pete "-rman (check out channel 9!)" k.'s Profile
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Had a fantastic bento lunch here - the Dabin Deluxe. Loved it! Really nice little Japanese restaurant with some Korean menu items. There was nothing not to like, aside from the metered parking lot in the back.
Tempura was fresh and crunchy. Sashimi was very fresh and tasty (tuna and salmon). The box also included miso soup, salad, rice, teriyaki chix, gyoza, and some some california maki. I was very pleased and stuffed at the end. The chicken was the weak point here, a little bland and a little dry.
Tempura was fresh and crunchy. Sashimi was very fresh and tasty (tuna and salmon). The box also included miso soup, salad, rice, teriyaki chix, gyoza, and some some california maki. I was very pleased and stuffed at the end. The chicken was the weak point here, a little bland and a little dry.
251 Arlington St
West Acton, MA 01720
(978) 263-8743
West Acton, MA 01720
(978) 263-8743
The Local Table
Categories:
Specialty Food,
Caterers
Savoury Lane is now The Local Table, and there is FINALLY a place to eat dinner (and drink beer!!) in West Acton!
We checked it out last week, and were very pleased. The menu is very simple, focusing on some appetizers, pizzas and burgers. There are a few other items too - soups on special, etc. They have some good local beers on tap - HUGE bonus - and a nice selection of wines (did not sample). Wachusett Green Monsta was my choice for the evening.
Edamame gyoza were surprisingly great. I had the New England Burger (baco, cheddar, homemade bbq sauce, on brioche) and Kim went with a Tuscan sandwich (prosciutto, pesto, tomato, mozz on ciabata). Both came with fries. The burger was actually very good - something I rarely say about a restaurant burger. Cooked perfectly to my liking as well. Tuscan was a tasty sandwich - all ingredients were fresh. Fries were a big soggy.
Dessert was a nice surprise - real cannolis from the North End.. very good ricotta filling and fresh, crunchy shells.
Service was a bit slow, but our orders came out in a timely fashion once we got them in. This isn't a knock-your-socks-off kind of place, but it could be with a bit more traction.. they have a slick looking bar, and a good sized dining room. Things feel a little bland in there, and this sleepy town doesn't "get out much" so it doesn't seem too busy. I am hoping they can draw some of the NYAJ crowd in - but closing at 8pm makes it tough to compete. Looking forward to going back - maybe they can earn that 5th star.
We checked it out last week, and were very pleased. The menu is very simple, focusing on some appetizers, pizzas and burgers. There are a few other items too - soups on special, etc. They have some good local beers on tap - HUGE bonus - and a nice selection of wines (did not sample). Wachusett Green Monsta was my choice for the evening.
Edamame gyoza were surprisingly great. I had the New England Burger (baco, cheddar, homemade bbq sauce, on brioche) and Kim went with a Tuscan sandwich (prosciutto, pesto, tomato, mozz on ciabata). Both came with fries. The burger was actually very good - something I rarely say about a restaurant burger. Cooked perfectly to my liking as well. Tuscan was a tasty sandwich - all ingredients were fresh. Fries were a big soggy.
Dessert was a nice surprise - real cannolis from the North End.. very good ricotta filling and fresh, crunchy shells.
Service was a bit slow, but our orders came out in a timely fashion once we got them in. This isn't a knock-your-socks-off kind of place, but it could be with a bit more traction.. they have a slick looking bar, and a good sized dining room. Things feel a little bland in there, and this sleepy town doesn't "get out much" so it doesn't seem too busy. I am hoping they can draw some of the NYAJ crowd in - but closing at 8pm makes it tough to compete. Looking forward to going back - maybe they can earn that 5th star.
Very, very, very good pizza. Service was fast and friendly, but more importantly, my mouth was watering in the car as I drove my pickup order home. The Greek salad was the right size for 2 people - and very cheesy, very tasty. The Carnevale pie is a great option - just the right amount of toppings. You can pick up your slice and it won't fall apart or drip all over you. Online ordering is a nice feature, too. I'll be bahck.
25 High St
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 655-4735
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 655-4735
Jaime's Restaurant
Category:
American (Traditional)
Note - my experience is very limited at Jaime's - just sat at the bar with some friends. The beer selection is decent, especially for the burbs. The Sierra is served very cold, and you can get it in a big mug. Like. Bar service was good, and the place is looks really nice. The TVs are everywhere, and big, as well. All good things there. The food, ehh... not so exciting.
We got a couple apps that were.. meh. Good to sop up some of the beer in my belly, but not worth getting excited over. If in the area, I'd go back - just gotta keep expectations a bit low. Its totally ok for a bar to serve kinda crummy food, in my opinion.. but the problem with Jaime's is they are trying to be a bit more than a regular bar, so the food really needs to get improved, especially with Burtons not far away.
We got a couple apps that were.. meh. Good to sop up some of the beer in my belly, but not worth getting excited over. If in the area, I'd go back - just gotta keep expectations a bit low. Its totally ok for a bar to serve kinda crummy food, in my opinion.. but the problem with Jaime's is they are trying to be a bit more than a regular bar, so the food really needs to get improved, especially with Burtons not far away.
284 Washington St
Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 505-1844
Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 505-1844
Cutty's
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Brookline Village
Hands down, 5 stars. Absolutely lust-worthy sandwiches. For years I've griped and moaned about this state's horrible inability to make a decent sandwich. This all changed last Friday.. which to my complete joy, was Banh Mi day. I walked in with a plan of "Spuckie and Roast Beef 1000" - yeah, two sandwiches, one lunch. Well.. the Banh Mi overwhelmed my brain and replaced the Spuckie.
And oh my.
I've been to Vietnam and somehow missed the brilliancy that is Banh Mi (was too obsessed with spring rolls and noodles).. but I have now redeemed myself. Granted, the airy, crusty, amazing Iggy's bread is not quite "french" - I could live off of that stuff, so it made this sandwich better than I could have hoped. Its not a giant, sloppy, drippy sandwich. It's neat, its clean, and it is mind-blowing delicious. The pork, sauces, veggies, all meld perfectly. The bread contains everything while adding its own culinary delight. I could not stop eating this sandwich - except for taking breaks to dive into the Roast Beef 1000.
An sandwich with "1000" in the name. How can you not want that? Oh, and its house-roasted beef, on a grilled brioche bun, with crispy fried shallots, sharp cheddar, and flippin *homemade* 1000 island dressing. This is not your typical roast beef sandwich. The flavors that come together with each bite make you picture that scene in Ratatouille, when he's trying to describe to his brother what is so great about food.. blah blah blah. It's just.. fantastic.
And then back to the Banh Mi. God damn, that's equally incredible. The two sandwiches are worlds apart, but at the same time.. both out of THIS world.
Oh - and they sell pork fat. Someday..
I am smitten with Cuttys.
And oh my.
I've been to Vietnam and somehow missed the brilliancy that is Banh Mi (was too obsessed with spring rolls and noodles).. but I have now redeemed myself. Granted, the airy, crusty, amazing Iggy's bread is not quite "french" - I could live off of that stuff, so it made this sandwich better than I could have hoped. Its not a giant, sloppy, drippy sandwich. It's neat, its clean, and it is mind-blowing delicious. The pork, sauces, veggies, all meld perfectly. The bread contains everything while adding its own culinary delight. I could not stop eating this sandwich - except for taking breaks to dive into the Roast Beef 1000.
An sandwich with "1000" in the name. How can you not want that? Oh, and its house-roasted beef, on a grilled brioche bun, with crispy fried shallots, sharp cheddar, and flippin *homemade* 1000 island dressing. This is not your typical roast beef sandwich. The flavors that come together with each bite make you picture that scene in Ratatouille, when he's trying to describe to his brother what is so great about food.. blah blah blah. It's just.. fantastic.
And then back to the Banh Mi. God damn, that's equally incredible. The two sandwiches are worlds apart, but at the same time.. both out of THIS world.
Oh - and they sell pork fat. Someday..
I am smitten with Cuttys.
And... they get that 3rd star back, for getting the good beers on tap again.
2 Previous Reviews:
-
8/10/2011
Dang, Margaritas, you make bad decisions.
This location is officially doing away with all of their good beers. They previously had a pretty good selection of drafts, like Dales and Dogfish Head. They are now cutting all beers back to the same crappy beers you find.. everywhere. Down to two stars for this idiotic move. -
7/19/2010
What can you say about Margaritas? The food is fine - on par with other Margaritas - not bad, not stellar.. but servings are large and tasty.
Given this one's location, it gets a little credit considering there are very few other dining alternatives within a couple miles. That said, it is generally a GD mob scene.
Service is.. hit or miss. Seems like the dining room gets trainees all the time, while the bar side of the restaurant gets the more seasoned pros.
Parking. Lets talk about parking. Nightmarish.. ridiculous.. comical.. and non-existent. A critcal oversight by Senior Juan here - despite the "free valet" band-aid (no strangers get to drive my car, sorry), getting a parking space is generally a complete hassle. There are a couple hotels in the same strip, so plan to drive around them before finding a place to leave your car.
And once you leave -no left turn onto 225 is an added hassle.
I waited a couple months before writing this, hoping service would.. "mature" a bit. Sadly, it is still pretty rough unless you sit at the bar. With that and the parking nightmare, it is tough to rate too highly. I'd go with a 2.5, but given the lack of other dining options and decent food, they get a solid 3. Oh, and they do have a couple decent beers on tap - including Dogfish Head, surprisingly!
Your first impression might be a little bleak - it feels kind of like Kmart - too bright, kinda old.. and birds are chirping all over the store. Luckily its actually a great hardware store. The kind of "everything you need" place - and a very solid paint department. I find myself here more often than I can believe - from lawn care to electrical to paint to cleaning supplies.. even to grilling. They have a pretty nice selection of charcoal and wood chips.
The staff is helpful and friendly. I enjoyed my last visit to grab some ceiling paint. After a couple of questions, they readily mixed my paint, even if I didn't plan to use it yet.. offered up stirrers, and the kid at the checkout even gave me a paint key (the opener thing) - all without any asking on my behalf. Pretty cool.
My only complaint.. is they close way too early on Sundays. I'm usually elbows deep and under supplied in some project at the end of a weekend, only to realize I either have to sprint to Ace, or they closed already.
And - sign up for the Rewards thingie. I get $5 coupons all the time, and really don't spend *that* much money to get them.
The staff is helpful and friendly. I enjoyed my last visit to grab some ceiling paint. After a couple of questions, they readily mixed my paint, even if I didn't plan to use it yet.. offered up stirrers, and the kid at the checkout even gave me a paint key (the opener thing) - all without any asking on my behalf. Pretty cool.
My only complaint.. is they close way too early on Sundays. I'm usually elbows deep and under supplied in some project at the end of a weekend, only to realize I either have to sprint to Ace, or they closed already.
And - sign up for the Rewards thingie. I get $5 coupons all the time, and really don't spend *that* much money to get them.
Real. Bagels.
That's all you need to know. They make them fresh - boil 'em, and serve them right away. A real, honesty to goodness bagel is never great the following day without some work (wrap in foil and warm in oven, or toast it).
Bagels Plus has many varieties of bagels and cream cheese, as well as a few other specialties like muffins. They serve a variety of coffee drinks and other beverages, which are fair. Nothing great, nothing bad. The breakfast sandwiches are a bit lacking.. but the real reason to go here is those bagels. These are the kind that don't need toasting - you get the nice crust and the chewy, doughy center to enjoy.
Coming from NJ, I've ranted and whined incessantly about the lack of real bagels up here in MA.. fortunately, my new home of Acton has Bagels Plus.
Special note: it gets mobbed on the weekends, and is cash only. You might hate every minute you are waiting in line, but every bagel you eat is worth the effort.
That's all you need to know. They make them fresh - boil 'em, and serve them right away. A real, honesty to goodness bagel is never great the following day without some work (wrap in foil and warm in oven, or toast it).
Bagels Plus has many varieties of bagels and cream cheese, as well as a few other specialties like muffins. They serve a variety of coffee drinks and other beverages, which are fair. Nothing great, nothing bad. The breakfast sandwiches are a bit lacking.. but the real reason to go here is those bagels. These are the kind that don't need toasting - you get the nice crust and the chewy, doughy center to enjoy.
Coming from NJ, I've ranted and whined incessantly about the lack of real bagels up here in MA.. fortunately, my new home of Acton has Bagels Plus.
Special note: it gets mobbed on the weekends, and is cash only. You might hate every minute you are waiting in line, but every bagel you eat is worth the effort.
Yup, 5 stars, just like that. West Acton (well, Acton in general) is in desperate need of new food options - and Twin is a great addition. Its the kind of place you'd expect to find in a beachy town - small, simple, with fresh eats. It has some perks, too - tons of parking (in the back), an awesome deck, and it is BYOB (swing by Red, White and Brew right down the street). There's a big cooler comprising the "fish market", an open "kitchen", and several lobster tanks for different sized crustaceans. Several small tables line the place, and the deck has a big heater with loungy chairs out there right now. Will be terrific in the summer.
Last night we grabbed a lobster roll, clam strips, and stuffed quahogs for take out. It was a tough decision - but no one felt like cooking, so the big display of fish was passed on. There was a great selection of fish, all of which looked top notch.
The lobster roll came on a bulkie/burger roll, which was actually a nice treat. You can cram much more lobz in there - and at $17, you get a very large portion. The lobster was delicious and not overly mayo'd. A very good sammich. The fries that came with it were soggy, but oh well.
The fried calm strips were completely.. awesome. Very crunchy, nicely seasoned - really impressive.
The stuffed clams were very good, with large pieces of clam mixed in. They could use a bit more flavoring, however - so out came the hot sauce. For $2.50 a pop, there's nothing to complain about.
The menu is very extensive, offering all kinds of sandwiches and dinners. Plenty of fried goodness as well.. and if you aren't into fish, they have a few land-based foods too.
All in all, a terrific first impression here. Having spent an excessive amount of time at the beach this summer, it is refreshing to have a taste of that again, and in a quality fashion.
Last night we grabbed a lobster roll, clam strips, and stuffed quahogs for take out. It was a tough decision - but no one felt like cooking, so the big display of fish was passed on. There was a great selection of fish, all of which looked top notch.
The lobster roll came on a bulkie/burger roll, which was actually a nice treat. You can cram much more lobz in there - and at $17, you get a very large portion. The lobster was delicious and not overly mayo'd. A very good sammich. The fries that came with it were soggy, but oh well.
The fried calm strips were completely.. awesome. Very crunchy, nicely seasoned - really impressive.
The stuffed clams were very good, with large pieces of clam mixed in. They could use a bit more flavoring, however - so out came the hot sauce. For $2.50 a pop, there's nothing to complain about.
The menu is very extensive, offering all kinds of sandwiches and dinners. Plenty of fried goodness as well.. and if you aren't into fish, they have a few land-based foods too.
All in all, a terrific first impression here. Having spent an excessive amount of time at the beach this summer, it is refreshing to have a taste of that again, and in a quality fashion.
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Acton, MA
Yelping SinceJuly 2007
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The pulled pork was great. Crazy tender, nice flavor and good smoke. Served on a really nice sized bun too - bonus points there. Slaw was great, and went well on the sammich.
The rib(s).. however.. ugh. I was so, so bummed out by the rib that it almost cost them the 4th star on this review. It looked good - well rubbed and dry (a good rib should never need sauce). However.. it took all of my strength to get the meat off of dem bones! What the deuce? That thing was either not slow cooked - or had been under a heat lamp for days. It was so disconcertingly dry and tough that I have to go back and try again. I don't believe a real BBQ joint could serve a rib like that. So - that 4th star may go away.
How'd they keep the star? Well.. they have sauces. Lots, and lots of sauces. From vinegar to NC mustard sauce - and a few nice regular ones in between. Serve yourself, meaning you can get all kinds of saucy. Added vinegar to my pork , and dipped it in the other sauces to test. The mustard and the "hot" ones were great. Standard house sauce was decent. I was very happy with the sauce.
Another perk here - great atmosphere. Plenty of seats, and a very smart serve-yourself beverage setup. They also have some good beers to choose from, which I unfortunately could not test at the time. I certainly wish I had a place like this in the 'outter' burbs.