Thanks everyone. We'll probably end up at Cavey's (due to in-law politics...) and I hope to be proven wrong and pleasantly surprised. Even though Firebox and Bricco are a good match for what I typically go out to eat for in Boston.

-----
Cavey's Restaurants
45 E Center St, Manchester, CT 06040

I'm visiting my in-laws in Manchester for a week and I'm taking them out to dinner. Any suggestions in the area to take them? Firebox is a favorite, but trying to get out to somewhere new to us. I work in a top restaurant in Boston and eat out there frequently. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I believe Firebox is equal caliber to Boston restaurants, and I'm trying to find a place along those lines. My in-laws suggested Cavey's, but the online menu and reviews make it sound played out. I'm also trying to avoid a Max's type place since I get a food allowance from my restaurant for R&D. Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

-----
Cavey's Restaurants
45 E Center St, Manchester, CT 06040

She actually is a personal chef now who teaches cooking; the business is called Let's Eat. Her husband is now the chef at Gibbet Hill in Groton.

What neighbors!! The highway, parking garage, or empty offices next door?? Those high rise condo tenants need to get over it, if it weren't the customers it would be traffic noise.

Thanks, rlove. I did a search and I just wanted a direct answer to see if the general consensus was still good food, but overpriced. I've eaten there once, really early on, but haven't been back. I was hoping to get a good feel before applying to a position there. Who knows, if I get it maybe I can do something about those prices....

Thanks!

Any thoughts on Sportello?

Ok, so I met the chef/part owner the other night at a coed softball game. He's formerly of Mistral, Sorellina, and recently Teatro. He's set on hopefully 140ish beers in bottle and on tap and cocktails and great wine list. Gastro-pub kind of menu. He seems to think that they're spin on a gastro pub will be different than the others of greater Boston. I wish them luck and can't wait 'til it opens.

Looking for a couple choices for a good brunch for 15 people downtown. Suggestions?

You should definitely go to Stoddard's. I've been going there for years and they're extremely knowledgeable and will keep you from buying the wrong knife. And they're cheaper than any other kitchen store (10% discount for chefs). They used to have a location between Park St. and Downtown Crossing, down one of those side streets (Bromfield?), and they might have moved back there. They also had a shop in the Copley mall. Their website says they're relocating and has a phone number (www.stoddards.com). Also, online you can look at Professional Cutlery Direct (www.pcd.com). Japanese woodworking sites are the best place to find Japanese kitchen knives. They have incredible sushi knives that you can't get anywhere else but Japan or online. Just google Japanese woodworking tools. Good luck!

You know, I 've never had a bad meal there. I enjoy paying $26 for all the sushi I can possibly eat. I've been to most of the best places in Boston and although they were life altering sushi experiences, I don't need to spend $17 for two rolls of maki everytime I have a craving. It's not as bad as some of the responses have made it out to be. It's clean and sanitary, well organized, and there's never enough sushi made and put out onto the buffet to sit long enough to make anyone sick. Hit it up next time you need to fulfill your craving without killing your wallet. Better yet, go on your birthday with 3 other friends and you eat for free.

I did the same thing 2 years ago at Jose McIntyres near the Custom House. I booked it right before Thanksgiving so you might still be ok. It ended up being $75 per person because of the number of people I lined up (it would've been less if I found more), and there was food included and the booze was also all inclusive with no limit (although they handed out "drink tickets" that were ignored just to comply legally).

I'm going to the Newton/Chestnut Hill area for dinner next week. Just a casual meeting with my wife's work colleagues. So we're not looking for a place like Capital Grille or Met Club as far as price goes. Suggestions? What does anyone think of Aquitane Bis? Charley's? Ariadne? Bernard's? I'm not really familiar with any of them other than delivering some bread to a couple.

I was also gonna say The Lobster Pool, out of the way and a great view of the sunset. Since it's out of the way it's relatively uncrowded and cheap AND they take credit cards unlike my other fave Woodman's. And wow, based on the argument below, I'm glad I moved to the North Shore/Merrimack/MeroNorth purgatory area of Reading.

Up the street from them at Polcari's Coffee. They also have a lot of bulk spices. If you pretend you'r from a nearby restaurant they'll give you the "restaurant" price.

Across the street form Aroma Cafe in Reading is my other fave breakfast joint Christopher's. Awesome breakfast choices with tons of daily specials. Aroma is a little overpriced for my breakfast tastes.

I'm from the north east and I haven't been to Tucson since I was born and left when I was 4. I want to eat at some cheap taquerias or authentic mexican / southwest foodie joints. Any suggestions? I made reservations at Janos, but beyond that I want to keep it "cheap eats".

Certainly is a lot going on. They're building a couple of "lifestyle centers" around the Courthouse parking lot areas. Barbara Lynch is opening up a huge eatery in one of them, pastry shop, two resturants. Flour (JoAnne Chang) has a new (1 yr. old) location two streets down from the Childrens Museum. The new Weston has a couple decent restaurants (or one, Sauciety). Legal Sea Foods has LTK and across the street in the old Jimbo's building, Legals is going to put a "flagship resturant" whatever that means. I htink Menino is giving developers breaks in that area because it's the only one left to expand into and he wants it to be the new waterfront.

Cinnamon scones from South End Buttery.

Have to 3rd Minado, it is cheap for the amount of food you can eat. I personally can eat close to 30rolls if I want to and for $26 bucks it's not bad. Good variety.

Buttery buys their buys their croissants from someplace else nearby now, much better size. Muffins need some work, but they're not too heavy on the butter which I like.

Market Basket represents Latin customers very well, any of them really, but the one in Woburn and those in Lowell are best. Chicken hearts, yucca, tamales, dried chiles, plantains, squashes, etc. Always available. Gnenerllay for a cheap store, they also have great produce and I can always tell what's coming in season when I see it at Market Basket.

I have to second Kyotoya in Stoneham, great bento boxes at lunch and pretty authentic sushi that won't break the bank for it's location.

Stop by M&M's rib truck on thursdays.
Sfogliatele (sp?) from Maria's pastry shop in the North End.
Yes, Cod Fritters from Eastern Standard.
And I miss the Linwood Grill for sunday morning hangover cures, but I've since found Thornton's across the street with a Jack Bauer (JD and lemonade) to cure me.

I'm thinking 50 dollars per person average check for food (3 courses) not including wine or beverages. They're picking up the check and we have no preference to cuisine (although my wife is allergic to most seafood).

I have friends in town from CA and as usual I can't think of a place to take them for dinner. I don't want to break the bank (so L'Espalier and company are out), but I want to go somewhere that they'll remember when they come back next time.

I was thinking South End, but any neighborhood works since we'll be coming from the suburbs.

Sel de la Terre, Met Burger Bar, Melting Pot (sounds lame but it's good)

I noticed that Sel de la Terre in Natick was selling gift baskets, I think they're 120 bucks or so. Everything in it is made at Sel de la Terre. They might ship them too. They look gorgeous, I'm buying one for my parents. I'm sure their other location sells them too.

Boston Gourmet Chefs in Framingham (obviously you can get wholesale delivery) has a great selection of pastry products and good customer service. The rest are probably just wholesale, but for sure you can go to Boston Gourmet Chefs in person to buy cash or check in hand. They have a website.

You can always try JB Prince online, they have everything, an amazing resource.

I used to be addicted to Sel de la Terre's Ham and Cheese croissant. Now though, they make it with a with a ham that's made in house so it's less salty, probably a good thing, but less of a guilty pleasure. The rest of them are great too. Good tomato and goat cheese one.

B & R in Framingham (also at Formaggios) has great ones. I have to agree with the Danish Pastry House. I've only been to the one in Medford.

If you want a lot of bang for your buck, I recently got a GC for Petit Robert for $250 and it got me 2 visits with some to spare for some amazing classic French food. Plus you can try more than one of their locations.

Hamersley's is always good, Harvest in Cambridge, definitely Oleana, and now even Rondezvous are all good choices for a good nite out.