Bugaboo Creek Steak House

A while ago, I said I wanted to compare Outback to Bugaboo Steak House. Well, I finally got to try Bugaboo for dinner and I have to say, I love it! You get more food for your money, the food tastes better and the wait-staff is much more attentive. Here's what we had:

Appetizer: We skipped a formal appetizer and asked for some bread and butter to start with. Served warm, the whole wheat bread was a perfect starter if you're not feeling hungry 

enough for a full appetizer. 

Main Course: The Portabella Bleu Cheese Filet was perfectly cooked and delicious. The bleu cheese wasn't too strong and didn't take over the flavor of the steak. For my sides, I ordered steamed veggies--which were good, but not fantastic--and a large loaded

baked potato, which to me is the match for a good steak. Bugaboo certainly met and exceeded my expectations. My friend ordered the Homestyle BBQ Meatloaf and literally was licking the plate it was so delicious. Topped with BBQ sauce, melted cheddar cheese, bacon and fried onion rings, this meatloaf is unlike any other meatloaf I've ever had. Needless to say, it was incredible!

Drink: What always goes great with a steak? BEER! Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat beer to be exact. Or, if you like a less exotic taste, a good ol' Budweiser will always do the trick.

Dessert: Bugaboo's signature Big Foot Chocolate Cookie was outstanding! Served warm, this cookie was still a little undercooked in the middle--no dry cookie here! When the ice cream melted into the cookie, it just got better and better by the bite. This dessert lasted about 4 minutes between my friend and I. I would highly recommend this dessert!

I really like Bugaboo Creek Steak House for both lunch and dinner. I think it's a great value for the amount of food they serve and the quality of the food. I won't even try to guess how many calories are in one meal here, but I will say there's enough to box up and take home for later. Bugaboo is a great place to eat when you're looking for homestlye food (or when you're too lazy to cook). Final Verdict: Bugaboo trumps Outback any day!

Lunch: perhaps the most difficult meal

I've always had some sort of love/hate relationship with lunch. What kind of food to eat, where to eat, how much to eat, light or heavy, hot or cold, leftovers, cafeteria, restaurant? Making all of these decisions within your short lunch break time can cause the even the wisest foodie to get frustrated. I often find myself pushing back the lunch hour because I can't even make a decision before I leave my desk! 

I thought a lot about where I could go for my 45 minute lunch break--somewhere that was fast, but not fast food, tasty, but not too fattening, and had a nice atmosphere, but wasn't too popular to have to fight for a seat. And of course, the most important factor: location. If you can't find a restaurant/deli/bar/eatery that is close enough to work/school, you can simply cross it off the list. 

So far, I've found a few places that work for me. I work in Brighton, bordering Allston and Watertown. Three of these places are chains, so if you can find one around your work/school, I'd say its your best bet for some good food at lunchtime. 

Top 5 Lunch Places

1. Panera Bread- With a huge menu, Panera has a variety of items to order from so it doesn't get old. Many of the sandwiches have distinct tastes which you won't find at usual deli's. Soups and salads are also reliable, always tasty and surprising low in calories. 

2. Bugaboo Creek Steak House- After avoiding this place for months due to its funny name, I finally gave it a try and decided I was the crazy one! Great food from sandwiches to salads to soup. The service is quick and food is always served hot. They're also good about letting you customize orders--ex: grilled salmon instead of chicken on salads, etc--which is always a plus.

3. La Casa de Pedro- A great place for salads and light lunches, especially if you're tired of the same old lunch options at other places. The Latino flare is sure to give your taste buds something new to savor.

4. Marty's Liquor, Allston- As odd as it sounds to have a sandwich shop in a liquor store, Marty's certain does it right! Best sandwiches and alcohol, all in one place, what's there not to love? Order up one of the Marty's specialties sandwiches or make your own.

5. Whole Foods Market- Did you see this one coming? Whole Foods is, not only one of my most favorite places on earth, but also a great place to get lunch. Most locations have a counter for customers, so you don't have to eat in your car. They carry everything, from pre-made salads to tuna salad to soup to BBQ sandwiches...and on and on and on. If you can find a Whole Foods near you, consider yourself lucky!

If you know of anywhere that you think belongs on my Top 5 list, tell me! I'm always up for trying new places. Also check out my past post with a list of great restaurants around Boston, if you have more time for lunch and want some really top-notch food. 

UPDATE: If you're eating anything resembling this Pancake-Sausage on a Stick, I would like to personally offer my condolences, and severely urge you to try one of the above restaurants.