salemmass's Profile
cheap eats within walking distance of the wilbur theatre
I've always liked Montien, and you don't even have to walk very far. Decent Thai food and casual.
5 guys gloucester
Yes I know it's a chain... Stopped in on their second day of being open. Looks very nice, menu is burgers, fries and hot dogs. No combo meals. I had a bacon cheeseburger and fries with a drink, over $11. Burger was good, two juicy patties well done, but not great. Fries fresh cut, but only OK. Not much flavor, but they do have malt vinegar. Gloucester does not have much in the way of fast food, but for this price I can go to a real local place.
LAX - BOS: Fried Clams & Lobster Rolls...
Since you will be in Beverly already, I recommend JT Farnhams for clams, not too far up 128 in essex. Clam box is good too, but Farnhams has a view of a salt marsh. Better selection at Farnhams as well if clams are not what you or someone with you wants. The haddock sandwich is amazing. They also do lobsters and serve beer. Lobster roll at Neptune is not to be missed. One of the better N shore rolls is at Ipswich Clambake, and its a short hop from Beverly. Lobster pie from the causeway in gloucester is very good as well, basically 2 or so lobsters in butter with breadcrumbs.
lobster recommendations please
Another Lobster Pool Vote. Lobster should be eaten outside with a view of the ocean on a picnic table. Bring a few beers or a bottle of wine. If it is raining, however, inside is best. Then I would recommend Mt. Vernon for close to Boston, or if you come to Cape Ann either Seaport Grille in Gloucester (usually around $20 for twin lobsters with sides), Topsider ($13.99 for lobster dinner) or the Causeway. Causeway has the longest wait though.
Must try for visitor from SOCAL
I would highly recommend a meal of fried clams and/or lobster rolls for the authentic New England experience. If you don't want to leave Boston, try Neptune Oysters in the North End or B&G Oyster in the South End. For the real experience though, it must be on Cape Ann. Ipswich or Essex. JT Farnhams, Clam Box, etc.
lobster and a bucket of beer
The Seaport Grille in Gloucester is on the water, has a deck, and lobster as well as beer. I had twin lobsters with a potato for $20 not too long ago there. Not fancy, but not a dive either.
Latitude 43, Gloucester
For better food at similar prices, and a much better atmosphere, go the the Franklin Cafe.
Latitude 43, Gloucester
Went a couple of weeks ago. Atmosphere is actually pretty good. More Boston than Gloucester. Nice looking deck for when it warms up. Food is split between basic New England seafood dishes and some fairly standard new American dishes. They have a sushi area as well. Prices are on the higher end for the N. Shore. Food was OK. I had haddock. Not bad, but nothing amazing either.
best lobster roll
Which crab roll at Kelly's? I agree, the OLD one was great. Small pieces of lump crab and meat and mayo I believe it was even local-ish or at least 'Maine' crab. Then sometime in the last year and a half or so they went to this King Crab roll. Now it sounds better than it is. I tried it once. Small chunks of king crab legs, some mayo and celery. Just does not hold together well in a roll. And lost a lot of the flavor. I eat at Kelly's much less now that they changed the roll. It was either $10.95 or maybe $11.95 too, so not bad price-wise.
Now if you are looking to replicate the 'old' Kelly's crab roll, Ipswich clambake has them on the weekends, called the Maine crab roll. Even a little thicker with meat than Kelly's was.
best lobster roll
That would be Belle Isle Lobster and Seafood. A very nice lobster roll, but a bit of a walk from the blue line if you don't have a car.
My North Shore Faves:
Ipswich Clambake: More meat than anywhere else up here, toasted roll, just a little mayo. They will at times make them hot and buttered as well. The Maine crab roll is great too. Best fries by far out of anywhere.
Clam Box: Decent roll, just mayo. Better in the off season when there is no line. When there is, the roll at Ipswich Clambake is better anyways.
JT Farnhams: Toasted roll, they do add some lettuce but will hold it if you ask. Otherwise just a little mayo.
Bob Lobster: A little unusual. The meat is the best out of anywhere. Mostly claw and huge chunks. Tiny bit of mayo, just enough to hold it together. They add celery and lettuce. I have been very disappointed with the buns here, at times soggy. I think they must pre-assemble frequently. On the other hand, it is usually fairly cheap, $12-13. The lobster bisque here is really good too. Can be busy in the summer, but I frequent this place in the late summer/early fall. By that time the plover nesting is over on Plum Island and the fishing gets good from the beach.
Lobster prices
I think most places that sell them steam them. I usually have to wait a while at Market Basket when they're cheap because they are so busy steaming. As to does it get cold, not really. Depends on how close you are to the store though.
Neptune Oyster
Their lobster roll is simply fantastic. Not traditional, nor is it cheap, but very very good. A huge roll, filled with a lobster. You choose: Hot with butter or cold with Mayo. I have only gotten hot with butter and it is amazing.
suprisingly good mall meal
I tried the Shrimp Market at the North Shore Mall. I thought it was a joke it was so bad! Tiny little shrimp and quite expensive for mall food. Chick Fil A is actually a real food court treat. There's a new Regina's in the North Shore Mall as well, tasted a lot better than the one at the Pru.
JT Farnhams Clam Chowder- The Best?
I stopped by Farnham's today. Had clam chowder and a fried haddock sandwich. Got me to thinking that the chowder there is probably the best on the North Shore. Thin broth, no added thickeners. LOTS of clams. Small potato cubes. Just enough pepper. I would say it is the most authentic around as far as traditional chowders go.
The haddock was outstanding as well. Their batter is light, but has some salt in it. Large piece of fish, overhanging the bun by a large amount. For some reason the tartar tastes better on the fish than it does on their clams.
Lucille's Fine Chicken, Rt 1, Lynnfield
I went a few weeks ago. Probably won't go back. The idea of only serving one meal is interesting, and likely would fly if it were excellent. I thought the pasta was the highlight. Unfortunately, rigatoni with red sauce does not make the meal. For being a chicken place, the chicken was only OK. Slightly better than the ones that are pre-prepared at Shaws, but not much. I hate to say that Boston Market has better chicken.
Worse for me is the cash only policy. A big minus in my book. Who carries cash?
essex seafood or clam box?
You really want the big bellies from the Clam Box in Ipswich. They have a sign (OK a paper plate) by the menu that tells you if big bellies are available. I always order them as many places don't offer them specifically. You get less clams per order but they are a delicacy to me. Clams at Farnhams are purposely small because that's how they've always been apparently. Don't go to Woodman's.
If you want the best lobster roll around, decent clams, and a short line check out Ipswich Clam Bake. Not much atmosphere, but neither it nor the Clam Box are on the water. I usually hit it about once per week, more in the summer. Alternate lobster or maine crab roll. Also good fried fish, all fresh.
It's still early for some places to be open, but plenty are. This isn't a bad time to visit as the traffic is non-existent and lines are too.
Clams at the Causeway in Gloucester are good, but the line there is never short on a weekend. I did have some very large bellies there a couple of days ago. If you hit it for a weekday lunch it is definitely worthwhile in my book. Get the mussels.
mexican?
Agree. LOVE Agave in Newburyport. Food is great, drinks are great, atmosphere is great. Cielito Lindo has good food, but as a restaurant Agave wins for me hands down.
Border Cafe is good in Harvard Square with a large group, but loses it's appeal in outlying areas. It is very cheap though.
Agave is where it's at.
Mortons Seaport- $109 Steak/Seafood for 2
Looking around on the various steakhouse websites reveals a fair amount about the economy. Most have some pretty good deals. My 'gold standard' is Flemings Sunday prime rib deal. Every Sunday night (at least at the Park Square location), you get a salad, any side, prime rib, any dessert for $37.95. Ruth Chris has a steak and lobster deal right now as well.
Mortons promotion is viewable on their website. It says it is not on the menu. Deal is as follows:
Mortons or Caesar salad (1 of each)
Choice of crab cake, Shrimp Alexander or bacon wrapped scallops (2 total)
One potato and one vegetable
Filet (2)
Key lime pie or Mortons hot chocolate cake (2 total)
$109 for 2 (also available single for half the cost)
Made same night reservations on opentable. Chose the seaport location due to better parking. Even with the boat show going on parking there is easier, and more likely to be free than in Back Bay. Sure enough, free street parking was found. We had some drinks at the bar before our table was ready. We were seated 20 minutes later than our stated reservation. No big deal. The bar is very nice and has a good view of the Fish Pier.
Waiter came over and presented us the menu. Standard steakhouse live presentation. Prime beef and basic seafood. The 3.5 lb lobster looked really good, and the waiter actually quoted us the market price ($24.95/lb) which I thought was really nice. Obviously that price is a little bit inflated to say the least!
After the presentation, I mentioned we wanted the unadvertised special. I had a printout in my pocket just in case because, just like the website said, it was not on the menu nor mentioned anywhere in the restaurant. Waiter handled it smoothly and rattled off our choices. He did say that we could choose any side though, we were not limited to one potato and one vegetable.
Onion bread was very good. Salads came out, one each. Caesar was very basic. Lettuce, dressing and croutons. No cheese. Mortons salad was lettuce, egg, blue cheese and anchovies. All in all I would call our choice of salads uninspired. I did see the wedge salad and this looked much better.
Steaks were both cooked perfectly. Probably about an 8 oz filet, and it did look small at first compared to the portions I'm used to getting at steakhouses. But it was thick and I could barely finish mine. Very good beef.
Crab cake was all lump crab with a side of mustard/mayo sauce. Very well done. Shrimp Alexander was wonderful as well. 3 jumbo shrimp baked with breadcrumbs and sauce. Sides were mushrooms and hashbrown. Mushrooms were standard, well done. Hashbrown I am happy to say was the best I've had. Plate sized and fried crispy and thin, accompanied by butter, sour cream, and bacon. I am a huge hashbrown fan and this is the best in the city I believe.
Key lime pie was good, but a relatively small slice. No real tartness. Hot chocolate cake was very very good. Gooey in the middle, crispy outside, vanilla ice cream on the side. I have had the same dish at Ruth Chris end up almost still frozen and barely warm. Mortons and Flemings do this dessert up right.
I was happy with the deal and meal. Much cheaper than menu prices. Good atmosphere. It did seem somehow more casual than Grill 23 or Abe & Louie's though, with menu prices being about the same if not higher though not out of range for a steakhouse. Flemings Sunday prime rib is still a better deal. I like the bread basket and onion rings there better as well. But for an anytime deal, this one is pretty good.
Ipswich Clambake
I've hit this place 4 times now. It's right down the road from the Clam Box. When I see the line at the Clam Box sometimes I just can't cope and have been using this as a backup.
Atmosphere: Order at a counter, grab your own soda. Also have a fish counter. In other words nothing fancy. Has limited outdoor seating with no view. Really reminds me of Yankee Lobster on the waterfront. Generally little to no wait, even for weekend lunch.
Food: First time I had the clam plate. Passable. Decent batter. Clams were small but that's not unusual. I love the Clam Box for the large bellies when available. Tartar sauce was just like JT Farnhams: pump your own, slightly sweet. Not my style. Around $19 with 2 sides. Rings OK. Fries actually really good, thick cut with skin on. They also have malt vinegar at every table.
Trip 2: The weekend special Maine Crab Roll. I used to love the old crab roll at Kelly's. This was even better (since Kelly's went to the horrible king crab roll with celery and chips as a side I've quit ordering it). Toasted bun piled high with tasty Maine crab. Mayo, nothing else. With fries $14.50.
Trip 3: Lobster roll and chowder. Very good lobster roll. Large chunks, small amount of mayo only. No lettuce, toasted bun. $15.50 with fries around $13 without. Chowder, similar to Kelly's. Not too thick. Lots of clams. I spy someone eating a 'naked' lobster roll with a side of drawn butter...trip 4. It was worth it.
Inexpensive Rehearsal Dinner in Boston area?
I had mine at Vinny T's on Boylston in the Back Bay. Not a truly private room, but we had 2 very large tables downstairs. Family style and it was cheap. And fun! A little far from Beacon Hill, but so is Station Landing. They were very accomodating. We had the wedding reception in Beacon Hill (Holiday Inn). Most guests took the T, we did have some take cabs.
