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Malden

Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant – Malden

by 29 Comments

[3.78/5] An Uber conversation brought me here. What started off as the usual Uber ride turned into a discussion of the best places for Ethiopian cuisine in the Boston area. The driver was from Ethiopia and he revealed, I mean mentioned (:P), Habesha along with Addis Red Sea and Shegar Cafe. Now if you know anything about me, then you will know this means I need to go on a mini Ethiopian restaurant tour. First stop, Habesha.

Review #053
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining. Full Service Restaurant.

Food (65%)
Taste to price 4/5
Quality to price 4/5
Portion to price 4/5
Average = 4

Service (20%)  
Friendliness 3/5
Promptness 3.5/5
Average = 3.25

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom 3.5/5
Dining area 3.5/5
Kitchen area 3.5/5
Average = 3.5

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
 = [2.6]+[0.65]+[0.53]
 = 3.78

The Pluses…  
+ I enjoyed the presence of the owner. He came to our table and asked us how the food was and whether we needed anything. Much appreciated!
+ We ordered the HABESHA SPECIAL and the GORED GORED.  
+ The HABESHA SPECIAL was cooked to my liking, lots of flavor and spices which were so comforting and earthy. INJERA was warm too!
+ As for the GORED GORED, that was my daredevil move of the day, as (1) it was my first time having it and (2) it’s raw! I’m usually hesitant and finicky when it comes to the unfamiliar and raw, but this one here turned out to be a great decision. Think of a spiced up beef tartare. Lots of turmeric, spice lovers rejoice!
+ They have Ethiopian Beers and HONEY WINE (TEJ)!
+ When I go to an ethnic restaurant, I always enjoy and desire to learn more about the culture and traditions. For that reason, I liked that the wait staff had on traditional clothing and the TV blasting Ethiopian music videos.

The Negs…
– As others mentioned, the wait staff appeared a little disinterested. Service was not slow by any means, but some enthusiasm and a smile could go a long way.
– Menu could have been written clearer. For instance, some of the entrees were for two people. Some language denoting this and pictures would help a lot.
– This is minor, but I wished there were more traditional themes and decor throughout the restaurant.

In Conclusion…
I haven’t been to many Ethiopian restaurants, but I can say I’ve ventured enough to call myself a fan of Ethiopian Cuisine and this is prior to my food tour. The uniques use of spices and food prep always brings me back to the Ethiopian restaurants. Habesha delivers in the food and did not disappoint one bit. Come here for the food. However, if you want ambiance, a place to feel like you’ve escaped to Addis Ababa for a split second, there are better options…

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Crying Thaiger – Malden

by 33 Comments

[4.78/5] I don’t go to Malden often but when I do it’s for Boda Borg, meeting friends, or shopping at Hunt’s Photo. I have yet to find my go-to restaurant when I’m in the Malden area and the search have continued for some time. The next stop is Crying Thaiger. Are you the one?

Review #052
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining.

Food (65%)
Taste to price 5/5
Quality to price 5/5
Portion to price 5/5
Average = 5

Service (20%)  
Friendliness 4/5
Promptness 4.5/5
Average = 4.25

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom 4/5
Dining area 5/5
Kitchen area na
Average = 4.5

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
 = [3.25]+[0.85]+[0.68]
 = 4.78

The Pluses…  
+ AMBIANCE, Ambiance, Ambiance! The moment you walk in, you start to realize this isn’t your typical Thai Restaurant. This place is gorgeous. Designed with instagram in mind, there’s a backdrop for group photos and Halloween themed decorations which all play a role into building great ambiance.
+ ATTENTION TO DETAIL. Whoever designed their interior, picked out the dinnerware, tables, and wall art deserves an applause. The balance between modern and traditional decor is not easy to do.
+ Real flowers were used on the table. I always admire restaurants that do this. It’s a small detail but it can be an expensive one for restaurants. This tells me how serious the owner is to the customers.
+ MENU. I could spend hours going through the menu. There’s so much to discuss but I’ll keep it short. Lots of pictures, easy eye navigation, lots of creative concepts you do not usually see at a Thai Restaurant.
+ A SPECIAL MENU and LUNCH MENU are major pluses. The DRINK MENU is icing on the cake. Yes, they serve staples like Thai Iced Tea and most importantly alcohol, as in, CRAFT BEERS, THAI BEERS as well as a decent list of WINE varieties. How many Asian restaurants offer this?!
+ With so many positives, I haven’t even mentioned the food yet. I ordered the SPICY NOODLE SOUP and the SUKI SEAFOOD SOUP. Both were fresh, flavorful, and with a good variety of meats. They tasted exactly as described in the Menu.  
+ Awesome PRICES! Wow, a place that doesn’t overcharge. If anything, I wonder given all the cosmetic work and overhead costs, why we’re not charged more. I’m used to the other way around where restaurants go cheap on everything yet charge premium prices for food. This is rare for a restaurant to do this. I admire the integrity.
+ Quick, friendly, attentive waiters/resses. They were always aware of customer needs.

The Negs…
– There’s really no major negatives here, but if I had to nitpick, the COLOR CHANGING PURPLE DRINK is indeed a cool concept as it literally changes color once you squeeze some lime in but it tasted a little off. It’s missing a couple of more ingredients to get right. To me, it was like sugar water; I admire the effort though. Don’t let my opinions stop the creative work, keep it up!

In Conclusion…
The Crying Thaiger left me bawling at their brilliance. This restaurant is a rare site balancing the intricacies of traditional and modern Thai elements. I love the Metal Thai Cups and the contemporary bowls the foods they’re served in. The dishes were delicious offering quality ingredients at more than reasonable prices. These little things add up together compiling a memorable experience for me. As a restaurant enthusiast, I was geeking out. There’s so many positives and talking points of this place, I can’t even fit it all in trying to keep it under 600 words. You have to visit for yourself. Earlier, I was going on about not having a go-to in Malden. Well, look no further, I’ve found it.

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Ming’s Seafood Restaurant – Malden

by 9 Comments

[3.48/5] They say the third time’s the charm. You see I’ve been trying to eat here two times now, but failed on both occasions because the wait time was unbearable. Finally, on the third try I finally got the chance. When my number was called, I got so excited I wanted to twerk my way to the table. Sure, there was still a wait but at least, it wasn’t ridiculous at 20 minutes. How does the DIM SUM taste? Read more to find out.

Review #047
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining.
My 1st Impressions: I’ve wondered many times, when, and if I would ever lose my Ming’s virginity?

Food (65%)
Taste to price 3.5/5
Quality to price 3.5/5
Portion to price 3.5/5
Average = 3.5

Service (20%)  
Friendliness 3/5
Promptness 3/5
Average = 3

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom 4/5
Dining area 4/5
Kitchen area 4/5
Average = 4

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
  = [2.28]+[0.6]+[0.6]
  = 3.48

The Pluses…  
+ The ambiance is great. If you want an eye opening experience, come here during their peak hours; there’s a lot of culture to experience.
+ One of the nicer Chinese restaurants, in terms, of interior design. Elegant with touches of modernism intermixed with the usual themes of a Chinese Restaurant. I can dig it.
+ Very family and large group friendly.  
+ Their fish tank is filled with aquatic creatures; clean and well maintained!

The Negs…
– The wait time. Not much else I can say here. I know it’s not the restaurant’s fault but don’t say I didn’t warn ya.

The Neutrals…
o Take this comment however you want, but the DIM SUM here was just OK for me. It’s neither horrendous nor great, just somewhere in the middle. And that’s not a bad thing either.

In Conclusion…
If you’re desperate for DIM SUM and the only option is Ming’s then, by all means stop by. But if you’re like me and live in Boston, the wait and anticipation does not match the food. It’s kind of a shame really because the wait unfairly places the DIM SUM on such a high pedestal which grew taller than Yao Ming every minute passed. With that said and out of the way, there are many better DIM SUM options in Chinatown with a shorter wait time. This review is solely for the DIM SUM, so I will have to come back to update you all with their lunch/dinner offerings because their fish tank looks too good to ignore!

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