomatoes and spinach.

I typically order the Greek omelet, which comes stuffed with onions, peppers, and spinach, and is topped with a generous slice of fresh feta cheese.  When I am in the mood for an extra treat, I substitute the toast with an English muffin, which comes buttered and grilled and served with their awesome homemade jam.  I pour a generous serving of their homemade hot sauce over the omelet, potatoes, and vegetables, and I cannot imagine a more satisfying breakfast experience.  This meal sets me back only six dollars and comes with such a plate full of food I can only finish it if I show up with a voracious appetite.

If omelets aren’t your thing, try one of their breakfast sandwiches.  Priced similarly to most breakfast sandwiches you get a la carte, this one is served with a heaping pile of home fries and fresh vegetables, and comes on a bagel.  Try some of their more unusual options, like the egg and chicken breakfast sandwich which comes with spinach and cheese.  Or go with the more traditional, but still delicious sausage, egg, and cheese.  Everyone at your table will want a bite.

Brookline Lunch is one of the few restaurants left in the area where you can get a fresh, home-cooked meal while hardly denting your wallet.  It is located right off the Central Square T stop and is open seven days a week until 3 pm for breakfast and lunch.  Though it may not possess the curb-appeal and service quality of other dining establishments, I am sure glad it is in my neighborhood.