I've only been here twice, but I've enjoyed both my visits. Most recently we went for Belgian beer and mussels night, Tuesdays in the summer. They serve mussels and frites (French fries with different mayonnaise-based sauces) along with a selection of Belgian beers in the bottle.

The mussels were really good, in a spicy broth perfect for dipping bread. The fries were excellent as well. And the mussels and frites were a steal at just under $10. The Belgian beer selection was good though not outstanding; I wouldn't go here solely for the beer as I would for Redbones. But the food was great and a good value.

Reviewed by afty.

Toraya is a hidden gem. Their sushi is fantastic, on par with the best sushi restaurants in Boston. What really sets it apart is the atmosphere. The owner is also the sushi chef, and he greets you as you walk in the door. When you leave, he sends you off with a smile as you thank him for preparing your meal. Every time I have been, there have been several Japanese people eating there, which I take to be a good sign.

The restaurant itself is quite small, and you will probably have to wait for a table. Prices are typical for quality sushi -- you will probably end up paying $20-25 per person for your meal.

Reviewed by afty.

As a transplanted Southerner, I find Blue Ribbon to have the most authentic barbecue in the Boston area. Both their pulled pork and their ribs are great, on par with a decent BBQ joint in Memphis, where I grew up. They also have a selection of sauces of varying sweetness and spiciness, to let you season the BBQ to your taste.

Blue Ribbon focuses on take-out. There is no table service and only limited seating in the restaurants.

Reviewed by afty.

As a transplanted Southerner, I have a bit of a different take on Redbones than Noah and Parker. The BBQ is passable but not great. Both Blue Ribbon in Arlington and Newton and Uncle Pete's in Revere do a better job with BBQ. Also, Redbones doesn't seem to do a good job with their other Southern dishes -- I was disappointed with their country fried steak, and they've also served me an oyster po-boy on a New England-style hot dog bun instead of the traditional French baguette.

However, as a beer geek, I find Redbones to be a fantastic place for beer, one of the 3 or 4 best places in Boston. Their selection is great, with frequently rotating taps and bartenders who know what they are serving. If you don't know what to get, you can spin the wheel of beer and leave it to chance. Beer prices are also very reasonable, noticeably cheaper than other beer-focused restaurants in Boston.

Reviewed by afty.