How about real Chicago dogs instead?

Spalla's in Natick has them... the rolls and dogs (Vienna brand, I think) are shipped in from Chicago. They also have Chicago Italian Roast Beef sandwiches.

The family that owns/runs it is from Chicago, so the food is the real deal, not a gimmick as in "Chicago-style."

http://spallas.thrivespot.com

How could I forget my favorite... the Cuban Sandwich at El Oriental de Cuba in Jamaica Plain.

http://www.elorientaldecuba.com

Spalla's in Natick for authentic Chicago Italian Roast Beef. The family that owns the place is from Chicago, so their food is the real deal, NOT a Chicago style gimmick.

http://spallas.thrivespot.com

I went around 11:30 AM. Not a bad wait, 10-15 minutes on line and 10 minutes or so after ordering to get my meal.

Inside is small, so "how crowded" is a relative term. I did get a seat in short order, but I can picture "dining in" as being a pain depending on when you go there.

Went to the grand opening of Shake Shack in Chestnut Hill today. I got a single cheeseburger with bacon, fries, and a regular chocolate shake. I didn’t try their signature custard offerings this time, but I do plan to go back another time to do so.

There’s not much I feel I can add, it’s a decent traditional burger and shake restaurant. The burger was thin style and juicy. I thought the fries were a bit too salty, but I could have gotten the first of a fresh batch so who’s to say what the norm is, YMMV. I found out that the “Shake Sauce” is a tangy homemade mayonnaise. There are some additional charges to add bacon, a slice of cheese, to make the shake a malted, etc.

The interior is minimalist in design, which is a style that appeals to me, so points there.

It is a bit pricy, my simple meal cost $14.08.

Overall, the food was decent.

I haven't been to the Burlington Mall location, but I have been to the one at Mohegan Sun. The burgers were o.k., the fries and onions rings were a bit greasy, and the shakes were pretty good.

You can also get your burger "crunchified," which means adding some potato chips to the burger---like when you put potato chips on your sandwich in elementary school.

"Spiked" milkshakes are also available with Bourbon, Rum, or Vodka.

Had my first Chicago Dog today at Spalla's. I'd definitely go back. The dog was tasty and not over powering. There was a good selection of toppings; I got mine without the Sport Peppers (I'm not into hot). The owner was very nice and friendly; she's from Chicago, so the dogs are the real deal, not someone opening up a restaurant with a food gimmick. I think tomorrow, I'll have to try the Chicago Italian Beef sandwich (I've read on a another site that it's equally as good too).

The house special chicken wing appetizer.

I'm hoping it was just an off night. I've been eating there off and on for about seven years and have never been disappointed. But a new chef and owners, this may not bode well... Not to sidetrack the thread but Stockyard (in Brighton) got a new chef---yadda-yadda-yadda---I haven't been back in years.

Both locations are owned by the same family.

Key Lime has been around for a year now. When I tried it, I got it from Stop & Shop.

Bella Costa in Framingham is a great Mom & Pop Italian restaurant.

http://www.bellacosta.net

According to metrowestvisitors.org, Metro West is comprised of these towns:
Ashland, Bellingham, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland and Westborough.

I just realized another good point that shows out what an idiot Andleman is...

If you're out for a serious dinner or "client lunch," you're going to go to a full-service restaurant, NOT a food truck. You go to a food truck if you're on your lunch break with limited time to get food and eat, are a college student, or want food after a night of clubbing.

And with this in mind, why do people afford him and his show any semblance of "credibility" when he launches this Quixotic viewpoint without an understanding of the types of customers certain eating venues cater to.

Dave Andelman shouldn’t be allowed opine about anything regarding the food business. They are fundamentally shills for those who pay. If they can monetize a food truck themselves then you'll see a rapid flip-flop on the matter.

I’ve watched enough Phantom Gourmet episodes to see a pattern. The show seems to be 99% paid advertising for whatever restaurants pay them. You see the same places turn up as either outright reviews of the establishment or as entries in a themed episode, i.e. Best burgers, best clam shacks, best deep fried goodness, etc. The 1% is “legitimate” review of an unpaid restaurant---just to have some splinter of objectivity.

I'd love to see a smartphone app for Chow. Will there ever be one?

Today I tried Jonathan’s Bar & Grill in Newton for lunch after having driven by the place many times while it was being built and the last two months it has been open.

The interior, is a 2012 take on Mid-Century Modern… minimalist, sleek, and contemporary; some exposed duct work; a very L.A. vibe. I ate at the bar. The bar tender was friendly and willing to engage.

I had the lobster roll, served with fries and coleslaw; described on their menu as:
“Jumbo Lobster Roll. Half-pound lobster meat, light mayo, shredded lettuce, lightly-buttered brioche roll, coleslaw, w/fries.”

The roll was certainly jumbo, they didn’t wimp out and just load up a standard hotdog bun; by comparison, it was more like a hotdog roll on steroids. The roll was solidly filled with enough lobster to ensure lobster in every bite, but it wasn’t overflowing. (I don’t know if the “Jumbo Lobster Roll” refers to the whole thing, just the roll, or the amount of lobster in it; it certainly wasn’t the amount of lobster therein. The roll was grilled, not over or under done, but it wasn’t a toasty golden color and it did have some black char marks; overall though, the roll wasn’t a turn off. My only criticism was that roll could have been more buttery.

I’m not a mayo fan, but they indicated on the menu that the mayo used was a light application, so I figured as along as it’s light I can deal. Fortunately, what they deem light is practically non-existent. Ditto on the coleslaw. Usually I steer away from ‘slaw because of the mayo factor, which isn’t helped by the fact that most coleslaw I’ve been served is drowning in it, but this wasn’t. I think you’d be hard-pressed to even find a trace amount of it.

The bartender even let me try a drink he was trying to recreate from L.A., a cocktail of rum, gin, and muddled cucumber and jalapenos. I’m not a hot food fan, so it wasn’t for me. I got the burn from the jalapeno immediately followed by the taste of cucumber. I think it was definitely a refreshing drink, but the burn factor ruined it for me.

For parking they use the lot directly behind the restaurant (where the entrance to a Filene’s Basement was) and a nearby parking garage.

CONCLUSION
Definitely worth checking out. Decent food. (and because it appeals to my aesthetic) Cool interior design. I’ll have to try a dinner service and their Sunday brunch.

http://jonathansbarandgrille.com/

I just read your post and while I haven't had this sandwich, I did google it because I'm always on the lookout for a good Cubano. For purists, it's not a true Cuban Sandwich. The ingredients, as listed on the web site, are: "House roasted ABF pork shoulder, Rovagnati Gran Biscotto Ham, Swiss cheese, sliced dill pickle, pickled red onion on sliced French bread with brush of spicy aioli and mustard butter."

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.

-----
Pizzeria Dante
1398 Beacon St 02446, Brookline, MA

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).

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.

The Stockyard, a steak place, in Brighton serves an awesome lobster roll.

Bella Costa in Framingham

On par with regards to quality and freshness of the ingredients.

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.

-----
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
197 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA 01752

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.

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

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.

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.

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.