Tung's Taste Middleton

Tung's Taste in Middleton has been open for less than I year and was recently recommended for their authentic Chinese cuisine.

It's really easy to miss from the road, but they have ample parking.

It's a small place with a full bar. Glass topped tables with a very nice tablecloth underneath. Fresh flowers on all the tables.

Lunch comes with a choice of soup, and I went with the Hot & Sour. It was very bland unless you got some of the freshly sliced chilies in your spoon. It also completely lacked the sour part. It did get spicier as time moved on, so I suspect that the fresh chilies were added just before the soup was served.

From the lunch menu, I picked the Double-Cooked Pork ($8.95). "Dry-Cooked Streaky Pork with Leeks & Salted Black Bean in Spicy Sauce". The rice was very good with a nice texture. The leeks were tender, the black beans were present as was the spicy peppers. The pork belly was extremely dry and was hard to cut even using a knife. The dish was very tasty, but the dry pork belly ruined it. I had high hopes for this place, but that was quickly squashed. I might be back for some of the dinner dishes. Default utensils are knife and fork, and that looks to me like they are not catering to Chinese customers. Their Ma-Po Tofu is meatless.

Address: 242 S Main St, Middleton, MA 01949 Phone: (978) 777-8298

Thmor Da Revere

There has been some praise heaped on Thmor Da in Revere for their Cambodian cuisine. No website.

They are really close to the beach on a busy street so parking can be iffy. When you are getting close, grab the first spot you see. The city tax is $1/hour.

It's small but impeccably clean. The heater was on, but it was still chilly inside. Not as cold as outside thankfully. The bathroom is on the other side of the kitchen.

This is the Tiger Tear with Spicy Sauce ($13). The name is pretty useless unless you know what you are ordering. It was marked as spicy on the menu, and it was respectably spicy with fresh sliced chilies. Any restaurant that serves fresh chilies to a white guy on the first visit is alright with me. Apart from all the peppers, onions, lemongrass there was also sliced cold charred beef. The beef had a really nice char. This was also a very flavorful dish with all the different flavors merging beautifully. This is a keeper.

Fried Quail ($11) said the menu. Not sure if I expected 6 pieces of crispy quail but that's what arrived. Tasty and tender meat and a pain to eat but well worth the effort and a bargain at this price. I'll be back for more dishes from their exciting menu. The service was charming. This really is a hidden gem.

Address: 144 Shirley Ave, Revere, MA 02151 Phone: (781) 286-2554

Tequila's Chelmsford

Tequila's Grill & Cantina in Chelmsford is located in what used to be Szechuan Chef until Chef Wayne closed it and joined his wife at their other restaurant in Allston. I have had some excellent lunches in Tequilas in Wakefield. The Chelmsford location currently has a Groupon+ available for 35% off.

There is on-street parking and also a big lot beneath the restaurant in the back.

What used to be a big square room is now nicely divided into two sections. Nice and comfy booths.

They also have a nice bar area.

Warm chips and salsa arrive promptly. The salsa was mild but very tasty. The corn chips weren't the thinnest I have seen, but they were tasty.

I decided to splurge on the Mexico Chiles Rellenos ($16). "One stuffed with jack cheese, dipped and covered in an egg batter, topped with red tomato salsa. A chile stuffed with a creamy garlic shrimp and crab meat mix topped with cilantro crema sauce. One with picadillo and queso sauce". The deep fried up top was cooked well and had just a thin coating of batter and it was actually a bit spicy. As with all three of them, the seeds were not removed, and that makes it very unpleasant to eat forcing me to spit seeds all over the place. Is nobody in the kitchen thinking? The shrimp and crab chile were really tasty even if the pineapple was not completely ripe. Doesn't look like a cilantro crema sauce to me but whatever it was, it was delicious. The last one was also good but bland. I wish they had been cleaned properly. They really should find another way to serve this since all the sauces ended up mingled. The service was friendly. I could have sworn that they had a Taco Tuesday special on their website, but it seems to be gone. It turns out they have specially priced taco menu on Tuesdays IF you buy an alcoholic drink. Strangely enough, they were not handing out that menu with the normal menu.

Address: 6 Vinal Square, North Chelmsford, MA 01863 Phone: (978) 710-5512

Blue Ribbon BBQ Arlington

I have been going to Blue Ribbon BBQ since they first opened in West Newton 24 years ago. Back then it was Redbones for BBQ, and that was about it. Today the Arlington location had an interesting special. They post their daily specials on both the website and on FB, and they are updated daily. I wish more places would do that.

I used to go here on Saturdays for my lunch but the prices starting sneaking up and most of the daily specials had nothing to do with BBQ. Their kale soup is still outstandingly good. Then Jill left for their West Newton location, and she was always such a ray of sunshine. And she was a cat person. Their ribs also went downhill, the collagen end was very dry and overcooked. Their solution to the problem was to cut that end off and serve smaller ribs. They have outdoor seating, weather permitting.

There is seating but not a whole lot of it. Plenty of tasty BBQ sauces and pickles are available. There is also water down at the soda fountain.

Today's specials board and there are actually four items related to BBQ.

The exciting item today was the BIG Easy ($10.99) with two sides. “brisket po-boy, chipotle mayo, banana peppers relish, gravy, shed. lettuce & cabbage”. For my sides, I picked Curried Potatoes and Mac & Cheese. As you can see the M&C was mac and dried out something. The curried potatoes had very dark skin left on, was overcooked and mushy, and had only a faint taste of curry. The brisket was tender and tasty, but there was so much extra loaded on the sandwich that the taste of the brisket completely disappeared. This could have been a great sandwich if it just was more balanced.

Address: 908 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 Phone: (781) 648-7427

Liberty Bell Melrose

I'm trying Shrimp Baskets around the area and now it was Liberty Bell in Melrose's turn.

They are in a plaza with Whole Foods, so there is plenty of parking.

The interior has been recently redone, but that was before my first visit, so I have no idea what changed.

The Shrimp Basket ($14) is listed as a daily special. If it's available every day, how can it be a daily special? A dozen shrimps with french fries and onion rings. The onion rings were overcooked so only the thickest rings were edible. The french fries were also overcooked. The shrimp were on the dry side but still pretty good and of a decent size. The tartar sauce was really good. Why isn't anybody seasoning their batter? So far Fresco's in Malden is ahead of the rest even if their basket now is $13. Is there anybody in Woburn who does a shrimp basket?

Rang Indian Bistro Stoneham

I haven't been to Rang Indian Bistro in Stoneham for years. They always had good food and the staff was always very nice, but it fell off my lunch radar. They now have a new manager, and also the lunch menu on the website now is a lunch menu and not the takeout menu that was different from the actual lunch menu.

The outside signage has been vastly improved. Free on-street parking and the communal lot is just across the street.

The interior is unchanged apart from the glass covered white linen tablecloth. I must admit that I prefer the wooden tables. The place is impeccably clean.

A couple of papads arrives with chutneys. The onion chutney was tasty and not overly spicy.

CHICKEN SAAG (7.95) has been added to the lunch menu. "Chicken cooked with fresh spinach". The rice was fluffy and fragrant. The Naan was also very light and really good. The chicken saag was ordered medium hot but completely lacked heat. However, it was very tasty, and it was also a generous portion. They don't normally serve lunch on a holiday but made an exception for me. Since they now also have a new chef, I'll be back to try more dishes from the lunch menu. I also like that they run your CC directly at the table.

The Stoneham Square in all its glory. Yes, it snowed overnight, but the roads were all clean.

Address: 6 Central St, Stoneham, MA 02180 Phone: (781) 438-8200

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza Reading

I went to Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza in Reading shortly after they opened and was very pleased with my meal. I was in the mood for pizza today, so it was time for a return visit.

The outside is very nice, and they also have seating on the patio to the right. It's in a shopping plaza, so there is plenty of parking.

The inside is nice and bright with a big bar to the right. Adam, the manager, can be seen in the middle. He was very friendly and came over and explained that everything is fresh, no microwaves. Wings are never frozen.

Speaking of wings, I started with the lunch portion of the Coal Oven Roasted Chicken Wings (5 pieces) ($7.69). "Served with Caramelized Onions & Focaccia Bread". The wings were excellent, and the bread was fresh and tasty. I wouldn't call the onions caramelized since they weren't dark enough. This is really just sauteed onions, but piling them on the bread makes some good eating.

The lunch menu said Specialty Pizza, and when I asked what pizzas this referred to, my absolutely incompetent waiter responded with "you can add any topping you want". This charade went on for about five minutes before the manager stepped in and promptly answered my question. Any specialty pizza from the full menu is included. I settled for the lunch Paulie's Pie ($10.79). "Meatballs, Sausage, Hot or Sweet Peppers & Ricotta Cheese". What size do you want? I want a lunch pizza. So you want a small? There is a small on the regular menu and it's not the lunch pizza. In the end, I just pointed to the pizza on the lunch menu. I went for the sweet peppers, and the waiter chimed in with "so you don't want the hot peppers?". The pizza was loaded with meatballs and was really tasty and an excellent value. It was also nice and thin, which I really like.

When the manager stopped by I asked if the hot peppers still were infernally hot, he brought me one hot pepper on the side. They are still hot especially the end with all the seeds. The pepper is really flavorful, and I think this is the way to order this pizza with a hot pepper on the side. This is what I call customer service. He was also walking around checking in with all the guests. To finish this off in style, when I asked for my check, the waiter grabbed my CC of the table and just ran it. He then delivered the CC slip with the wrong check. I said I wanted my check. He responded that this was the check for the next table. I don't care and want my check. He then spent the next five minutes trying to print out my check, finally handling me some sort of printout. I must admit that Adam, the manager, saved the day here.

Address: 48 Walkers Brook Dr, Reading, MA 01867 Phone: (781) 944-8454

Border Cafe Burlington

I haven't been back to the Border Cafe in Burlington for a number of years. They do Mexican/Louisiana inspired food. They have never been spectacular but always very consistent and with tasty food. They had an excellent Caesar Salad with Shrimp and Crayfish that sadly is no more. I just noticed that I had this 5 years ago!

They have private parking and also a nice patio.

It's a big cavernous room, and it gets really loud during the week. I was curious to see what it would be like on a Saturday and it was much quieter. Of course, the drawback was that at 12:30 kids arrived in all forms and shapes.

One thing that has changed is the chips, now they are warm, thin and crispy. Big improvement. Before I left I tipped the rest into the bag with my leftovers. I never do that. The salsa was also very good and really tasty without being overly tomatoey.

I stuck to my usual CATFISH NEW ORLEANS ($14.87) with rice and beans. "A large fresh fillet of catfish, royally seasoned, deep fried with a shrimp and basil cream sauce". What's it with the pricing? $14.87 doesn't make any sense whatsoever unless I'm missing something. The catfish was perfectly cooked, and the outside stayed crispy even with the sauce on it. I think the rice has improved as well since it was really well seasoned and had a hint of heat. The beans were also very good, and I finished all of them. The service was good but doesn't waitresses understand that putting your dirty hair up, doesn't make it less dirty?

Address: 128 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA 01803 Phone: (781) 505-2500

DeliWorks Stoneham

DeliWorks in Stoneham is located in the same plaza as Namaste. They are your standard pizza and sub shop. The reason for my visit was that I had a 30% off Groupon+ offer. This time it actually worked. 30 seconds after my card was run, I got a notification about my cash back. Order online and get another 15% off.

The takeout menu said $10.50. The menu board in the restaurant said $10.50. I was charged $10.75 for the Corned Beef Reuben. "Corned Beef, SaurKraut, Russian and Toasted Marble Rye". The only choice on the menu board was the marbled rye. The online menu gives you 5 options of bread. I went with the potato salad and also got a pickle. The Reuben was nicely toasted, and the cheese was melted. Not sure what happened to the dressing? There was a serious amount of corned beef, but it was sliced paper thin, so it had no texture at all. It could also have done with some more sauerkraut. The potato salad was good even if the skins had been left on.

Address: 3637, 62 Montvale Ave, Stoneham, MA 02180 Phone: (781) 438-7955

Feng Shui Burlington

I have been going to Feng Shui in Burlington just about every two weeks for the AYCE buffet since they opened in November. First, I went on Fridays. but they get insanely busy, so now it's Thursdays instead. 

I now have this down pat. Get a plate of nigiri then get the soy sauce and wasabi, mix them together and let sit. This was about half of the available nigiri. They have plenty of maki rolls if that's your thing. The nigiri gets replenished but not as quickly as the maki.

Next, get the dumplings and the coconut shrimp. The soup dumplings are a bit thick skinned but still very good. The shrimp are crisp and not overly sweet. You have to ask for their excellent chili oil. When this is consumed it's time for the nigiri plate.

Just about the only exciting thing on the buffet is the mala fish. I think they missed half of the ma-la part since it was only ma (hot) and the la (numbing) part was missing. The green beans are excellent and I really like the bok choi. The original $14.50 has now morphed in $15. Considering what I had, the price is fair.

Address: 2200 District Ave, Burlington, MA 01803 Phone: (781) 365-0918

Swanton Street Diner Winchester

Swanton Street Diner in Winchester has been here forever. Parking can be scarce, but I scored a spot just outside. They have free WiFi, and the password isn't visible from the street anymore. This isn't really a diner, but they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. My last visit wasn't really that impressible.

From my nice two top in the dining room, I noticed people walking up from the side street. I finally put two and two together, and it turns out they have parking available behind the restaurant.

I decided to get the Vinegar Pepper Pork Chop ($12.49) from the lunch menu. "In the old Italian style with bliss potatoes and a tangy vinegar sauce". This was a good sized pork chop on the bone that wasn't overly dry and had been seasoned nicely. The potatoes had been roasted nicely but were a tad overcooked, but I like potatoes, so it wasn't a big deal. The onions were good, and the peppers were appropriately vinegary. I was very happy with my meal here. It wasn't really service with a smile. In the background, I'm watching snooker from the Welsh Open. Isn't technology incredible these days?

Address: 72 Swanton St, Winchester, MA 01890 Phone: (781) 721-9666

Maggie's Farm Middleton

Even if my last visit to Maggie's Farm in Middleton wasn't exactly a success, but since my rewards card got loaded with $10 it was time for another lunch visit. They only have an all-day menu.

I was early enough to snag one of the two high tops in the bar. Best seats in the house.

A Yelp check-in added grilled shrimp to my small Caesar Salad ($7). "Classic Preparation, Garlic Croutons, Parmesan". The shrimp was nicely grilled, and the salad was OK even if some of the leaves were starting to turn brown.

This was followed by a Reuben ($14). "Corned Beef, Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut, Maggie's Sauce, Marble Rye". Obviously, the marble rye had been replaced with dark rye that I'm not a fan of. The corned beef was excellent and still had some texture left. The swiss, maggies sauce and sauerkraut was all mixed together on the top and tasted really good. I really like their hand-cut fries. They might not be as crispy as previously frozen fries, but this is correctly made hand-cut fries. The service was good even after they were packed with a waiting list.

Address: 119 S Main St, Middleton, MA 01949 Phone: (978) 539-8583

Frank's Steakhouse Cambridge

Frank's Steakhouse in Cambridge got a nice writeup in the Boston Globe recently. They also have an early bird special starting at noon on Sundays.

They have been in business since 1938, and the dining room has been renovated. There is on-street parking and also parking behind the restaurant. Be aware that you have to reverse out to leave. There is also parking at a couple nearby businesses.

The dining room was in really good shape with nice booths.

The bar area and of course the walls are lined with photos.

You get a warm piece of bread.The early bird special includes soup or house salad. I went with the soup. The soup was bland, but there was lots of chicken.

PRIME RIB (8 OZ) $13 online and $15 in reality. It was a very thin slice of Prime Rib and about a third of what I get at Jimmy's Steer House. It wasn't very tender either, and my jaw is tired after chewing this. The au jus was watery without much taste. The baked potato was the fluffiest thing I have ever seen. Really good. 8 Oz? I don't think so.

An Ice Cream Sundae is also included, this one is the hot fudge version. This was the best thing I had today.

Address: 2310 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 Phone: (617) 661-0666

Pikaichi Medford

I really like the delightful Pikaichi in Medford. It's small, and they only do Ramen, and that's it. They also do it really well. There is free on-street parking. The staff is always friendly and smiling. It feels like Japan.

This was a new addition to the menu. Yuzu Shio ($8.99). "Homemade Yuzu Salt flavored Ramen made from kelp broth. Served with custom made noodles, topped with tender sliced pork, corn, wakame seaweed and scallions". I also got extra pork (+2). The broth was different but very tasty and not overly salty. The noodles were cooked perfectly. I was thinking about ordering the Small Curry Rice ($3.49), but it was such minuscule portion that I passed. Making them seemed to be one waitress only duty.

Note to self, don't go on a Saturday. It was a waitlist when I arrived just before noon, but I got seated pretty quickly. When I left, the lobby was packed with people waiting for a table.

Address: 123 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155 Phone: (781) 777-2555