Daniel "Caffeine is my Vitamin C" M.'s Profile

So close to four stars...just a few more baked goods would push it up by one. I really like the Village Market and wish there was some place like it around where I live. It's a combination small grocery, bakery and sandwich shop located across the street from the post office in picturesque Essex. It features a very strong sandwich selection, coffee, convenience-store type grocery items, coffees and baked goods. I really like the doughy stuff that comes out of the oven...I'm not sure who creates their turnovers but they're really, really, tasty. Coffee starts at $1.50 for the smaller 12 oz. size...a bargain, compared to the larger chain locations. Sandwiches run the gamut from standard hams and cheeses to vegetarian varieties and always feature very fresh premium ingredients.

If you put the Village Market in the middle of Boston, Newton, or a highly-trafficked well-off locality it would clean up. As it is, it's great for Essex. Only knock against it is that the baked goods selection is kind of thin. Aside from that it's great. I'd recommend it.

Ya know...this place is better than OK. For those on a budget, or who just want a  decently priced unpretentious meal, this hits the spot. Lee's has been open about a month and a half. Burgers are surprisingly large, well-priced ($4.50 to start, $6 for a plain burger with fries). For those who don't want the typical burger there are also hot dogs and other tasty sandwich varieties. Drinks are reasonably priced and include, among other varieties, San Pellegrino Limonata and Aranciata - a big plus in my book.

Knocks against Lee's...fries were about what I'd call standard issue and bacon for one's burger will set you back $2. Still, service was very fast and super courteous, the place was spotless and the staff behind the counter moved incredibly fast. My conclusion...Lee's is real food, really unpretentious and really good. I'll be back...soon.

Unless you've stumbled off of Routes 12 or 91, been in town for a Stevens High reunion or needed a place to stay while skiing near Mt. Ascutney, you've probably seriously overlooked one of the best bed-and-breakfasts in the Connecticut River Valley. The Goddard Mansion has been around for years and offers a classy, intimate setting for vacationers, visitors and anyone looking for a relaxing few days away.

The setting is one of the most impressive homes in an area that has lots of them. Convenient to the Upper Valley, Hanover and Claremont, it's great for relaxation or for some of the many recreational activities (golf, skiing, hiking, biking, to name just some) nearby. Functions, ranging from weddings to murder mystery dinners, are always well-conducted and managed. The service, from kitchen staff to managers, is always friendly, well-informed and professional.

It's got seven well-appointed rooms, relaxing but not overly ostentatious, comfortable and quiet. Continental breakfast is served each morning in the Tiffany-lit dining room. I absolutely adore the living room with its large fireplace and the cozy sitting room. Quiet, yet elegant - just splendid all around.

For me, though the real selling point has to be the views. Absolutely breathtaking! The mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont seem like something out of an Augustus St. Gaudens painting from the Goddard's windows. Certainly there many spectacular views in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region but the ones from the mansion's windows are especially amazing - especially at sunset.

I've been here a number of times and have attended functions at the Goddard and the owners and staff have never disappointed. It's a real gem where I plan to return. A great place in a great setting. Highly recommended.

No one in their right mind could confuse this unpretentious little place in a rather eclectic neighborhood with shiny, bass-thumping, overpriced clubs in Boston or New York. It's a place for regular people and it's got everything real people want in a club. Karaoke, trivia, better-than-average food...nothing too dressed up or overpriced..

Now let's get to the music. It's not something from an art-school graduate you've never heard of who learned how to sync a variety of beats on a machine using some software program. No, you'll hear dance tunes from the 60's and later from artists who really sang and played instruments. Amazingly, most of what they play are songs that everyone knows. What a concept!

Hajjar's isn't pretty and it certainly doesn't pander to patrons looking for an "experience," or who want to be pampered. It's got really good food, reasonably-priced drinks, enough events and cool music for everyone. Not bad.

Not much to say about this particular Starbucks except a few things that might get you to come in here...or might keep you away. It's right on Route 9 eastbound, a little east of the Chestnut Hill and Atrium Malls. It's a small shop but inside it's put together a bit friendlier than other locations, with well designed ordering and pickup lines as well as a little bar where patrons can enjoy their drinks. Service is pretty fast even during busy hours and the staff is very professional and friendly.

That's good. Accessing the place is another story altogether and can pose a serious threat to one's life. Although there is a little parking lot in the back other parking is located in the front and around the corner. Visibilities in the area are horrific and attempting to slide into one of the spaces on the shoulder of Route 9 is suicidal. My advice...park at the little lot in the rear or on one of the adjoining streets. Don't park on Route 9...your morning coffee isn't worth your life.

It pains me to give a glowing review to a soulless, cold, multinational corporation. However...this particular branch of Citibank has always given me the services I need and the convenience to do my banking under some unusual circumstances.

I live in the Boston area but I have family in several different parts of the country...and sometimes I leave the area for continuing education or business. I needed a bank that would allow me to enter any branch anywhere and make me feel like I was doing business at home. The staff at the Newton Center branch set me up with services that I can take to Colorado, Texas, New York, or wherever else I go. When I looked for preferred interest rates they showed me how to qualify easily, how to combine accounts to get the best rates and how to reduce the fees I'd pay.

Moreover, the staff has never failed to give detailed and clear explanations of their policies and procedures. While I'm not (yet) a millionaire they treat me - and every other customer - like one. The branch itself is always kept clean and neat and is easy to navigate. Very rarely have I ever run into a serious line or delay - their people make taking care of customer a priority. I'm quite favorably impressed and I'll look forward to working with them in the future.

Yes, it's becoming less like a neighborhood sandwich shop and more like an assembly line...but I still like Panera, and this one's not bad. Food is always very fresh - it doesn't stay around long enough to get stale - the breads and pastries are always tasty and satisfying and customer service is usually pretty good. On that last point, I've got to note that Dad and I must have gotten an ex-Marine drill sergeant at the register last week...she was a bit scary...but they always get the order right and the price isn't totally unreasonable. Best time to show up is around mid-afternoon when there usually isn't a crowd. They've got wi-fi too, making it convenient to quickly do some work at lunchtime. Easily accessible and convenient to nearby shopping areas, this Panera passes the test.

Since I'm too busy to make it to Paris...or Montreal...or Woonsocket, for that matter I have to get my French and sort-of French food a bit closer to home. And that's why I find myself at the Paris Creperie whenever I'm near Beacon Street in Brookline. Good for a snack, not bad for a light meal and there is more food made here with Nutella than anywhere in the greater Boston area. My personal favorite is the Quirky Albuquerque, a concoction of sundried tomatoes, gruyere, artichokes and mushrooms. Yum!

Prices aren't all that bad, considering the fact that  it's in Brookline and that diners get a pretty good product. Seating is OK for the small size of the place; however I always get mine to take out. Also available are coffee drinks and smoothies...I'd recommend getting one while ordering, because the crepes are made to order...and at busy times, that can take a little while.

I would have to disagree with Wei's comment about 2:30 or so on Sunday as the perfect time to visit...my experience is that it can get pretty crowded at that time...I'd go later in the day. Nevertheless, for the taste and freshness of their ingredients, and the spectacle of the assembly-line crepe-making creation, it's worth the wait. Will be back there soon...maybe later this afternoon.

Used to come here more often when it was the Blue Diner and my dining companions were largely Big Dig construction workers. Now it's the South Street Diner and I seem to run into more club refugees than anything else. The difference in company is manners - the sandhogs, ironworkers, etc., at least had manners, while the children apparently missed the please, thank you, and excuse me lessons.

What isn't any different is the food and the service. Burgers are still very very greasy and fries are something I could barely finish, due to the large number splattered all over my plate. Coffee could be stronger - but there's no question about freshness, since nothing stays around long enough to get stale. I give the food two stars. As for my waitress...she gets the restaurant another one because she juggled about 20 tables at once, missed nothing, smiled all the way through and was lightning fast. Impressive.

A very good start for True North, a new coffee place located right in the middle of Burlington. Have started coming in here since hearing about it from a couple of my co-workers who've been impressed with its strong lineup of coffees and baked goods. The place is located in a small strip mall just a bit down the hill from the Town Hall and Fire Station, features plenty of parking, and offers a pleasant relaxed vibe inside. They've got a very good selection of different coffee drinks and right off the bat, I can truthfully say the cappuccino is one of the best I've had in years, hands down. Baked goods are of better quality and priced on a par with what one gets at larger franchise locations. Of special note are the luscious lemon squares that are becoming a personal favorite.

Staff behind the counter is especially impressive - fast, friendly, even when things are getting busy and attentive to details. Although the place is located a bit away from some of the larger industrial parks, office buildings and shopping areas of Burlington it's more than worth the drive. I intend to be back often and if you're in the neighborhood you should stop in too.