donl149's Profile
Exceptional dinner near Wellfleet
Buca's Roadhouse on Rt 28 in Harwich is my favorite Italian on the Cape. Great wine list if they are interested in it.
Best of the Cape 2009
Black Fish in Truro is my new favorite. In the site of the old Blacksmith House, it is redone in lighting, arrangement and most especially the food. Everything we had was very high quality, presented like it mattered. I had the Pork Belly app glazed with Hoisen Sauce and it was rich and not at all greasy. I had the Tuna Bolognese, and while I would never think to cook tuna for 6 hours, it worked. It was meaty and a true Bolognaise with a citrus infused mascarpone and a touch of cinnamon over homemade papperadelle noodles. Not cheap, but you get full value for the $$$. (approx $75/head)
Where to buy live lobsters in Noho area?
I've always liked Schermerhorn's in Holyoke. Near Holyoke Community College and about 15 minutes from Noho. I am sure they'll steam them for you--they serve food as well as being a fish market.
Recent Closings -Pioneer Valley
The story is that they were closing for renovations which have been postponed due to the current economic climate--Amherst College, the owner, has seen its endowment shrink by 30%. They decided to leave the Jeff closed anyway.
Pity about Koko--nice place, good neighborhood feel.
Thoughts on the Pioneer Valley
OK, I've had bad food in NYC, Boston, San Fransisco as well as the Pioneer Valley. If you are trying for the best of the area, rejecting anything that is simply run of the mill or worse, there are some good places to go. Most restaurants cater to the local eating scene--the places that demand you adjust your palette to what is authentic or best in the chef's opinion tend not to last, especially outside of a major metro area where there are enough food snobs to make them work. It's hard to do authentic--even if you fly in the ingredients from Thailand or Hong Kong or Tuscany, the cost is going to prohibit casual dining. Better off to look for good interpretations using the local and semi-local ingredients. good taste is better than authentic in my book.
That said, try these:
Circa - interesting food, well cooked, well seasoned.
Butterfly and Great Wall's "Gourmet" menu rise above the standard issue Chinese.
Pintu's - the food taste good and if they have a belly dancer or serve beef, well, i can deal with that.
Night Kitchen - also good, interesting food.
Flayyvors - still the best ice cream in the area.
People's Pint - good beer and the food is a cut above the standard brew-pub menu.
Noho Coffee has the best coffee in the area, in my opinion. I kind of like to taste coffee and find the Seattle style too dense for my tastes.
Bistro Les Gras - can be pricey, depending on what you order, but clean, good-tasting bistro food.
Primavera - Ludlow - best Portuguese in the area. Sometimes a little salty, but great neighborhood style food.
Forget Mexican. Veracruzana is OK for a quick lunch, but not if you insist on comparing it to Californian or Texan style Mexican food.
Haven't been to DiPaolo's yet or Side Street in a while, but both are spoken of highly.
La Piazza in Amherst-Any Comments?
i've known Mauro and Claire for years and liked Pinochios a lot. The one time I tried La Piazza, it was very disappointing--too much oregano in the mussels, too much salt in the entrees, weird Saltimbocca. They have a new chef and I want to try it again, but I'm kind of wary, esp. since they know me. Anyone eaten there recently? Any comments would be appreciated.
Silver Spoon - Easthampton
BBQ in the Pioneer Valley-to quote a BBQ book, "Bub's is the best BBQ in New England. Sort of like calling somone the world's tallest midget." The sauce is tomato and sweet, the ribs are good, the pulled pork nothing special. Love the sides. I think it has declined somewhat since the 80's, but perhaps it is just my taste.
Never liked Smokin Lil's. Holy Smokes was good but their policy of charging 50 cents for an extra ounce of sauce pissed me off. Curtis is great when it's a hot Saturday afternoon and Curtis is cooking, but not so good when it's Thursday and the food is all reheated. I think the Chester place has better food. There are some places in Springfield that I keep meaning to check out, but you have to adjust your expectations--none of these is relatively authentic Southern or Texas BBQ, no matter what the menu says.
La Piazza - Amherst MA
Has anyone eaten there recently? I had dinner there a while ago and it was not very good. A shame since the owners ran Pinocchio's, a good Italian and Monkey Bar/Bistro 63 (or some #) a decent American eclectic place. I heard there was a new chef and I was wondering whether anyone had any experience with it.
Korean food in Western Mass
Have you tried the House of Teriyaki in North Amherst (1 mile north of UMass)? I'm not Korean, but everything I've had there I've liked. Mom's is more Chinese with Asian groceries. Good Chinese food for lunch takeout--better than a lot of the restaurants in the area.
Amherst Chow
No to Amherst Chinese, in my opinion. They have great ingredients but every time I eat there the food is bland. Even something like hot and sour soup is mild and could pass for egg drop if you close your eyes. People seem to love it, but not me.
Haven't tried Baku's yet. It sounds intriguing.
Amherst Chow
Freshside is around the corner, near Hastings. Bigger & better. HOT is still in North Amherst--service improved, food still good. Flaayvors or however the spell it is still the best ice cream in the area. Pasta e Basta has an upstairs. Still the same.
Take a look at Chez Albert and Tabella. You'll want reservations at CA and a big wallet at either. Look at Food 101 in South Hadley or Night Kitchen in Montague. Crazy Noodles on Main Street--good Asian noodles (not as fond of the Italian).
Celebratory Dinner in Amherst
Try Tabella - near the Amherst Cinema, tapas style but more modern American than traditional Spanish. Also Chez Albert, French style Bistro. Both in the center of town. Don't know how late yhey are open--is this a weekday or weekend? Weekdays, you're pretty much out of luck--try Northampton.
http://www.tabellarestaurant.com 10 weekdays, 11 weekends
http://www.chezalbert.net/ 9 weekdays, 10 weekends
Both closed Mondays
Polish Food in Chicopee, Ma.?
The Munich Haus in the center of town has great German food but it isn't a cheap place. I've also heard good things about Gramps. The Lucky Strike is a local place someone took me to once that was pretty good--glorified diner food, but real. If you're picking up things to take home, stop by Chicopee Provisions and get some kielbasa. You go into the factory and into a large walk-in where you select your packaged goodies. They make Blue Seal brand, which is pretty ubiquitous in this area, Go to Ludlow for Portuguese (Primavera is the best). If you're at the Hampshire campus, it's a short hop into South Hadley and the Tailgate picnic for lunch (Across the street from Mt Holyoke.) Enjoy.
Eating outdoors Spfld-Hartford Area
I like the Night Kitchen. The food is very good, the setting is wonderful. It is cooler than the surrounding area so bring a sweater or jacket, just in case. Alternatively, you can sit at the bar and watch the cooks.
It is in the same building as the The Book Mill--a used bookstore that goes on and on. It's motto is "Books you don't need in a place you can't find." It closes at 5 or 6 so you want to make some time to get there early enough to browse.
Cape Cod in April
Hadn't noticed that. The saucing on the dishes I've had seemed fine. I'll just have to go again and check.
Cape Cod in April
Once again, I'll recommend Buca's in Harwich, right on Route 28. (www.bucasroadhouse.com). Good Tuscan food, great wine list. Open all year. Am I the only one who's ever eaten there?
New Noodle place in Northampton.
You talking about Crazy Noodles in Amherst? The Italian stuff is pretty weak, but the Thai/Vietnamese noodles are great. Crazy Noodles tries to do pasta from Italy to Japan with varying success. And they just started carrying some wierd line of flavored teas. Really screwed up their Thai Iced Tea, which was fantastic.
Cape Cod Wedding Dinner?
i am a big fan of Buca's (www.bucasroadhouse.com) which is Tuscan. You'd want to make your resevervation now. It is on Rt 28 in Harwich.
Seeking dinner spot near Elms College in Chicopee
The Munich Haus in Chicopee Center (across the street from City Hall) has very good German food, esp. schnitzels and housemade sausages. The schnitzels are mostly pork, there are some seafood items on the menu and the beer and wine list is good. It's probably the only place within 15 minutes that's open at night.
Best Cape Cod Restaraunts by Cape Codders
I'd have to disagree about Spiritus in P'town. Smells good, but the crust is often dry.
Best Italian is Buca's on 28 in Harwich. Tuscan food, great wine list. Every meal I've had there I liked.
BBQ place on Rt 6 in Eastham. Never can remember their name. Liked the ribs and pulled pork a lot. Great beans.
touring Hampshire College- anywhere around it to eat?
For lunch in Amherst, try Crazy Noodles or Fresh Side (be prepared to wait). In my opinion, Am Chi has great ingredients, but doesn't season. Like a roommate with a new wok. Best Chinese in the area is in Northampton, on your way to 91 and New Haven. Zen for Asian fusion and Great Wall in nearby Florence--order off the specialty menu. Check whether they are open for lunch. I like the pizza at Primo Pizzaria in Hadley best.
