A Little Bit About a Lot of Things

If you’re headed to Little Big Diner for lunch, I highly suggest you get there early. They open at 11:30. I showed up at 11:15 and by 11:20 there were people starting to get in line, so I jumped out of my car and got in line – good thing too, because by 11:30 the line was about 20 people deep. I was one of the last people to get a table and since I was the only on there in my party of four, you can imagine the dirty looks I got from the people who didn’t get a table.

The shop has a handful of seats and a few spots at the counter – it’s run by Dave Punch, who owns the nearby restaurant Sycamore.

The menu ranges from little plates to sample a little of everything to big plates if you’re feeling like a full meal.

The steamed cabbage and pork dumplings ($9) with black vinegar, chile crisp, and scallions. The vinegar was so delicious we wanted to lick every last bit of it off the plate!

We all split the cauliflower bahn mi sandwich which was delicious. The key to the perfect bahn me is the bread – not too crunchy not too soft. The filling has to be flavorful, and this did not disappoint.

The shrimp buns were tasty as well, with  pressed cucumbers, lime, and mayo – a perfect three bite treat!

I had the shio chicken ramen ($15)  with grilled thigh, ajitama egg, shaved cabbage, funny daikon, and schmaltz. The perfect thing on a chilly day!

Next time, I definitely want to try the forest mushroom ramen ($14) that my friend had, heiwa tofu, watercress, sesame and marinated shiitakes – it smelled delicious!! Ramen not your thing? Don’t worry, they have brown and white rice bowls and some tasty sounding small plates!

 

Little Big Diner

1247 Centre Street, Newton, MA

http://www.littlebigdiner.com/

Tags: asian, newton, noodles, restaurant