The Critics Ate Tinned Seafood, Beef Ribeye, and Charcuterie This Week

In his latest review for the Improper Bostonian, MC Slim JB visits Haley.Henry wine bar in Downtown Crossing. In addition to drinking some beautiful wines, Slim digs into a charcuterie board with some standouts, including creamy chicken liver mousse and Mangalica. The lamb tartare is mild and tender, and there is a "spectacular panino" of juicy chicken breast and crushed potato chips. The main event, he writes, is the tinned seafoods served with accompaniments of fresh bread and condiments. Milder options include sardines and chub mackerel, while the richer options include Portuguese octopus. Highlights for Slim are the smoked eels and Spanish anchovies in olive oil.

For Dig Boston, Marc Hurwitz visits Steel & Rye in Milton, which "feels like a true destination spot." It "caters to food lovers and drink lovers alike," he writes, praising the locally-sourced New American fare. His highlights include briney and crunchy fried olives, "over-the-top" delicious calamari and steamed mussels, barbecue pork shoulder, and beef ribeye, along with a juicy burger topped with Vermont cheddar and potato chips made in house.

The Boston Globe’s Devra First checks in on the newly reopened Belly Wine Bar in Kendall Square. The wine list is eclectic and the vibe friendly, she writes, with plenty of sniffing and swirling of the wines. Food options include oysters, salumi, and charcuterie that is made in house. Belly breaks its cheeses down by flavor profile, and there are small plates including broccoli rabe, pastrami beef tongue, and a rotating selection of items from chicken wings to gnocchi.

• Tin Star [Improper Bostonian]
• Steel & Rye [Dig Boston]
• The Happy Return of Belly Wine Bar [BG]