Get in my belly

One of my favorite past-times; eating! How could I resist?
These are just a few restaurants I've explored in the past and some that I have yet to visit but am looking forward to checking out.

If you're looking for a reasonably priced intimate dinner, give the Dish a try on Shamut Ave in the South End. The tiny neighborhood restaurant maintains its familiar staff and regular customers due to its relaxed, amicable and dog-friendly atmosphere. One of the only places in the area with a sidewalk patio, the Dish is great place for a first date or catching up with an old friend.

There's a new addition to Porter Square's eatery selection: the Ethiopian restaurant Addis Red Sea, which currently has a location on Tremont St in the South End, offers cheap, authentic-style eats. With its opening just last month, the restaurant has seen its fans queuing down the street to sample the expanded menu and traditional decor.

Upon returning from Morocco, I was on a search to appease my newly acquired taste for homemade bread (I don't actually like the taste of bread but somehow this thin pita style appetizer worked for me!) and hummus that I had enjoyed in the open markets of Marrakesh. I found the next best thing. The environment of Tangierno, in Charlestown, emulated some of the nicer restaurants in Morocco, aside from the price inflation. Couches, flowy curtains and dimly lit candles suggest a romantic setting. However, the belly dancers on Thursday evenings and the traditional upbeat music, perhaps at a decibel too high, can be quite distracting. Good for a night out with the girls and throwing back some Belgian beers.


The artsy Spanish-American spot, Central Kitchen, on Mass Ave in Central Square, is a favorite among locals. One of the "Terrace Boys", Epps, over in Arlington gives it high reviews and he's always been a straight shooter when it comes to dining out. Epps even referred his roommate, Mike Warner, to dazzle his date there one evening. Turns out there was a second date to follow so it must have been a combination of Warner's charm and the Spanish beauties performing in the middle of the dining room that made her swoon.

Beehive, the recently opened and frequently talked about South End restaurant and jazz club is located in what was formerly a boiler room on Tremont Street underneath the Cyclorama . The wait here has been borderline ridiculous, especially since you won't be able to hear yourself let alone others once you're inside but apparently there is reason for the hype. The food is Middle Eastern and Mediterranean and on a slow night, like a Tuesday, you'll be able to appreciate the "gypsy food" that's served late into the night and the bustling (hopefully less so midweek) atmosphere of this lively nightspot. If nothing else, at least you will be supporting local Berklee students who have been nailing gigs here most nights of the week.