The Globe Gives Granary Tavern One Star

Granary Tavern, the latest venture from the Glynn Hospitality Group, which is also behind the forthcoming Sterling's, gets just one star from Anne V. Nelson, filling in for Devra First at the Globe. Nelson lauds the service and lighting at great length before declaring the cocktails "strong and well made," but the food finds less favor. Cheese and Harpoon fondue "separated into an oily stew with gloppy blobs of fontina at the bottom of the dish," more than one dish is under-salted, and - here's the really damning part - a sauce for scallops "seemed too classically French for this place." [BG]

"Typical rookie mistakes keep Casa B from being more exciting," says Corby Kummer for Boston Magazine, but he still sounds pretty excited. Chef Alberto Cabré "is skilled when it comes to tapas," the restaurant is " alluring and addictive" and none of Boston's preexisting tapas restaurants - not even Toro! - "has been as sleek and stylish." As opposed to the tapas, "fancified larger courses" are subject to flaws, and yet the food is "instructive and unique." [BM]

MC Slim JB sheds light on a new venue that has been something of a mystery until now: Daddy Jones, a Greek-leaning bar with a small food menu in Magoun Square, Somerville. In his latest review for The Phoenix, Slim extolls the virtues of Daddy Jones, which, he says, is one of his favorite kinds of places: "the modest local bar with very good food and drinks and a minimum of high-concept cuteness." For drinks, the Greyhound is tweaked with "tasty results" and the wine list features "bargains." Those Greek dishes, like stuffed phyllo, dip & pita, and roast stuffed baby eggplant are "executed sensationally," and, well, what else do you need to know? [TP]

Two chains from elsewhere recently opened shop on and near the Common, respectively, and Glenn Yoder pits them against one another for the Globe's Cheap Eats column. Despite its unique location in the former bathroom building known as the Pink Palace, at Earl of Sandwich, "the sandwiches aren't that good." Okay, that's pretty clear. Go ahead and scope out the space, says Yoder. "Then when it's time to eat, walk a few blocks to Potbelly." [BG]

Despite high levels of anticipation for the brand new Giulia on Mass Ave in Cambridge, few have learned what to expect here due to the restaurant's relatively low media profile. Tiny Urban Kitchen now knows. Warm semolina cakes with lardo are "fantastic" and one of the evening's biggest hits, but the in-house pasta steals the show. It's "really, really good." [TUK]