derekj's Profile
NYC Foodie in Portsmouth, NH for One Night...
If you have ever eaten Italian in NYC, you are not gonna like Pesce Blue - very mediocre, tourist oriented food. The only one from your list that I can say is above average is The Black Trumpet. I've never been disappointed there.
Have fun!
LAX - BOS: Fried Clams & Lobster Rolls...
Good list there, but Clam Box is far superior to Farnham's. CB has consistently fresher clams, less greasy, and you can even specify fat bellies. (by request-not on the menu.)
Also, much more varied menu at CB, if someone in your party doesn't want clams.
But why would you even invite someone like that???
Have fun!
LAX - BOS: Fried Clams & Lobster Rolls...
To correct some mis-information, the Clam Box is certainly not "basically a take-out clam shack". It is a sit-down restaurant without table service. You order at the counter and sit in the dining room to eat. Easily 90% of their business is "eat-in".
(according to the owner)
Most consider it the best in the area for fried clams.
Phantom Gourmet's Food Festival - is it worth the $40?
Curiosity drove me to try it last year.
The worst waste of money imaginable. Once inside, you wait in line forever for each vendor, and the food is godawful. In two hours, I managed only 3 booths, gave up and went out to a nice dinner. BTW, I didn't notice anything "hip" about it.
Saltpeter, curing salt and Sodium nitrates!! Portland Maine.
I am somewhat surprised that someone curing his own meats wouldn't know this, but NITRATES are used for fertilizer, bomb making, and rat poison.
NITRITES would be what you want to cure meat.
Hoping you are not mixing them up!
Restaurants everyone seems to love but you don't
I'll third (or fourth, not sure) Burdick's. I am a dark chocolate fan and theirs is just average. With some of their flavored chocolates, we were hard pressed to identify the flavor.
Top 5 Mid-Cape Italian
We've only been to Villa Roma once, had chicken piccata - quite good.
DC had veal parm. Nice tender veal but soggy coating and bland red sauce detracted. I'm sure they don't get it from a jar, but thats what it tastes like. FWIW, definitely an older clientele. Overall I'd say middle of the road Italian.
Boston - Italian dining recommendations? (especially for great pasta)
For great pasta as well as perfect veal dishes, I don't think you can beat Rino's Place in East Boston. Never been disappointed there. As for Giacomo's, strictly a tourist trap with decent, but uninspired pasta dishes,IMO.
Steve's Diner (Exeter, NH) in the old Pizza Hut?
Actually I would have to say no.
Las Olas is far worse than Chipotle and Margarita's, and that's really saying something. It actually tastes like stuff out of a can. We were there last Saturday lunchtime and were the only ones in the place. Don't think this place will last long.
What's new in the Lakes Region New Hampshire?
No, sorry to say they didn't run out. I had a discussion about it with her and she said they have no place to boil a lobster and have no choice but to use vacuum packed pre-cooked meat. You mention frozen in your post, but vacuum packed meat is not necessarily frozen.
This doesn't come close to any fresh lobster roll you would get along the coast.
Hampton Beach eats next week?
Don't know how long since you've been to the galley hatch, but its gone way downhill since the son took over. Now its all about portion control and profit margins. Mostly frozen fish and processed foods.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Let me second the Purple Urchin, however. While I can't honestly call it great, its quite acceptable considering the area. Certainly better than anyplace else along HB.
What's new in the Lakes Region New Hampshire?
We stopped in at The Dipsy Doodle last weekend, and I must say, this is the worst excuse for a lobster roll I have ever eaten. They offer both cold and hot, so we ordered one of each. The cold one was mediocre, but the hot one had a spongy texture to the meat with no sweet lobster flavor at all. I inquired as to how they were prepared and the lady behind the counter very politely explained that they start with pre-cooked lobster meat in a vacuum sealed pack from a food purveyor, then nuke it till its hot!
That's right - nuke it!
Then she said "Its really not like fresh lobster meat, is it?"
Duh! No, guess not. More than anything it reminded me of that awful "imitation crabmeat" they sell at Market Basket.
Add to that an order of limp, frozen fries and - well, you get the picture.
Bob's Clam Hut
Gotta agree with science chick, Bob's has gone way downhill. Small portions and very greasy clams, strictly for tourists.
Try the Clam Box in Ipswich. Its on your way up from Burlington, on 1A maybe 5 minutes from 95. Its simply the best around, and never greasy.
Gotta go now, I'm makin' myself hungry!
JT Farnham: Dissapointed This Time
My wife and I tried Farnham's last fall and were not impressed. The clams were somewhat greasy and the french fries were limp and cold.
We gave them a second chance last week because I realize any restaurant can have a bad day. Sad to say, same result. We won't be straying from the Clam Box again. They really are the best.
Wells, ME area
Hey, riz, if your parents don't mind a 20 minute drive, I would recommend the Oar House in Portsmouth. Though seafood is their specialty, they do very well with beef, at a mid level price point, in a very traditional setting. Since Lindberg's closed, its really the only reliable restaurant in Portsmouth.
I would also agree with morganna's post - the Maine Diner is pretty bad. We tried it twice and everything just tastes bland, with lots of pre-prepared and canned stuff. The lobster pie was so dried out the meat lost all appeal. Can't see why anyone would ruin a perfectly good lobster that way.
Good luck with your decision.
Breakfast-Lawrence-Tewksbury-Andover, MA
I was there on a rainy day, no appreciable light through the windows, and I was referring to the inadequate interior lighting. My eggs must have been cooked next to the bacon, as they were mired in bacon grease when I got them. I absolutely stand by my post, and please let me add, treb, that we are all entitled to disagree here, the difference being that when I don't agree with someone, I accept the fact that opinions vary, rather than arguing with them, or worse, calling that person a liar.
Breakfast-Lawrence-Tewksbury-Andover, MA
We've tried the owl diner, but my wife and I are unimpressed. Nothing really bad, nothing great either. Shawsheen Luncheonette is a terrific place, nice atmosphere and very good omelettes.
As for Cedarcrest, this has to be the WORST breakfast ever. Greasy eggs, weak coffee, and dingy, dark atmosphere. Avoid.
NH VT staycation favorite restaurant ideas?
I'll try and give you a fair and balanced opinion here. I lived in both Texas and Southern Cal for a number of years, so I would have to say that loco coco's is quite good if you are comparing only to NE Mexican, but it does not come close to the standards you would expect in the southwest. The burritos and barbacoa are pretty good, but I asked for guacamole once, and received a little plastic container with some bland avocado flavored liquid I would not call guacamole.
Also, do not try the tamales, they are the worst I have ever had. Keep in mind, there is no table service and you are eating off styrofoam plates with plastic knives and forks. This doesn't really bother me at a casual place, but I thought you should know.
I realize this is starting to sound more negative than I wanted, and it is a fun, cheap place to eat, provided you are not a Mexican food aficionado.
In all fairness, its probably the best you can do in NH or ME.
the friendly toast opening in cambridge!
molly, your quote:
"the wait staff were dirty"
you did not say the restaurant was dirty, so what conclusion would you expect people to draw?
Best Seafood in Portsmouth, NH
Yes, I'm aware of that, sno, to be more precise, what I meant was re-frozen. Very often "frozen at sea" fish thaws partially at some point in the process, and is put in the freezer to re-freeze, causing a mushy texture.
This is my second bad experience at pesce blue, as I always believe in giving a restaurant a second chance, but I won't go back again.
the friendly toast opening in cambridge!
I would have to add, just because someone has tattoos and looks a little different than you, doesn't make them "dirty", nor "inept".
I have always found the service there to be courteous and prompt.
Seafood extravaganza - suggestions
I'll second Moulton's. Always fresh seafood in a casual atmosphere and probably the best value you will find.
I would avoid Summer Shack, very uneven quality, really more like a chain restaurant.
Ogunquit in Winter
I would have to agree with the above suggestions, with one exception. Robert's is strictly a tourist trap, serving mediocre food, and much of the seafood is previously frozen. To be avoided.
Ten best things to eat in Boston
I second the oysters at HM and also the ricotta pie at MP. Have you tried their pan forte?
Available only intermittently, but when they have it - wow!
Ten best things to eat in Boston
Not sure what your parameters are here, Danielle, but you have several of my "avoid at all cost" list here.
Fenway frank? Simply the worst. (wurst?)
Finale? overpriced, undersized, and mostly shipped in frozen.
Anthony's Pier 4 and Kowloon? Two of the most awful tourist traps imaginable!
God, I sure hope that's not boston, baby!
Best Seafood in Portsmouth, NH
Tried Pesce Blue recently and found it to be thoroughly mediocre. The sea bass was mushy as though it had been frozen at some point, and the pasta dishes were very bland, no interesting flavors.
Don't bother.
Steve's Diner (Exeter, NH) in the old Pizza Hut?
Tried Steve's for breakfast with some friends two weeks ago, and it was great. Very tasty corned beef hash and delicious homefries. My friends had omelettes and pancakes, and were very pleased.. I've been back since and thoroughly enjoyed. Can't comment on dinner, as I haven't tried it in the evening, but this is my new favorite breakfast place.
Bobs in Kittery - Sadly Can't Recommend Anymore
Cannot agree with that last post. I went to Bob's about a month ago, with two friends. The meat in the lobster roll was dried out, definitely not very fresh, and the clams were incredibly greasy, with an off-taste, like maybe old oil. In this case the unusually small portions were a blessing!
Will not go back.
Ogunquit....again...
True, they are best known for doughnuts, but thay also have a full service restaurant serving breakfast and lunch in season. Ask anyone familiar with Wells, locals seem to love this place. Doesn't hurt that they bring a free doughnut of your choice with breakfast!
