Fine Dining in My Hometown
Written: Jun 15 '02 (Updated Jun 16 '02)
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Pros: Interesting, varied menu; funky interior; well-prepared food.
Cons: A bit pricey for Arlington.
The Bottom Line: Go to Flora for an enjoyable evening of delicious food in an atmosphere that feels elegant and fun and relaxed at the same time.
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| lapook76's Full Review: Flora |
Last night my fiance I ventured over to Flora, located in our hometown of Arlington, Massachusetts (just ten miles or so outside of Boston). We were looking to celebrate a little. Not a big celebration- we'd both had a hard week, and we were looking to reward ourselves a bit with a relaxing evening of good food. We were also too tired to travel very far, so Flora fit the bill nicely.
Based on past experiences at Flora, when we have either had to wait an hour for a table, or have decided to leave after being told a table wouldn't open until 10:00, we decided to call and make a reservation. There were only early times open, so we accepted a 6:00 reservation, and were on our way.
Decor and Ambiance
We were particularly interested in dining at Flora because, although we've been there a few times already, we hadn't seen their new expansion. Flora is situated in an old bank, complete with an open vault that houses two or three tables. Thus, the main room is long and rather narrow, with very high ceilings. For their expansion, Flora took over the store next door, and as a result doubled the size of the restaurant. The new room has large windows facing out to Mass. Ave., and a new bar area that is much more spacious than the old, more cramped bar area.
The new room's decor is more funky than the original room, which is more understated and elegant. The newer room has more of an Asian feel to it. At the far end of the room is a very large fishtank built into the wall. I was amused to see that the other side of the fishtank is built into the bathroom on the other side of the wall. Don't worry- there is a divider. The people in the dining room can't see you peeing...
One of the results of the expansion is that the tables are not as close together as they once were. They also built more of an entryway in the original room, which is good because in the winter, diners used to get blasted with cold air every time anyone entered the restaurant. Also, the new location of the bar should make waiting for a table a less crowded and more comfortable experience.
One last result of the expansion that I noticed is that the noise level is much lower than it used to be. The dining experience seems much more intimate now.
You do not need to dress up to eat at Flora, but should look nice. No jeans, please.
Food and Drinks
Before we checked out the menu, we perused the wine list and selected a bottle of Pinot Grigio. The waiter came back right away after we ordered and apologized that they no longer had the bottle that we wanted, and he suggested a similar wine. The wine he suggested ended up being a little bit cheaper than what we had ordered, and was very good. Overall, the wine list had a selection of thirty or forty wines, priced from about $25 and up. I'm not a wine connoisseur, so I can't really comment on the quality of their offerings.
On to the menu... Flora's menu changes seasonally, and so it has been different every time that we've gone there. There are always six or seven appetizer choices and about the same number of entree choices, as well as a few specials daily.
My fiance and I decided to share an appetizer. We chose one of the appetizer specials for the evening: mussels and baby clams cooked in white wine and garlic ($10). I love mussels, but I'm very picky about how they are prepared. I can't stand it when they are overcooked and rubbery, which is how many restaurants seem to turn them out. Ick. Fortunately, I was very pleased by Flora's version of this dish. The mussels were cooked perfectly- soft and not overly-chewy, so that they tasted melty and perfect in my mouth. The broth was delicious and complemented rather than overpowered the sweet and savory taste of the mussels. The baby clams were almost better than the mussels- they were small and sweet and delicious. The broth was so good that I used the bread that the waiter had brought to soak up the ends of it.
Another appetizer that I was intrigued by but didn't try (because my fiance does not like mushrooms, the silly boy...) was the porcini mushroom flan with port reduction and parsley oil ($10). Maybe next time... Other options were Warm Vermont goat cheese with marinated beets and apple balsamic ($9), Crispy cod cakes with lemon aioli ($8), a puree of asparagus soup with chervil butter ($7), Potato gnocchi with lobster, butter, peas and tomato ($13), and a few others.
I was intrigued by one of the dinner specials, which I seem to remember was tile fish served with a tomato and corn salsa with avocado integrated into it somehow. But I decided instead on the grilled sea scallops ($26). I have the same pickiness with scallops that I have with mussels- I can't stand when they are either totally overcoooked, or are overpowered by whatever sauce they are served in or with. Once again, I was very pleased with my dish. The scallops, which came on a skewer and were served over jasmine fried rice with shrimp, were perfect. They were plump and soft and sweet. There was a drizzling of what tasted like a soy sauce reduction of some sort, and its saltiness was a nice complement to the sweetness of the mussels. I found the soy sauce taste to be a little strong in the fried rice, but otherwise the dish was perfect.
My fiance ordered the grilled sirloin steak, which was served with whipped garlic potatoes and truffled creamed spinach ($26). I'm not a huge steak fan, but he seemed to enjoy it. I thought that the potatoes and the spinach were the tastiest part of his dish.
Other entree options were a roasted chicken breast stuffed with wild mushroom duxelles, rosemary polenta, and pan sauce ($21), a molasses-cured pork chop with wilted leeks, slab bacon, and mashed sweet potatoes ($22), slow cooked lamb with cinnamon and smoked chiles, served with penne, artichokes, and preserved lemon ($19), pan-seared halibut with spinach risotto, tomatoes, and a grilled spring onion salad ($24), and spring vegetable fricassee with whole-grain pilaf, herbs, and wilted greens ($18).
For dessert, we had coffee (very good and very strong) and a raspberry linzer torte with ginger ice cream ($6). The torte was delicious, but I wish that it had had a bit more raspberry in it. Some other desserts on the menu were double chocolate pudding with whipped cream ($5), chocolate cloud cake ($7), frozen lemon mousse with mango coulis ($7), and toffee pudding cake with caramel sauce ($6). Flora also has an extensive list of teas of all varieties.
Service
The service at Flora is always fine. Our waiter this time seemed like he was very new, so we had a few glitches, but he tried very hard and it didn't detract from our meal. When he brought out our bottle of white wine,he poured our glasses and then just left the bottle on our table. We had to ask him if he could get something to keep the wine chilled, which he did obligingly and quickly. In general, he was attentive but not overbearing.
Other things to know
As I mentioned earlier, it is important that you get a reservation if you do not want to wait forever for a table. The phone number is 781-641-1664.
Flora is open every day but Monday for dinner.
The restaurant is located on Mass Ave in East Arlington near the Capitol Theatre. There is not a parking lot, and so you are on your own to find a spot on the street.
I'm not sure how kid-friendly Flora is. I didn't see a children's menu, but that doesn't mean that one doesn't exist. I did see a few children in the restaurant while we were there, and they seemed pretty happy...
Final Thoughts
Flora is a great place to go with a significant other or with a few friends to enjoy a relaxing evening of good food that is thoughtfully prepared without being over the top or pretentious. I like that the menu has been different every time that I've gone there- it's fun to see and try new dishes. The staff is friendly and warm, and you will feel comfortable and content. If you are ever in my hometown, you should give Flora a try.
Recommended:
Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations The menu changed seasonally, so don't expect to see the same dish you ate last time if you go again!
Best Suited For: Romantic Evening
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Epinions.com ID:
lapook76
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Location: Arlington, MA
Reviews written: 61
Trusted by: 40 members
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