My second review of Noche and my fifth visit. I obviously like this place… and I do. This was my first dining experience in the actual restaurant instead of sitting at the bar and it did not dissapoint.
I met my two friends at the bar for a glass of Malbec and a catch-up before dinner. The place is so welcoming and friendly. The décor is retro 70s fun with its walls of small circle mirrors and comfy cream leather furniture. The long bar seats about 25 people and there is high table seating opposite the bar. The bar staff are super social and relaxed and you know you can immediately have fun with them. We took our time at the bar and the hostess came over a few times to check on us without being pushy about us moving to our table.
We did eventually move up to the restaurant area, which is on a mezzanine level of the restaurant. The seating area is quite small and cozy and all cream and mirrors – so cool.
We started with a fantastic Claret while we perused the menu. Our very gracious waitress brought us over some crispy plantains to munch on while we made our decisions.
Of course I had to start with the “Blue Fin Tuna Tartare, Avocado Relish, Red Toboko, Taikon Radish, Sweet Chili Ponzu, Lemon Oil, Crispy Tortilla Chips” I have ordered this every time I have been to Noche and it never disappoints. The tuna is melt in your mouth delicious and combined with the avocado and crispy chips, it is the perfect combination of flavors that just come together so flawlessly. Of course, I am a bad blogger so completely forgot to take a photo of it before the three of us devoured the dish! We also accompanied our first course with the “Shaved fennel and Baby Arugula Salad, Goat Cheese Crumble, Toasted Pine Nuts, Lemon Pepper Vinaigrette.” Arugula is my favorite of the lettuce family with its sharp flavor. This salad was tasty and not drowning in dressing, which is always my worry when I don’t ask for dressing on the side. The dressing was the perfect tang to go with the fennel and arugula.
For my main dish I went with the “Yukon Marinated Sea Bass served with Stir-Fried Mung Bean Sprouts, Wild Enoki and Shitake Mushrooms.” I have to say I was in a little bit of heaven with this dish. The dish looked exquisite, and tasted even better. The sea bass was cooked to perfection and was absolutely mouth-watering. It has been a long time since I have completely cleaned my plate of food.
My friends ordered the “Seared Yellow Tail Snapper” and the “Roasted Marinated Chicken.” Both said the dishes were good, especially the chicken, however, my friend who ordered the Snapper thought it was a little chewy. He still managed to eat everything on his plate, so may be it wasn’t so bad after all.
We ended our food coma evening with “Molten Chocolate Cake, Dashi Cherry Reduction Vanilla Ice-cream.” Wow, decadent, indulgent, fabulous… need I say more.
Noche is slowly rising to my Top 10 restaurants in Boston, and a place I am now recommending to friends and colleagues alike. Very fun evening of over indulgence J
