Thank you, I have been online since the 80’s on netnews and joined CH in the 90’s, I love getting the scoops!
I’ve eaten twice so far at Cafe Vanak in the former Seta Cafe next to Sophia’s Greek (yogurt) and it might be the best kabobs in the area right now, plus a healthy selection of real entrees like lamb shank on rice and others. I had pomegranate and walnut sauce on chicken, wowzers, like a Persian mole sauce. Watertown/Belmont boasts 4-5 Persian places now, plus Mediterranean Grill on Mass Ave in North Cambridge. Boston isn’t LA quality yet, but Vanak is approaching that level. Plus the accompanying market called Super Vanak lives up to it’s name. It isn’t a “ethnic market” or bodega kind of thing it is a full on mini super market with just about everything you would ever need to cook any Persian dish or any kind of food, replete with meats, dairy, dried goods, grains, teas, pickles, sweets, etc. Just not a huge selection of fresh veggies, but they smartly decided not to compete with nearby Arax on that front.
Just up a block you can see a Thai restaurant which is the original location of Gustazo, one of my favorite places now in Waltham and Cambridge. Their evolution is quite extraordinary from a purveyor of simple Cuban classics like Cuban Sandwiches to a full on fine dining experience with excellent cocktails. As flush as it is, I’d rate it almost as good as long time favs like Oleana, they have not forgotten their roots, even if they don’t have a traditional Cuban Sandwich anymore and the fancied up version of their Guacamole is not as tasty as how they originally did it, and how I make it at home now, with pineapple. Minor quibbles for a fine dining destination that has a non-stuffy easy going feel to it. Gustazo has managed to transcend their “ethnic” background to just being an excellent establishment. It is unfair to typecast them as a “cuban restaurant” in my opinion. This is very uncommon.
