caughtstars's Profile
Northampton Dinner Recs for a Pescetarian
Chez Albert is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Excellent bistro style food and wine selection. I love their Basque seafood stew and the beef tartine.
Mission Cantina South Amherst anyone been?
I love Mission Cantina- have been numerous times. I especially like their mole and the Al pastor and fish tacos.
Great salsas, margaritas, and their spicy tequila drink with St. Germain is pretty unique.
My only complaint is the guacamole could be a lot better...
Just plan on a wait, because yes, it is very tiny and very popular.
Hinge, Northampton
I've been once and it seemed promising to me.
Extensive beer list, good selection of wines and nothing on the menu is over $13.
My side salad was fresh, tasty and more than enough to share.
I had a fancy grilled cheese (w. robusto and cheddar) which was also very good.
I think it will do well and benefit from when the Dirty Truth's is mobbed.
And apart from the weirdly bright sign that blinds you when you enter, I liked the atmosphere.
Pho Vietnam opening tonight in Northampton!
Hoping this is a great new addition to town!
If I make it tonight I will be sure to give a full report..
Its where Taipei and Tokyo used to be on Main Street.
Looking for a flexible, offbeat caterer in or near Northampton, MA?
I used Pengyew Chin for my wedding and he was great and very flexible. We brought in outside appetizers for example. I really loved working with him.
I would also look into the Electric Cocktail Party. I've been to events where they've catered and loved their Vindaloo hummus. And Captain Jack's is delicious!
Smithsonian Chowder House in Hatfield, MA
Would love a report from anyone who has tried the new chowder house in Hatfield.
From their website:
Why not take the best possible ingredients,( New England Seafood and the finest Native Vegetables) and create great soups that can be enjoyed in our quaint Cape Cod style cafe’ setting or taken to go in individual or family sized containers. We will offer fresh salad to be eaten as an accompaniment and oh yeah, fresh hot Popovers. We will be baking popovers throughout the day and are confident that you will enjoy them so much that they will become a favorite with you and your family. Besides the Seafood Chowder, we will offer many of our favorites like Bessie’s Lobster Bisque, Stoney’s Traditional Clam Chowder, 2 soups which have deep family tradition and recipes to back them up, Native Tomato Bisque, Cream of Hatfield Asparagus, Nantucket Red Seafood Chowder, Native Sweet Corn Chowder, and Classic Chicken Noodle just to name a few. We will also offer gluten free soups as well as vegetarian and vegan soups daily in the hopes that everyone will find something to enjoy here.
http://www.smithsoniancaterers.com/smithsonian-chowderhouse/
Lumberyard, Amherst
I went for the first time over the weekend and loved most everything we ordered. We ate at the bar and started off with a great extra dirty martini. I ordered the frisee scotch egg salad which was a great combination. The chef sent over a complimentary order of mussels which were basic but fantastic- pernod, sausage, white wine, and cream.
My friend had the roast chicken with gnocchi and said it was amazing. The only thing that was off was the braised fennel which was tasty, but overdone. And yes, the brown bread was great. I love the atmosphere and will definitely be back.
Dining Changes in Amherst, MA
I would encourage you to give Chez another try. I haven't been to the new location, but I've been to the old one 4 or 5 times and loved it every time. The Basque Seafood stew is incredible and the owner is one of the friendliest I've encountered. I can't wait to check out their new space.
cocktails Amherst/Northampton?
Tabella's in Amherst does creative cocktails really well. They are pricey but I still remember a fine pickled fennel martini that I had there a few years ago:
http://tabellasrestaurant.com/cocktails
Amherst Coffee next door is also very good:
http://highercup.com/bar-menu/cocktails-spirits.html
-----
Amherst Coffee
28 Amity Pl, Amherst, MA 01002
Tabella Restaurant
28 Amity St Ste 1G, Amherst, MA 01002
Coco's in Easthampton MA
I've heard it will be Mediterranean, but their Facebook page doesn't confirm.
Regardless, I know it will be a great addition to the Valley food scene!
Anniversary dinner in the Pioneer Valley
I would consider Chez Albert and Tabellas as well.
http://tabellasrestaurant.com/
http://www.chezalbert.net/
-----
Chez Albert
27 S Pleasant St, Amherst, MA 01002
Tabella Restaurant
28 Amity St Ste 1G, Amherst, MA 01002
Williamsburg Snack Shack re-opening for season tomorrow
Here is a quick list, Berkshire T!
Chinese- Amherst Chinese, Great Wall (Florence), Butterfly (Hadley)
Japanese- Moshi Moshi, Osaka (both in Northampton)
Mexican- Mi Tierra in Hadley
-----
Moshi Moshi
4 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060
Mi Tierra
206 Russell St, Hadley, MA 01035
Thai Place (South Hadley, MA)- my new favorite Thai in the Valley!
I've recently discovered my favorite Thai restaurant in the valley. Don't let the boring name fool you:
Thai Place
413-533-9231
480 Granby Road
South Hadley MA 01075
http://www.thaiplacerestaurant.net/index.php
The curries are perfectly balanced and I love their drunken noodles. I feel like people don't really know about this place even though its not very far from Mt. Holyoke College. Service is very friendly and they have a pretty good wine list and great mixed drinks which is usually not a focus at Thai places. Highly recommended!
(Also posted this in another thread....)
Greenfield MA. new restaurant
I've recently discovered my favorite Thai restaurant in the valley. Don't let the boring name fool you:
Thai Place
413-533-9231
480 Granby Road
South Hadley MA 01075
http://www.thaiplacerestaurant.net/index.php
The curries are perfectly balanced. You won't have to worry about too much sugar here. I feel like people don't really know about this place even though its not very far from Mt. Holyoke College. Service is very friendly and they have a pretty good wine list and great mixed drinks which is usually not a focus at Thai places. Highly recommended!
Reliable oyster bar in Hadley/Amherst/ Springfield area?
The East Side Grill would be my first choice:
http://www.eastsidegrill.com/
Mi Tierra. Still muy muy bueno!!
I'm seconding how great the mole is.... Sometimes the chicken is drier than other times so I get the cheese enchiladas instead.
Saturday Lunch in Northampton
I would recommend Green Street for a lovely lunch:
http://www.greenstreetcafenorthampton.com/index.php
It's served from 12-2 on Saturdays....
-----
Green Street Cafe
62 Green St, Northampton, MA 01060
Northampton/Amherst Area Dining . . . a Retrospective
You ordered precisely what P&E's does best- salads, soups, and pie! I find their entrees to be hit or miss, but they do serve excellent salads. I especially love their honey miso dressing.
Thoughts on the Pioneer Valley
I will always love Joe's. I was just there last night and had a Little Joe pizza with caramelized red onions, kalamata onions and artichokes. It was great as always. If you get a really meaty pie then it can be too greasy, but I never have any problem with their veggie pizzas.
You also cannot go wrong with the Spanish mussels or clams, Joe's House salad, blackened scallop salad, nor the homemade fried mozzarella- it's all comfort food at its finest. And, yes the old school atmosphere and regulars are the best!
Free tapas TODAY at Ibiza Tapas & Wine Bar- Northampton
Free tapas today until 10 PM... Then they open this Friday for dinner service.
If anyone goes please report!
-----
Ibiza Tapas & Wine Bar
7 Strong Ave., Northampton, MA 01060
Pioneer Valley catering recommendations
Pengyew Chen catered my wedding a few years ago. I can't recommend
him enough. His focus is Asian, but he can also do some Western classics:
www.pycatering.com
Eclipse in Northampton, MA?
Would love a review of this new place on Main St.
Has anyone been yet?
Thoughts on the Pioneer Valley
What Vietnamese restaurant are you referring to in the Berkshires?
Northampton -- What not to miss?
For one of your breakfasts I would go not miss The Green Bean on Main Street. Great local egg scrambles and I love their vegan corn cake. I've heard good things about The Mosaic Cafe (Mediterranean) as well for breakfast.
I love Chez Albert (French bistro food) in Amherst. It's a bit high end, but you can have a beautiful lunch for around $12.
-----
Chez Albert
27 S Pleasant St, Amherst, MA 01002
amherst/northampton/hadley special occasion bakeries
Henion Bakery in Amherst did my wedding cakes last year:
http://www.henionbakery.com/
They were wonderful to work with- highly recommended.
Mosaic Cafe in Northampton
Yes, that was Cafe Casablanca with the crepes and avocado smoothies!
La Casita Azteca...yes, it smells like Taco Bell
i haven't been yet, but i've heard from four people that it's great so i will try it despite this review. one friend said that he "dreams about the mole" and he is not one for hyperbole.
Sienna recently? (Deerfield, MA)
Has anyone been to Sienna recently?
I had a wonderful meal there a few years ago, but heard there's been
a different chef there for a while now...
Would appreciate any thoughts!
thx...
Local Burger and Fries - Northampton
My husband went to Local Burger last night and was very impressed! He had the southwest style burger with green chiles. He said it was the best burger he had since we went to Santa Fe and we had amazing green hatch chile burgers. I can't wait to try LB!
Mi Tierra - Hadley, MA
I love Mi Tierra. I am addicted to their mole and my husband loves their huarachas. The service is usually on the slow side, but I've never had a bad meal there.
