Best Seat in the House - Summer Shack Restauran

Let's start this journey with the the Summer Shack Restaurant in Boston's Back Bay area.

I was recently in the Boston area for work and got a recommendation for dinner one evening. It turned out to be a pretty amazing night. I hadn't planned on anything other than a quiet night of eating lobster and having a good glass of wine. But it turned into so much more.

First of all...this restaurant is a fairly casual establishment. The bathrooms are basic, clean and fit the bill. They "jazzed" up the space a bit by installing the classic 3x6 white subway tile in a vertical pattern around the room. Kudos to the designer for changing it up a bit.

 

After scoping out the restrooms I took up my post at the restaurant's bar to start my feast. I started my dining experience with a delicious plate of fried clams, a glass of Pinot Noir and a basket of bread. My bartender that evening was pretty amazing. She knew I was torn between the clams (so worth it!) and the clam chowder, so she even went the extra mile to bring me a tiny tasting bowl of chowder. Yum!

Now that's normally enough to send a girl into a food coma. Not me! I'm fearless and I sprinted onward to my main course, chef Jasper's Pan Roasted 1.5 lb lobster. Oh yes people, I went there. Wouldn't you? It's covered in bourbon, chervil & chives and comes complete with a bib and a bucket so you can dig in and get dirty. Which is exactly what I did. But first I started up a conversation with a woman just a couple seats away. After finding out I am from Chicago she proclaimed me her Chicago sister and before leaving paid for my entire meal! What a wonderful treat while in a strange town. She just wanted me to have a good impression of Boston. And all I know is her name, Julie, and that she lives somewhere around Boston. I hope you contact me Boston Julie! You're generosity continues to touch me.

Hands dripping with lobster and sauce I sat on my bar stool stunned, mouth wide open.  After such a generous happening I had to order a slice of coconut cream pie to complete wonderful night. I enjoyed my pie and drove the world's cutest car (a new Fiat!) back to my hotel room. To this day I am still in awe of my stranger in Boston.

I hope the next time you're in Boston you check out the Summer Shack Restaurant. It was a delicious meal. Though, you may not have my lobster benefactor sitting a couple seats away.

Enjoy!

Best Seat in the House

For those of you who know me well, you know I love nothing more than a good meal. It could be home made, at a Michelin starred restaurant or at a total dive. As long as it's complete with good food and great friends I am content.

All last year my friend, Jen, and I talked about the need to write about our food-tastic journey's in Chicago, and beyond. It's January in 2012 (Yes, I realize it's the very end of January. Don't be so picky!) and it's time for me to put my food adventures to blog post.

The food portion of my blog will have a slightly different twist. I'm a designer and lover of all things interior. I eagerly check out restaurant bathrooms everywhere I go. A restaurant's bathroom typically leaves an impression on diners and should be the best seat in the house! In this blog we'll take a deeper dive into the bathroom styles of some pretty great places. Plus you'll see the amazing meal pairings that complement those restaurant restrooms.



(Not sure where this little gem came from.  It was sent to me by a friend who thought I'd find it funny.  If you know, let me know.)

Stay tuned for my first restaurant of many.