Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/292443
Comfort food takes on a make-new-friends meaning at Andrew Foster and Steve Bowman's newly opened Washington Square restaurant, Fairsted Kitchen, where the food is meant to be shared at communal tables. The décor recalls the Victorian estate of Frederick Law Olmsted (the visionary behind Boston's Emerald Necklace Conservancy and New York's Central Park) with reproduction wallpaper, zinc bar mirrors, bold brass fixtures, and the come-join-us table, fashioned from a church door frame. The culinary team makes liberal use of Middle Eastern spices in inventive dishes such as a delectable pig-head lettuce wrap, za'atar spice chicken, and braised oxtail. "Middle Eastern spices are fun to cook with because the history of the Middle East is really a global one, with influences from North Africa, Italy, Spain, and Eastern Europe," says Foster. "Everything can be found there and anything goes." The same can be said of Brookline's newest neighborhood hot spot. 1704 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-396-8752; fairstedkitchen.com Shared Taste The newest addition to Brookline's dining scene mixes American cuisine with bold Middle Eastern flavors. BY JESSICA LANIEWSKI Just Rewards ONE OF BOSTON'S MOST DRIVEN FEMALE EXECUTIVES DIVULGES HER FAVORITE SPOTS FOR A LONG LUNCH. BY JESSICA LANIEWSKI EVEN THE MOST INTENSE WORK AHOLIC craves a long lunch now and then, whether it's an official day off or an executive decision to celebrate an especially juicy sale. As general manager of BMW and Mini for Herb Chambers in Boston, Melissa Steffy is constantly on the go serving some of the city's most discerning car buyers. But when she has some hard-earned time to relax, these are the places she likes to kick back and congratulate herself on a job well done. Consider it the other kind of power lunch. Toro "It's wonderful when you walk into an environment where everyone loves what they do, and chef-owner Ken Oringer certainly has created a great culture at Toro. The staff is so passionate. My friends and I have had some epically long lunches there. You have to try their iconic corn on the cob, the Brussels sprouts, and the spicy pimento peppers." 1704 Washington St., 617-536-4300; toro-restaurant.com Legal Harborside "Legal Harborside is a perfect lunch place when the weather turns warm. The restaurant opens right up to Boston Harbor, so the view is extraordinary. I absolutely love their steamers. I crave them. Their fish tacos are wonderful, and they have a fantastic selection of craft beers, too. There is great energy in the restaurant—it makes you feel happy to live in Boston. I love the fact that Roger Berkowitz [the president and CEO of Legal Sea Foods] is there all the time. He is so friendly, and he walks around to all the tables and talks with guests." 270 Northern Ave., 617-477-2900; legalharborside.com B & G Oysters "I love to get the table in the corner window. I'm a design nut, and I love what Cheryl and Jeffrey Katz did for the interior. It's a fun, really comfortable environment. There is virtually no turnover in the staff, so when you walk in everyone knows you. Cat Silirie, the sommelier, has assembled a sensational wine list, and their menu is always interest- ing. I love the fried clams, and there are always wonderful salads, too, like the watercress and arugula salad and the yellowfin tuna niçoise." 550 Tremont St., 617-423-0550; bandgoysters.com Sofra Bakery and Cafe "Sofra is one of my favorite restaurants. I love the cozy and eclectic interior and the soft colors. There is something just intoxicat- ing about the Middle Eastern culture there. The beet tzatziki, Moroccan-style carrot salad, and cucumber salad with sweet onions, fried pita, sumac, and currant vinaigrette are all fantastic. The cookies are great, too!" 1 Belmont St., Cambridge, 617-661-3161; sofrabakery.com PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHIP NESTOR (LEGAL HARBORSIDE); NOAH FECKS (CORN); JACKIE MORISI (FAIRSTED) FROM LEFT: Grilled corn with Cotija cheese and lime at Toro; the stunning roof deck at Legal Harborside. 72 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM DINING NEWS 072_BC_ST_News_LteSpr14.indd 72 4/4/14 10:49 AM