AikiLou's Profile
Road trip from Boston to New York, via Rhode Island and Connecticut
When you have a moment, check their website...it will give you an idea of what a good menu they have...
Road trip from Boston to New York, via Rhode Island and Connecticut
Suggest you stop for lunch at Matunuk Oyster Bar...it is just wonderful and for me, as a native and in R.I. all the time Rhode Islander (live in The Berkshires), it is what Rhode Island summers are all about...
Downtown Providence and Federal Hill area
I would also add TINI. It is not ethnic, but, it IS newer wave, and, it certainly IS a hole in the wall.
Mooring or Castle Hill for lunch this weekend?
Sunny, mild weather HAS been forecast for the weekend. Maybe with a sweater or jacket, you COULD eat outside. At Castle Hill, it is really really worth it. Enjoy your lunch.
Mooring or Castle Hill for lunch this weekend?
I agree totally. While the view at Castle Hill is incredible, it IS expensive...the food is good, but, I do not think it meets the standards of a Relais and Chateau. If it were June or July and you could count on it being warm enough to sit outside, there IS something pleasing about an outdoor table at The Moorings and just watch the boats come and go in and out of the harbor.
Providence - lunch w/ teen and senior
I agree about Cuban Revolution...had a terrible dinner there a few weeks ago. Pizzico on Hope Street is really good. If you want to be in the center of things, CheeseCake Factory IS a chain, but the menu is extensive, and, there IS something for everyone, and the food is quite good.
Lunch with kids in East Greenwich RI
T's, in East Greenwich is a very good place to go with kids...there IS something for everyone on the menu...they are open until 3:00 PM, and you can get breakfast all day. Also, Kon (pan Asian, in East Greenwich) is fine...I have always seen kids in there. If your kids like seafood, Legal Seafood, across the street from the airport in Warwick, about ten minutes from Main Street, East Greenwich is really wonderful.
Rhode Island Shore Dinner
Sorry...I actually meant the part about sitting outside to cneilgomer, not you...
Opening of Espana Restaurant in North Adams, MA?
Hey, Hey...TerrierBoy...we never DID get to Justin Earle that night...had dinner in town at Zinc instead...but, I DO want to try Espana...
Good Sunday brunch in the Berkshires?
I will HAPPILY patronize any restaurant that welcomes dogs...as I often say: "Two of God's greatest creations are Dogs and grapes (as in wine)" Might I conclude your Bow-Wows are terriers?
Rhode Island Shore Dinner
That is why I suggested Coast Guard House as an alternative...it is much better than a number of those places at Point Judith...they CAN put out a lobster salad plate with the best of them. I am sure they will open their upstairs, outside patio soon if they have not done so already. Oh, and FjmArch: at Matunuk, you can sit outside, also.
Rhode Island Shore Dinner
Hi--I agree with you BIG TIME about Matunuck Oyster Bar. I live in The Berkshires but am a Rhode Islander by birth...my whole family is in R.I., and I am there every few weeks. On Saturday, my sister and I took our aunt to the Coast Guard House for lunch. I have been there a few times...the view is great if you score a window table, and the food is pretty much okay...It is not as exciting as Matunuck, but, for the ambience and menu, I feel it is good enough. And, much to our delight, all the ice cream places as in Brickley's, Little Rhode Ice Cream, Hilltop have already opened (as well they should have given the weather.).
Opening of Espana Restaurant in North Adams, MA?
So, terrierboy, I was like thinking about Espana like as a like dinner option before the like Justin Towns Earle concert at MOCA tomorror night.
Opening of Espana Restaurant in North Adams, MA?
I have seen nothing about it in the EAGLE. I am sure that if it HAS recently opened, we'll hear about it soon.
Fiori-Great Barrington Massachusetts
I and a friend had an after the movie dinner in the bar last night. The bar AND the restaurant were not busy at all...only 2 tables occupied the dining room. There were even empty seats at the bar; we sat at a table. Finally, (and the bartender WAS aware of our presence, but was seriously busy bonding with people at the bar) after about 15 minutes, my friend allowed that we were probably NOT going to get a drink (there was no trace of any server anywhere); so she went up to the bar to order drinks for us. The bartender said he would be right there, and, he did come over. I told him before he escaped that we would be ordering food. I got the salmon, mascarpone panino...the description of it on the menu made my decision for me. Well, in between each half of the sandwich was a miniscule piece of salmon that could not even have been one ounce, if that and a miniscule slice of hardboiled egg. I will say that the mascarpone was generously slathered to cover the whole slice of bread. Given the lack of service ( and in south county, there seems to be a prevailing generic brand of server whose M.O. is: "Oh, wow, like you like just like ordered that like second like glass of wine20 minutes ago; if I like remember, I will like bring it next trip.," I would be hard pressed to go back.
Looking for the best destination restaurants in RI, Mass, and CT
Matunuk Oyster -- The food is just wonderful...and the menu choices are, also. I am a native Rhode Islander, my whole family is there, and I am there every two weeks. I would also say that TINI (across from Trinity Square theatre) is a place to try. There are only 19 seats, and they are around a U-shaped bar. The menu choices scroll down on big, flat screened monitors. The people working the bar are very friendly, and, you get to talk to the people around you and get feedback on their menu choices. And the best part?--They TAKE reservations. I have lived in The Berkshires for almost 32 years...Old Inn on the Green in New Marlborough IS a destination spot. It has gotten great press over the years. I have known Peter Platt for over 20 years...not only is he a great chef, but also an extremely affable person. There are no electric lights in the dining rooms...all lit by candle. Also, there is James Stahl, the wine czar. He is one of the most knowledgeable people in the business I can think off. Their cellar is amazing, and, if you tell him what you like and your price point, he will find you a fabulous bottle. Also, on Sundays and weeknights, Peter offers a three course price fixed menu that is SO good, that people often ending up going there just for that.
Who has the best pizza in Berkshire County??
Hot Tomatoes is my place of choice. I DO make my OWN salad, though, to go with it...their salads do not travel well. Also, the wings are good, as are the panninis...I like that you can build your own. Also, I think Hot Tomatoes pizza travels really well. What I really lament is that Tom and Elizabeth used to have pizza...NOW, theirs was arguably the best...they stopped about fifteen years ago and took a lot of heat for that. It used to be wonderful on a miserable winter night to be able to call in an order and then bring your own salad bowl when you went to pick up the pizza. Tom would fill the bowl. Then you could go home, pop a great bottle of wine, and just have the whole meal in front of the fire. Oh, one other thing about Hot Tomatoes...they will, as do many other place, half bake the pizza for you, and, you can finish it off at home if you like.
suggestions for fun, off-the-beaten-path Berkshires dinner?
I taught high school English 14 years; I began in 66, and, by 1970, there were expressions such as "I'm innnnnnn-to" and "REALLY!!!," but NOTHING as annoying as the verbal tick: "like." That said...my (one) meal at Gypsy Joynt was not that memorable. DreamAway Lodge IS different. The owner, Danny Osman, is extremely articulate; IF Amy Lovelace is still chef, you WILL get a good meal. She has been in the business well over thirty years. Also, there is the nostalgia factor...back in (I think it was '74) the day, as it were, the members of The Rolling Thunder Revue stayed there. Also, on an other accasion, Dylan and Baez stayed there. Another place is Elizabeth's Restaurant in Pittsfield. It is in an old house...not fine dining...HOWever, the food is fresh and terrific....Mediterranean style menu. Also, the wine list is priced to match the prices of the menu items. AND, NObody makes a salad like Tom, Elizabeth's husband...it is served family style as part of the meal. And, on what other restaurant menu would you see an appetizer described as: "Bagna Cauda...sweet enough to make a republican smile."
SPOON-Lenox
There ARE some great salads on the menu, and there are also items with grains, etc. As I said, because the breakfast menu is also available all day, you can get eggs, too.
This weekend Near Westin Hotel.
For brunch with a 14 month old, you cannot go wrong with the Cheesecake Factory, and, there is a bridge from the Westin to Providence Place Mall.
Recommendation in Providence for affordable restaurant
Bacaro is wonderful. Another option is TINI...it is across from Trinity Square Rep...18 seats around a U-shaped bar. The menu, which, is shown on monitors on the walls consists mostly of tapas, although you can get large plates, also, and, it is not that expensive. It is very intimate; they DO accept reservations. The fun is, because it is so small, you get to talk to people around you and listen to THEIR recommendations. The 2 people in the bar which the seats surround are very friendly and can offer their ideas, also.
Destination Dinner: 2 hours from Bradley Airport
I really think you would enjoy Old Inn on the Green. It is a great place, and, the restaurant is just wonderful. James Stahl, Wine Czar and all around genial host, will find THE perfect bottle for you. Also, there are movie theatres in Great Barrington--there 's a lot to do in The Berkshires in the winter.
Chapel Grill in Cranston, RI
As I said, we WOULD go back...but not until summer, which, by then, hopefully the service AND food will be in synch. One more thing...a former manager from 1149 is now there and greeted us Sunday night. His name is Sean, and, he is extremely competent. Hopefully, the owners will have the good sense to reward him for his efforts by not interfering. All that said, my sister wanted to go back to Besos where we had gone Friday night (and she was paying)...the service there is ALmost as casual as it was at Chapel, but given the quality of the food there, we should have acceeded to her wishes.
Chapel Grill in Cranston, RI
Went there last night with friend, Brother, Sister, and Sister-in-law. We almost DID not based on what I had read on this thread, but, we decided to go anyway and with open minds. The managers were very friendly, and we were warmly greeted. We were seated and, although the restaurant was about half full, we DID wait for at least 15 minutes until a server approached to get a drink order. After the drinks came, the server disappeared totally. We were not in a hurry, so we DID cut him some slack on that...but, still.........
We had asked for bread and were assured there was fresh bread about to come out of the over, and, that he would bring it when the bread DID. That did not happen; when our first course came, I mentioned it again, and "oh, yeah, I forgot." That should be our worst problem in life, somebody forgetting to bring us bread...NOT a huge deal, but, still..........
The food WAS quite good. The legendary dessert cart went by us a few times; we do not eat dessert usually; HOWever, I CAN vouch for those who have mentioned the size of the desserts...they are telling the truth. I would definitely go back; and, I would hope the management can upgrade the attentiveness of the waitstaff...
Every new restaurant usually has a FEW kinks to work out, and, hopefully, theirs will be soon.
"upscale" Saturday night near the Biltmore for Mom & me
Oh, Okay, I thought you were referring to us aging boomers--that BrettLove's mother being 60ish might not be capable of a 15 minute walk...that said...Mills and Bacaro ARE really good restaurants...
"upscale" Saturday night near the Biltmore for Mom & me
Hey, Hey, Gin and Tonic...(I am a Rhode Islander by birth and am there every couple of weeks, but live in The Berkshires)...just a footnote to your post (with respect)...I have run the CVS 5K in downtown Providence a few times. I have ALSO walked from downtown Providence to Mills tavern and also up to the hill. But, what do I know?...I am only 67...we aging boomers ARE still ambulatory. Also, I would walk, if I had to, to Bacaro from downtown Providence...was there for the first time three weeks ago and loved it. I would recommend Bacaro to anybody. In fact, I would choose Bacaro over CAV any time. And to me, Mills Tavern is just wonderful. The paradox?--I LOVE running, but HATE walking (it takes so long to get somewhere).
John Andrew's in Egremont....really?? Need some CH's opinions please!
Next time we are at OId Inn, we can probably get James or Peter to spill. I do find it a bit disheartening since we knew Susan and Danny from the day they opened, and, so much has gone on.
SPOON-Lenox
In homage to my Rhode Island roots where EVERYthing is defined in the context of "where something USED to be," it is where Scoop USED to be. It is right nex to Betty's Pizza. Also, you can order from the breakfast menu, if you wish.
