2009: The year in cheap eats

A good year to dine 'On the Cheap,' for many reasons
By MC SLIM JB  |  December 24, 2009

09125_patties-mains
In the wake of the Bush Recession, it's been gratifying to spend 2009 noting how many good budget-priced restaurants Boston has. From my past 50 weekly columns, here are a few standouts:

BEST BREAKFAST Steak & eggs at Auntie B's, in West Roxbury. The half-pound sirloin is a king among diner steaks.

OUTSTANDING DUMPLINGS Taiwanese-style pan-fried dumplings at Gourmet Dumpling House, in Chinatown. (Its other dumplings are merely good.)

BEST SANDWICH (CENTRAL AMERICAN) Pork-shoulder chimi at Alex's Chimis, a Dominican joint with great rotisserie chicken in Jamaica Plain.

BEST SANDWICH (NORTH AMERICAN) Chicken cemita at Dorado Tacos & Cemitas, a fresh Baja California breeze in Brookline.

BEST SANDWICH (ASIAN) BBQ beef bánh mì at Mike's Bánh Mì, in Chinatown. There's no better lunch for under $3.

CAL RIPKEN AWARD Chuck & Ann's, a sub shop run by the same couple for 47 years, in Southie. Love that sardine sandwich!

BEST CHEAP BURGER Flat Patties, in Harvard Square. Approaches the In-N-Out, West Coast–style, griddled-burger ideal.

BEST MALL FOOD Trini's Mexican Grille, in Watertown. An improbably good reincarnation of a real Mexico City taqueria.

SWISS ARMY KNIFE AWARD El Mondonguito, in a Dudley Square juke joint with Latin dancing, convenience-store sundries, cheap beer, and Puerto Rican snacks.

BEST REASON TO FORSAKE FAST FOOD Goat curry roti at Ali's Roti, in the South End. Delivers love in the cooking that chain outlets can't.

BEST STATESIDE RARITY Amazing pork gyros at Zo, in Government Center. Ubiquitous in Greece, rarely seen here.

NICEST SURPRISE Impeccably authentic osso bucco Milanese at Rino's Place, a venerable red-sauce palace in Eastie.

BEST REINVENTION South American accents and French refinement under new chef Marco Suarez at Bon Savor, in Jamaica Plain.

MOST COMFORTING DISH Rabbit stew at O Senhor Ramos, an Azorean restaurant/sub shop in East Cambridge.

CARNIVORE'S BARGAIN (TIE) Brazilian churrasco buffet at Bom de Boca Grille, in East Somerville; roast duck/chicken/pork rice plate at Chinatown's Vinh-Sun BBQ. Mmm, protein-y!

BEST PIZZA Fiorella's, serving dynamite wood-oven pies in an obscure corner of Newtonville.

Here's wishing you more delectable, frugal dining in 2010!

Related: Indian Dhaba, Cafe 57 and Grille, Azama Grill, More more >
  Topics: On The Cheap , cheap eats, Gourmet Dumpling House, Gourmet Dumpling House,  More more >
| More


Most Popular
ARTICLES BY MC SLIM JB
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN AT ESTELLE’S SOUTHERN CUISINE  |  March 12, 2013
    In food-nerd circles, the question of authenticity is a loaded one.
  •   OYSTER STEW AT STEEL & RYE  |  March 01, 2013
    Pity the poor would-be restaurateur in the city of Boston.
  •   PROVENÇAL FISH STEW AT SYCAMORE  |  February 13, 2013
    For food geeks accustomed to dining in urban Boston, it's easy to be a little dismissive of suburban restaurants.
  •   LAMB BELLY AT PURITAN & COMPANY  |  February 01, 2013
    By about the end of 2011, restaurant-industry PR people had already worn out the phrase "farm to table."
  •   PORCHETTA ARROSTO AT CINQUECENTO  |  January 18, 2013
    As a South Ender, I find it easy to admire the smooth professionalism and crowd-pleasing instincts of the Aquitaine Group, which operates six of its eight restaurants in the neighborhood, including Metropolis, Union, Aquitaine, and Gaslight.

 See all articles by: MC SLIM JB