Ari H.'s Profile

The hot chocolate is to die for, seriously. Where else do you get a cup of melted chocolate chips? No powder stuff here.

Check it out. And get a muffin while you're at it. The carrot, zucchini, and banana walnut muffins are awesome.

The thing you need to understand about Mad Martha's is it constantly changes hands, but each hand stays long enough to make the place their own and to keep a steady rush of new and old customers. (The short history is MM began with someone who *was* named Martha and shared cafe duties with a Pat, then they turned the duties to Brad and Greg, who in turn gave the keys to current general manager Kendall and chef Kyree.)

Now that you understand the background, many old standbys from prior owners' menus remain intact, such as caramelized banana french toast (which is delicious) to Portuguese muffins, known more commonly as Bolo Levedos (which are far sweeter than the name implies).

But there are also new menu items, such as an egg omelet called the State Street (apple chicken sausage, spinach, artichoke, and feta) and a scrambled egg mix named after a local attorney called Legal Eggs (and to tell you its ingredients would be committing a felony!).

Chef Kyree is also willing to concoct new menu items on the fly, if and when customers ask for them. Today, for instance, I asked for Heather's Homies (hash browns with cheese, named after Kendall's vegetarian friend) combined with meatballs. Kyree thought about it for a moment, wondering how it might taste, and cooked it.

I've eaten at the Friendly Toast in Portsmouth which other yelpers suggest be emulated, but FT chefs rarely customize dishes to that extent.

Check it out. Go for the food, for sure, but also for the service.

While not the best Chinese food I've eaten, it's at the top of my local list. I tend to rotate between different dishes. I enjoy the "dragon and phoenix," an entree of chicken, shrimp, and vegetables; and the boneless spareribs are very tasty. I've lately become a fan of their chicken chow mein, and their quart-sized soups do not skimp on content.

Sizes are large and can accommodate more than one person.

I've never eaten in the small restaurant, but their takeout is very popular as is there $20-minimum delivery to the region.

What can I add that hasn't already been written?

I had been looking in various retail stores for Chinese soup spoons, the plastic kind that most Asian restaurants offer on their tables with wonton soup, miso soup, etc. I couldn't find them anywhere. I wound up posting a question on Yelp's forums and several people praised Eagle as *the* place to visit.

The funny part is I walked in and immediately asked the clerk where she sold the spoons, but she didn't understand me. She directed me to 9" ladles but I didn't want those, nor did I want metal utensils. So... I meandered the aisles by myself, looking here and there for the spoons, but also looking to see what else was stocked for return trips.

I did find the spoons, by the way, on a shelf in the very back of the store. I bought a package of a dozen white plastic spoons, just what I wanted, for $5.50. Awesome deal!

It's a gym. What else do you need to know?

The price is $10/month; and they have specials throughout the year when the enrollment fee is waived. It's easy to sign up and easy to cancel.

Ironically, the first Monday night of every month has free pizza to anyone coming or going. Why a gym would promote eating pizza is a question I can't fathom.

If it wasn't for the Coors brewery tour across town, I'd never know about this place -- and the same can be said for most, if not all, of the other reviews, no? That should say something.

I knew I was in for an interesting experience when our waiter began taking our lunch orders (there were 11 of us) when he suddenly walked away and took the order of a smaller table of four, before walking back to us and finishing. I thought that was poor service.

The poor service continued when we asked which soup was referred in menu descriptions and we were told the soups were on the menu. Uhh, yeah, but how would we know that?

Service aside, I ordered the "Baker and Salad" combination plate of a baked potato and senate caesar. It hit the spot, but was nothing special.

FREE BEER!

That's why you go to a beer factory tour, right? The parking is free, the shuttle from the lot to the front door is free, the admission is free, the tour itself is free, and your wristband gives you three 8-ounce-or-so glasses of whichever beers on tap you want.

Aside from the other Yelp reviews, I'll add that I enjoyed a glass of Batch 19, a hoppy lager that is not available anywhere in New England (where I live) and it was a treat to taste.

I enjoy sushi restaurants and this was the first when the menu included rolls that had different interiors and exteriors. I also like there are different sauces added to different rolls.

The miso soup is nothing special, but the sushi is to die for. If only I lived closer.

Good and reasonably-priced wine list, too.

Since discovering this a few years ago, I always stop by when in the area whether for a piece of quiche, a brownie; or in the case of a few days ago, a cup of hot chocolate and an oatmeal almond chocolate chip cookie. Delish!

Sectioned inside the independent Toadstool Bookshop is this cafe, adorned with local artwork on the lowered walls, which offers a mix of sandwiches, wraps, salads, and multiple bakery and beverage items.

Lunch started after I left, so I only ordered the hot chocolate -- which was delicious. It was akin to the stuff from Starbucks, steamed and not out of a machine, but it took over five minutes for the hostess/waitress to bring it to me -- despite no line.

They take their time there.

There are tables for maybe 20 people. Very casual. I liked it. I'll be back.