Culinarily_Curious's Profile
Downtown Bistro, Lynn,MA
Long track record at a lot of places. I don't think the food was worse than the service, but I'll believe bad service and budget-cutting food.
Heating empty Le Creuset?
Enamel cookware may discolor in the over or stove if ther are either impurities in the enamel(unlikely), or carbons on the surface(like food and oils). My Cruset products are both old and mostly black. I've tried to clean most of them and have done more harm than good(chips and wear). I inherited my cookware, and the newest must be at least 30 years old and amoung my favorite stuff. They get black. IThat is if you cook!
Caffe Italia Marblehead
I don't think he was at Maddie's for very long-and the guy apparently owned a restaurant in Portugal...not that that means anything. Lately, though Maddie's has certainly gone through too many changes and chefs. And being a bartender there might be kind of problematic considering the trouble they've been having with the town and the police lately. People have asked me if they still even have a liquor license.
Maddie's is in a tough situation-some stiff competition resulting in less business, which forces the owner to cut costs, and not always in the right places.
So what about Jack Tar, anyway?
Another Lynn Question: How Is Christie's at the Nahant Rotary?
The Barnacle has most assuredly gone downhill, or at least is of the hit or miss variety. There are certain things that are usually pretty good, though. The steak tips are pretty good, and go for the twin lobster deal on Wednesdays- one of the owners is a lobster fisherman and you can count on their freshness. A couple of the cooks that used to fry your clams to death at Maddie's are now working at The Barnacle. The clam chowder is supposedly famous, and I guess it is, I mean everyone has heard of Snow's. Also I gave up on the lobster Bisque...I had it and it was fantastic about 8 years ago, but I had it served to me curdled too many times to bother with it any more. Have a bloody and a lobster roll and you'll be happy.
Lunch Help for Lynn or Swampscott?
Everyone try Monte Cristo on Central Ave in Lynn. A broke friend turned me on to it, and I was pleasantly surprised. Beats Tacos Lupita hands down in value, taste, atmosphere, authenticity. The restaurant is clean and roomy, service is good and friendly, even with my mangled broken Spanish. Tacos Lupita can be kind of a horror show at lunch...Monte Cristo is refreshing. When I went last week I spent $8.00 on the fried chicken and I couldn't finish half my plate(and I can eat). Salad, beans, rice, fries and the chicken was crispy and juicy.
Best Lobster Roll on the Northshore
Having, umm, let's say a pretty good knowledge of the kitchen at Red Rock , I have to say that the lobster rolls are adequate, Four ounces, buttered toasted bun, the same tub-o-lobster meat that most other high volume restaurants use. You get the sysco type mayo on the side so you can control that aspect. Good view, sit outside unless it is low tide.
Best restaurant in Marblehead?
Pellino's used to be one of the best restaurants in the area, if somewhat pricey. I went with my family, friends and girlfriend quite often, but something happened-something BAD! I was out of state for about a year, and was anxious to have a good meal in Marblehead (yes, somewhat oxymoronic, unfortunately). I invited my parents to join my girlfriend and me for dinner at Pellino's. Although the restaurant had only a couple other tables, service was terrible: inattentive and sloppy. I ordered gnocci, which was glutenous and stuck together, un-evenly cooked with a bland tomato sauce and an overpowering smoked mozzerella that added to the sticky gloopy mess. The atmosphere was not enhanced by the snippets of conversation overheard coming from the kitchen: a lot of swearing and in particular the phrase "like flies on s%$t". Now occasionally a waiter will spill water, and I can understand that, but the waiter actually spilled water into my mother's dinner and did nothing to rectify the situation. Now I'm saving the worst for last...The waiter brought our appetizers (the gnocci for me). When he returned he asked if we wanted anything, how was the food, you know, the regular stuff. But the whole time he was talking, spittle was landing on my arm! I backed away as far as the booth would allow without crushing my girlfriend into the wall, realizing that it was surely landing in our food, glasses and silverware. It was so outrageous I just started laughing, got up and went to the bathroom to wash my arm. The food was all but inedible to begin with and this just ensured that I will never have to endure another meal at Pellino's
Caffe Italia Marblehead
Has anyone been to Jack Tar in the last couple years? I've heard mixed reviews...Also I heard that the chef from Maddies...David (Webb?) is now the chef there. I guess I ought to just go try it-it's not that expensive
