I tried to find out what the special for March would at Khao Hom in Billerica, but had no luck. There is still a number of dishes that I have to try here.
First is the Beef Salad (6.95 on the menu, actual was 7.50). "Beef cucumber, tomato, red onion, scallion, cilantro, mint, carrot, rice powder and lettuce". I tried to get it Thai Spicy and almost succeeded. It was spicy, but also very flavorful with all of the requisted Thai flavors present. It probably could have been spicier, but she ran out of fresh chilies.
This is the first time I have ever had a bowl of dry soup! This is the lunch Dry Pho with chicken (7.95). All the seasonings are mixed together in the kitchen, and then the noodles are coated with it. It was really flavorful and had lots of texture from the veggies and the peanuts. I was surprised at how much I liked this dish. I also tried their Sambal, very flavorful without being extremely hot, and it was the same for their Chili Paste.
Century House in Peabody has been much talked about for its Prime Rib, and since it's on a special on Tuesdays, it was time for a visit.
There is plenty of parking and they are close to Rte 128.
The inside is not too dated, and it was nice and bright. I suspect that the name comes from that a single diner has to be a half century, and a couple has to be a century.
The dining room with the back room in the back. Duh!
A warm soft roll arrives, but we are not here for the bread, are we?
I suspected that they would serve a queen cut, but this is the regular cut (19.95 on the lunch menu, 21.95 on the dinner menu), but 15.95 all day on Tuesdays. I'm not sure what cut I got since the deckle was completely absent. This was the rarest they had according to the waitress. Baked potato with butter was my starch and the veggie choice of the day was broccoli, garlic cauliflower or slaw, so slaw it was. The outside on the back was rock hard and not edible.
The medium part was tender and pretty good. The other part was well done and not really edible. Dumping the baked potato in the au jus didn't hurt either.
What a nearby table got looked much better, doesn't it always? I asked what you have to do to get a cut with a bone, and it turns out that every other cut comes on the bone. Both of their prime rib actually looked like a prime rib cut, as opposed to my strange piece. I might have to give this place another chance.
The Linden Tavern looked nice, and have the same menu.
They also have the Epicurean Shoppe nearby, and that's a small grocery store with lots of prepared foods.
Address 235 Andover St, Peabody, MA 01960
Phone number (978) 531-1410
I did get my free birthday appetizer from Tavern in the Square in Burlington, and it was valid for the whole of February, so I was running out of time. This is worth signing up for, and you don't get tons of emails.
The one-way arrows seem to be largely ignored, so be careful.
For my free appetizer, I picked the Fried Calamari (14). "Pickled Green Tomatoes, harissa aioli". They looked suspiciously dark when they arrived, but turned out to perfectly cooked. The aioli was tasty, and I really like the green tomatoes, it was a nice twist. I just wished the tomatoes bits were larger. It was hard to get both at the same time.
This is basically the Banh Mi without the bread. Lamb Meatballs (8). "Vietnamese pickles, sriracha lime aioli". They come out medium, and that really surprised me. The waitress assured me it was intentionally. They were OK, but the lamb was very mild and could have been beef. The sauce was also very mild, and it wasn't exactly an abundance of pickles. It took some doing, but I now have a card linked to my account.
Address 1 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803
Phone number (781) 272-9000
On this rainy Sunday, I headed out for my first visit to Horseshoe Grille in North Reading.
They have been in business for 90 years and four generations. In 2005 the old building was razed, and the current restaurant was erected. To the right is a function room that today held a baby shower.
The dining area looked really good.
I decided to take a high top in the very pleasant bar area so I could keep an eye on the baby shower in the next room.
Since they have a history of being a BBQ restaurant, I ordered the BBQ SAMPLER (12.5). "Smoked pulled pork, st. louis ribs, pulled chicken". This is a cut and paste from their online menu. The pulled pork was cold and lacked the smoke. It was tender, but there was no bark present. The ribs were, unfortunately, fall off the bone, and lacked both the smoke ring and the smoke flavor. In fact, they only tasted of the BBQ sauce, but they did have a nice bark. The melon was dry and unripened. The best thing was the pulled chicken that was tasty and tender. They don't have any lunch specials or even a lunch menu.
I also ordered the Loaded Tater Tots (5). They looked good and comes with a spicy ketchup. It was not spicy. Unfortunately, the potatoes were undercooked and they were also dry, despite containing cheese and bacon. When I mentioned the undercooked potatoes to the waitress, she promptly took them off the bill.
After I paid the bill, this arrived since this was my first time here. A couple of pieces of cornbread with two spreads. I also got an envelope with their different menus and $5 gift card. I have never encountered this before and thought it was a really nice gesture. The service was very pleasant.
Address 226 Main St, North Reading, MA 01864
Phone number (978) 664-3591
Armed with a Groupon+ for 50% off (max $10) I headed out to Garcia Brogan's Cantina Pub & Restaurant in Waltham.
There is now on-street parking just outside, and I don't remember that from previous visits. This is a place that can't make up its mind if it's Irish or Mexican. It wasn't really warm enough to have the windows open.
It's a Bar or maybe a Cantina.
You get cold and slightly stale chips with more salsa than I could ever use. A good Irish tradition, this.
I mentioned to the waitress that I missed the guacamole appetizer, and she promptly said: "I can get you one". This surprised me since it's gone from both the lunch menu and the dinner menu. It used to be $2 for a small, and it's now $4 for the same size. it was good but could have done with some seasoning.
I ordered the CUBANO ($11). "Pulled pork, swiss cheese, diced pickles, yellow mustard, caramelized onions, sourdough". The waitress called the Potato Vedges fries. The disced pickles didn't make it, they could have offset the sweetness of the caramelized onions. What does this have in common with a real Cubano? Nothing, apart from containing pork and mustard. The Potato Wedges were excellent, crispy on the outside and soft and potatoey on the inside. This wasn't really a hit. I also ordered the Caesar Wrap to go, with the jicama slaw. The waitress asked if I wanted that on the side? This threw me for a second, I mean where else could it go? I then just said yes. Theis sorry excuse for a Cubano also took about half hour to arrive, and my order was the first for the kitchen.
Address 240 Moody Street, Waltham, Boston, MA
Phone number (781) 790-8133
I had a decent lunch at their Waltham location and since I was Andover I headed over to Grassfields other location. I'm a bit curious as to why they don't share a website since the menus are identical.
They are located in a big strip mall, but parking was hard to find close by.
They were really busy when I got there just after noon. Yes, the median age is up there.
You get an enormous loaf of warm bread, with whipped butter. Good paper napkins and silverware.
Today's special was lobster Pie ($15.99), and I went with the Loaded Baked Potato (+1). The lobster pie was really good, plenty of knuckle and claw meat and the topping and that's it. The baked potato was very good, but I'm a sucker for a baked potato. The service was very pleasant.
Address 207 N Main St, Andover, MA 01810
Phone number (978) 475-7996
Maggie's Farm in Middleton is part of the Serenitee Group, and I had a very nice lunch here on my last visit.
They are located on Rte 114 and easily accessed from Rte 95. They have a private parking lot that filled up quickly since they were really busy at lunch when I visited.
The interior has a really cool vibe. I missed out on the high tops at the window today.
A Yelp Check-in resulted in a free salad topping add-on (lunch only), and I picked grilled shrimp to go with my small Caesar Salad ($7). The tails were left on the shrimp, and that doesn't make any sense at all. The shrimp were good sized and nicely grilled. The Caesar salad was fresh with a pleasant dressing. The croutons were light and fresh. Of course you get linen napkins and good quality silverware.
Smoked Ribs ($20). "Dry Rubbed, Smoked 1/2 Rack, Buttermilk Cole Slaw, Hand-Cut Fries, BBQ Sauce". I got the BBQ sauce on the side, and I must say that the sauce was phenomenal. The slaw was nice and crunchy but could have done with some dressing. The ribs were really meaty and (as they should be) not falling off the bones. If you get ribs that are falling off the bones, they have been boiled. Their hand-cut fries are excellent, and a real treat. Service is always great. A nearby table had the Fat Seagull sandwich, and I think that's my choice for my next visit.
Address 119 South Main St, Middleton, MA 01949
Phone number (978) 539-8583
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own.
My complaint to Bonefish Grill in Waltham about not serving from the lunch menu, that is available on their website, resulted in a very generous gift card. However, they still don't serve from the lunch menu. Not available, said the hostess.
I started with the Classic Ceviche. "A Peruvian-style ceviche, with hand-cut fish, bay scallops and sweet shrimp marinated in citrus, served with seasoned tortilla chips". Much to my surprise, all the seafood was cooked, so this certainly is not a ceviche. The shrimp was also overcooked. The warm chips were excellent. The bread and dipping oil is very palatable.
I went for the Partners Daily Feature that was "Thermidor Black Cod ($$$) topped with sweet lobster & finished with a rich creamy sherry infused sauce". As you can see, my appetizer was not removed when the fish arrived. For my sides, I went with the Scalloped Potatoes and Asparagus (+4.50). The asparagus was excellent, well seasoned and really tasty. The scalloped potatoes were a mix of well-cooked potatoes and almost crunchy ones. The fish was excellent and cooked perfectly with a generous amount of lobster on top. The sauce was also very tasty. The hostess tried to seat me in the bar, without asking. When I asked for a booth, she found one in a dark corner. I finally got seated in a booth next to the windows.
The quest for a decent Shepherd's Pie continues today at British Beer Company in Danvers. So far, only Ken's Steakhouse in Framingham has served me a good one. Waxy O'Connor's in Lexington did a decent one, but it was light on the fillings and lacked the browning on top.
They are on Rte 114 with access from both directions. Plenty of parking.
Nice dining room, but it was on the darker side.
The bar was nice and bright, and I managed to get a high top at the window.
Here is today's offering of SHEPHERD’S PIE (15) made with beef! “Otherwise known as COTTAGE PIE”. "LAYERED WITH PEAS, CORN AND CARROTS THEN TOPPED WITH CHEDDAR MASHED POTATOES AND OUR ENGLISH STOUT GRAVY SERVED WITH TOASTED MULTIGRAIN BREAD". At least they are upfront about using beef. The cottage pie was piping hot, and it was really tasty. The veggies were not overcooked and added a bit of texture. The gravy and the beef were well seasoned. I really enjoyed this. The bread was fresh and toasted on one side only, but that makes sense. You soak up the gravy with the soft side, and when you eat it, it's still crispy on the other side. I also got some extra gravy, but it was stone cold. Didn't need it, there was enough gravy in the pie. Service was pleasant. They have paper napkins, but they were of really good quality, so I don't mind.
Address 29 Andover St, Danvers, MA 01923
Phone number (978) 304-4956
Time for some Mexican Brunch on this sunny Sunday, so I headed to Acitrón Cocina Mexicana in Arlington. I have been here a number of times and been very happy with their food. I rarely go to Arlington Center after they installed the on-street parking meters.
I was really happy when they started serving Lunch and Brunch, but it's only on Sat-Sun.
The interior is nice and bright and really pleasant.
Warm chips and salsa arrive promptly. I have never been to a restaurant where the salsa was left in the chips basket. The salsa is fantastic.
From the brunch menu, I picked the HUEVOS BENEDICTINOS (10.95). "Two homemade corn shells topped with refried beans, avocado, Canadian-style bacon, two poached eggs and chipotle hollandaise sauce". Brunch is served with home fries and fresh fruit. I was a bit confused about the "corn shells" since I just got some flat corn tortillas on the bottom. The eggs were poached perfectly and this was really tasty. I liked the texture that the corn on the bottom added. Last time the home fries were just home fries, and unseasoned, but this time they were mushy but seemed to be cooked in some sort of broth, since they were really tasty. I really like this version. All the fruit was fresh and ripe, except the cantaloupe that I saved for last.
Address 473 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02474
Phone number (781) 777-2839
I haven't been to PHU KET in Wakefield for over a year but armed with a Groupon+ I decided to visit for lunch today.
They lost a good deal of what used to be available parking spaces. I must admit that I never understood why they split Phuket into two words.
The inside has always been very pleasant, and today the heat was on. It was REALLY on.
This is the other end of the L shaped room.
I started with the Spicy Mussels (8). "Sauteed mussels, peppers, basil leaves and peppers in spicy pepper sauce". It was five good sized Prince Edwards mussels that were slightly overcooked. The spicy pepper sauce was mostly absent as was the spicy part.
This was followed by the Dancing Squid (10) from the lunch menu. "Tender squid sautéed in tasty fresh minced hot peppers, basil leaves, onions, mushrooms, string beans and bell peppers". See any "fresh minced hot peppers"? Me neither. This was marked as three peppers on the menu, and I told the waiter that I wanted it three peppers hot. Didn't work, it was maybe one pepper spicy. The veggies were cooked nicely as was the squid. It was also a plethora of big onion chunks in there. The nicely cooked squid was strangely enough almost devoid of taste. If you managed to get some basil on your fork with the food it was OK. The only thing reminiscent of Thai flavor was a bit of heat and a bit of sweet. This place has gone downhill since the ownership change.
Address 21 Princess St, Wakefield, MA 01880
Phone number (781) 246-9888
With today's heatwave (50F in the middle of February) I wanted some Sushi, so I headed out to Ocean Sushi in Melrose. It so far out from the center that it is almost in Malden. In fact, a Malden cop stopped in for some takeout.
I had to stand on something to be able to get the name on the awning. Limited parking up front, and you will get towed if you don't park in the retail spaces. All the on-street parking was taken as well, but I found retail parking behind the building. You can also enter the restaurants from the back.
The inside is smallish but nice and bright, and of course, impeccably clean. Not sure how they can keep three sushi chefs busy with almost no customers.
The lunches come with two sides, and I picked tempura crabstick and tempura chicken. The tempura crabstick was OK, but the tempura wasn't crispy. The tempura chicken was nice and crispy but it was chicken. Look at the nice dish for the soy sauce and the pretty soy container.
I picked the Luncheon Sushi Sashimi Combo ($13). "Chef choice sushi (2), sashimi (3) with spicy tuna maki (8)". The big piece in the back is Albacore Tuna AKA White Tuna. White Tuna cannot be used on a menu after August16, 2016. The fish was very fresh and look at those nice pieces of Sashimi. The Nigiri was also a generous serving. No wasabi on the rice, but it was properly seasoned, and at the right temperature. The spicy tuna maki was nice, a little bit spicy, and a little it crunchy. The was actually chunks of tuna inside, not just the mush you usually get in a spicy maki. I was very happy with my lunch here.
Address 16 Oak Grove Ave, Melrose, MA 02148
Phone number (781) 388-9000
