3 out of 4 stars

MIAMI — Tucked away on the west end of Lincoln Road is this excellent indoor-outdoor spot loved by well-heeled diners for its excellent seafood.

For the quality here, the prices are quite reasonable. Chef Simon Stojanovic (who worked for Michael Schwartz at Nemo and then Michael’s Genuine) has constructed a menu that leans heavily on local produce and “sustainable” local fish, but after those similarities, he’s off into new territory not explored by Schwartz.

There are only a few pastas on the menu, but they’re kick-ass good. (Try the homemade fettuccine with rock shrimp, snow peas, and asparagus.) One night we had jack fish served over a ragout containing artichokes, carrots, tomatoes, and cippolini onions. But it’s not all about seafood: the beef, chicken and pork are all organic, the best of the best. Entrees run $20 to $30 (some beef entrees are higher) with starters going for $10 to $15. The ceviches are standouts, too, at $14 or $15. Enlarged its space in 2010 so it’s not as cramped as it used to be. Always a good bet.

1223 Lincoln Road

altamarrestaurant.com

3 out of 4 stars

MIAMI — Dino Pirola is the longtime owner here. There are only a few tables, and getting one away from his long list of regulars is a task not to be taken lightly.

A trifle on the expensive side, but oh so worth it. Any pasta dish here will be among the best to be had in Miami. And it’s well worth your time to order the Veal Piccata if only to see how it ought to be done. Veal Piccata is the one dish that is ruined in most Italian eateries: here, each succulent, moist mouthful rises to the level of a masterpiece. That and a side dish of pasta with a nice Barolo will make a lovely meal to remember.

1443 Washington Ave.

osteriadelteatromiami.com

3 out of 4 stars

MIAMI — Cafe Barcelona is a Spanish place famous for its $25 pitchers of homemade Sangria.

But you can also get a dozen oysters here for $10. (This is ridiculously cheap on South Beach, where oysters generally sell for $3 each.)

They do Paella in several different versions, running between $30 and $40 for two. Don’t let the person out front hustling to get tourists in dissuade you from trying it: this place is highly valued by smart locals. The same people own Tapas & Tintos next door, also very good.

448 Espanola Way, Miami Beach

www.cafebarcelonamiami.com

4 out of 4 stars

MIAMI — Fine food in simple, clean environment. Go for the crispy chickpea fritters, hot pita bread stuffed with lamb or beef ($7), French fries are dusted with Parmesan cheese and garlic ($2.25), burgers (and very tasty ones at that) are a mere $3.59, or $4.59 for a doubleburger.

Try the combo platter ($13) and sample the beef Shawarma, chicken kabob, beef Kufta, and this includes tapenade, pita bread, salad and fries. Chef is Lebanese.

751 Washington Ave., Miami Beach

www.crazeeolive.com

MIAMI — The food is uniformly good here.

We started with the zucchini fritter ($7), really more like a pancake, crusty on the outside, soft and almost like a puree inside, fine texture and taste grilled sucuk (or sujuk), a chorizo ($8), but Turkish or from the Balkans, very strong and intense flavor in a densely packed sausage sliced and then grilled.

Try the kefti ($8), considered to be meatballs, but here served like small hamburger patties, perfectly cooked shrimp Ouzo ($11), saut©ed shrimp — large and firm, not at all over or undercooked, in a delectable cheese and tomato sauce with herbs main plate of 4 lamb loin chops chops on a bed of long grain rice each individual grain of which seemed to be cooked to order—never had such good rice, $19).

Dessert? Get the thinly layered chocolate cake with an icing that reminded me of chocolate pudding. Beyond compare.

The food is good and consistent any time of day. There’s no A-team for dinner and B-team for lunch here.

Finally, a bottle of Botalcura sauvignon blanc is a mere $26. Wine by the glass is $7

Can’t miss the place—painted in that distinctive bright blue that dominates the Greek flag. Only 4 tables in the tiny inside area, with most of the seating outside under shade trees with fans. Very Key West in feeling.

MIAMI — This is the southern outpost of Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Japanese empire. Nobu draws upon his classical training at sushi bars in Tokyo and his life abroad in Peru, Argentina, and around the world to create an exciting new trend in Japanese cuisine.

Among the cold dishes (these are all appetizers), love the yellowtail sashimi with tiny slices of Jalapeno (hot!), ($20) salmon kelp roll, ($18) sea urchin tiradito, ($22) yellowfin tuna tataki, $22; and the monkfish pate with caviar, $22.

Standouts among hot starters include their famous rock shrimp tempura, ($20) Alaskan king crab tempura, ($24) and Tasmanian ocean trout with crispy baby spinach, ($23)

Wide range of Kushiyaki and Tobanyaki specialties as well as the usual sushi and sashimi selections a la carte.

Service can be good, but don’t count on it. Weeknights are better if you don’t want to be crammed in.

MIAMI — Off the beaten path in an area not frequented by tourists, you’ll find Oliver’s.

Staff is courteous, the food superior, and their excellent chef, Eddie, hasn’t allowed the kitchen to fall off the high standards he set when they first opened.

Standouts: Shrimp & Brie Quesadilla, $10.95; Smoked Salmon & Brie Crostini, $8.95; Ahi Tuna Niciose Salad, $13.95; Smoked Salmon Wrap, $11.95; the Extra Large Gnocchi with Ricotta, $13.95; Pan Roasted Lamb Shank, $18.95; Vegetable Plate $11.95.

Serves "late breakfast" till 2:30 daily, and has a full brunch menu on weekends. (Eddie butters the English muffin when he cooks eggs Benedict, and it makes a difference.)

ORLANDO, Fla. — I’m no food connoisseur but I will be the first to tell you how much I like to eat and eat well. I can’t say I disagree with the fact that Orlando was recently ranked to be less fun than Poughkeepsie but I can say that the City Beautiful will never be short on dining options. From southern comfort food to fine dining, we have it all. If you’re willing to venture out of the chain comfort zone you find yourself gravitating to because they are close to your hotel and eat like this local, you just might be willing to try something new in your own town.

Brunch/Lunch/Dinner

Harmoni – Market Bistro Wine Bar

407-637-8050

If you just happen to be craving local, fresh ingredients in a causal bistro scene look no further than Harmoni. Mediterranean based dishes provide a great range guaranteed to satisfy everyone with a motto of “Better is better” each meal is nothing short of delicious. With a majority of their items coming from local vendors, farms and fisherman it doesn’t get much fresher.

Open for brunch on Saturday and Sunday, 10-3pm, you can experience Cinnamon Challah French Toast with vanilla cream sauce ($7.50), that is sweet enough to not require maple syrup. Lump crab Benedict served with seasonal fruit and roasted red breakfast potatoes ($11). The mixture of the abundance of crab that is melt-in-your-mouth good paired with the roasted potatoes and of course the sauce make this breakfast decadent. Breakfast Panini’s, flatbreads and omelets’ with the locally blended coffee, and a low key setting with just the right amount of live music playing set the mood for a great way to start or end any weekend. If you happen to stop in for dinner try the fresh Baba Ghanoush as a starter($4), Gumba flatbread with rib eye, mushrooms, caramelized onions, tomatoes and bleu cheese ($10.50), Mediterranean Cobb salad ($9), Scallops with tomato parmesan couscous and wilted spinach ($16.50), and Basil Pesto pasta with their very own house made mozzarella ($10). Harmoni also has an impressive wine list with over 150 different varieties, locally brewed beers, occasional live music and a full bar round out this unexpected find at either of their two locations.

Lunch on the run

Black Bean Deli

407-628-0294

I discovered the Black Bean Deli many years ago while working down the street from their Winter Park location and it has since been a favorite. Rated “Best Cuban Food” and “Best take out” by Orlando Weekly and Orlando Sentinel for 5 years straight along with being ’ZAGAT RATED’ and best of AOL CITY SEARCH is proof this little gem has managed to win over a few others too. To avoid the lunch rush, it’s best to call your order in ahead of time because it’s typical for the line to snake out the door of the small order/pick-up area. With a menu of simple yet delicious Cuban favorites, I hardly ever deviate from the lunch special which is served daily until 3pm. It features a hot pressed Cuban that is always perfectly toasted and never fails on providing the exact balance of salty, sweet, crunchy, and melted cheese goodness that you come to expect when you think of a great Cuban. It comes paired with a small cup of black beans and rice ($5), which beats any value meal for the same price. Other favorites include Papas Rellenas, a mashed potato ball stuffed with Picadillo served with rice, beans, plantains’ and salad for ($6.75), and Flan ($2) to cover your sweet craving.

Comfort

Olde Dixie Fried Chicken

407-855-0681

Olde Dixie Fried Chicken, an Orlando landmark since 1962, has been serving up anything but mediocre fried chicken since the day they opened their doors. The decor hasn’t changed since that day either it seems with the original vintage sign still out front but neither has the menu. Their chicken is always fresh, never frozen and delivered daily. Their chicken is the definition of good fried chicken; crispy, juicy, perfectly seasoned and delicious. 3-pc chicken dinner with choice of two sides (potato, coleslaw, baked beans or macaroni salad, mashed potatoes, fries), hot rolls ($6.10) which is just basic good eatin’. Bucket o’ shrimp which features 25 large hand breaded shrimp, coleslaw, hot rolls, and their own tangy shrimp sauce ($22.95) claims to be able to feed 5-7 but I’ve seen it devoured by less. Fish or chicken sandwich ($4.10) are also just as equal in providing the love you feel after consuming any fried food.

Sushi

Nona Sushi

407-381-7777

I’ve become quite the sushi snob after my neighborhood was blessed with Nona Sushi. Set at the end of a nonchalant strip mall they have managed to set the bar high on serving up fresh delicious rolls in a very casual environment with excellent service that has me basing any other establishment off of. Edamame ($3.95), Tuna Kobachi ($8.95), and Seaweed Salad ($5.25) are my favorite ways to start. A wide variety of traditional and exotic rolls fill the menu but the Mexican that features shrimp tempura, avocado, cream cheese, jalapeno and eel sauce($10), Fresh Salmon Roe($5), Spicy Tuna roll with cucumber($8) and Dynamite roll with salmon, imitation crab, cucumber, battered and fried, topped with spicy hot sauce($8) are my favorites. A daily menu that offers new options from rolls to entrees for something different but entree list that doesn’t disappoint is always available. Chilean Sea Bass that is steamed with ginger & scallion soy sauce ($23.75) or Walnut Shrimp with mayo-flavored sauce and candied walnuts ($19.75) each entree is served with rice and your choice of Miso Soup or Ginger salad. Desert isn’t debatable with the Tempura cheesecake ($7.95) that is perfect for sharing.

Fine Dining

Bull & Bear Steakhouse

407-597-5500

If you really want go all out, a night at Bull & Bear is the way to go because the statement "go big or go home" is what they are all about. Even though Orlando is a far cry from New York City, we’re more than appreciative when not only the renowned Waldorf Astoria Hotel opened their doors in late 2009 bringing with it original creations such as the Waldorf Salad, Veal Oscar, Red Velvet Cake, Thousand Island Dressing and of course the Manhattan but introduced us to the several award winning Bull & Bear. From the attentive service, the plush gentleman’s club interior, fresh daily selections, and lengthy wine list; their promise of an extraordinary dining experience follows through.

Start with the Iced Shellfish Platter that features chilled Maine lobster, oysters, crab cocktail and gulf shrimp that are quite the statement on the oversized silver platter ($56) and Heirloom tomato salad with Burrata cheese and arugula ($15). Rack of Colorado Lamb features double cut loin chops ($42) cooked medium rare are not in the least gamey which just might have those reluctant to try something other than the norm. Broiled Diver Scallops that were almost the size of a half dollar in Tarragon scampi butter ($38) are nothing short of divine. Though Bull & Bear is known as the first restaurant on the East coast to first serve Certified Angus Beef which they display on five of the six beef selections, there is also the 10 ounce American Kobe skirt steak ($52). The skirt steak is not known for being a tender cut but if a butter knife could do the job then you know it’s good. Mac and cheese with pancetta ($8) that is so rich it is nearly impossible to consume more than a few sinful bites and Seasonal fresh mushrooms ($8) completed the meal.

617-965-678NEWTON — Our Visit to O’Hara’s Irish Pub was quite a treat this weekend.  The food was excellent and well worth a short wait.    The freshly squeezed lemonade and homemade dinner rolls were a great way to get us started.

Moving into the main course; the chicken Parmesan with toasted ravioli ($13.50) was both very tasty and well proportioned.  A generous piece of chicken with 6 fried raviolis was more than enough food for one person.  Since the back of the menu is completely dedicated to O’Hara’s pizzas and calzones, we decided to diversify and go for a pie.  The Buffalo Chicken Pizza ($14.95) was excellent and very fresh. It is not your typical pizza shop buffalo chicken pie thrown together and boxed up.  Notably, the hot sauce was perfect, (probably a medium hotness on a typical restaurant scale) and it did not make the pizza too runny or messy.

As it was 8 p.m. on Friday, we did have to wait about 20 minutes for a table, but there is a nice square wooden bar upon entering the restaurant, so we didn’t mind.  The dining room was a bit smaller than anticipated — around 20 tables — but the staff seemed very efficient with keeping track of who was next to be seated and adjusting tables to keep things moving smoothly.

But if you’re looking for a loud hot spot for young people or college kids, this is not your place, it tends to attract more of a middle-aged crowd. Everyone was very friendly though, and the staff was welcoming and attentive.  O’Hara’s is located a short walk from the Newton Highlands stop on the Green Line/D-Branch. There is also well-lit metered parking in the area as well.

In short, for a tasty reasonably priced meal, O’Hara’s is definitely worth the short trip to Newton Highlands.  It’s something different that’s just outside Boston.

I usually refrain from using the word hip, what with being a New Yorker born in the mid-80s and all. But I’m going to say it now, Dorchester Center’s Ashmont Grill restaurant is one hip and happening spot. I mean damn, the place simply oozes charisma. It’s just hip, there I said it.

Arriving an hour before our table will be ready, my dear friend Gina (yes, we rhyme) and I head to the bar area to the only two remaining seats. You’ve got to be hip if your Dorchester restaurant is kicking at 6:30 p.m. on a random and freezing Thursday in early January.

The bartender even had pizzazz, a fiery woman serving up drinks, laughs and snide jokes to her regulars seated next to us. The best part was being made to feel like a regular during our first visit. Gina started out with an Antioxitini, a fun and colorful tongue-twister made with pomegranate and berry liquors and juices. Light, refreshing and good for you what more do you really need in a cocktail? I myself started out with a Pineapple Cosmpolitan which was also too good to be true. The bartender, and mistress of ceremony it seemed, served up everything with flare and even pointed out her beloved award hanging up on the side of the bar that named her as Best Bartender for two recent years in Boston Magazine. As we chatted with the friendly locals and each other we were at ease, truly enjoying a slowed-down night out, something I rarely get and something that is hard to find in Boston.

We ordered a second round, a Peartini for me and Christmas Punch for my buddy topped with a mint leaf and pomegranate seeds to resemble mistletoe. The bartender overheard me saying how much I love pomegranate seeds in salads and whipped out her Tupperware and placed a spoonful in my hand, talk about feeling like a regular. My delicious pear cocktail was perfect and tasted like real pear, legitimately one of my all time favorite fruits and was adorned with a giant wedge of Bartlett. Yum-my.

We were shown to our table by the hostess and met our delightfully upbeat and hilarious waiter (I guess I just think he’s hilarious because he laughed at all my ridiculous comments and chimed in with his own jokes). We had been studying the menu for awhile, a few days before our visit actually to get technical (what else are you going to do at work) and decided we were going to have to get the Train Wreck Fries ($8), a hefty portion of hand-cut fries smothered in melted jack cheese, with bacon, jalapenos, sour cream and scallions. I think the "smothered" part of that sentence is a bit of an exaggeration as it was more "lightly coated" with melted jack cheese. And I ordered a side of sour cream to make up for the amount given which between two sour cream lovers is most definitely not enough. I also was intrigued by the sound of the Beer Battered Shrimp with creole tartar sauce appetizer offering ($10). These are not your ordinary battered and fried shrimp, these are ample crustaceans fresh, delicious and battered to perfection and served with a tangy and slightly smoky dipping sauce I couldn’t get enough of. Yes there were only four shrimp with the order, but the quality of the seafood makes the price understandable and is worth coming back for.

I don’t usually eat red meat since I honestly don’t have the time or patience to make it on any kind of regular basis so I decided to indulge, as I often do when someone else is cooking for me, and ordered the 12 oz Flank Steak ($20). I wanted medium rare but since I knew my dear friend Gina would be needing a bite or two I went ahead and ordered it medium. Much to my delight it was cooked perfectly and while I would’ve personally enjoyed it rare it pleased both of us and had enough pieces with beautifully near-pink centers that I was happy. It was seasoned-well and cooked perfectly to our desire, the two most attractive characteristics I look for in a desirable steak (and mate but that’s a whole other story). My entree was served with a huge portion of creamy garlic mashed potatoes, red wine butter and sauteed baby spinach. There wasn’t one aspect of my meal I didn’t like except I do wish there was a bigger portion of the spinach it was cooked so well and I loved it. And while I couldn’t finish the entire serving, I had the perfect amount of leftovers for lunch the next day.

Gina got the New England Pasture Raised Burger ($12), made with local pasture raised beef and served with cheese, mushrooms or grilled onions. Having not realized the "or" in the description meant she would have had to ask for mushrooms and grilled onions in addition to the cheese her burger arrived sans accouterments, but when she asked the waiter if she could have some he promptly was able to fulfill my needy friends wishes. She also got a side of the garlic mashed potatoes ($4) because she couldn’t resist, and who honestly could if it doesn’t come with your meal. We also decided to indulge in the Classic Macaroni and Cheese side ($5) which was served piping hot, so hot in fact we had to let the air circulate and let the dish settle for more than five minutes before we could jump in. It’s a classic, no-fills macaroni cheese that was good, but not stellar as was nearly everything else thus far.

For dessert I was all prepared to order the Chocolate Pear Upside Down Cake which I had seen on the online menu but alas they were not serving it. I settled for a new Lemon Tart served with Blueberry Compote which was delicious. I’m not a huge fan of crust and there was a substantial amount, but the tart lemon filling was balanced perfectly with the sweet and not-to-rich blueberry topping. We also ordered the Chocolate Brownie Sundae, nothing short of a delight. Rich, thick brownie topped with two kinds of ice cream including coffee was decadent and reminiscent of childhood desserts and frivolity. Oh, to be young again. Sigh.

Replicating the successful model used bi-annually by American Express, eight participating restaurants will each offer "show off" three-course dinners for $30.10 in addition to their usual menu offerings. This reasonably-priced restaurant experience is one that I know well, and something that could really help boost the visibility of not only Ashmont Grill but some of the other great under-known spots in both Dorchester and Milton. The Dorchester-Milton Restaurant Week will run January 17-31 excluding Friday and Saturday nights. Other restaurants participating include 224, 88 Wharf, Abby Park, Blarney Stone, Dbar, Ledge, and Tavolo. I highly recommend booking early for the upcoming Restaurant Week.

So indulge in a new hot spot at a great price for a three-course meal. Who knew these couture-quality gems were hiding in Dorchester Center and Milton, the unlikeliest of places. Now you do, so live long, prosper, and eat well.

CAMBRIDGE — If the name doesn’t pique your interest, the food certainly will. Lord Hobo (92 Hampshire St) is the new Cambridge restaurant that replaced the hip B-Side Lounge. Chef Matt Bailey of Teatro is serving up a mouth-watering palette of kinda-fancy American fare. We highly recommend you stop in for a bite.

Located just past Inman Square, Hobo plays up its too-cool-for-school vibe right from the get-go. The restaurant is located on the corner, but there’s no sign to tip you off. Instead, look for a bouncer slouched against the wall outside. Half restaurant, half bar, the place is surprisingly 21+. We were ID’d and then ushered in through a red velvet curtain.

Once inside, the atmosphere feels hipster-industrial, with bare, low hanging lights, exposed pipes crossing the ceiling and typical Cambridge professionals in their mid twenties to early thirties at the bar. The tables are slightly too close together, but we didn’t mind since our neighbors were kind enough to let us try their truffle fries.

Ah, the fries. Nearly every table in sight had ordered one of the three tempting options: curry chips, gravy chips, or truffle chips. We (me and my culinary educated friend, Meredith) chose the curry chips ($7). Both of us are used to the beyond delicious curry served with fish and chips in England and Ireland, and oh-my-God, this was just as good. The truffle sauce was equally enchanting, and we’re heading back soon for the gravy fries (the neighbors to our left were not as share-happy).

For our second appetizer, we opted for the Maine lobster mac and cheese ($12). The sauce was delicate and mild, allowing the flavor from the lobster to permeate nicely. The pasta was just a little less than al dente and the lobster was a little lacking (but, then again, you can never have enough lobster, especially when it’s drenched in cheese). All in all, a nice starting dish, but not the best thing on the menu.

Our third course was a salad of frisee and duck confit, which seems to have disappeared from the menu. However, it was simple and elegant, and very hard to stop eating, so we’re assuming the two salads ($9, $10) now listed on the menu will be as well.

Entr©e number one was house made gnocchi with oxtail and squash in a Parma cream sauce ($18). The gnocchi was a little too doughy for Meredith’s liking, but the oxtail was pure heaven. Reminiscent of short rib, it was tender and juicy. The sauce was a nice complement.

I had a hard time deciding on my entr©e. I was originally excited for the gnocchi, but Meredith was already schooled in oxtail, so I let her get it (I had no previous oxtail experience, but won’t hesitate to order it again). I was tempted by the hanger steak and fries, but something about the half roast chicken ($19) called out to me.

I haven’t been a huge chicken fan lately, always opting for a giant steak instead. But the dish seemed so simple — served with carrots, celery, chippollini onions and roast potatoes — that I figured it would give me a good base for grading the food. As I waited for it to arrive, I was beginning to regret my hasty choice. Why hadn’t I chosen the steak or something a little more unique, like the pan roasted skate? I decided to look forward to sampling the oxtail and tried to ignore my potentially poor choice.

When the chicken arrived, it was huge. I recruited Mere to gobble up the entire leg and pushed it over to one side of my plate. Then, I dug in. I carefully cut off a nice slice with some bad-for-you-but-oh-so-good skin on top. I swirled it around in the gravy and popped in my mouth. Then, it happened. My eyes closed and a shiver went down my spine. This was, without a doubt, the absolute best chicken I had ever tasted. Ever. The meat was juicy and succulent and the skin was as indulgent as it should be. And the gravy — oh dear God, the gravy. Creamy, buttery and just plain heavenly, it elevated the dish from delicious to absolutely fantastic. I practically binged on the meal. People around me were probably staring, but I wouldn’t have noticed. Perfection.

Okay, now that my unabashed praise of the chicken is out of the way, let’s get to the cocktails ($9). After conferring with the waiter to ensure that I wouldn’t choose anything too fruity-sweet, I went for the Cat Wagon (vodka, Chambord, Lillet Blonde, fresh lemon and Proseco). It tasted like a cherry Jolly Rancher. It wasn’t the usual sugary, more than one will make you sick cocktail. It tasted like candy and childhood (well, childhood if your mom was a raging alcoholic). It’s one of my new favorites.

Mere ordered the Triple C, which is also a no-show on the online menu. It tasted like a cherry pina colada, and we’re hoping it’s still available.

After we drained our glasses, we each ordered a glass of the 2007 Mitolo Jester Shiraz ($12). The wine list offers a nice variety, but it’s the beer lovers who will return again and again. Boasting over 40 draught beers and 38 bottled, you’ll have to head to Hobo 78 times before you’ll be truly satisfied.

In addition, the service was very good. Our waiter was knowledgeable and happy to give his opinion. He didn’t hover, but the entrees did seem to take a little bit too long to come out (most likely not the waiter’s fault).

Lord Hobo opened November 18 and has since been getting "crushed" just about every night, according to the manager, Daniel Lanigan. It’s easy to see why. The food is definitely in the A range and the drinks were clearly expertly chosen. It’s a fun place to be, offering great food and drink and the opportunity to people watch (and sometimes eavesdrop). It’s not a romantic place, but it still fits the bill for a great date or a birthday dinner with friends. Don’t pass this one by, it totally deserves a try.

CAMBRIDGE — I’d been to Bambara before, about three years ago for Restaurant Week. One of my better Restaurant Week experiences for sure, I still remember that awesome Blueberry Mojito like it was yesterday. And the food was well-cooked and insightful. When I heard about Bambara’s “Happiest Hour” menu I needed to try it. So I got on the Green line to Lechmere and walked a pleasant five minutes toward the restaurant, flanking the Cambridgeside Galleria on the Edwin H. Land Blvd.

The menu has five offerings, slightly smaller versions of many of their menu appetizers, for only $2 a piece. I was promised a good portion, and I held my breath as I sipped on my decadent, if not slightly too-tart, Caramel Apple Martini. Side note: I caught myself licking the caramel swirl inside the glass more than once as I was wishing for a caramel-dipped rim to balance out the apple cider and Stoli Apple.

I placed my order for the “mini arancini” and “mini grilled flatbread.” The description of the arancini which were anything but mini, were described as Crispy risotto balls, with short rib, Parmesan, fontina, herbs with tomato and aioli sauces. The combination: divine. The arancini rice balls were denser than I was used to with my Brooklyn, New York upbringing, but it worked. The outside was crispy and delicious and the marinara sauce had a touch of cream giving it a lighter color and deep flavor. The flatbread was a hearty, light, fluffy bread reminiscent of thicker Syrian bread and took up the entire large plate. (I’d say the pizza was approximately 10 inches long and 7 inches wide) and it was just delicious. The ingredients, roasted garlic, goat cheese, over dried cherry tomatoes, arugula, and aged fig vinegar, were perfect and this dish was filling enough as a light dinner. Arugula and goat cheese is the perfect marriage of peppery greens and creamy goodness and the aged fig vinegar was sweet and I feel a strong need to go out and purchase some to dip all my bread in, all the time. It was … I was … needless to say, I was enjoying this meal and I was getting full off of only two bar menu dishes, cashing in at a total of only $4.

Last dish up for me to try was the “mini fried squid.” I can’t stop myself from using the quotes because honestly, mini has to be some sort of sarcastic inside joke between Executive Chef Jay Silva and his warm staff, which were attentive and informative. Served with spicy, tangy aioli, fried lemon slices and chili paste the fried squid was very good. I, however, wasn’t doing as good because I was getting ridiculously full. I only managed three (okay maybe five) bits of squid including tentacles (yum!) and just couldn’t finish. It was kind of perplexing to me how they, the little squid guys, managed to have the full, robust flavor of deep fried squid, but with not the traditionally thick breaded coating you find at many chain American eateries, and even small mom-and-pop run Italian restaurants. It was damn good, and overflowing oval bowl loaded with the seafood was mind-boggling. So for $6 dollars I’m sure a friend and I could have polished off every last arugula leaf and fried squid-breading for a filling, gourmet dinner that was extremely wallet-friendly.

In the spirit of not being wasteful, I couldn’t just leave my sad little squids alone in their bowl, and overheard a quabble with my neighbors at the bar. “Is this one bowl for both of us, why didn’t you get me my own serving,” the late-arriving man said to his friend while he eyed the plate of mini fried squid. I instantly offered up my own fried squid seeing as it would only go to waste since I was about to explode, and had a back-and-forth while he decided to take me up on my generous offer.

It turns out Frank and Frank are New Yorkers in town for business staying at the gorgeous Hotel Marlowe, where Bambara is housed in. (Apparently Hotel Marlowe is one of the only pet-friendly hotels in Boston, who knew?!) We had some good laughs and toasted the large portions that we just feasted on, and I made some new friends from my hometown of New York City.

So if you’re looking for a mellow atmosphere with light jazz music in the background and fragrant food smells wafting from the partially open kitchen, head to Bambara between 4-6 p.m. (I suggested they extend it until 7 so we’ll just have to wait and see if they take my advice) for their Happiest Hour menu and bring a few friends, or just meet some new ones. I’m planning to head back to try the herb french fries with spicy mayo (I kind of have a serious thing with spicy mayo, we’re involved AND exclusive) and the mini fish cakes. Their menu, and in turn Happiest Hour menu, is always changed seasonally to reflect the best ingredients.

WESTWOOD, Calif. — It’s easy for a Bostonian to lose himself in Westwood Village. After all, it looks like a combination of Newbury Street and Tremont Street, complete with shopping, moviegoing and eating.

Tanino, on Westwood Boulevard, is a beautifully designed Italian restaurant and top-shelf bar. It’s perfect for dinner for two, dinner for the family or in this case, a quick escape while my co-worker goes shopping for a new outfit across the street.

I recommend a nice Italian drink like lemoncello or espresso with sambocca. I had a Scotch, but that’s because I was in a Scotch mood. And they have a very good selection of Scotch, Irish Whisley, Bourbon and much more.

Tanino doesn’t miss in the food department either. The Burrata caprese salad ($13.50), was an excellent mixture of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, basil and olive oil — one of my top 10 favorite dishes, and they didn’t disappoint.

I’d also recommend the lombatina di vitello ($36), a 16-ounce veal chop with raosted potatoes and sauteed spinach.

There are also more than an dozen pasta dishes including four-cheese gnocchi ($17) and three kinds of risotto.

I was impressed with the old country feel of the restaurant, it’s knowledgeable and attentive staff and most of all its deep variety of fresh food.

I sat at the bar and made chit-chat with a new, veal-ordering friend and the bartender, both also from Boston. I came away from Tanino with a great experience that will bear repeating on future trips westward.