The Big Deals: 10 More Value Dishes
Janelle Nanos
, Senior Editor
Dish: Vegan Pizza, $7.95
Where to get it: Flatbread Pizza Company, 45 Day St., Davis Square, 617-776-0552; flatbreadcompany.com
Why: Victims of post-pizza leadbelly syndrome can take refuge in Flatbread’s vegan pie. The lightly-charred crust covered in swirls of tangy sweet sauce, caramelized onions, and roasted mushrooms is enough to keep me from missing the cheese.
Rachel Slade, Home Design Editor
Dish: An Pan (sweet roll with sweet red bean paste filling), $1.65
Where to get it: Japonaise Bakery and Café, 1020 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-566-7730; japonaisebakery.com
Why: A fresh, warm roll stuffed with a sweet, pasty azuki bean filling in the morning? It sure beats DD. Note: All an pan are not created equal. It must be from Japonaise Bakery and Cafe, and must be bought early enough in the a.m. that’s as straight from the oven as possible. Chase it with a green tea shake with boba.
Brittany Jasnoff
, Managing Editor
Dish: Doro Wat Combo Platter, $25 for two
Where to get it: Addis Red Sea, 544 Tremont St., Boston, 617-426-8727, addisredsea.com
Why: The doro wat combination platter for two is an enormous value: my fiance and I can feast on two types of chicken (one warmly spiced with red pepper sauce, garlic, and ginger root, and one buttery and mild); flavorful lamb with green peppers and rosemary; and tender beef stew. Coupled with a few extra baskets of injera on the side (for sopping up every last bit of meaty goodness), this may be the only meal in Boston that leaves us so full we have trouble finishing everything on our plate. (Oh, but we do.)
Brittany Jasnoff
Dish: Mac and Cheese
, $13
Where to get it: Publick House, 1648 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-277-2880, eatgoodfooddrinkbetterbeer.com
Why: Bad mac and cheese? It doesn’t exist. Because how can cream, cheese, and pasta combine to form anything other than comfort-food bliss? But the Publick House in Brookline leads the pack with its version that starts with orecchiette pasta bathed in five gooey cheeses and crisped to perfection on top. There are all manner of creative add-ins (andouille sausage, scallops), but I prefer to savor the nuanced cheese flavor by ordering it straight-up plain.
Erin Byers Murray, Contributing Editor
Dish: Shabu Meat Combo, $12
Where to get it: Shabu-Zen, 16 Tyler St., Boston, 617-292-8828; shabuzen.com
Why: I have no problem cooking my own dinner, especially when it takes place on someone else’s table and comes with an army of staffers to pick up after me. Shabu-Zen’s hot pot cooking is the ultimate do-it-yourself experience. I stick with the meat combo (a choice of two proteins; lamb and pork are killer) and fill the pot with the accompanying lettuces, sprouts, and hot sauces, then spoon the freshly cooked arrangement over vermicelli noodles.