The Kirkland Tap and Trotter Review

The Kirkland Tap and Trotter: Good food and excellent drinks in a relaxed atmosphere

Overall rating: 87

Food rating: 85

It took us a long time to make it to KT&T, but we finally got there last weekend. Tony Maws' other restaurant, Craigie on Main, has some of the best food in the Boston area, but the reviews I'd seen of KT&T were kind of mediocre. KT&T is in Somerville, around the corner from Bergamot.

The space is brighter than Craigie and more open, and KT&T has an overall relaxed feel to it. Like Craigie, though, the wait staff were extremely friendly, accommodating, and helpful. I asked our waiter for a number of recommendations, and he clearly was giving his actual favorites, and neither trying to avoid giving a recommendation nor up-selling us.

One of these favorites was his favorite cocktail, Smoke N' Bols, which was really wonderful. My wife got a coconut margarita that was unusual and also very good.

For appetizers we got a mussel stew, made with pasta, and the crispy-fried pork ribs. The mussels were very good and the pasta was excellent. I thought the ribs were good but nothing special, but my wife thought they were really superb.

For an entree, we both got the roasted Scottish sea trout, prepared with rice and vegetables. The waiter had told us this farm-raised trout tasted like salmon and that the vegetables were fresh and delicious. Both of these were accurate, but the fish itself while perfectly cooked and tasting like salmon wasn't actually all that interesting. The accompanying vegetables were great.We also got a side of grilled rapini (broccoli rabe) that was well prepared but nothing unusual.

We didn't get dessert, and the price with two drinks each, two entrees, two appetizers, and one side was about $70 per person, so overall a pretty reasonable price.

Overall, the drinks were great, the food was quite good, and the atmosphere and service were excellent. The food is somewhat different from what you would get at most other places in the area, and we will certainly be heading back. Those mediocre reviews I'd seen don't do the place justice.

Sarma Review

Overall rating: 86

Food rating: 85

Sarma: Middle Eastern tapas in Somerville

Sarma is the new restaurant from Ana Sortun and Cassie Piuma. Their Inman Square restaurant Oleana has some of the best food in Boston, and so Sarma has opened to a lot of expectations and with a lot of buzz.

Four of us went out to Sarma knowing that we would want to share multiple small plates. Most dishes with individual pieces are aimed at three people, but for an additional charge you can get a fourth piece. The basic structure of ordering small dishes that arrive in no particular order is quite similar to Myers+Chang and Ribelle. I'm not sure what I think of this trend, as the lack of an order leads to a loss of progression of the meal, and while I'm sure this is freeing for the staff, I'm not convinced it leads to as nice a dining experience. Three plates per person, plus additional specials that circulate like dim sum (we got three of these) was plenty of food for our group.

Sarma is located in the Gilman Square area of Somerville, a place I'm not sure I'd ever been before. On street parking was a bit tight but could be found. The restaurant itself is light and spacious, but quickly filled up and was fairly noisy. There is seating at a bar surrounding the opening to the kitchen.

We ordered drinks to start, and the specialty cocktails were excellent. Almost immediately, a food special came around (sesame fried chicken) that was delicious. Warm Middle Eastern bread came next that was good but not all that interesting.

We had many plates, some of which were excellent (hot dates, bay scallops, braised beef crepe), some of which were quite good (pumpkin fritters, fava bean paté, Brussels' sprouts bravas, mushroom lamejun, fatoush), and some of which were dull or only okay (Harissa BBQ duck, chicken wings [a special], lamb ribs).

Overall, the dishes were fairly heavy on cream sauces and many had similar spicing, but mostly it was an enjoyable meal with good food. The dessert menu is limited, and we decided not to have dessert.

The waitstaff were attentive and helpful, and our waiter somehow remembered the entire table's orders without writing anything down.

Prices were reasonable. For a group of four, including three mixed drinks and one beer and with tax but before tip, the meal cost $200.

Our small group was split on whether we would come back. Sarma is a long drive for us, and that would make it unlikely I'd plan a dinner there again, but if I were meeting someone who made reservations there I would definitely look forward to the meal. Overall, though, the meals we've had at Oleana have been much more exciting, despite the tight quarters and noise at that restaurant.

Bergamot Review

Overall rating: 88

Food rating: 88

Bergamot: Very good restaurant and a nice value

Bergamot is on the Somerville/Cambridge border, and since first going there a few years ago, we've headed back pretty regularly. They serve locally sourced foods that they describe as "progressive American", and are in the same general ballpark in terms of cuisine as a place like Craigie on Main but are less meat-centric and less likely to serve odd cuts. The food is not as intermittently amazing as what you can get at Craigie, but is typically reliable and tasty. Mixed drinks and wines are quite good and reasonably priced.

The location can be a bit hard to spot, but they have a small parking lot attached to the building complex where you can usually find a spot, and there is also free on street parking available. The dining room is airy and welcoming, and generally the acoustics make it possible to talk and listen.

On a recent visit, I had short rib ravioli for an appetizer. This was tasty but perhaps a bit under-seasoned. For an entree, I had sea breem that was cooked perfectly: light and flaky and with a crispy skin. Dessert was a "caramelized banana Bavarian", which was a deconstructed dessert as is typical of Bergamot. It was served with Chantilly and peanuts and was quite good.

Bread served with the dinner was excellent as usual, and they always serve interesting flavored butters for the bread. Service was helpful but not intrusive.

Bergamot has a prix fixe (appetizer, entree, dessert) every night for $39, and this is definitely a draw. It is probably the least expensive high quality food that you can get in the Boston area on a Friday or Saturday night.

All this said, I don't want to imply that this is a cheap restaurant with mediocre food -- it's one of the better restaurants in the Boston area. Meals there are consistently enjoyable. However, not far from Bergamot are places like Oleana, TW, Hungry Mother, and Craigie, all of which are more likely to wow you, but at a higher price point. Although the menu at Bergamot isn't large, there's enough variety that almost anyone looking for good food can eat there and have an enjoyable meal at a very reasonable price.