On its face, it looks like Vlora is trying very hard to keep up. The location is difficult -- while it’s on Copley Square, it’s underneath the street, which makes the restaurant a little less visible to passersby. However, the restaurant has had, on several different occasions, people to pass out menus and samplers. This was the reason that I wanted to try it -- I had a watermelon and feta “tidbit” that was delicious.

The actual experience, however, was a disappointment.

The interior is nice enough—elegant, but very dark. The seats near the windows are at a premium, so you don’t feel like you’re sitting in a cave.

Appetizer: The baked stuffed clams with crabmeat filling was mediocre. It didn’t have a particular flavor or design, and the pink dipping sauce was uninspired. Entree: The “Vlora Special” gnocchi was a shame. The gnocchi itself was mushy, and the overall taste of the dish was an interesting idea (olives, tomato, onion) but executed poorly. Too salty.

Overall, I was looking forward to something really special from this restaurant, but it simply fell flat. To support such a difficult location, they’re going to have to really step it up with the menu.

Fajitas is always lively, and always packed to the brim. The decor is inviting and friendly. There’s murals on the walls -- no worries, though, not in the traditional salmon and turqouise tones -- think more vibrant reds and blues. The booths and tables are old wood, covered with butcher paper and pens are supplied to draw / play tic tac toe / balance your checkbook.

The food is good and relatively cheap, and portion sizes are reasonable. The nachos are great to split with friends. The crowning glory, however, is their margaritas. They always have raspberry, strawberry, and plain, and then often have a specialty flavor for the night, like passion fruit, banana, peach, coconut, and vanilla. You can get them by the glass or by the liter -- and trust me -- you’ll go through them quick!

The one complaint I have is that the staff is often hit and miss. There are some that are really nice, and others that will try to get you out of the restaurant as soon as possible (even if there are other tables still available). Others, however, will be incredibly prompt, happy to get refills on both margaritas and free chips.

Overall, this place is definitely worth it.

Fleming’s is a traditional steakhouse and proud of it. The restaurant is furnished in dark woods with white linens -- unless, of course, you’d like a black napkin so you don’t get white fibers on your pants. (I’ve never heard of a restaurant doing this -- and I find it a little strange. Why would the napkins be shedding?)

Everything is a la carte, and their steaks stick to the traditional doneness scale. If you’re looking for something other than steak, there really isn’t a whole lot. One or two pasta and seafood dishes is all you’ll find. They do, however, offer to do your steak pretty much any way you please, even if it’s not on the menu, including Oscar, Au Poivre, with crab meat, etc.

The wait staff we experienced were a little too over-helpful, more to the point of hovering and too needy in asking if everything was okay.

The restaurant is overall a good experience—the blue cheese mashed potatoes are delicious.

This restaurant is quite tasty. I had passed it many times and was not impressed by the exterior—the sign is unassuming. The inside, however, was much nicer by comparison. This does certainly seem to be a suit and tie kind of place, but not oppressively so.

The food is probably best described as Mediterranean. The menu comprises things like Beef Carpaccio, Roast Duck, and things of a similar nature. Everything I had (and some that I sampled from other plates) tasted very fresh and well seasoned.

It’s probably a little pricey for students unless a special occasion, but if you can afford it, it’s worth it.

Sibling Rivalry is in the beginning of the South End. The atmosphere is very chic and trendy.

Generally, as the name suggests, the chefs are brothers who use the same ingredients, each coming up with their own menu.

Easter Sunday, however, was a smaller menu, but still very tasty.

Tantric is located on Stuart Street in the theatre district of downtown Boston—and it’s a great rest spot in this busy area. The lunch buffet looked decent, but I opted for the Chicken Tikka Masala. The ingredients were very fresh, and the onion naan was spectacular.

The service was inattentive, but that’s the only negative thing I can say about this delicious restaurant!

This little hole in the wall has incredible sushi. It’s reasonably priced, especially for being in downtown Boston, and is absolutely delicious.

The only downside to this eatery is the size of the restaurant. it’s one small room with perhaps 10 seats, so it’s hit or miss on the wait time. Take out is another great option!

Update: Shino now makes their rolls exclusively with brown rice. No sacrifice to the flavor or texture, and it’s healthy. I can’t get enough of this place!

This small restaurant and herb shop is nestled in the woods of New Hampshire. In the winter months, and sometimes into the spring, the way there can be a little difficult due to snow, ice, or mud. However, the trip is well worth the drive.

The menu is set each month, and consists of a dip for crackers, bread and special butter, soup, salad, and a main entree, and dessert. There are two choices -- meat and vegetarian -- for the main dish. The meals are always delicious, and never disappoints.

The lavender lemonade (available in the summer months) is a must have!

The decoration of the restaurant is lovely, and very imaginative. I am not sure, however, that showing boxing on TV was the best choice for this bistro-type restaurant. The service was half hearted, but the food was decent.

Updated: I tried this restaurant again, and this time ordered the cheeseburger. As with last time, I didn’t find the food to be anything spectacular. It was cooked to my desired doneness, however, the cheese was flavorless and the overall taste of the sandwich was weak at best.

Overall, I feel this restaurant deserves a passing grade, but does nothing to entice you back for a second meal.

The service here is a little slow, but everything else is fairly nice. Not a bad choice