Been here...yes, you can go up for lobsters, etc over and over, etc...but I thought for the price, the place was old, tired and kind of gross. Ambiance is like a big cafeteria...not very clean. Very dated decor. For that price, go to a restaurant for some ambiance....unless your nay goal for going there is to see how much lobster you can eat...!

I have found the best way to keep it fresh when I bring it home from the farmer's market, is to cut the ends off (like you would with fresh flowers) and keep it on the counter in a vase with water...it keeps for quite a long time like this. It does better this way than in the fridge in water, I have found...

I am so mad..

I went to Costco this weekend to specifically buy their fantastic CIBO pesto...and they have gotten rid of it. In it's place is a Kirkland brand of pesto that is runny, overly oily, and fairly flavorless. The CIBO brand was excellent as a pasta sauce and as a sandwich spread and now a lousy substitute is in its place.

It was literally the reason I drive all the way to the nearest Costco...and now they are trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes as the packaging looks identical to the CIBO pesto they used to carry...shame on you Costco! Bring back the CIBO!

Pho Countryside is a welcome relief...the new owners have renovated and cleaned the place up. Food is fresh and delicious and service is good. Thank goodness because I stopped eating there when it was Pho Yuen Dong since it was so utterly filthy. Glad to be back!

Cilantro Lime Salad at the Nordstrom Cafe in the South Shore Plaza.
Also, the frisee salad at Troquet...and both the Cobb salad and the Abe & Louis salad at Abe & Louis.

Give me a break, clam snobs...we ordered both big belly's (and we love clams) and their unusual enormity, coupled with soggy, oily breading that wasn't crisp...they were texturally disgusting. And the strips were soggy as well...so whether they were strips or whole belies, they need to get their act together on the fryer.

OK, we've been to Sea Swirl (Mystic CT) twice now for fried clams. The first time, about month ago, we ordered the whole belly fried clams, which they get many accolades for. Yuck. We are clam lovers, but the clams were mushy, oily and the bellies WAY too big. They were really gross.

The second time we went, we ordered the clam strip roll, figuring we'd get the nice, crunchy fried clams we remember...once again, so greasy the roll was saturated with oil and the clams were not the slightest bit crunchy. So many magazines have written up Sea Swirl and they used to be good...now, no.

The older lady standing at the window took about 5 minutes to even acknowledge us and ask if she could help us when we were trying to order. Whoever they have on the fryolator needs to be fired...probably a young, inexperienced college kid that hasn't been properly trained. Such a shame...we live in the area but won't be back.

Go to Besito in West Hartford Center next to the library...delicious upscale Mexican. Yummy!

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Besito
46 S Main St, West Hartford, CT 06107

I always enjoy the food at Quincy Dynasty...haven't been in a few weeks. We ordered so many entrees we were certain we'd end up bringing food home...as the server was clearing plates I commented on the new serving plates and bowls.

They have most definately cut back the portion sizes over the last few weeks, The appetizers looked the same (crab rangoon and chicken wings) but the entrees are definately half the size of before.

Are they losing money and this is their solution? I have dined here very often but this is not only making me not want to go back but ticking me off that they didn't think anyone would notice. Of course, the prices are the same. NOT a good idea. Anyone else notice this?

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Quincy Dynasty
49 Billings Rd, Quincy, MA 02171

The Taj is still very elegant (and expensive) but I am dying to try afternoon tea at the Boston Harbor Hotel since the view would be lovely. I didn't think the high tea in the Bristol Lounge at the Four Season was very special.

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Bristol Lounge
200 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

Four Seasons Restaurant
249 Lake Ave, Worcester, MA 01604

Well, I think the Atlantica in Cohasset is perfectly lovely location on the water and likely affordable for a group that size.

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Atlantica Restaurant
44 Border St, Cohasset, MA 02025

I agree that the bar at the Oak room is the best spot...it is impressive looking, old school Boston and has nice areas to sit and chat. Plenty or room and you aren't being pushed or overheard by your neighbors. And it's not too noisy. I have had many business cocktails at this location and found it to fit the bill.

Sorrelina truffle fries are ridiculously good...even when they get cold.

Haven't been here in awhile and stopped by for dinner the other night. They seated us near the door because they were holding several good, empty tables for people with reservations. Fair enough but it was freezing where they sat us.

Ordered the beet salad as an appetizer and the arugla they serve the beets on was virtually spoiled...light green, full of spots...NOT fresh. I mentioned to waitress (we ate the beets and goat cheese on top of argula) and she just shrugged her shoulders as she cleared the plate.

They have removed all the blackboard special pasta dishes so many of the things we used to like to order were no longer available...it is now menu only.

I ordered the bolonese and had to ask the waitress to please bring a side of grated cheese (I remember they have this stingy bad habit of giving you a sprinkling of cheese and that is all you get)...so she came to the table with a tiny dish of grated cheese. I am not looking to cover my plate with grated cheese but come on...why not let the customer put on what they like? Is this really going to break the bank?

I am feeling like they are starting to cut corners and that they are on their way out...anyone else have a similar experience?

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Basta Pasta
150 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171

Am I delusional to think there is a good NY style deli on the North Shore? Can anyone help?

OK, so the foliage was fantastic but the dining was hit or miss...as you would expect so far off the beaten path!
Juniper's at the WIldflower Inn was just ok. Food was acceptable but I thought prices were a bit high for uninsipred cuisine (that everyone raved about).
River Garden Cafe...the curb appeal of this place is atrocious...in fact, we drove by the day we were supposed to dine there and thought "oh no"....but inside it is lovely and we had the most fantastic meal of the weekend. Delicious duck that was medium rare and flavorful pork chop that was enormous and juicy (not at all dried out)...we shared a pecan maple tart for dessert that had a delicious homemade crust. Great pastry chef.

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River Garden Cafe
RR 114, East Burke, VT 05832

Ate here tonight. We ordered a sausage pizza and one skewer of the BBQ lamb. Both were yummy. Lamb was juicy and medium rare and just enough crisp / char on outside...and loved their pizza. Sauce is so good, they put the sausage under the cheese and the crust is crispy...a bit thicker than I anticipated, but the cornmeal on the bottom keeps it crisp. Since I do not frequent Santarpio's in East Boston due to annoying parking situation, it was nice to finally get to try it in house (the only other time I ate their pizza was take out a long time ago and it really is much better eaten on site). My only complaint is they have a lot of young inexperienced servers...one young lad was carrying two pizzas to a table next to ours and he had the tins stacked on top of each other. I thought that seemed a bit gross to have the bottom of your tin pan touching the cheesy top of your second pizza. Seemed kind of not the most sanitary way to
deliver to the table and unappetizing. But, I'll be back anyway since I loved the pizza.

Never even heard of this place until today...has anyone been?

http://www.towneboston.com/

I love Grumpy's but not the greatest place for a salad. I have been to Fat Cat once and wasn't bowled over. I will give the Fours a try and report back...thanks everybody.

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Fat Cat
24 Chestnut St, Quincy, MA 02169

I need to mix it up a little as I have a few too many lunches in Marina Bay. Someone suggested The Fours in Quincy...has anyone been and what is good?

Oddly enough, I got a flyer in the mail today and their menu looks decent....lots of variety.

I am looking for a good salad. The salads I have been getting at the new Port 350 in Marina Bay have been disappointing.

My favorite dishes are appetizers...they have a great dish called "Nataing"...ground pork simmered in coconut milk and served with crispy rice cakes...yum. Also good is the "Avocat Kanthor" salad which is so yummy...raw tuna, avocado, lemon grass. The cambodian spring rolls are also very good...and I like the loc lac entree. You are reminding me that I haven't been back in a very long time and I should go...I am craving those appetizers!

OK, most of you are going to say "I told you so", but ever the optimist, I continue to think RW is a great opportunity to try out a new restaurant when you are not dining on an expense account!
Went to Market last night here's the good and the bad:

THE GOOD - service was terrific from waitstaff to busboys. They are on it. They refill bread often, water often and you aren't looking around for them all the time as they appear just when they think you might need something. We never felt rushed (which was not the case last year when I dined at Sorrelina and they were clearly turning the tables every 45 mintues).

THE BAD - the table next to us whispered that typically RW portions are smaller than regular portions and they were right for the most part. I ordered two dishes that were very meager on the portions - the truffle pizza was the size of an english muffin, and the short ribs was one, smallish short rib. My DC has the tuna appetizer which was a bit more substantial and the bass which was also small but reasonable portion size. The food was acceptable but nothing that made me swoon. I almost wish we had gone off the regular menu as the thing about RW is that you THINK it is going to be cheaper but in reality once you have a glass of wine, coffee, it ends up being comparable to a regular meal (ours was $112 with tip). The dining room vibe doesn't knock my socks off either and feels like you are dining in a hotel.

You'd think these restaurants would wise up and make the RW experience the best they could possibly make it and a real value (ie regular portion sizes and don't rush people). For the two weeks they participate in this event you'd think they could suck it up so they would turn customers into repeat diners. Oh well...the experience didn't wow me enough to come back. Lesson learned.

Spinelli's is great...my sister uses them quite often to cater events at MGH and everyone loves their food! I often get their take out eggplant parm from the Saugus location. It never disappoints!

Make sure to get an order of the truffle fries....they are incredible. The "macaroni" with kobe meatballs is also great and so are the tuna tartare and the veal milanese. I think this is one of the best restaurants in town. Even though the room is large, you never have to yell to be heard over other diners.

Skip the Peking Duck at Quncy Dynasty - there are a much better dishes at this restaurant. When I ordered it, there was no crispy skin, the duck was kind of overcooked yet fatty at the same time...and no flavor. I have been back many times but won't order this dish again here. It is my understanding that Peking Duck has crispy skin, and they return with several courses made from the same duck (ie duck soup, duck stir fry)...none of that here. Skip it.

OK, so I drive by this place fairly often and I ahve searched chowhound for reviews and I can't find a single thing....has anyone eaten here? Is it decent and if so, what is good to order?

This place is always, always good....and a nice change from Simon Pearce (which is also always good).

Prezza

Love this place...great comfort food. Fried chicken with mashed is a favoriite and their steak tips are always, always great.

Troquet. The dining room is lovely and the food is always consistently great.