catchow's Profile
Not your average joe's norwell
Acton branch is a dependable choice for good value and good quality. Ingredients are very fresh, service at this branch is attentive and friendly. They had a very nice local food month in september or october that had a special menu of all local ingredients. They have a gluten free menu and will make any change you want to any of their dishes. Not a destination spot but a reliable choice for a satisfying meal.
-----
Not Your Average Joes
305 Main St, Acton, MA 01720
Sushi House Concord Now With Chinese
We ate dinner at Asian Gourmet in Concord last night.
The authentic section of the menu is quite large and would need many visits or a large party to fully explore. We simplified by picking favorites and test dishes. We had the pork with pickled mustard greens, the salt and pepper shrimp and squid with mixed vegetables (from the lunch section).
All were quite yummy: The pork dish had a lively salty tangy flavor and included edamame -- an interesting fusiony tough that actually worked well, the shrimp was done without shells but had the fragrant delicate flavor spot on, and the squid were perfectly tender in a sweet pepper, bamboo shoot and onion medley.
Service was friendly, helpful but scattered (distracted, young). The room is dominated by the Benni-Hanna style Hibachi grill/performance area in the center (and a very large tv on the wall...)
So don't go for the ambiance or elegant service.
But do go for the food. A definite boost to those in metro west with a craving for good chinese...
Concord, MA Restaurants
Also in west concord, Debra's Natural Gourmet has a nice selection of fresh organic veggies and grocery items and a nice selection of prepared foods. The Veggie chili is addictive.
Fiance's birthday this weekend. What's your favorite tasting menu recommendations?
Oleana -- the vegi tasting menu is amazing. Even for non veg types...
Nourish -- New Vegie Friendly place in Lexington
Nourish is larger and a slightly fancier place but doesn't loose the comfortable, welcoming feel of Big Fresh. The dinner entree prices are in the $11-16.
Nourish -- New Vegie Friendly place in Lexington
Friday evening we went to Nourish (Lexington Center in the old Not Your Average Joe's space). As it tuned out it was opening night, but you couldn't really tell, a couple of minor pauses in the flow but nothing out of ordinary for a friday. Service was friendly and attentive, really trying to please.
The food will be familiar to whose who know Big Fresh and Tennessee's BBQ in Framingham, since Nourish is the new joint project of the husband and wife team behind those restaurants. The fresh locally sourced very vegie friendly focus of Big Fresh is enhanced with selected BBQ elements from Tennessee's which makes a wide ranging menu that can satisfy parties with widely divergent tastes and dietary preferences. But the presentation here has a bit more style and finish to match the sit down context. They also serve a broader selection of beer and wine along with a full bar. And the prices are quite reasonable.
My two dining companions were in a carne mood one choosing the ribs and the other the 1/4 chicken. They were both very happy with the treatment and the cucumber salad and pleasantly spicy beans that accompanied. I had the Tempeh served on kale (perfectly cooked -- tender but not mush) and really liked the molasses based sauce that still wasn't too sweet and the nice beet salad.
Supper innovative neuvo high end? No. Tasty locally focused menu for diverse tastes with nice service, in a nice location at a nice price? Absolutely. Personally I go to places that meet this later description a lot more often than the former these days.
Nourish is a really nice addition to the metro west dinning experience.
Let's talk Cambridge
I'm shocked we have gone this far without mentioning Ten Tables Cambridge...
New Arlington Chow Find: Pasha Turkish Cuisine
Sounds exciting... Are there enough options for vegetarian diners?
vegetarian eats somewhere in boston! we want the good stuff...
I've had the Veggie tasting menu at TT Cambridge 3 times now and could not disagree more. Every time it was inventive, interesting and clear that they are very dedicated to making the veggie menu stand alone quite distinct from the non-veggie version. Combined with their great service and wonderful wine selection, I think TT is one of the best veggie meals in town and a great value too.
Vegetarian eats in harvard sq?
Upstairs on the Square has a yummy vegi tasting menu. The meat eaters will be happy too.
WHERE TO BUY MUSSELS?
I've been getting great Mussels at WF in Wayland. The ones from Maine have been tightly closed with no dead ones/broken shells/etc. Very fresh sweet flavor! I don't mind smaller ones they have the best flavor IMHO. Steamed in Ale and with the broth enriched with mustard and a bit of butter. Yum!
