STREET 360

801 Islington St., Portsmouth, NH 03801

www.streetfood360.com

The decor of STREET is pretty hip and sends out a really comfortable and relaxing vibe. That is where the GOOD part of my review ends. Unfortunately, STREET is just not going to cut it with such a plethora of other restaurants in the Portsmouth area with better food for your money and friendlier staff. I won't be visiting this restaurant again and neither will my friends who have dined there. During my last visit to STREET- at first the service was prompt and courteous, but that didn't last long enough for us to even get our order in without waiting 20 minutes after we were served our drinks to catch her for our food order. We shared the Yuca Fries ($8)-A South American staple and possibly the best starch you've never had. Served with Peruvian lime dip sauce from the "Smaller Things" portion of the menu and although they were tasty, $8 for an order of fries had me wondering if they were really that worth it. One of my friends ordered the Thai Spare Ribs ($9.50). Although they cook you up a large bowl of them, they are hardly edible unless you enjoy fat more than meat on your ribs. My other friend ordered the Dumpling Soup-Pork dumplings bobbing about in homemade chicken stock w/ fresh spinach, carrot, mushroom and scallion ($12) and I ordered the Pho Bo-Vien ($14)-Rice noodle soup made with beef, Vietnamese meatballs, Thai basil, lime, bean sprouts and hot peppers served on the side so that you can add to your liking. Sure the set up is cool right? Unfortunately both our soups were also COOL to temperature. After waiting 40 minutes from when we ordered to when the soups arrived at our table we were starving. The soups were cooler than room temperature. No joke. When I informed our waitress that the soups were cold she said, "really, they should be scalding hot.....do you want me to return them to the kitchen?" I let her know that wouldn't do as we were already really pressed for time at this point and what we don't eat, I guess we will just have to take home. She walked away. When she next arrived (and No, she never came back to check on our meals again while we were there) with the check (not asking us if we wanted desserts either-no upselling going on here folks) she said sorry for the cold soups and that she checked with other tables and their soups weren't cold (so what did that mean we were lying?) and that she discounted them for us and would gladly put them in take out containers for us to leave with. She discounted each soup $2. We needed change to pay cash on the bill and when she returned my friend let her know that the $2 discount what less than acceptable. She said, "What do you mean? I am the manager and that is the maximum I am allowed to discount any bill." When we told her that there are plenty of other restaurants for us to spend our money at that treat customers better when things go wrong with the meals coming out of the kitchen, she just stared at us blankly. That was it for us and that is it for my friends or myself spending any more of our hard earned money at STREET. I do not recommend anyone being temped by the International appeal that STREET is offering out. We left the take home containers on the table and left without looking back.

Ithaki Mediterranean Cuisine

25 Hammatt St

Ipswich, Ma

http://www.ithakicuisine.com/

Owner Petros Markopoulos has created a truly delicious and relaxing dining destination in the quaint New England town of Ipswich, Ma with his Greek & Mediterranean restaurant Ithaki. The decor and ambiance of the newly renovated Ithaki restaurant is calming with its soft, cool colors and warm lighting. The dining area is spacious yet gives you a feeling of an intimate dining experience and Ithaki also has a wonderful lounge side with a large bar wrapping around the room and tables scattered within. I happened to dine last at Ithaki on a Thursday evening when there was a jazz performer and it really set a relaxing tone as I dined with friends.

Finding an authentic Greek & Mediterranean restaurant north of Boston, MA is not easy, but I have to say, I no longer have to look elsewhere as Ithaki has it covered.

The Marinated Olives ($7) are delicious, The Bread Spreads ($7 each or a taste of 4 spreads for $15) of Tzatziki, Taramosalata, Tirokafteri & Hummus served with warm pita chips are a wonderful start to a meal here at Ithaki. The Spreads are fresh and full of flavors. I have sampled the weekly special Appetizer offering of Hortopita ($12) which was a light phyllo pocket stuffed with greens and served with sliced grilled Loukaniko and a Feta cream sauce. It was the first time I have had Loukaniko (sausage) and it was porky goodness! I hope to catch it again on Ithaki's weekly specials menu. The Bar Menu at Ithaki has the Short Rib Appetizer ($11) is cooked so perfectly, the rib meat almost melts in your mouth. The Mousakas ($19) served in a large crock boasts the expected rich Mediteranean flavors of cinnamon and herbs blended in with beef, potato, eggplant, zucchini and topped with a Bechamel. Mousakas to me when dining at a Greek restaurant is often a must, but don't let that sway you from trying what clearly is a Ithaki customer favorite, the Clams ($22)-House made Fettuccine piled high in a large bowl with native clams, white wine, garlic and chili flakes. I cannot wait for a cold winter night where I will happily indulge myself with this dish! I finish my meal at Ithaki with Pistachio Baklava ($8)-small, light, delicate rolls of baklava laced with pistachios and served with a side of Pistachio ice cream. A wonderful dessert to finish with any meal offered at Ithaki.

The serving staff at Ithaki upon my visits have been knowledgeable, friendly and prompt and always willing to make recommendations to you of favorite dishes or a wine from the rather extensive and well rounded wine list. I definitely feel that Ithaki is THE BEST Greek & Mediterranean restaurant I have found in a long while and fit for a Foodie. I look forward to bringing more friends to dine with me at Ithaki that haven't tried a truly great Mediterranean meal. I just love it when you find a restaurant that whether you desire to dress up or go casual to you know you are going to have a great time, great food and leave happy and full. It's always exciting!

How's Your Onion- Derry, N.H

91 West Broadway, Derry NH

http://www.howsyouronion.com/

Marc Damien Hartley is the chef and owner of this unique little restaurant located right on West Broadway in Derry NH. The atmosphere is warm and relaxing, the staff friendly and the food was served promptly upon my visit. How's Your Onion is the kind of restaurant that I can see many visitors becoming regular diners.

I have visited only for breakfast after hearing quite a bit about how good the food was here and I am a sucker for a good breakfast! Open Monday -Thursday 5am-2pm, Friday and Saturday 5am-9pm (Friday and Saturday they are open for dinner) and Sunday 6am-2pm How's Your Onion is a relatively new restaurant and is serving up some really unique and tasty dishes.

I enjoyed the Shirred Baked Egg Nest ($6.99)- 2 eggs, home fries, chopped onion and bacon baked and topped with Parmesan cheese served with a side of toast. It was a nice change from customary breakfast offerings and I really enjoyed the flavors! I tried a side of the Spiked Potatoes (3 for $2.99/6 for $5.79)-Combo of mashed potatoes, bacon, cheese and peppers rolled in beer batter, smothered in BBQ chips, fried & served with a creamy bacon ranch dressing. Big flavors in small packages! My breakfast partner, who is a regular at How's Your Onion, enjoyed the Sandra Special ($5.29)-Eggs cooked in the center of sourdough bread served with corned-beef hash that he had the chef mix spinach and mushrooms into and he loved it! The menu has a large selection of both breakfast and lunch options and I must make a point to visit again soon on a Friday or Saturday night to dine from the dinner menu.

Have you even been to a restaurant and you just feel like it's family cooking for you? That is the vibe I had while enjoying my breakfast at How's Your Onion. It's a restaurant that you just know has a lot of heart in it and that makes a big difference in the food that anyone who visits has the chance to try. How's Your Onion is approaching its 1 year anniversary in September and I hope that it continues to grow in popularity and that Marc along with his staff, continues to cook and serve the guests of How's Your Onion with the uniqueness and love of food that started it all.