theparegorickid says the produce and meat sections look about the same as they did in Super 88, and are less impressive than what's available at Kam Man Food's Quincy location. grant.cook also says the produce is a weak point, at least compared to H Mart in Burlington.

Reports on the fish counter are more positive. theparegorickid says it looks "brand new and sizeable," and dotfoodie spotted nice-looking fresh cod for $4.99 per pound. dotfoodie also noticed great prices on packaged ingredients, like butter and rice, but ix9 thinks prices for Asian products are higher than in Quincy or Chinatown.

Hounds also note that the market has several Caribbean products. theparegorickid spotted Auntie May's yellow pepper sauce from the Barbados, as well as Mantouk's hot sauce from Trinidad and Tobago.

grant.cook says that products are well labeled in both English and Chinese, and dotfoodie felt the staff members had a good knowledge of the products and were able to answer questions. As for the food court that is scheduled to open in the Kam Man building, dotfoodie says it may be several months before anything materializes.

Kam Man Food [Dorchester]
101 Allstate Road, Boston
617-541-2288

Discuss: Kam Man Mkt South Bay

"We had very good eggs, including an acceptable (no, not perfect) omelet that hadn't been overstuffed and overcooked. The corned beef hash was homemade, if a bit eccentric (had grated carrots in it) and they seem to have taken your suggestion on the hash browns to heart (nicely browned bits and clearly homemade)." – teezeetoo on a recent meal at the new Allston Diner

"Cabot's is a great old-fashioned ice cream parlor and they do a fine job with the old-school fountain treats. I can't remember whether I've had a root beer float there, because I usually go with an ice cream soda (there's hardly anyplace else left in Boston that has any idea how to make one!) but I will enthusiastically vouch for the quality of their offerings." – Allstonian on Cabot's in Newton

goslow recommends the Verdure pizza (grilled baby artichokes, mushrooms, and caramelized onions), and lergnom recently enjoyed a custom pie with shrimp and olives. "The dough is excellent and the ingredients are tasty," lergnom says.

The menu also includes salads, and suepar thinks the dressing on the Caesar is "expertly made, if a tad salty."

lergnom notes that while the savory pizzas aren't cheap, the dessert pizzas are a great deal at $3 for a 6-inch pie. The options include chocolate-hazelnut, cinnamon, and strawberry.

Ecco Pizzeria [Allston]
1147 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
617-903-4324

Discuss: Ecco Pizzeria Allston

Moby Dick: Despite the name, this is "delicious Persian home cooking," poho says. femmevox likes the lentil chili over rice, and BostonZest raves about the albaloo polo (basmati rice with saffron, sautéed sour cherries, and chicken).

Woody's Grill & Tap: MC Slim JB likes this spot for the wood-fired pizza and draft pitchers.

Pho Basil: y2000k thinks this is the best Southeast Asian option in the neighborhood, and MC Slim JB agrees that it has "respectable" food. Despite the name, Jolyon Helterman thinks the Thai dishes here are better than the Vietnamese ones.

Lucy Ethiopian Cafe: Boston hounds love this option for its homemade food, but galangatron warns that service might be too slow for a "quick bite." Be sure to arrive early if you have plans post-dinner.

Brasserie JO: Highland Park thinks it's a great option for casual French, and as Jenny Ondioline recently noted, the walk from the restaurant to Symphony Hall is lovely as well.

Moby Dick of Boston [Fenway]
269 Huntington Avenue, Boston
617-236-5511

Woody's Grill & Tap [Fenway]
58 Hemenway Street, Boston
617-375-9663

Pho Basil [Fenway]
177A Massachusetts Avenue, Boston
617-262-5377

Lucy Ethiopian Cafe [Fenway]
334B Massachusetts Avenue, Boston
617-536-0415

Brasserie JO [Back Bay]
120 Huntington Avenue, Boston
617-425-3240

Discuss: Help with favorite quick eats near Symphony Hall?
Quick bite near Symphony Hall

Fried items are consistently great. On a recent visit, teezeetoo tried the bone-in salt and pepper chicken, the best version she's ever had. "The chicken was crisp, spicy, and not at all greasy," teezeetoo says. Meanwhile, as part of a special Chinese New Year menu, tatsu tried some salt and pepper–style pork chops, which were a big hit.

makonna tried the noodles in Peking sauce with minced pork, as well as the steamed mini juicy pork buns, and thought both were "very tasty." lipoff notes that the pork buns are Asian Gourmet's version of Shanghainese soup dumplings, which are also very popular in Taiwan. hargau also gave the pork buns a positive review, and thought the pan-fried daikon cakes were excellent as well. The house special rice cakes (thinly sliced, chewy rice noodles cooked with shrimp, chicken, pork, and vegetables) were also delicious.

The Chinese New Year menu that tatsu sampled was a true feast, with several items not listed on the regular menu. Besides the pork chops, tatsu loved the orange shrimp, which were "shell-on good sized prawns, battered and with an orange glaze." He also liked the three desserts that were included in the special meal, especially a dish of sautéed rice cakes with a banana filling. "It had the smell and crispy exterior of a banana stuffed flapjack, but that soft unmistakable mochi texture inside," tatsu says.

The menu tatsu tried is no longer available, but it's worth keeping an eye out for future specials like these.

Asian Gourmet [MetroWest]
794 Elm Street, Concord
978-369-8114

Discuss: Asia Gourmet in Concord: Very Good Taiwanese
Chinese New Year special dishes in Boston?

"The Banh Mi at N & H Saigon Sub continues to impress me--crispy, crackly, chewy roll; flavorful meats; nicely pickled veg; beautiful cilantro and great, spicy peppers, if you want them. Good selection too, including meatballs. They have lots of other items, too - and now beef pho, which I have yet to try, but the broth looks great." – SeaSide Tomato on N & H Saigon Sub in Randolph

"While not online or their take out menu, they have a late night menu which begins at 11:00. It consists of a mix of American bar food items (wings, sliders, fries, etc.) and Japanese items, surprisingly including Hamachi Kama which is only featured on the late night menu, bummer." – Food4Thought on newly opened Owl Station in South Boston

Good picks from the menu include haemul pajeon (seafood pancake), which is "protein packed" but "retains a golden crisp," and homemade water dumplings filled with pork and scallions. But for Nab, the real highlight is the yeom sul tang, or black goat stew.

"Order the large, and you'll receive a giant wok-like pan on a gas burner, the pan's contents comprising a mahogany/burnt orange bubbling broth chock full of goat hunks and greenery, all blanketed by perilla leaves and showered with perilla seeds," Nab says. "The broth is a mystery, but is deeply goat-flavored without being gamey, rich without being greasy, complex and clean, it has an unmistakable element of true umami."

Nab's description goes on, and deserves a read, so be sure to check out the full thread, linked below.

Not sure about the 45-minute drive from Boston to Westborough? yumyum says that the trek was the most worthy road trip she's taken in a long time. "If you're dying for a steaming bowl of soup, this is the place to get to, and stat!" yumyum says.

Westborough Korean Restaurant [MetroWest]
7 E. Main Street, Westborough
508-366-8898

Discuss: Get Your Goat @ Westborough Korean Restaurant

MC Slim JB recalls having an excellent rendition at Cognac Bistro in Brookline, although he notes that it's not on the current menu.

Pegmeister’s first choice for baked stuffed lobster is the Barker Tavern in Scituate, and a second choice is Finz in Salem. "I know that Finz doesn't get a lot of love here, but it's a pleasant spot with water views and they do a good job with the baked stuffed lobster," Pegmeister says.

Finally, CapeCodGuy thinks that the baked stuffed lobster à la Hawthorne (lobster stuffed with another lobster) at Anthony's Pier 4 is great. "If you can get past the '70s décor and wait staff, I have to admit I had the best baked stuffed lobster I've ever eaten in my 50-plus years," he says.

Cognac Bistro [Brookline]
455 Harvard Street, Brookline
617-232-5800

Barker Tavern [South Shore]
21 Barker Road, Scituate
781-545-6533

Finz Seafood & Grill [North Shore]
76 Wharf Street, Salem
978-744-8485

Anthony's Pier 4 [Fort Point]
140 Northern Avenue, Boston
617-482-6262

Discuss: Looking for baked stuffed lobster....

The pork chop (caramelized in milk with bergamot and fried sage leaves) comes highly recommended—Jolyon Helterman (who rarely orders pork chops elsewhere) thinks it's "superlative" and barleywino says it's "exceptional."

yumyum suggests ordering something from the wood-fired oven, whether it's bread or pizza. "That's Lydia's thing for a reason," she says. RoyRon likes the "Elephant Ear Walking," a crisp flatbread baked with tomato sauce and cheese. Meanwhile, chickendhansak likes the roti with chicken curry.

RoyRon thinks most of the desserts at Scampo are "mediocre at best," but barleywino enjoys the panna cotta with sour cherries and zabaglione.

Scampo [Beacon Hill]
215 Charles Street, Boston
617-536-2100

Discuss: What's good at Scampo?

"If you don't like what they have on offer at the restaurant, you can go next door to the fish market and buy whatever you want and bring it back and they'll cook it for you." – GretchenS on Courthouse Seafood Restaurant and Fish Market in East Cambridge

"I thought the three-mushroom soup was very good, nice and savory, and woodsy. My hubby thought it was a bit too salty, which is odd because I'm usually the one who is oversensitive to salt, and he doesn't usually care. His warm chicory salad with duck confit, cranberry, pecans, and marcona almonds was really good, and [they gave him] a generous portion." – Chris VR on a recent meal at Bravo in the Museum of Fine Arts

Sportello: foodwinesong keeps returning for this "stunning treat," made with a mix of veal, pork, and chicken livers.

Via Matta: Several hounds mention this as a favorite, though MeeshZ admits that it wasn't one of hers.

Teatro: chowmensch and CocoDan both like this version of Bolognese, made with rigatoni.

Pasta Beach: StevieC likes the dish served at this Rowes Wharf establishment, and also recommends the pasta carbonara.

Sweet Basil: gltsoi likes the "hint of sweetness from the carrot and port" in this pasta Bolognese.

Hot Tomatoes: On the lower end of the price spectrum, 9lives likes this Bolognese, which he thinks is a recipe passed on from previous owners. It's "very convenient for Downtown Crossing area workers who have a craving at lunch and no time for an all-out dining experience," 9lives says.

For more hound favorites, be sure to check out the full thread, which is linked below. Pasta fans should also be sure to check out a recent thread on Boston's best carbonara!

Sportello [Fort Point]
348 Congress Street, Boston
617-737-1234

Via Matta [Bay Village/South Cove]
79 Park Plaza, Boston
617-422-0008

Teatro [Downtown Crossing]
177 Tremont Street, Boston
617-778-6841

Pasta Beach [Waterfront]
30 Rowes Wharf, Boston
617-439-6900

Sweet Basil [MetroWest]
942 Great Plain Avenue, Needham
781-444-9600

Hot Tomatoes [Downtown Crossing]
92 Bedford Street, Boston
617-292-0233

Discuss: Best Bolognese in town

chrisdapos doesn't think much of Basho's sushi. "[T]he quality could be far better for the price," he says.

Gordough thinks that Basho has "pretty decent sushi," but doesn't usually stray far beyond tuna, salmon, and yellowtail. AaronInBoston agrees that the sushi is just OK, and a bit overpriced. "Their rolls are pretty for sure, but I haven't had rolls where the fish really stands out," he says.

AaronInBoston instead recommends trying some nonsushi items, especially the steamed pork bun sandwich. "They use Kurobuta pork which is ridiculously tender and melts in your mouth," he says. He also likes the salads and the roasted eggplant appetizer.

Gordough notes that parking can be a hassle, particularly during baseball season, but northshoregrl points out that the restaurant validates parking in a nearby garage—even during Red Sox games!

Basho Japanese Brasserie [Fenway]
1338 Boylston Street, Boston
617-262-1338

Discuss: looking for current BASHO reviews…

The owner of Baba Supermarket used to run a stall at Haymarket, and masterson reports that the falafel sandwiches at the new location are just as good. He also recommends trying the soup.

CookingInMalden is excited about the specialty items in the grocery section: bulk olives (with a "lemon zing"), couscous, dried beans, coffees and teas, and packaged sweets. The store also has a butcher counter, where masterson spotted fresh goat meat. "I will be a regular there and plan on using the butcher shop to make goat curry," he says.

Baba Supermarket [North Shore]
183 Pleasant Street, Malden
781-321-4440

Discuss: Baba Market in Malden

"The clams were not 'clammy' like cherrystones or steamers—they were more like squid body in texture. They were tender and sweet and the dish overall was quite tasty." – silver queen on a dish of surf clams with pork and chives at Gaga Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown

"One of the main reasons why we love to eat at Brasserie Jo on symphony nights—besides the fact that I adore this restaurant—is that the post-dinner stroll from there to Symphony Hall is one of my favorite walks in the city." – Jenny Ondioline

y2000k was excited to see "lamb on a stick" on the specials board for $1.50 each, and gave them a try. Known as yang rou chuanr in Mandarin, they're popular street food in China—small pieces of lamb meat are skewered, covered in a coating of chile and cumin, and grilled. At One of the Kind, y2000k reports that each stick consists of six small pieces of lamb, and comes in spicy or non-spicy. "I asked for spicy and even though I can tolerate decent amount of heat, my lips were burning when I left," y2000k says.

Jenny Ondioline tried the mapo tofu, which she describes as "texturally perfect," despite the heavy use of Sichuan peppercorn. "It threw the seasoning out of whack because they overpowered the chiles and pork and other flavorings," she says, noting that despite her complaint, the dish was still "entirely tasty."

One of the Kind [Allston]
1095 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
No phone available

Discuss: Hong Kong Market Food Court Allston
One of the Kind – Super 88 Allston

A great pappardelle dish can be had at Trattoria Toscana in the Fenway, where it is served with wild boar. mkfisher likes this version, and also the pappardelle at Vinoteca di Monica in the North End—a few weeks ago, it was served with rabbit.

STL BOS thinks that the pappardelle e melanzane at La Summa, also in the North End, is a great choice. "It's lighter for a pasta dish, and delicious," STL BOS says.

Finally, keith recommends trying the fettuccine di Bruno at Coppa in the South End. "It's a dish that's typically made with chestnut flour pappardelle, but at Coppa they are making it with skinnier chestnut-flour fettucini with a wild boar ragu and roasted chestnuts. Very seasonally appropriate, and exactly what you'd get (made with pappardelle) in Tuscany this time of year."

Trattoria Toscana [Fenway]
130 Jersey Street, Boston
617-247-9508

Vinoteca di Monica [North End]
143 Richmond Street, Boston
617-227-0311

La Summa Restaurant [North End]
30 Fleet Street, Boston
617-523-9503

Coppa [South End]
253 Shawmut Avenue, Boston
617-391-0902

Discuss: pepperdelle

ChickenBrocandZiti gave the food itself mostly glowing reviews. Pulled pork was "incredible," smoked chicken was "succulent" and the barbecued pork belly was "fatty, as it should be, but really amazing." Other hounds who have tried the meats are in agreement that it's great barbecue, though there is some debate about the brisket. CambridgeFoodie thinks it's "outstanding," while jgg13 thinks it is "really odd" and looks more like a chuck pot roast.

There is plenty of debate about prices, as well. Some hounds have noted that the meat is sourced from smaller and more sustainable producers, and think this merits the higher price tag, but others note that a meal at Sweet Cheeks ends up costing significantly more per person than other barbecue places in town. Gabatta says that while the "Big Rig" sounds like a great spread, the same meal "could be had for less than half as much at other barbecue places in the area."

Sweet Cheeks Q [Fenway]
1381 Boylston Street, Boston
617-266-1300

Discuss: Sweet Cheeks

"Despite us being the last table in the house, the kitchen was still firing on all eight. If you want to get your Taiwan fry-on, MuLan will serve you well—the pork chops, salty, crispy and just the right shade of greasy is as good as fried anything gets around here." – Nab's review of a late-night meal at MuLan in Cambridge

"As a fellow vegetarian, my affordable favorites are The Helmand Restaurant, City Girl Cafe, Tupelo (in addition to the veggie crepe, the beans and rice make a yummy entree), and Picco (best mac & cheese in Boston according to me)." – polystyrene

Science Chick recently spotted Maine shrimp at Whole Foods in Newton with the heads removed. The price was $7.99 per pound. Meanwhile, emannths has seen them at New Deal Fish Market ($4 per pound, with the heads intact) and at the Market Basket in Somerville ($6 per pound, without heads).

There haven't been any reports yet on Boston restaurants that are serving them this season, but emannths thinks it's worth keeping an eye on the places that offered them in 2011, including Hungry Mother and Rialto.

Whole Foods [Newton]
916 Walnut Street, Newton
617-969-1141

New Deal Fish Market [East Cambridge]
622 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
617-876-8227

Market Basket [Somerville]
400 Somerville Avenue, Somerville
617-666-2420

Hungry Mother [Kendall Square]
233 Cardinal Medeiros Avenue, Cambridge
617-499-0090

Rialto [Harvard Square]
1 Bennett Street, Cambridge
617-661-5050

Discuss: Maine Shrimp 2012... Can't wait!

Hounds Luther and Locutus both recommend the Reuben at Sam Lagrassa's in downtown Boston, a popular lunch destination on weekdays (but closed on weekends). North of the river, food_lubber enjoys the version served at Dave's Fresh Pasta, and yumyum thinks All Star Sandwich Bar is worth a try.

South of the river, in Brookline, teezeetoo likes Michael's Deli. "He uses pumpernickel bread and can be grouchy, but he also uses prime quality meat," teezeetoo says of the shop's proprietor. lipoff has been impressed with the corned beef at Rubin's Kosher Deli, but since the restaurant is kosher, there's no cheese on the sandwich.

MC Slim JB recently tried a good Reuben at J.J. Foley's in the South End, made with "surprisingly good quality, thick-cut corned beef." And finally, AaronInBoston likes Zaftigs, especially the new location in Natick, where sandwiches are served with bagel chips and "addictive" liver cream cheese!

Sam Lagrassa's [Downtown Crossing]
44 Province Street, Boston
617-357-6861

Dave's Fresh Pasta [Somerville]
81 Holland Street, Somerville
617-623-0867

All Star Sandwich Bar [Inman Square]
1245 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
617-868-3065

Michael's Deli [Brookline]
256 Harvard Street, Brookline
617-738-3354

Rubin's Kosher Deli [Brookline]
500 Harvard Avenue, Brookline
617-731-8787

J.J. Foley's [South End]
117 E. Berkeley Street, Boston
617-728-0315

Zaftigs Delicatessen [MetroWest]
1298 Worcester Street, Natick
508-653-4442

Discuss: Reuben--where?