tryanything's Profile
The One Place You Want to Keep to Yourself - It's OK, We Won't Tell Anyone!
Zalek's is a great example and it shows the value of chowhound. I live very near it, but heard about it here - I believe I first heard of it through Shaebones. I have gone many times and told everyone I know because you badly want them to succeed - and they are!
The One Place You Want to Keep to Yourself - It's OK, We Won't Tell Anyone!
Almost everyone is missing the point. I guess it's my fault for improperly stating the premise. But let me ask you - How can anyone possibly think I'm looking for a real "secret" place if I'm asking you to tell it about it right here? This is a great opportunity to tell about your favorite go to place and let the world know about it. Fun for us - good for the restaurant.
The One Place You Want to Keep to Yourself - It's OK, We Won't Tell Anyone!
I was thinking about this after I went to the Pasta Market Cafe in Malden for the fourth time in 2 weeks! We all have places like this. A place we always fall back on and are never dissapointed. The truth is, like all of you, I have a couple of places that fit this description - but I'm willing to share this one.
Pasta Market Cafe is right in the middle of a neighborhood in Malden. The food is always outstanding. The problem is working your way through the menu. After you try something, you want to order it again and again. Let me just tell you about a few items. They have a gnocchi appetizer that is not even close to the gnocchi I grew up with. This gnocchi is stuffed with goat cheese and bell peppers, then deep fried before it is sauteed with garlic and tomatoes. Eggplant parmigiana seems like a routine choice. At this place they take the time to make it like your grandmother did. They go through the trouble of getting most of the water out of the eggplant before they cook it. the result is a dense, richly flavored eggplant. The most basic of meals, fettucine with meat sauce, has so much flavor and so much meat that it makes you want to take it to another table so you won't have to share it.
I forgot to mention prices, The gnocchi is $6.95, eggplant $10.95 and the fettucini bolognese $9.50. I'd say the price is less than half what I would pay in Boston. That's one of the secrets of ths place. All of their pasta is homemade and they supply many of the high end hotels and restaurants in Boston with their products. If they make something special that day, they make extra and put it on the special board. For instance, last week I had bell pepper pasta with veal and shrimp in a beautiful cheese sauce.
I shared - Let's see if someone else will share one of their secret places.
Chef's Table - What is it like?
My vision of this would have me sitting inside the kitchen, watching the activity and trying anything the chef suggests. I think it would be a ball. Is this close to reality and if you have tried it, where would you suggest as a good place to experience this?
Chef's Tables
I've never done it, but it sounds like it could be great experience. Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations on whether this is a good thing to do and do you have favorites. Thank you.
Churrascaria Rodeo in Woburn - any recent visits?
In the fall, most reports were running hot and cold on this place. I'd love to hear if anyone has been fairly recently and what they thought. Thanks
Choate Bridge Pub
Shaebones - It's time for an intervention! 2:20 AM and you're thinking about the next night's dinner! Since I can relate to that completely, we may need a joint session. You guided me to Zalek's so I'm privileged to fill you in on the Choate Bridge. I've been going for 30 years or more and I'm proud to say that not a single thing has changed. Specials on the wall and the placemat is the menu. I can't speak to the salads because every time I want to say, "I'll have the caesar with chicken", I hear myself saying, "I'll have the fried clam appetizer and a medium rare burger". It's truly a very good burger but I'm frightened to bring that up in this board because we'll get 76 burger posts - Let's keep it our secret!
The lobster roll is outstanding and even something as routine as the tuna roll is done well. They have a very good grill menu - tips, sausage and chicken. The special board changes often enough so that you may find chicken parm one night and striped bass the next.
It's not fine dining but more often than not it fits the bill for those times you ask the question, "I've been working in the yard all day - where can I get some good food?"
It's a step back in time and I am sure you'll enjoy it for exactly what it is. Have fun.
Choate Bridge Pub report - Clams/LobsterRoll, Burger
This is exactly why I'll never make a good reviewer! I forgot to mention the location - thank you Joanie
Choate Bridge Pub report - Clams/LobsterRoll, Burger
Saturday night - 2 seats at the bar. We over ordered because I wanted to try Fried clams, Burger and Lobster roll. Clams were plentiful for $13.99 and had perfect sized bellies. Burger was ordered med/rare and that's exactly how it came out. The Lobster Roll was even better than It's been described on these pages. A lot of meat including whole claws and just the right amount of mayo. The place is a throwback in time from the biker bartender who provided impeccable service to the crowd that ranges from their 20's to 70's.
Topped the night off by picking up a couple of pizzas at Riverview for the next day.
I know the Clam Box is right down the street, but there's something to be said for getting a seat with an ice cold draft beer and immediate service. Just wanted to share.
Options for 250 person retirement party - north of Boston?
Most likely September this year. So far we can only think of Colonial in Wakefield and Spinelli's on Rte 1. To me the Colonial looks and feels too much like the function hall it is. Does anybody have any experience with Danversport Yacht Club? Thanks in advance for thinking about this. I guess I'm hoping someone went to a place that pleasantly surprised them.
Downstairs at Venetian Moon - Reading Square
I don't go to this place very often but I think that's about to change. I was with a small group last week and the upstairs bar was full. The hostess offered to seat us downstairs and I said NO because I remember the tiny confined space it always was. I noticed group after group coming in the door and immediately heading downstairs as the upstairs bar emptied out. You can figure out the rest - I just had to see what was going on when I was leaving. Downstairs is remarkable. They have taken over the space of the next 2 or 3 storefronts and it is now huge.
I worked in Boston for many years and recently came closer to home. I missed the feel of some of the better bars in Boston but this place fills that need. Beautiful plasma tv's all over the place including a bank of them behind the entertainment that is just used as a scenic background. They even have a VIP room of sorts around the corner that's secluded with couches and chairs. It reminds me in many ways of the "News" on Kneeland Street.
Sometime I may even try the food!
B&G Lobster Rolls
All this talk is making me glad I got my lobster permit and I'll be putting out a few traps of my own pretty soon. Of course, after the permit and the equipment and the cost of gas - my lobster will probably cost about $140/lb!
Shad Roe - Seeking Sources in Bostson?
http://www.twinseafoodofreading.com/
This is timely. I got some from Twin Seafood of Reading on Monday. Call them a day in advance though. (I need a better recipe though. I didn't like how I cooked it)
Best Churrascaria ?
This is one of those subjects that makes me drift off for long periods of time. Since it's Friday, I'm counting on people not taking notice that I'm just staring at the screen here. I lived in Buenos Aires for a year in 1993 and every second was memorable. Churrascaria type restaurants were everywhere. Beef,chicken,lamb,pork,seafood and often,hearts,kidney and sweetbreads. Before all this, you started off with a huge piece of grilled provolone cheese. It was nice to be young enough to eat all that without a heart surgeon on call.
I'm drifting, so I'll get back on track. I have only tried one churrascaria type place since then and it was "Fire Bull" in Peabody center. Not bad, but not the same. I liked it because it wasn't a buffet type place. The servers came to you. I heard about a place in Woburn and I'll pay attention to any reviews or sugestions that come out of this topic. Thanks for giving me a chance to daydream.
Spaghetti dinner - Wakefield Area?
I have to admit, I forgot about Molise. If you had a bad experience there, I'd urge you to give it another chance because every meal I've had there has always been much better than average and often exceptional. I would add that they are also very good people and very charitable to every cause that knocks on their door. I know it's not a food factor, but it is part of the equation in my mind when I patronize places.
Wakefield, MA Lunch
Welcome. I'm fairly new too, but I can help with this one. Bellino's Trattoria at the head of the lake in Wakefield -Main Street - makes very good panini sandwiches. Have no idea about delivery though.
Spaghetti dinner - Wakefield Area?
I'm telling you - the people on this site are the best. Thanks for the recommendations.
Spaghetti dinner - Wakefield Area?
Thank you. I've appreciated your help before. I'll check out Medford. I've hesitated to go back to Felicia's since I didn't enjoy my one experience there a few years ago. Probably unfair on my part, everybody can have a bad night. As for Kitty's - I go often just for the antipasto, which is one of the best. Pizza is ok, but that's as far as I would go with the menu. Everything else leans to the greasy side which I think means lower quality meat.
Spaghetti dinner - Wakefield Area?
After so many years of going to different places I'm drawing a blank if asked to recommend a place that does the basics well - good sauce, meatballs, cutlets or sausage. I'm still surprised by how many places use the frozen meatballs we can all get at Costco.
Can anybody think of a place they consistently go to if they just want a basic spaghetti dinner done well? Thanks
Sea Witch, Rte 1 - Worth a Try
I'm fairly new to this group. I only wish I had discovered it years ago. The recommendations I've received have been accurate and honest and I want to return the favor occasionally. The two of us were kind of wandering around the Rte I area on Saturday and after getting put off by the wait at "On the Border" we headed north and pulled into the Sea Witch on a whim. As you can see by the choices, we were just looking for a bite and not a dining experience. We got fried clams and baked haddock and both were very good - and I'm fussy about my clams! The biggest surprise was the tiny bar area at the other end of the restaurant. They have a few good beers on tap and a hi-def tv for sports. The best news is that they also have a raw bar with oysters, cherrystones and littlenecks that they serve at basically fish market costs. It's the kind of place I can see myself visiting to watch a few innings of the Sox and get a dozen, or so, littlenecks.
How are the North Shore Clams this year?
I'm waiting to take my first trip to Farnums and was wondering if anyone has tried them this year. They're my most consistent favorite. I don't like the little clams at all and sometimes you can get clams that are just too big - I'm thinking Woodman's. Clam Box is second because they tell you if they have large or small clams and give you the choice. Essex seafood can be ok, but I think their boiled lobster is their best item and the pleasant surprise to me is the fried clams at the Choate Bridge Pub in Ipswich. Something about sitting at the bar and eating clams appeals to me.
Place to watch Sox - burgers, nachos
Of all the choices I ended up at O'Sullivans in Somerville. It turned out to be perfect. The majority of the people at the bar were wearing their red sox colors. Too bad the game was a waste of time! I know this is one of the most reported locations on this site for burgers and they were very good. I really appreciate a place that will cook a burger medium rare. There is a growing list of places I won't go to anymore because of their "culinary correctness" - nothing below medium. Thanks for the suggestions - I'll knock off the rest of them one by one.
Place to watch Sox - burgers, nachos
I'm wondering where you would suggest two people go who would just like to watch the game and get some simple bar food? Anywhere from Ipswich to Boston would be perfect.
Franklin Cafe Gloucester - tonight?
You know those restaurants you go to and right away you know you'll be returning to it - that's the Franklin Cafe. There were 6 of us - and from a couple of drinks at the bar, to dinner and through dessert, the experience was unmatched. I've even been trying to figure out how to make a shot glass out of ice since that's one of their specialties. I even tried the chicken liver salad and it was great. I had the tuna and the rest of the table had everything from steak to pork chops to salmon and everybody thought they had the best meal. Just a fun location and actually a true value. Don't tell them, but I'd pay more for the experience!
Zaleck's does it again and again
I had to jump in on this one too. In addition to everything mentioned from the menu, keep in mind the specials. I had to return two days in a row because I saw they had a striped bass special. You don't see it that often and it's hardly ever done right. This was done perfectly. I know I'll be checking out the specials this Friday.
Great little WAKEFIELD restaurant -- can't find thread
I didn't say anything about the clams because I had to go the takeout route that night. You are right - they are very nice people and I know they would have been very accommodating if I brought it up. I didn't hold it against them one bit because I know how committed they are to providing the best product. It probably was just reflected the quality of clams they were able to get that day. I'm looking forward to returning there,
Great little WAKEFIELD restaurant -- can't find thread
Went to Zalek's just last night. I started based on recommendations here and it was my 3'd trip in 2 weeks. Everything we've had there has been very, very good and a real value with just one exception. I tried the small fried clams last night and they were virtually inedible. Tiny and chewy. With that aside, I can join the chorus here and say the baked fish is fresh and done perfectly; the seafood pie is enough for two; shrimp over rice - excellent, and even the burger is very good. I'll be back there this week.
Franklin Cafe Gloucester - tonight?
Any suggestions, recommendations or other thoughts - this will be our first visit there.
Best Tuna Sub
I agree with Toody's in Wakefield - tuna, pickles and hot peppers. great combo
ZALEKS in Wakefield for takeout
This will be my first stop there after reading about it here. I assume they do takeout -(too cold for the in-laws, so we can't eat in) Any suggestions on what to try first? thanks
