Street — Restaurant in Portsmouth

I picked this restaurant for my mother's birthday dinner, we were a group of 7. They don't take reservations, but do allow you to call ahead and put your name on the waiting list - this is supposed to mean you won't wait more than 15-20mins for a table if there's not one ready. We went on a Thursday at 6 so it wasn't full and we didn't have to wait for a table. It was an extremely long wait throughout the meal, however. We were there for over 2 hours, everything took forever to come out, far longer than it should have for what it was (it's all street food, supposed to be from around the world but it's mainly the middle east). Our waiter was pretty terrible- super inattentive. We had to flag him down every time we needed something, he forgot some things and we had to remind him, once he brought our main dishes he did not even check on us once until we grabbed him and asked for the checks- which we told him ahead of time we were splitting but he still gave it to us all on one. I'm sure he would have been far more attentive had his tip not been automatically tacked on to the bill. The food was excellent, really the only saving grace since the waiter made the meal somewhat frustrating. It was also extremely noisy in the restaurant, to the point where we had to yell at each other across the table and I had to ask the people sitting right next to me to repeat themselves quite often. The restaurant is pretty reasonable on price but there are some things that I thought were ridiculously overpriced, like $7 (the menu actually said $9) for ONE shrimp or fish taco. One. Our party ordered 4 starters: shrimp taco (I didn't care for this), southern fried chicken (pretty basic but good), yuca fries (these were surprisingly good, especially the dipping sauce!), gobi 65 (this was the best thing we had all night - even those that hate cauliflower loved it!) For entrees: 2 had basic cheese burgers (the burgers were great but they came with some weird tortilla chips that no one ate), 1 had the cubano, 1 had the lamb shawarma, 2 had the noodle bowl, 1 added chicken and 1 added beef (these were great, but hope you like cilantro... I do not..), the kid with us got chicken tenders off the kids menu. Drinks: 2 sodas with free refills, 2 glasses of wine, 2 cocktails, and 1 lemonade. The total for the 7 of us was about $230 (including the automatic, 20%, totally undeserved, tip). If I were in the area I would probably go again to try something else, but I would not do a group meal and I would not make a special...

In the culinary haven of gastronomic delights, I recently had the pleasure of embarking on an extraordinary journey of the senses, guided by the sublime creation known as the Cubano sandwich. This delectable masterpiece, an opulent symphony of flavors, is an ode to the divine fusion of culinary ingenuity.

At first glance, the Cubano presented itself as a work of art, a canvas adorned with meticulously layered ingredients that promised an unrivaled culinary escapade. The golden-brown crust, crisped to perfection, cradled the sandwich like a treasure chest, harboring the gastronomic secrets within. Each layer, a testament to the chef's virtuosity, harmoniously interwove to orchestrate a symphony of taste.

Upon the initial bite, a gustatory revelation unfolded – a carnival of sensations dancing upon the taste buds. The succulent, slow-roasted pork, tender and flavorful, whispered tales of culinary finesse. It danced in tandem with the velvety slices of ham, a perfect marriage of textures that elevated the sandwich to a celestial realm of gustatory bliss.

The symphony continued with the orchestration of Swiss cheese, its creamy notes enveloping the palate in a crescendo of richness. Pickles, those zesty virtuosos, added a vivacious kick, a lively counterpoint that tantalized the taste buds and left an indelible imprint of culinary virtuosity.

But what truly elevated this Cubano to an unparalleled echelon was the decadent liaison of mustard and mayo, an ambrosial blend that transcended mere condiment status. It was the maestro's baton, conducting a flavor symphony that resonated with the celestial spheres of culinary excellence.

The final act, the perfectly pressed medley of flavors, was encased in a delicate yet robust Cuban bread – a harmonious crescendo of textures that crunched and yielded in exquisite unison. The bread, an architectural marvel, held the ensemble together in a triumphant embrace, ensuring that each bite was a journey to the culinary heavens.

In conclusion, the Cubano sandwich I had the privilege of savoring transcended the realm of mere culinary indulgence. It was an epiphany, a gastronomic opus that left an indelible mark on my palate. With each bite, I was transported to a realm where flavors danced, textures sang, and the artistry of culinary craft was celebrated in its most exquisite form. This Cubano, a culinary magnum opus, stands as a testament to the heights that gastronomy can achieve when passion, creativity, and artistry converge in...

Happy Labor Day Weekend Seacoast Eaters!!!Well, my wife and I mixed it up a little this week and had "Date Night" on Friday. Our point of interest this week was Street in Gallagher's Place at 801 Islington St Portsmouth.

First and foremost, we started by ordering cocktails and an app. My wife ordered the Watermelon Sangria(pic 1). This drink is made with Pinot Grigio, lemon, fresh Watermelon, Absolut W.M. and topped with a splash of soda water. This was the perfect summer drink, light and refreshing to perfection.

I ordered the Tire Fire Manhattan(Pic 2). This drink is made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Antica Vermouth, and Fernet and served straight up. This isn't your typical Manhattan, but it is really good.

The app we ordered was the Gobi(pic 3). This consists of Indian spiced fried cauliflower with a Tamarind glaze, which is sweetly sour, and a garlic yogurt dipping sauce. The flavoring in this dish is fantastic and makes you want to keep after it.

For dinner, my wife ordered the Falafel(pic 4). This pita was loaded with ground chickpea balls, lettuce, spicy pickles, vegetables and Tahini. It was absolutely delicious and very filling. You have the option of adding avocado and/or chicken. She just loved her meal.

I ordered the Bibimbap(pic 5). If you've never had it like me, you need to set aside any apprehension you may have and just dig in. This is a Korean dish that contains sticky rice with a crispy chewy bottom, sesame sautéed carrot, mushroom, zucchini, spinach, bean sprouts, and it's topped with a sunny-side egg and served with gochujang sauce, which is unbelievable. I had options of adding a protein and decided on the Vietnamese Chicken. All the ingredients are separate atop the sticky rice and everything is meant to be mixed in. I have never had a dish like it. The flavors blew my mind and I just kept eating it in awe of how good it was. Every item in this dish had its own unique flavor. Nothing got lost or left behind.

Street is International Cuisine at its best. So many options from many different countries. The atmosphere is happening and bustling with an electricity that is hard to miss. Dennis was our server and was very attentive to our needs. If you haven't been, do your taste buds a favor and get on the next International flight to Islington St...