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| C’s vs. Raptors |
A special thank you to guest blogger Mark Douglass for writing this month’s RC post! I couldn’t make it this month because I was recovering from going to the Celtics game the previous night, and since I have no photos of RC to share, I am sharing my fabulous view of the game from one of the executive suites. I also have attempted (and failed) to go to Society on High — the bar was full and the restaurant was hosting a private event the night I went. It doesn’t sound like I need to keep this restaurant “on my list” of places to check out.
Sonia Shah, RC’s newest member, was charged with selecting a dining location for the month of January. Not even open for a year, Sonia’s sights were set on Society on High in Boston’s financial district. Society is among several new more upscale restaurants that are popping up in the typically quieter area of the city. Although the after-work crowd has kept Society buzzing for the past several months, its been a rocky road for the former owners of Les Zygomates, who have struggled to draw in a dinner crowd.
Society has the look and feel of an expansive, open space with tall ceilings, large floor to ceiling windows throughout, and a huge wrap-around bar that is the centerpiece for the restaurant. In fact, much of the restaurant seating is encompassed within the bar area. With classic yet contemporary furnishings, good music, and a comfortable level of noise dampening, the six of us were comfortably seated at a high-top booth in the lounge.
Of course it wouldn’t be RC without drinks, the beer/wine menu was decent but lacked creativity, missing the boat on local craft beer drafts, or even seasonal beer options. The wine menu was basic, a good offering of both reds and whites. There were about 6-8 specialty cocktails to choose from, somewhat diverse in their base liquors but nothing that appealed to our group, so we stuck with beer/wine.
Since we were all starving, we lunged for the bar menu. After getting recommendations from the owner on the 15 items on the bar menu, we settled the tuna tartare, firecracker shrimp, and oysters. The tuna tartare, served in a triangular tortilla shell was easy to eat like a taco and was accompanied by a spicy aioli, wasabi, and pickled ginger. It was a hit with all of us. The firecracker shrimp was a spicy, wonton-wrapped fried app that was accompanied by a creamy cashew dipping sauce, which was runny and slightly unimpressive. The oysters were large, clean, and a hit (with those that prefer them). Bar menu prices were reasonable, averaging $12.
Since we indulged in the bar menu apps, we skipped the apps on the main menu and went straight for the entrees. Their entrée selection was relatively small, with only seven options to choose from. As a lover of all things Bolognese, I gravitated to this dish and wasn’t disappointed: a hearty portion, it was simply stick to your ribs pork/beef/veal yumminess, and also the cheapest at $19. Kendrin and Jimmy ordered the pan roasted chicken statler in pan au jus, accompanied by mushroom fricassee and faro risotto. Overall, the chicken was decent, was a little dry, and the portion size was slightly small. The risotto was good, but nothing spectacular. Kim ordered the braised stuffed veal breast, with swiss chard, chanterelles, and Parmesan. Not your typical veal entrée, it was full of flavor (read: somewhat fatty), but was also a bit dry/over-braised. Sonia and Karen decided to share a big bowl of risotto, standard risotto, cooked well, and nicely flavored. Prices were on the higher side (but cheaper than their initial opening menu), between $19-$28.
We all know that it just wouldn’t be RC without dessert. Well, we didn’t order dessert, probably for a myriad of reasons. Perhaps it was because we were told that there wasn’t a dessert menu, or maybe it was because the server said the pastry chef was on vacation. Or, just maybe he thought he might persuade us to order dessert by saying that there were “a few slices of French silk pie left”. Strange? Bizarre? Yes to both, and no dessert.
Overall, another nice RC dining experience. Not sure if Society will survive without making a few more changes, right now, its niche is more of an after-work happy hour, bar menu destination.
The damage
$390 ($65/per person)
The rundown
99 High Street, Boston
Kara Cooks and Eats 