Winter Warmer When the temperature drops and the snow sets in, Phantom hunts for the coziest restaurants with the biggest portions of hearty comfort food. The Caped Critic orders chicken soup for the soul from the 8 GREATEST winter warmers.

New England Soup Factory (The Greatest: Chicken Soup)
2 Brookline Place
Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 739-1695
www.newenglandsoupfactory.com

With only a half dozen tables, New England Soup Factory is ideal for take-out. The rotating menu changes daily, featuring 10 of their 150 total made-from-scratch soups. The triple strength chicken vegetable stocks a robust broth full of white meat morsels and tender carrots. Other slurpable standouts include sweet potato soup with caramelized onions, lobster Newburg, and clam and corn chowder. Customers who can’t decide are encouraged to sample from the simmering assortment. Iced soups are served in warmer months, but you can always order over-stuffed sandwiches, salads, brownies, blondies, and cookies. There’s a second location in Newton.

L.A. Burdick Chocolate (The Greatest: Hot Chocolate)
52 D Brattle St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 491-4340
www.burdickchocolate.com

Burdick Chocolate turns out the most delicious chocolate treats, and their hot chocolate is hands down the best Phantom has ever had. Poured into a giant mug, the impossibly rich drink is like a liquefied candy bar mixed with steamed milk. Still, it’s not too sweet so you get a yummy punch of true chocolate flavor. Their adorable chocolate mice are almost too cute to eat, constructed with a ganache body, a painted chocolate face, almond ears, and a ribbon tail. Other creative chocolate combinations include the downright decadent dessert cakes, fruit tartlets, and tea cookies. The cozy café looks like its straight out of Europe with antique mirrors, dainty lamps, and marbled floors.

Vintage (closed) (The Greatest: Steak Sauces)
1430 VFW Pkwy.
(Bridge St.)
West Roxbury, MA 02132
(617) 469-2600
www.vintagerestaurants.com

It may be called Vintage, but this dark wood steakhouse has a trendy atmosphere. Modern meat eaters can count on a choice chophouse menu with tender filet mignon. But it’s the special sauces that give the kitchen a voice of its own. Along with the expected béarnaise and merlot demi-glaze, they up the sauce ante with port-fig demi-glaze, citrus soy ginger sauce, lemon caper beurre blanc, and Cajun jalapeno butter. For a little extra, you can top your ribeye or New York strip with melted blue cheese or lobster cream sauce. Inventive entrees include the stuffed pork loin rolled around apple breading. Vintage is a bit south of the city, but you can’t beat the complimentary valet.

Harrows (The Greatest: Chicken Pie)
126 Main St.
Reading, MA 01867
(781) 944-0410
www.chickenpie.com

Harrows Chicken Pie has a phenomenal 60-year-old recipe for their namesake specialty. What was once a full service restaurant is now strictly a takeout business. The cars line up for soul satisfying pies packed with huge chunks of chicken, homemade gravy, carrots, and potatoes in a golden, freshly baked crust. They’re available in four sizes that range from individual portions to the mammoth six-person pie. The all-natural delicacies are available cold or hot, along with mashed potatoes and veggie sides. Phantom likes to order extra chicken gravy and then follow through with blueberry pie for dessert.

Frank's Steak House (The Greatest: Sizzling Steak)
2310 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 661-0666
www.frankssteakhouse.com

Frank’s Steakhouse is wicked famous for multiple reasons, but Phantom can’t get past their NY Sizzler Sirloin. They aren’t kidding with this dish; it’s practically on fire when it comes out of the kitchen on a cast iron skillet. Frank’s is also the oldest steakhouse in all of Greater Boston, established way back in 1938. If you’re a meat and potatoes kind of guy like the Caped Critic, you’ll love the old school menu filled with burgers, pasta, and affordable pub grub. They also offer a deep fried onion loaf, which was inspired by Norm on Cheers. The sitcom character repeatedly waxed poetic about the culinary creation on the show. With casual atmosphere and a piano bar packed with locals, this neighborhood place is just right for families.

The Wine Cellar (The Greatest: Fondue)
30 Massachusetts Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 236-0080
www.bostoncellar.com

The Wine Cellar in the Back Bay makes it deliciously possible to dip into fondue for appetizers, entrées, and dessert. They offer more than 20 fondues, divided into cheese, oil based, and sweet categories. Beyond the basics, they offer intriguing fondues like the Cheddar Melt infused with cracked black pepper and beer and the Queso mixed with cilantro, roasted peppers, and sweet onions. Additional options include lamb, sausage, and even Asian-style made with teriyaki. The garlicky Swiss cheese fondue is served with cushy cubes of bread and fried potatoes, and the escargot fondue is dipped in creamy pesto. On the sweet side, there’s a heavenly dark chocolate fondue and the ooey gooey Marshmallow Dream fondue served with crumbled butter cookies.

Sonoma (The Greatest: California Wine List)
206 Worcester Rd.
Princeton, MA 01541
(978) 464-5775
www.sonoma-princeton.com

Like a true treasure, Sonoma is hidden away in the hills of Princeton. But the cozy dining destination is worth seeking out for unforgettable fare and an amazing California wine list. Kitchen highlights include creamy pumpkin soup served in a hollow pumpkin and “pastrami on rye” which is really pepper crusted duckling with lavender honey mustard. Phantom also loves the rib chop covered in mushroom dust. To top of the meal, the decadent dessert tray rolls around with tasty treats like pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate custard cake with chocolate shavings.

Silvertone (The Greatest: Mac & Cheese)
69 Bromfield St.
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 338-7887

Silvertone attracts a twenty-something cocktail crowd to its below ground retro digs. The unbelievably affordable menu explores homey comfort foods like creamy cheddar mac & cheese encrusted with golden bread crumbs, served in an oversized soufflé dish with a side of greens. Phantom also adores their roasted pepper quesadillas and the diner-style, gravy-slathered meatloaf over mashed potatoes. Their wine list is the best value around, since they refuse to mark-up a bottle more than $10 from retail. Silvertone’s stylish old school decorations include vintage radios, weathered photos, and high-backed booths.