Tavern in the Square, North Station
Last night Rob and I visited Tavern in the Square – North Station for the first time. Here’s my Tavern in the Square review.Yesterday I had an interview mid-afternoon followed by a class downtown. There were a few minutes of solitude between these two appointments and just as I took off my shoes after returning from my interview, there was a knock at the door. Rob and I moved into this condo just over a month so I wasn’t angry when I realized the gentleman at the door had arrived to work on my punch list, namely the floors. We noted several large scratches on the kitchen floor during our final walk through so I was delighted that finally, the damaged floor boards would be replaced. Within minutes, dust was flying, flooring was being cut and kitchen mayhem broke loose. I’ve never seen so much dust. But, thankfully the floor was getting repaired. Why am I telling you this? I don’t know about you but I wasn’t thrilled with the thought of making dinner in a dusty kitchen lacking a floor.
Why did we visit Tavern in the Square?
After my class, Rob met me downtown for dinner and a chance to unwind and talk about our day. We found the Tavern in the Square to be the perfect location for such an evening. This restaurant’s outdoor patio was gorgeous so we didn’t hesitate to request outdoor seating. The bustle of the day soon faded away as Rob and I sank into our comfy seats to await our server while we watched the North Station bound passerby’s rush to catch their trains.
The Experience
Our server stopped by after a couple minutes. She greeted us with a smile and was very easy to chat with. However, her focus seemed to be alcoholic beverages. Within the first minute of our conversation Rob and I found out that she liked to drink – a lot. She liked the $1 drafts from a local establishment. She also made sure to let us know that she was also a fan of $2 shots. Did I mention she kept telling us she drank, a lot? Oh boy. Needless to say, since we were out on a beautiful patio under the setting summer sun we decided to take her up on her alcoholic recommendations and opted for a bottle of the house red, a Pebble Lane Pino Noir. Rob and I have found that red wine is pretty much the only alcoholic beverage that does not affect our blood sugars significantly.
The sun was setting and the ambiance was terrific. Lots of happy relaxed after-work types amid Boston travelers. The vibe was definitely an eclectic mix of the over-worked and over-toured.
Starter
Rob and I love calamari. It’s never a healthy option but we are human. When we go out and we enjoy everything that comes our way. Life is too short to wonder what “x” might have been like. I’ve learned, live in the moment… with smarts. To start, we ordered the Thai Calamari for $11.99.
When the calamari arrived, it came on a large elongated platter. We were starving and dug right in. Hmmm. Freshly prepared calamari is normally crisp and fresh. This calamari donned a-top a crisp jicama mint slaw was soggy. Even if the sweet chili glaze was to blame, fresh fried calamari should be crisp and the glaze should simply adorn it. I wondered if the calamari had been prepared in a batch earlier and microwaved. The flavor of the glaze was decent… but a simple and fresh prepared crisp calamari with seasoning would have been better.
Entree
Our entrees arrived before we had finished our calamari. Did I mention we just wanted to chill for a bit? It’s always very poor form for a restaurant to rush it’s guests. When you go to a restaurant, you aren’t paying for the food – you’re paying for the experience. We could all make gourmet delight in our own kitchens given the time, the ingredients and the patience, but dining out (for me) is more about the experience than the meal. Why else do people pay mega bugs for micro food made to look like art at top notch restaurants? Dining is a sacred ritual that should not be rushed.
Dining is a sacred ritual that should not be rushed.
Rob and I are salad people. As diabetics, we find it extremely difficult to estimate the number of carbohydrates in prepared foods that restaurants serve who do not publish their nutrition information. Yes, it may be the best chicken pot pie in Massachusetts, made with the finest and most wholesome ingredients, but that doesn’t help a diabetic who is simply trying to estimate how much insulin they need to take. I ordered the Cobb Salad for $13.99 which included grilled chicken, tomatoes, avocado, bacon, roasted corn, egg, Kalamata olives, blue cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. A meal like this is much easier to carb-estimate than even a simple hamburger. Rob opted for the Steak and Avocado salad for $15.99 comprised of Adobo steak, roasted corn, black beans, tomatoes, grilled avocado, cilantro ranch dressing and corn tortilla strips.
From So-So to NO!
Our conversation was flowing. I was asking Rob about his research and he was asking me about my interview. Now that we are living in Boston, the opportunities for me are incredible. I’m excited about my working girl future! Then… it happened. The meal went from kind of crappy food-wise to kind of “I never want to eat here again.” No joke, the salad chef left the sticker on my tomato. This is a major faux pas. Were the tomatoes even washed?
Were the tomatoes even washed?
I have a very strong open book type face. If you look at me, you know exactly what I’m thinking. The server nervously approached as I stared at my plate. I was in disbelief. The server immediately reacted which was fantastic but it didn’t help the fact that we had had soggy calamari and a salad nightmare. I honestly didn’t want to finish my meal but I was hungry and I had already injected my meal bolus. I couldn’t wait for the server to return with a new salad. Instead, I was provided with a new tomato. Woo hoo! It came on it’s own little plate and everything. I think it would have been much more appropriate to offer a large meal discount.
Yes, mistakes happen and I understand that. I make mistakes all the time. We are all human. However, in the food service industry, people, who aren’t rich, come to their establishments for a reason. We don’t come because we want crap, we come because we need something. Whether stress relief, food (empty cupboards happen) or an excuse to get away. A dinner out is almost always some form of therapy. Leaving a sticker on a tomato is absolutely not appropriate.
Diabetes friendly options
Tavern in the Square rates a solid 4/5 for having a diabetes friendly menu. There are many customizable options. Even if salads aren’t your thing, check out the “Square Meals.” You simply select a dish and customize your sides. You don’t need to eat fries if you don’t want to! The salads are nice and hearty and a good size. The starters offer a nice variety of low glycemic options too. Overall, the menu provides many options for a diabetic visitor. I can tell this restaurant tries to offer a little bit of everything in order to please the masses. I just wish our experience had been better.
Will I return?
Under the right circumstances, I may return to give Tavern in the Square – North Station a second chance. It will have to be the “right” circumstances… I have no idea what those are. I think it will be a very long time before I try this restaurant again.
