Tag Archives: Coolidge Corner

Regal Beagle – Close to Perfect

The Regal Beagle describes itself as “affordable, but upscale . . . a true neighborhood bistro.” And . . . yeah, it’s right. The food is high quality, familiar but interesting, and always good. I have been for brunch repeatedly but returned recently to try out its new spring dinner menu. I was also secretly hoping that German Chocolate Cake would be a dessert special since I am on a quest for the perfect slice of that heavenly confection. Alas, it was not, but I made do.

What I was unable to make do with was the lighting. The lights were turned down twice while I was there, setting a very romantic tone for a totally unromantic dinner with a college friend. Normally I would go back and re-shoot the mac and cheese with truffle oil and tasso ham, or the trout filet over arugula and barley salad seasoned amply with lemon. The Velvet 75 and Sassy Coworker, two light, spring-appropriate drinks that I loved, were quiet studies on green, but you will have to see that for yourself. (As you should. Go. Go now.)

So why am I bothering to even post? I promise to go back and record these beauties for you, or ones from the brunch menu (can’t. help. myself.) but I could not – COULD NOT – not tell you about this cake:

chocolate olive oil cake

Friends, meet the Chocolate Olive Oil Cake with Coffee Gelato and Amarena Cherries. I was pretty much sold on this when I saw it on the menu, and doubly so when asked if I wanted dessert after two drinks. Now, I do have one complaint: the texture of the cake is not quite right. It is somewhere between a flourless cake and a normal cake, and cake should be one or the other – never in between. As noted by the waiter though, the kitchen is still working out the kinks on the spring menu, so if you want chocolate and coffee awesomeness, give this a go.

While the texture isn’t ace, the flavor is. Dark, cocoa-like chocolate flavor melds with the coffee gelato for a classic pairing that is set off by the cherries. Saveur describes these cherries as “a fleshy, dark red variety with a flavor that’s both sweet and scrumptiously bitter (or amare in Italian).” The tartness contrasts with the sweetness of the gelato and makes the flavor of the cake pop. And they’re also kind of sexy looking.

As you can tell, I enjoyed my meal at Regal Beagle from start to finish, and I hope you visit them in Coolidge Corner soon. I’ll definitely be back. In the daytime. When it’s sunny . . .

Dorado Tacos and Cemitas – Fresh, Delicious Mexican Food

Brookline has a wealth of excellent restaurants and cafes, and Coolidge Corner is in many ways the hub of the neighborhood’s food scene. A sushi shop is neighbor to an American bistro, with a Jewish deli across the street and a creperie just a block away. I do find myself falling into a rut of going to the same few places here, all just off the T. They’re all good (a post on one of my favorites, Regal Beagle, is in the works), but I like to change up my routine from time to time. Just another block or two down from Paris Creperie and Regal Begle is Dorado Tacos and Cemitas, a casual restaurant specializing in Mexican street food.

Dorado at the corner of Harvard and Naples

calamari taco

This is the perfect place to go for dinner on a warm spring or summer evening. Grab a Mexican beer or soda and choose from a range of lighter fare like fish tacos and salads, or heartier choices like quesadillas and cemitas, which the restaurant’s website describes as “a Mexican sandwich served on a toasted sesame seed egg roll with black beans, chipotles en adobo, avocado, Oaxaca cheese & cilantro,” filled with your choice of meat or veggies. If you’re lucky, you can get a seat at one of the tables on the sidewalk and do some serious people-watching while waiting for your food.

table no. 3

I’m a huge fan of fish tacos, so I went with the calamari taco special and the grilled fish taco. The fish was perfectly cooked, which is always a feat with squid, and the toppings that came on each taco were great compliments to each. There was a lightness and a freshness to both tacos that I just don’t find at a lot of Mexican eateries, and is reason enough to make repeated visits to Dorado.

calamari taco

grilled fish taco

leftovers

Next time you’re in Coolidge Corner and need a bite to eat, definitely check out Dorado Tacos and Cemitas. Cheap and tasty Mexican street food, served fresh and fast.