Essex County's Profile
Moved from North End to North Andover....Need help please.
Hope you found Wine Sense. If you're facing Whole Foods, it's behind you in that little group of yoga studios and nail salons. (oops. this was supposed to go under BlueMagic's post....but while I'm here...)
I've been to Ralphies a number of time. Good red sauce Italian. I haven't been to the Century House for many years but have a brother who swears by it. Gotta try Three Dogz too. Thanks.
new to NH
You are about 35 minutes from Portsmouth. Lots of choices there. Many are fish-centric like Jumpin' Jays. But there's also Black Trumpet, 106 Kitchen, Cava, and Green Monkey among the more upscale places. Or there's the Portsmouth Brewery which has a good menu as well. Or try the Friendly Toast for breakfast or lunch. I'd encourage you to make a day trip to Portsmouth on a Saturday, just walk around and pick a place for lunch or dinner. You may need reservations at some, but most, particularly at lunch time, are walk-in.
Moved from North End to North Andover....Need help please.
I've lived in Andover for 12 years and can't figure out why our restaurant scene is so paltry. One name I've not seen on this thread is Joe Fish on Rt 133 in North Andover. They have the best oysters around, great mussels and if you want a lobster roll, order the Big Kahuna. It's big enough to share. Fish is well prepared. Beer and wine selection is adequate if not exciting.
I've dropped a lot of funds on beer and wine over the years, mostly at Andover Liquors but more recently at Wine Sense, a tiny store adjacent to Whole Foods. Andrea (at AL) and Samantha (at WS) have very different paletes but both are good at what they do. I don't think I have ever seen as good a beer selection as the one at Andover Liquors.
More recently, we've been going a bit farther afield and found The Ale House in Amesbury. Fantastic beer taps and bottle list. Food is a bit pubby but well prepared.
But I still can't figure out why a town like Andover can't develop a more interesting restaurant scene. Andolini's is decent. Palmer's is a good pub atmosphere with good but not great food. Brasserie 23 started out great but the food hasn't kept pace and the wines are not at the level I'd expect for a wine bar. Samuel's at the Andover Inn is good. They have some great deals on wines by the glass. I could go on but you get the picture. I appreciated some of the suggestions for Asian food in Lowell. I'm going to hunt for those places.
Good luck!
What is it with the sausages - why only Italian?
Karl's is fantastic. I went there two Saturdays ago and bought 5 kinds of sausage: weisswurst, rost bratwurst, smoked bratwurst, bauernwurst, and pinkelwurst. All were distinctive and good. We cooked the pinkelwurst, a short, fat sausage, about the size of a beer can, with kale. It was wonderful as were the other wursts. There must have been another 10 types of sausage available at Karl's as well as smoked pork chops and other German delights. Go!!!
12/1/10 Very Good Dinner at Foundry on Elm
My wife and I were there about a month ago. It was bustling at 6:30 on a Saturday, a happy vibe. We weren't too adventurous with the menu. Started with oysters which were fine. I had a burger, served rare as requested. I recall my wife having roast lamb, a special for the evening, and that was excellent. But my major happy was the impressive set of belgian ales and micorbrews they had on tap. I'm glad you posted your experience because it will get FOE back on my go-to list. It would be a good place to bring my kids and their significant others during the upcoming holiday.
Late Night Lobster
Just wanted to provide a belated followup to my original query regarding a quest for lobster at 10:30. As suggested by mikeinboston, I contacted Legal the day before our reservation and explained the situation. The manager assured me that we would not be the last diners if we arrived at 10:30 and there would be no problem getting lobsters. Of course, the Celtics game we were at went to overtime! I called to explain we'd be about 15 minutes late for our reservation. No problem. And it wasn't. The servers did not hurry us and we had a great meal. The food was typical Legal: straightforward and well prepared. My Swiss friends had a great time picking through their lobsters while wearing the plastic bibs!
Thanks for the suggestions, hounds.
Paul
Late Night Lobster
That could work. I also saw that Oceanaire takes reservations until 11. (according to opentable!)
Late Night Lobster
Thanks for the suggestions. I didn't think about chinatown. But this is a group from WAY out of town...Switzerland. I think they're looking for a more traditional preparation. But I will check with them. Scampo looks good too.
Late Night Lobster
I'll be part of a group of 8 looking for lobsters after attending the Celtics game with a bunch of out-of-towners on the Friday of Easter weekend. I'm expecting we can make it to a restaurant by 10:30. We can take cabs across town if necessary but I was hoping to find something not too far from the Garden. I see that Legal takes reservations at 10:30 but no later and I'm spooked that they will be rushing us out the door. Is this likely? Any other suggestions?
Thanks.
Korean Church Food Festival in Andover?
I live in Andover and we go to this festival every year but I'm pretty sure it's in late fall, maybe November.
Meat Shares
I get meat from my father in law who lives in central Pennsylvania. I love the flavor and have learned to work with some non-standard cuts. But his farm is a bit out of the way. Does anyone know of a meat CSA that's close to Andover?
Donuts in Andover Area
There is a small chain, Heavenly Donuts, with locations in Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen and maybe elsewhere. Great french cruellers.
Where To Eat In Wakefield Mass?
On or around Patriot's Day in April, Fred's Franks will reopen. It's an oversized hotdog wagon on the 128 side of the lake and serves fantastic dogs, linguica, kielbasa, chorizo... He cooks on charcoal! Awesome stuff!
What are you having/did you have for lunch today?
Had Pho Ga at Pho and I on Huntington Ave.
RW: No. 9 Park?
Haven't made it myself but a coworker went on Monday and was VERY pleased with the meal. It was the first time he'd been there also.
Who makes the best clam pizza?
Woody's has a fine clam pizza. Lots of clam and bacon. I now ask for a crisp, or well-done crust.
market basket strength/weakness?
I do about 90% of my shopping at MB and the other 10% at Whole Foods. I've found MB's prices very competitive versus S&S and other local chains. I frequent a number of different MB locations and each has a different feel. For example, the MB in Salem, NH has really interesting cuts of meat to appeal to the heavily Latino clientele. Ditto for produce. The MB in North Andover is a big one. It has really good meats and fish and a very large produce section. The MB in Andover is much smaller and tends to have more select meats than choice. (Go figure.) It has a very small fish counter but a pretty good section of organic produce. Perhaps that is to compete with Whole Foods just up the road. All in all, MB isn't Wegmans or Roche Bros or Whole Foods, but it holds up pretty well as a well stocked grocery with very reasonable prices.
Hilltop Steakhouse Butcher Shop
I used to go there a lot more frequently. Haven't been for 6 months or so. I've always had good luck with their whole tenderloins. They aren't trimmed as well as those from a full service butcher but are half the price. I trim and cut it myself. Since tenderloin is such a mild piece of meat, it may not differ as much across grades as other cuts. I've gotten sirloins and other cuts that have been just ok.
Best / Favorite 5 restaurants on North Shore??
If we include Haverhill, Evenfall is a good choice. I went to Joseph's, almost across the street, last Friday. First time in about ten years. It was superior. Great pastas (the pasta trio appetizer was wonderful). I had scallops on a bed of squash risotto as an appetizer, fantastic. Then it was on to a perfectly cooked duck breast on the best polenta I've ever had. Cheesy and soft. A wonderful meal!
unusual ice cream?
Dolce Fredo in Methuen has a chocolate cayenne gelato that is fantastic. They don't keep it in the case. You have to ask for it.
Conway NH area: White Mountain Cider, Glen NH
Finally went here last weekend. Jeff was great at the bar and I feel we blew it by ordering wine rather than mixed drinks as he is clearly a master bartender. We sat at the bar among a bunch of locals and/or repeat visitors. I've never been at a bar where so many of the bottles were unfamiliar to me! It was impressive.
The food...less so. We had a beet, grilled orange and goat cheese salad and some dates stuffed with chorizo served on kale. The kale was great. The dates were ok but the chorizo was cooked until dry and crumbly. The beet salad was bland with about a tablespoon of goat cheese scattered over the plate. More would have been better but it just didn't have much going on. My wife ordered an asian shrimp salad, again bland. Not much going on. I wasn't super hungry and ordered a burger, medium rare. It came medium well and I guess I should have said something but it was our first time there and we were having a great time chatting with the folks next to us. For us, complaining is expensive. It kills the vibe, and while having fun talking to our barmates who frequent the place, it didn't seem like the best trade. Anyhow, I'd try it again and do mixed drinks. I'm sure our food experience was an aberration.
Fiddlehead fever
Bought some this evening at MB. $4.99/lb. Last year, I discovered they freeze really well. Just blanch and bag.
Suggestions for eating around Northeastern
I work at Northeastern and had lunch at Brasserie Jo's yesterday. Steak frites. Very well done. I've been there many times and it rarely disappoints. I'm guessing your parents won't want steak tatare, but the version at BJ is quite good!
If you are looking for something less upscale, I'd second the recommendation made above for Woody's. Great pizza. Really good burgers and sandwiches.
What was your favourite childhood concoction, which you now think is disgusting?
I used to make floats with orange soda and vanilla ice cream. No matter how hard I tried, the soda would always fizz up over the top of the glass and make a mess!
What was your favourite childhood concoction, which you now think is disgusting?
Spaghettios with little meatballs on buttered toast!
Portsmouth NH
I always seem to end up at the Portsmouth Brewing Co for lunch. The food is solid but not extraordinary. The beer is great. For dinner there are a few options. One of my favorites is Pesce Blue.
Beef Tartare Boston?
I also like Brasserie Jo's version. The Butcher Shop has an awesome one too.
And the best dish I've had so far in 2009 is...
Don't know if it was the absolute best, but I had the humongus pork chop at East Coast Grill last night. Spit roasted and finished on the grill. Perfectly pink and juicy. Served with a fresh guacamole.
Flying in the face of "Chow Wisdom"
Haven't thought about the Border for a long time. We used to take our kids when they were in Harvard Square. I took a bunch of folks, maybe 10, there one night. We ordered way too much and when the waiter cleared the table, he slipped and the stacked plates with half eaten burritos and pico de gallo and black beans, etc. all slid off the waiter's tray and onto...me. A Harvard undergrad at the next table immediately quipped, "I guess dinner's on you, sir!" The rest of the packed dining room burst into applause. It was that spectacular. They gave me a free t-shirt that I put on then and there. They also comped my dinner and paid my dry cleaning bill.
Now I need a couple of margaritas and an order of catfish mardigras.
Breakfast-Lawrence-Tewksbury-Andover, MA
I also like the Shawsheen Lunchonette. Get there early (before 8am) or be prepared to wait on the weekends. I'm partial to their pancakes, light and tender but eggs and omlettes are great too. Yes, it's pricy compared to the other places in Lawrence but it's really good.
