Restaurant Review: Amrheins

 

On Friday night, I met up with one of my best friends Stephanie in Southie to run.  Stephanie is running Boston next year and I hope to do a bunch of training runs with her (even though I won't be training myself).  We ran from her house around Castle Island, then up the biggest hill I've ever seen (I think it was G Street).  We wanted to run 6-8 miles, but we only ran 4.5.  I was exhausted though so I didn't mind cutting it short. Plus we ran at night which typically, I only run in the AM so it was tough for me but I really love running with Steph and I hope to run with her more.  When we got back, our husbands were hanging out and we quickly got ready to head over to Amrheins for dinner.  I've wanted to go here since I read about it on Salad's blog.  Plus, I just cooked with sugar pumpkins AND I've been on a risotto kick so I was excited to try the Baked Sugar Pumpkin with Cheesy Chicken Risotto.  

We waited only about ten minutes before we got seated.  Unfotunately, it was quite dark so my pictures are all with the flash.  I checked out the menu and knew EXACTLY what I wanted.  

 

"World Famous" Pumpkin Chicken Risotto- Twice baked sugar pumpkin filled with chicken risotto with cashews, dried cranberries, caramelized onions and baby spinach.

Our food came out REALLY quickly. And I couldn't wait to dive in.  But first, check out this presentation!

Okay, so the review.  I loved loved loved the risotto.  I loved the addition of the cashews and the cranberries.  It was nice to have the protein of chicken, but I didn't need it.  And who doesn't love cheese?  The risotto was seriously perfect.  My one complaint about this dish is the pumpkin.  Unfortunately, I don't think the pumpkin was "twice baked."  It was pratically rock hard, not softened and I could not eat the sides at all.  That was my favorite part of the sugar pumpkin when I made it a couple weeks ago.  The soft flesh tastes exactly like butternut sqush and its really a shame I wasn't able to enjoy that.  The pumpkin in this dish was really used as a vessel for the risotto and not a part of the dish, even though it could be. I will tell you that I am planning to recreate dish as a side dish for my Thanksgiving and I can guarentee you I will be cooking the pumpkin!  All in all though, the risotto was really really tasty.  Clearly, I hated it.

I'm a big eater, but I swear, I shared... (a little!)

Hubby ordered the Lobster Pie and I sneaked a couple bites.  It was delicious!  More of a summery dish but still good : )

   I wasn't going to write about this but I will tell you that our service was fast and friendly and clearly our waitress was a native Bostonian.  Stephanie's husband Mike ordered the "Chicken Parm."  Our waitress had a "wicked" strong Boston accent and thought he said "Chicken Broc".  So she brought him the wrong dish but quickly switched it and all was good.  But we all laughed because we didn't know there was slang for Chicken and Broccoli!

I definitely recommend heading over to Southie (South Boston for all you non-Bostonians) to enjoy a great atmosphere and delicious food at Amrheins.

And I cannot to wait to recreate this dish on Thursday.  Who needs Mashed Potatoes when you can have Creamy Risotto?!?!