First Friday

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On the first Friday of most months since late 1995, my best friends and I have gone to a different restaurant for dinner. It's sort of the Algonquin Round Table. Without Dorothy Parker. Or the round table.
$ at the end of the review indicates price range for one person with drink, app, entree and desert: $15-20 $$20-35 $$$35-50 $$$$ 50+ (price in parenthesis is the per person price we actually paid).

Restaurants with bold name and are a First Friday Favorite - deemed particular standouts for their uniqueness, fun atmosphere, or excellent food. Requires overall ratings over 4, and at least 2 "FFF" votes.)

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icon to make a reservation, the "Book a Table" icon for other reservation systems, or call for reservations (unless "No Reservations" is noted.)

2003

Laurel - Jan 2003: Patti, Kevin, Kenny, Greg, Peter, Chris, Wes, Ken, Jon, Enzo

72	1/10/03**	Laurel *	Bistro	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		142 Berkeley Street, South End 617-424-6711 Boylston/Back Bay/South End		"very good, not great food, but great value" and "nice selection of vaggie dishes" and "excellent service" (Note: Most entrees are $10, but the extras can add up, as some diners noted!) $$$[40]

73	2/7/03	Bhindi Bazaar	Indian	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		95 Massachusetts Ave, Back Bay 617-450-0660 Hynes/ICA, 1 or CT1 Bus		"Some if the best Indian" we've ever had, "reasonably priced" with "seamless" service" in a contemporary "warm, inviting room" (with "nice bathrooms" - hard to find in an Indian joint) make for a FF Favorite. $$[33]

74	3/10/03	Sabur	Mediterranean	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		212 Holland Street, Somerville 617-776-7890 Davis		"Eclectic menu","Exceptional service", "intriguing food" and "comfortable, cozy decor" make for a resturant we "could have stayed all night" at, and for our first ever unanimous FF Favorite vote! "Simply oustanding"$$$[50]

75	4/4/03	Lala Rokh	Persian	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		Mt. Vernon St, Beacon Hill 617-424-6711 Arlinton/Charles/MGH		Wildly divergent takes from "bland entrees" to "great mix of flavors," though all agreed it was "overpriced" despite the "excellent service" and "Fess Parker chardonnay." $$$[61]

76	5/2/03	Flux *	New American	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		One Appleton St, South End 617-695-FLUX Arlinton / Back Bay / 43 Bus		Some were dubious of the "Moonbase Alpha" decor, but everyone was suprised by the "yummy" food and the "tasty" waitstaff and the "fun", "casual" "surprisingly attitude free" feel of the place $[33]

77	6/6/03	The Living Room	Bistro	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		101 Atlantic Avenue, Boston 617-723-5101 Haymarket / State		"Great lounge area" with "pricey" ("$10.50 for a martini? ouch!") but "good" drinks is definately nicer than the "cave"-like dining room serving "amazing" apps, and completely "boring" mains. "$[33]

78	7/13/03**	The Blue Room	New American	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		One Kendall Sq, Cambridge 617-695-FLUX Kendall		"Yummy food spoiled by an attitudey, inattentive waitperson" and an "automatic 18% gratuity (for a buffet brunch?)" [Note:We politely suggested 15% was more than fair, and were offered a gift certificate when one diner complained to the manager about the policy] ]$$[28]

79	8/1/03	Summer Shack	Seafood	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		50 Dalton Street, Boston 617-867-9955 Hynes, Prudential (E-Line)		First Friday Fave votes for "an interior that's just plain fun" and a "wonderful," "rockin' waitress" and food ranging from "perfect swordfish" to the "awesome coconut pudding" and "decadent Boston Cream Pie" trump the dissent that it was "nothing special" $[33]

80	9//03**	Andy's Visit	Italian	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		Dinner at Chez Lucas		"The absence of Chris's physical presence (he was "in bed sick with a heap of to-be-folded laundry for company"), "it was an excellent night overall. Kudos to Kevin for "being such a good host upstairs with us" and for making cuisine to "satsif[y] vegetarians, carnivores and Atkins dieters" all at the same time.

81	10/3/03	Dedo*	Bistro	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		69 Church Street, Bay Village 617-338-9999 Arlington		"Taseful and understated decor" (unlike the funhouse-ride decor of the old Marios), a "attentive waiter" who'd "make a great houseboy" and "fresh and fabulous" food. A "tad pricey" but "worth the price for a splurge" (in fairness we ALL had pre-dinner drinks, apps, desserts and 3 bottles of wine for the table). $$$$[66]

82	11/7/03	Pho Pasteur*	Vietnamese	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		123 Stuart St, Theatre District 617-742-2436 Boylston, NE Medical Ctr		"Actual food [was]...quite good" but the room is "cramped and over-bright" and we had "among worst service [we've] ever experienced" with an "unapologetically missed/didn't understand...most of our requests" ... and who "runs out of Gimlets?" "Overall, not a good experience." [NB Diners also say they've had good service at other Pho locations] $[22]

83	12/5/03	Metropolis	Bistro	Food:	Service:	Decor:	Overall:
		584 Tremont St, South End (617) 236-5658 Back Bay, #43		"Cozy and warm" "lovely" room and "fantastic, friendly" "prompt" service with "very good, though not excellent" food that some thought was "oversalted" The wine special at "$12 a glass [was] a bit much" and "brought our bill into the stratosphere." $$$$[66]

* Restaurant now closed ** First Friday Observed - Held on an alternate Friday