vanna f.k.a. babette's Profile
Grille Zone closing 1/26
Damn! I really love that burger. I just had one on Saturday, en route between locations teaching fitness classes. THAT'S how much I love that burger. I still had it on my breath for yoga training. And I just introduced the mister to that burger, and we were discussing the absence of "burger-hangover" - that heavy nasty feeling in the belly an hour after ingesting. I never got that from Grill Zone. Guess I'll have to try uburger.
WOW! A report from Province Street.
oh yeah! I had my first Province St visit about a month ago and it was very special.
I wish they'd put one into Davis Sq and balance out the burrito triangle...
trader joe's arlington
The wine shop on Broadway is excellent. They are incredibly helpful and I've found several reasonably priced bottles via their guidance. Nice neighborhood place.
American Chop Suey
I was salivating over this post. ACS had a steady role in my mother's 3 dish rotation when I was growing up, and although I grew to loathe it then, it's total comfort food now. Her's isn't very good, and this thread gave me such a craving so I tried the recipezaar version linked here. Pretty satisfying. And we always called it ACS until my brother-inlaw came into the family and renamed it 'Train Wreck' ...'cause that's what it looks like...
Good Food, Service at Sugar and Spice, Cambridge
Ditto my experiences with this place: always fine service in the dining room, and always disasterous take-out...long waits and messed up orders. I have reason to be in Porter Sq at lunch time fairly often and think it's a great option for dining in at lunch. For take-out, I head further down Mass Ave into Arlington for Thai Moon.
Pescatore Seafood in Somerville
Ummm...Not empty anymore! I tried to call in an order last night, as I have the past 3 consecutive Friday nights (housebound with babies), and I was told they could not take anymore takeout orders. According to the woman on the phone, who I'm guessing is the owner, both dining rooms were full (both?), there was a long wait for a table, and it would be 1 hour + before they could fill a take out order.
Good for them. Bad for me because I'm hooked on those raviolis-n-veal. Guess that Globe review was well received. Hope they can keep up.
The Burren: okay food, but terrific service
so funny...I think I've shared this on the board before: eating dinner at the Burren with an Irish friend one night, he told us their cooking reminds him of his mother's. And by the way, "me mum considers water a seasoning!"
Pescatore Seafood in Somerville
Anyone know if byob is an option here whille they are sans liquor license?
wanted: dark cozy irish pub
The Brendan Behan in JP. Excellent Guinness.
I also like the Squealing Pig, just off Huntington near Mass Art. No fireplace but it really has that communal pub feel.
Moving to Arlington - where's good?
Yes, i also have a crack-like addiction to Punjab's tikki masala. I also find the kormas very tasty and I like the bread as well. Their chicken (at least what chix dishes simmered in sauces such as mentioned above) is incredibly moist and tender - not tough and stringy like it's been nder a lamp for a few hours, which I find is the case at "so-so" indian places (Diva comes to mind). I have found with take out that the entree sizes have gotten smaller, but have not eaten in the dining room since they moved next door.
I heart punjab!
Pescatore Seafood in Somerville
Got takeout from Pescatore's last night. It was excellent! I planned to order a non-fried seafood entree, however the woman I got on the phone told me that the veal special was pretty fantastic and she was correct. Veal marsala, super tender and nicely seasoned, served over homemade butternut squash ravioli. Ravs were toothy and dense with rich tasting squash. Salty ham and sweet carmalization on the mushrooms. Hubby had steak tips (surprise, surprise) and said they were the best in the area - and that's behind Bob's and LaCascia's. Nice sides of spinach and garlic mashed. Potatoes looked great and I couldn't get a bite! Even the bread they sent along was lovely served with a basil infused oil. I'm so pleased that this place is so good. A tad expensive for take out, but given the options in the neighborhood, I'm happy to have a real "Meal" option. Apparently they do have a dining room now. Anyone know if there is beer/wine or is byob a possibility? (I'm sure it will be mostly takout for us anyhow).
Wild Oats Saugus... sigh.
I asked the cashier on my way out a few days ago, if they were going to become a Whole Foods and she confirmed that they had been informed that the Medford location would become a Whole Foods location, and that they would remain open during the renovations and transition, but she didn't know when this would take place. I was relieved. With twin 9 mo old babies at home, I really don't want to lose a grocery that we can reach in the double stroller...
Moving to Chelmsford next week, any tips?
I grew up in Chelmsford. All I can say about the dining opportunities is "sorry," and venture into town often. Skip's is NOT a go to place. Not even a good dive. In Lowell you've got some good diners. The Owl comes to mind. If you're venturing toward Tyngsboro, I'd send you to Groton Ctr instead for dinner at Filho's italian Cucina. Very reasonable, delicious, and be warned - very busy on the weekend. Fortunately you're close to some great ice cream! Kimball's, Sully's.
Moulton's and More!
okay, family spot. All families get up under one another's skin sometimes. So MeffaBabe, what do you like to EAT there?
Moulton's and More!
Okay, I guess I need to give this place a third try. I live blocks from Moulton's. When I first moved to the neighborhood, about 3 years ago, I tried it twice. Both times I found the fried items underwhelming and overcooked. And also found the service, which I believe was the owners (married couple?) to be quite irritable with the customers and each other. Is it the same management? I'd love to love this place since it's so close. What should I order?
Cambridge (Central Sq. area)
I have never tried Gandhi. Can you say more on the virtues of this place?
Info on Bedford House of Roast Beef and Sparta (Bedford) Needed
YUMmmm...I went to Merrimack for undergrad and lived within walking distance to Harrisons', which is actually open quite late at night. The RB with sauce and cheese on an onion roll is very good during the day, but after 1am becomes obscenely fantastic. Also, the pizza rolls! Exactly what it sounds like - pizza inside of a fried eggroll. Harrison's is on Rte 125 in North Andover. You will never go to Kelly's again. There - I said it.
Mifune?
Howdy,
Has anyone tried Mifune yet? This is what has gone in where Viet's Cafe used to be in Arlington Center. I grabbed a takeout menu while in the neighborhood this afternoon. Says it's Chinese & Japanese grill cuisine. Pretty broad menu. Can anyone comment?
Best delivery around Davis Sq?
That was me. Now they (twins) are 3 months old and at dinner time I can really only eat things with one hand: sandwiches, burritos, etc. Checked out Mr Crepe for the 1st time since their reopening -- tasty and fresh ingredients but a little pricey for what it is... I do a fair amount of delivery from Wang's and Pini's for pizza. Does anyone know if City Slickers will deliver to Medford Hillside. I was psyched to find Rich again and enjoyed my old favorite grilled chicken pasta last week. Now I have that shrimp & bacon pizza on my mind!
must have amazing food, kid friendly?
We brought 2 newborns and a todler to Eastern Standard for Brunch a few weeks ago and they were extremely accomodating.
Sagra Service
Okay, I have to share my experience with the new neighborhood place. Went in early last night sans reservation -- the first night out for dinner after birthing twins 8 weeks ago, compliments of grammy taking the babies for their first overnight. At around 6pm the dining room was empty and only a few parties at the bar. We said we were flexible about having a table or sitting at the bar. No mention of reservations. The hostess (?) said we could do either, and suggested a table in the bar as a happy medium. Cool. Food was nice, especially the duck ragu gnocchi. However I waited through the 2nd half of my entree to be offered a second glass of wine. It arrived just prior to my entree being cleared. Our server asked about dessert and I told her I would think about it while enjoying the wine. Moments later the check was dropped. I was surprised -- we were thinking about dessert and had almost full drinks. Maybe 30 seconds later, the server tried to pick up the check, apologizing but telling us that the table was needed. It was 7:30. Then while she was getting change, the hostess came over to tell us that another party had been waiting for the table for 30 minutes, and suggested we take our drinks to the bar if we wanted to finish them. Am I wrong for feeling outraged over this? I was a fine dining server in a former life, and I'd never ask a party to vacate their table -- plus why put us at a table that would be needed in an hour?
I'd like this place to succeed, yet the next time I have a night off mommy duty...I'll go to Gargoyles where I always experience exceptional service.
Lantana Cafe
Looking for someplace convenient and easy for a visit with friends last night, we decided to try Lantana Cafe on Rt 60 in Medford. It's quite a sweet little room...warmer and more inviting than it appears from outside.
The food was more than competent and for the price, a good value. Their menu has a broad selection of typical Italian dishes. Several of their specials looked interesting, especially the beef dishes, but I'd had piccata on my mind for a few days so ordered the veal. Tasty, although not as tender as I hoped, and slightly oily. Others had veal dishes and one had the lobster ravioli with a rosa sauce that looked beautiful and she raved about. They serve some flatbread slices dusted with cheese and some spiced olive oil and promptly brought more after we scarfed it all while waiting for entrees. Very tasty caesars. My tiramisu was a bit boring but pretty. The mini-chocolate souffle looked much better.
Service was great, happy to let us chat and linger and visit. I'll definitely go back and try one of their specials when I'm looking for a place to meet friends and enjoy a meal that is uncomplicated by parking, waiting lines, etc.
Comfort Food Season
I've only been to Eastern Standard for a burger at the bar (which was quite good).
Can you elaborate on the cassoulet? Is it a special or wiil it be in their menu through the winter?
Comfort Food Season
Don't forget the Bananna bread pudding for dessert at Grotta - now that's comforting if you still have room for dessert after the short ribs.
The cavatelli is pretty dang good on a cold night too - I tried to replicate it at home a few weeks ago. Tasted good but nowhere close.
local chains for prepared dinners
Has anyone had experience with either Dream Dinners or Let's Dish? These are both places where you schedule a session to assemble meals to keep in your freezer. I'm thinking it may be a good investment in my nutrition and my sanity after delivering twins (any day now).
These 2 chains have both popped up locally and I'm wondering which one to try, based on whose meals are tastier, and SPECIFIC to the LOCAL AREA, whose ingredients are fresher. I'd probably hit Let's Dish in Burlington, or Dream Dinners in Danvers or North Andover.
ANy experience with either one? I'd like a hound p.o.v.
irish pubs
Squealing Pig off Huntington Ave used to have some pretty tasty toasties as well, although I haven't been in a few years.
irish pubs
I once ended up drinking an afternoon away at the Burren with an Irish friend until it was clear we didn't have the faculties to relocate for dinner. While dining, he told me that in his opinion the Burren serves the most authentic Irish in the area, based on the fact that everything tastes like his mother could have made it -- and that she considers water to be a seasoning :)
So take that for what it's worth....
