Xinh Xinh---first bowl of Bun Rieu

Xinh Xinh Restaurant, 7 Beach St, Boston 02111

(Btwn Knapp & Washington St) Phone: 617-422-0501

My Chinese Vietnamese friends have raved about Bun Rieu (Crab Meat Noodle Soup) to me from Xinh Xinh that could rival their own parent's version. I tried it for the first time and loved it! I have to go back to try the other noodle soups and food. I usually am found eating at Dong Khanh so I needed to explore beyond my usual favorites thanks to my friend MPK and TK.

It was my first time having BUN RIEU so I have no frame of comparison or reference. But I enjoyed it alot! I always like putting in the fresh basil, lime juice and bean sprouts (that you can add to your broth). There was alot of onions and scallions as garnish. Though it had one red pepper, it was not so spicy I could not finish the whole bowl! I love the fish paste, tomatoes, fried onions, bun (noodles), egg, tofu and other great stuff in this soup. Plus a good bowl of noodle soup for under $10 for dinner is always a steal!

9 forks out of 10 forks (for the bun rieu).

Jennie's Breakfast in Bar Harbor, Maine

We were told that the locals like to flock to Jennie's for breakfast (only for lunch /breakfast). I got the blue berry pancakes (3 stack) while others got the crab meat omelette, lobster omelette (with mornay cheese sauce) and the Cadillac (pancake, sausage, ham, bacon--too dry and overcooked, home fries, and toast) making it the heartiest breakfast option! I really enjoyed my blue berry pancakes (very fluffy, flavorful and not overly sweet with blue compote placed on top) and I could not resist a side of corned beef hash (which really hit the spot). My friends had to get their own side order after trying some of mine!

The crab meat omelette and lobster omelette both were well made and delicious. There was a long line and wait for this bright breakfast spot. We were fueled with a good breakfast and ready for our drive back to Boston.

8 forks out of 10 forks

Parkside Restaurant-Bar Harbor

http://www.parksidedining.com/

Parkside Restaurant, 10 Arata DrBar Harbor, ME 04609 (207) 288-3700

Bar Harbor is full of restaurants having early bird special deals for dinner! So we went to the Parkside and took advantage. Our meal was under $20 (but an extra $2 to change your dessert/soup choices). Their clam chowder was the best we had while in Bar Harbor, just the right thickness, clams and potatoes (not too thin of a broth). The carrot and ginger soup (soup de jour) was excellent and flavorful. Our appetizer was a sushi grade pan seared tuna which was eaten quickly. Crusted with sesame seeds and served with soy sauce and wasabi, this dish was a hit as we were craving a little bit of Asian nuanced food. My main dish of grilled salmon steak with champagne butter hit the spot. The rice pilaf and veggies (which were just right) My other friends got the lobster and commented it was better than the one had at the Chart Room.

Our dessert was alright. The rice pudding was good but the blue berry pie was a big let down. (After eating it, we knew how special the pie we had the prior night seemed in comparison.)

9 forks out of 10 forks

Jordan Pond House---Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor

Jordan Pond House - http://www.jordanpond.com/, Park Loop Road, Seal Harbor - (207) 276-3244




Nestled along Park Loop Road (27 miles) within Acadia National Park, we decided to make a stop for lunch. (Only stop we could find for food within the park). By the time we got there, we were famished and had a good 20-30 minute wait. We decided to go into the dining room for food. The menu was reasonable considering the location of the dining establishment and with no visible competition for miles.

Popovers seem to be a favorite. I got the lobster stew (lobster with sherry , heavy cream and butter) along with two popovers (it was delicious). Butter and blue berry jam could be used to spread on your popover. Our starter of crab cakes was very nice. Not overly full of breading, the crab meat was overflowing and the sauce used with the cakes was good. My friends all never had one before! I was a bit shocked.

( A popover is a light, hollow roll made from an egg batter similar to that used in making Yorkshire pudding. The name "popover" comes from the fact that the batter swells or "pops" over the top of the muffin tin while baking. They can also be baked in individual custard cups. source: wikipedia)

The lobster stew though it was delicious was not satisfying. The flavors of lobster, sherry, cream and butter were delicious. I paid $19.95 for two popovers and a bowl of lobster stew. I was amazed at the amount of lobster meat I got (a whole lobster tail and some claw meat). Even my dining companions commented they were expecting to see less lobster.

The lobster quiche was delicious and was made with havarti cheese which gave a nice edge to herbs flavor to the quiche. The Jordan House was very busy but the food made up for the wait.

9 forks out of 10 forks

Poor Boy Gourmet---Bar Harbor, Maine

http://www.poorboysgourmet.com/

Poor Boy Gourmet, 300 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609(207) 288-4148

Trying to find a dinner place with parking is hard to find around downtown Bar Harbor. But we serenditiously ate at a wonderful place while on vacation. On a busy Saturday night, we were lucky to score a table (with no reservation over Labor Day weekend too) at this restaurant.

There are some seafood specials that this restaurant is known for you can get appetizer, entree--crab or lobster and dessert for $22.95. ($2 more to choose your dessert from brownie a la mode). I got the lobster feast which has choice of lobster bisque or clam chowder, then lobster ( a few ways) or crab legs and then finale is brownie a la mode.

The clam chowder was too watery for my taste. The clams and potatoes were good though. My Lobster Brandoni (freshly picked lobster meat smothered in our crab and shrimp stuffing and baked) was heavenly. I had food envy from my dinner companions. It was DELICIOUS! Plus I did not have to contend with the shells. If you are a seafood lover, you will love it!

The crab legs you really cannot mess up as they are boiled. One friend got the steak caesar salad. She enjoyed it and there were anchovies in it. The steak was not overly cooked and the salad was flavored correctly.

The thing that elevated this meal to excellence was the blue berry pie! Two of my dinner companions dislike desserts but we devoured the piece of pie in record time. (It was so memorable we got some slices to go the following night!) The vanilla bean ice cream serves as a lovely accent to the luscious blue berry pie (which was not overly sweet). The crust was excellent on top being crumbly and bits of nuts only added flavor and texture. The pie tasted of pure heaven! (The pie I give a 10!) Sadly our other dessert the tiramisu was a free form mess on a plate that was overly soggy and lacking in depth of flavors you come to enjoy in tiramisu.

Overall service was alright, food had its highs and lows. Kudos to the inhouse baker who bakes the scrumptious blue berry pies!!!!!!

space--too cold on the porch and no heating lamps

waitress---service was average

food---highs with stuffed lobster and blue berries and lows with clam chowder and tiramisu

8 forks out of 10 forks.

The Chart Room ----Bar Harbor Maine

chartroom.com
The Chart Room, 585 Eden StBar Harbor, ME 04609(207) 288-3064

Over the long weekend, we went to Bar Harbor to get some lobster. We took advantage of the Early Bird Specials (worth it!). Our hotel recommended going to the Chart Room. Our whole table got blue berry ale (did you know that Maine produces over 95% of all of America's blue berry production?) which was good but lacking in a few blue berries floating on top (to my dining partners dismay).

Our appetizer of fried Maine Clams was delicious. Just enough breading a fried to perfection without being overly greasy. Our table finished them promptly. Then the main meal came 1 1/4 lobsters boiled and you get a choice of two sides out of three (cole slaw, potato salad or french fries). I ended up teaching my friends the "efficient way" to eating lobster.

http://gonewengland.about.com/od/lobster/ss/aaeatlobster.htm (ways to eat lobster)
http://www.ehow.com/how_2073_eat-lobster.html

The lobster was very watery but very good! One of my fave parts is the tomalley (the green lobster liver)! Everyone was happy as our lobster dinner only cost $17.95 a person under the early bird special before 6pm. Since we did not have lunch, it was still in between a late lunch but not really early dinner.

We ended our meal sharing a good pumpkin cheesecake which mixed the flavors very well not overly strong in cinnamon or ginger.

With a drink, dessert and lobster everyone paid only $25 a head (with tax and tip)!

7 forks out of 10 forks.