SLL1065's Profile
Pizzeria Dante - A hidden gem you need to discover
Pizzeria Dante is a place you could walk by hundreds of times and not take notice, but in doing so, you’d be missing out on a great dining experience at this hidden gem.
To date, I’ve had the pizza, arancini (stuffed rice balls), and the chicken parm. The pizza has a very tasty sauce and crust (the crust was an equal combination of crisp/chewy) and they were generous with the cheese. The chicken parm came as a generous helping and the sauce had a unique flavor that punctuated every bite. The arancini was flavorful and was dusted with large shavings of cheese and came with a sauce for dipping.
Dave, the owner, knows what exceptional customer service is about. After my second visit, I felt like I was a regular for many years because Dave remembered my name when I came back a week later for my second visit. And when I went back last week after not having been in for a month or so, he STILL remembered my name as well as a conversation we had during my last visit.
I have nothing but praise for Pizzeria Dante. It has become my local "go to" place for pizza and other Italian fare.
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Pizzeria Dante
1398 Beacon St 02446, Brookline, MA
best lobster roll
It is mayo based, but just enough to hold everything together but not be overpowering---I really hate mayo, so for me to tolerate it on its own, it has to be minimally used.
What makes it so great is the generous amount of lobster (at least whenever I've had it, it's been generous).
Brunch buffet south of Boston
I've been to Firefly's for brunch about three years ago, so I don't know what's changed. But when I was there it was all BBQ items and sides. No traditional breakfast foods.
best lobster roll
The Stockyard, a steak place, in Brighton serves an awesome lobster roll.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Marlborough
On par with regards to quality and freshness of the ingredients.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Marlborough
Today I had lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries at their newest location in Marlborough. Today was opening day for them. There was a small line that went out the door but it moved quickly and there was also a short wait while each order was prepared.
The menu is limited; they offer burgers with a variety of free toppings, fries, soda w/ free refills and other drinks, hot dogs, and a veggie burger. The burgers come in two sizes: regular, which is two patties; and little, which is one patty. The fries come in two styles--- regular and cajun---and are cooked in peanut oil, which I think adds a nice flavor to them. The fries portion size is really generous, a regular size order is enough for two people. The only downside to the menu is that they don’t have shakes or onion rings, I’m disappointed, but I’ll get over it.
The food follows the current practice for these types of fast food restaurants, everything is totally fresh and made on site, and nothing is pre-frozen or sits under heat lamps. You can see and taste the freshness.
The atmosphere is no frills and there is plenty of seating. 80s rock played on the PA system. I felt the interior gave off a 50s vibe. The kitchen is open and you can see the food being prepared. The kitchen is filled with busy employees manning the equipment and working with assembly line efficiency. While I was waiting in line, one of the owners worked the line asking customers if this was their first time at a five guys, if it was, he explained the menu to you. The cashier who took my order did the same thing. And, as you wait in line, there are shelled peanuts to munch on.
I do have to mention a WARNING…the place is not peanut allergy friendly. They cook in peanut oil, and as mentioned above, they have peanuts to much on while waiting in line.
The price is comparable to similar places, I paid $10 and change for a two patty cheeseburger, regular size fries, and a medium soda.
I feel that Five Guys is on par with In-N-Out Burger on the West Coast and they are better than UBurger. The usual fast food burger places, McD’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, etc. pale in comparison.
This is a burger place you have to check out for yourself.
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Five Guys Burgers and Fries
197 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA 01752
Can Las Vegas get a board for itself?
I'd like to suggest that Las Vegas get it's own board instead of being lumped in with the southwest board. With all the great dining options available, I think Vegas is worthy of having its own board like Boston and New York City have Thanks.
British Beer Company
As I said, I have only been there thrice. I do like the place, but the two dishes I got were lacking. I can't make any more recs on the food as I haven't tired the other fare. Perhaps more people will chime in.
http://www.britishbeercompany.com
British Beer Company
Over the past two weeks I’ve eaten at the newly opened British Beer Company in Framingham several times and can see myself continuing to go back.
My impression of the atmosphere is that it seems to be the corporate interpretation of an English pub, that is a commercialized “homeyness.” I also get kind of a TGI Friday’s vibe. There is plenty of use of dark stained woods and along the walls are funny quotes (most of which are about drinking) from celebrities. Quoted are Dean Martin, W.C. Fields, writer Dorothy Parker, and even a line from the band Spinal Tap. The bar area has plenty of wide screen TVs.
Overall, the menu isn’t purely English cuisine. They do offer fish & chips, shepherd’s pie, pasty pies, and bangers & mash, as well as a burger topped with a truly English cheese, Wenslydale with cranberries. The other notable English menu item is plenty of English beer and ale. One fun thing about the beer list is they have a section titled “crappy beer of the week”; this week it was Pabst Blue Ribbon (I didn’t know they still made it), last week it was Busch.
Two of the times I was there, I had the Cuban Sandwich, which was a “just o.k.” non-traditional version. What made it “just o.k.” was a missing key element, the Swiss cheese. At first I couldn’t put my finger on what was missing but there was something about the pork and ham that was throwing me. The second time I noticed it, the overt “meatiness” of the sandwich, all you could taste was the texture of the meat. The sandwich was served on toasted Ciabatta bread instead of Cuban bread or the more common French bread. I did mention the lack of cheese to the waitress when she asked how the meal was, and she said she’d pass it along to the kitchen.
The third time I tried the Mac & Cheese, which was also “just o.k.” It wasn’t lacking, it just didn’t do it for me.
As a side dish (also available as an appetizer), I had Panko encrusted green beans that came with a parmesan peppercorn dipping sauce. The beans with the coating were tasty enough without the need to sauce them. I could see myself getting addicted to them.
For dessert I had an awesome lemon mascarpone cheese filled yellow cake with blueberries and raspberries. A nice finishing touch was that the cake was dusted with confectionaire’s sugar.
The only downside was that on one of my visits the service was lacking. The waitress lacked enthusiasm (she was like a wet blanket on the party), brought the appetizer too close to the entrée, and brought the check before we were even done with dinner. I got the sense she was trying to rush our party out.
Overall, I found the place worth my repeat business. And, if you’re a beer fan, I think it would be worth checking out for that alone.
Speed's, my first time
O.k. here are directions from the Pike. I did read them back to the guy to make sure I got them right.
MA Pike
to: 93S exit
to: Mass Ave exit (1st right)
If there are any holes in the directions, please feel free to correct them. I'm only reporting what the guy told me. I have no knowledge whatsoever of Southie.
Speed's, my first time
I finally made it to Speed’s today after months of reading the rave reviews from the other hounds.
The trip was worth it and to borrow from the film Pulp Fiction, “Mmmm, that is one tasty hot dog.” I got my dog as recommended --- fully loaded --- with homemade mustard, fruit-based relish, BBQ sauce, and chili; and onions. The dog was served split down the middle on a toasted bun, with the toppings filling in the split.
The [new] dog was very tasty; it was about a foot long and comparable to a kielbasa dimension-wise. I’ve had Pearl, the previous brand on my own and just found it to be o.k. The new dogs were really good and I’m glad I got the new brand for my first time there. I thought the fruit-based relish was a nice touch versus the traditional pickle relish; it made a good counterpoint to the mustard, BBQ sauce, and onions.
The guy working the cart, not Speed, was a good guy and we talked a bit. He seemed surprised that I came in from Framingham just to have a dog. He told me that Speed’s
has been talked about a lot on the net lately and asked me where I heard of them. Of course I said Chowhound without hesitation. He even gave me directions from the Pike which lead right to him, so I don’t have to deal with 93 traffic again (which is the way I came).
Would I go back? Definitely yes. Places like Speed’s are what great road food is all about.
Old Country Buffet
I just got back from Old Country Buffet (“OLC”) in Watertown, Massachusetts and was not impressed. Normally I avoided OLC because of not-so-positive reports about the place from friends and online reviews, but my girlfriend and I got positive recommendation from her brother and sister-in-law who normally dine at upscale restaurants, so I figured if they’re raving about it, let’s check it out.
While the experience was not entirely unpleasant – it was underwhelming – it’s not one I’d be in a hurry to repeat. I wasn’t expecting Las Vegas buffet quality, but for $11.00 for one adult, the place is what it is. The dining area was designed for a "mass feeder" concept – we were all packed into the dining area with just enough space between tables to be –comfortable, i.e. not intruding on the other tables. The service was bare bones – you have to get everything for yourself – the staff were merely bussers who promptly cleared your table.
For me, the only highlight was the fried chicken, which in my opinion was close to being on par with Bob the Chefs’ “Glorifried Chicken.” The mac & cheese was too watery; the spinach soufflé too salty; from the carving station I had roast beef and turkey that I found to be moist, but it was borderline between moist/dry; the tops of dinner rolls appeared to be drowning in a butter wash, the stuffing appeared to have been made from torn not cubed pieces of bread that seemed to have been clumped together (in fact, parts of the stuffing had the crust attached); and finally the cube of cheesecake I had for dessert was too soft.
Would I go back? No. The overall food quality was mediocre and only one saving grace, i.e. the chicken, doesn’t justify a return trip.
Looking for the best cuban sandwich
If you're willing to drive to Framingham, James' Place on Waverly Street (Rte. 135) makes an awesome Cuban sandwich.
NY Chowhounds just moved to Boston - what are your neighborhood favorites?
How can you mention Rockport/Gloucester and not mention Helmut's Streudle in Rockport?
Lobster Roll @ The Stockyard
I went to the Stockyard over the weekend and had the most amazing Lobster Roll. A voluminous amount of lobster meat in one of the mini loaves of bread they serve with the meals. The lobster meat was lightly mayoed. The only complaint I had was that the roll should have been buttered and grilled. I highly recommend this item. I paid about $26 for it.
Cuban Sandwiches @ James Place in Framingham
CORRECTION
When I made this post, I mistakenly described the Cuban sandwiches as being made with Cuban Bread. I spoke with the owner, a very nice man, and this is not the case, it was made with French Bread which is very similar. Apparently, Cuban Bread has to always be baked fresh and used each day--and no place in the area makes it.
And, once gain, I whole heartedly recommend James Place for great Cubanos.
Cuban Sandwiches @ James Place in Framingham
Today I had the best Cuban sandwich I've ever had. It was at James Place on Waverly Street (Rte. 135) in Framingham today. The place just opened and I heard of them through one of the val-pak coupons that come in the mail. The restaurant’s other offerings include ice cream, a hot dogs with a variety of fixins', or a pulled pork sandwich. The restaurant decor is no frills mom & pop pizza joint style.
The sandwich was made with Cuban bread, roast pork, spiced ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, and mustard. It was cooked to perfection on a sandwich press for about 3-5 minutes. Prior to being cooked, the top was brushed with something (I think it was butter, but didn't see exactly.)
I'll definitely go back for another Cubano, and I whole-heartedly encourage all the other hounds out there to check the place out and have a Cubano for yourself.
Vintage for Sunday Brunch
My girlfriend and I went to Vintage (on the Dedham/West Roxbury line on Rte. 1) for the first time this past Sunday for brunch. Prior to going, I had heard that it’s on the site of Fontaine’s, and that it has a pricey dinner menu. The brunch prices were surprisingly atypical considering what I’d heard about their dinner prices, $8.99 for Eggs Benedict, $15.00 for Steak & Eggs, etc.
The atmosphere was low-key with the appearance of a library in an upscale home plenty of dark woods, a fire in the fireplace, art deco wall sconces for the lights, and similar trappings. The only thing that would have made the atmosphere better would have been jazz music playing over the PA system.
The meal started with four pieces of warm and incredibly delicious breakfast bread that had blueberries and cranberries in it, and was served with whipped butter.
I had the Eggs Benedict Florentine (poached eggs, creamed spinach, slice of tomato, served on an English muffin) with roasted potatoes and a slice of melon and strawberry; I also had a side dish of Chicken & Apple Sausage. The meal was good, but the sausages were on the smaller size (cocktail party size).
My girlfriend had the Meat Lovers Omelet (a three egg omelet filled with bacon, ham, sausage, mushrooms and a blend of cheeses) served with roasted potatoes and toast. She also had a Bloody Mary, which she considers one of the best Bloody Mary she’s ever had. I had a taste of the omelet and found it a bit greasy, probably due to all the pork and cheese, but all in all it was tasty.
The service was quick and prompt. When I needed a replacement spoon and my waitress was occupied, another server brought me a new spoon right away, handing it to me from a tray of cloth napkins folded to form an envelope in which were the dining utensils.
With its low-key tasteful décor, good service, and good food, I’ll definitely be back to try other dishes.
Web Site: http://www.vintagerestaurants.com
The Melting Pot Fondue Restaurant--My First Time
This past weekend, I went to the Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant that just opened in Framingham, Massachusetts (a second location is planned for Burlington, MA). The atmosphere is very nice and designed for atmosphere. In the main dining room, all the seating is in cozy cloth covered padded booths, the table of which has an electric plate set into it for keeping the fondue hot. Soothing jazz played over the speaker system. The lighting is subdued.
The restaurant is on the pricey side, I paid $80 and change for the three course dinner for two (of course, current market prices for lobster, etc., will affect the cost). The fondues are available ala cart, with Cheese @ $14, entrees starting at $18, and chocolate dessert @ $16 for small & $32 for regular size.
Our waiter gave us the Melting Pot orientation, and made recommendations when asked. He also offered cooking advice, i.e. the rough cooking times for the items, 1-2 minutes, it’s o.k. to go a bit longer because the entrée broths are basically a fool-proof cooking method.
For our meal, we chose the three-course dinner featuring a cheese fondue, a salad course, and the entrée course. There was a four-course version that also included dessert, a chocolate fondue. Beyond the two comprehensive dinners, menu items can be purchased ala carte. The meal we had was very filling, and even if we had wanted dessert, we both felt we wouldn’t have had room for it.
Cheese Course:
We went traditional with the “Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue” that was made of Grùyere and Emmenthaler Swiss cheeses, white wine, garlic, nutmeg, lemon and Kirschwasser. This fondue was made directly at the table. For dipping, we received plenty of bread, baby carrots cauliflower, and celery.
The fondue was good, but there was a stand-out taste that I couldn’t put my finger on. While not entirely unpleasant, I would have preferred it not to be there.
Salad Course:
“California Salad”--Mixed baby salad greens, Roma tomatoes, walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese, with a fresh Raspberry Black Walnut Vinaigrette Dressing.
The vinaigrette was very tasty and was the dominant flavor. I found the vinaigrette went well with a bite of Gorgonzola and the Walnut.
Entrée Course
We chose for our cooking style, Coq au Vin, described as “Flavors of fresh herbs, mushrooms, garlic, spices and burgundy wine.” The menu indicates that this style is an additional $6.00, but is complimentary if the four-course meal is selected.
I did think that this would make a very tasty reduction if we let it boil down all the way.
For our entrée, we chose the “Signature Selection”--Tenderloin, shrimp, teriyaki-marinated sirloin, boneless breast of chicken, and fresh fish fillet. The vegetables that came with it included potatos, mushroom caps, broccoli, and zucchini slices.
Dessert Course:
We didn’t get the dessert course, but plan to go back another time just for that.
Conclusion:
I would definitely go back, for both a meal or a late-night dessert after a movie.
* Reservations are strongly encouraged. We had tried to go as a walk-in the previous week, but were told they wouldn’t have anything available until 9 PM that night. We opted to come back another time after making reservations.
As a “consolation prize,” we got a $10 gift card from the manager. However, the gift card had the restriction of being valid Sunday-Thursday, and it was only good for the three or four course meal. Had I known this, I would have gone another night given the price of our meal.
Sunset Grill & Tap for Sunday Brunch
Yesterday, Sunday, July 23, 2006, my girlfriend I had the Sunday Brewer’s Brunch, an off-the-menu style brunch, consisting of an entrée, accompanied by a complimentary muffin and pastry basket, homefries, fruit wedge, and Mimosa or Beery Mary (a bloody mary base mixed into a lightly flavored beer).
For my entrée, I chose the Eggs Benny, a variation on Eggs Benedict that consisted of two poached eggs and Canadian bacon, on Challa Bread, all covered with a red pepper Hollandaise sauce; and accompanied by steamed broccoli. I also had coffee. The broccoli was cooked to perfection--it was crisp and didn’t have the nasty taste that broccoli tends to have at times. The red pepper sauce added a nice mild but noticeably spicy (as in hot) kick. At first I thought the peppers would be of the red Bell Pepper variety, but the first taste proved otherwise.
My girlfriend had the Breakfast Quesadilla, consisting of scrambled eggs with cheddar and Monterey jack cheese, chopped scallions and tomatoes in a soft flour tortilla. Salsa and sour cream were accompaniments. I had a bite of hers and thought it was very good—definitely a strong contender for my entrée choice on a future return visit.
On the downside, while our waitress was attentive, she was a bit forgetful. We had to ask for our muffin and danish basket, and we never got our fruit wedge (which I forgot to ask for).
The brunch runs until 3:00 PM (I’m not sure when it starts), but when we went around 1:30 PM, there was a very minimal wait (less than five minutes). The crowd appeared to be mostly 20- and 30-somethings, but that’s to be expected considering the restaurant’s location (Allston/Brighton).
I consider this a worthwhile place to go, and will definitely go back.
The web site can be found at:
http://www.allstonsfinest.com/allstonsfinest/sunsetgrillandtap/sunsetgrill&tap.swf
I like the site
I just saw the new site for the first time and like what I see.
The only suggestion/wishlist item I have, is the ability to bookmark specific boards, not just specific message threads.
