Casa Vallarta Saugus

Going to Casa Vallarta in Saugus just reinforced again why I don't go to anything on Rte 1 in this area, but I had a craving for something Mexican-like.

Gorgeous day but with high humidity. Plenty of parking.

The inside looks like a tex mex place. There is a big bar to my left.

You get excellent chips and a so-so salsa. You also get a plate of excellent refried beans.

Lunch CHILE VERDE ($12.99). "Tender sliced pork braised in green tomatillo sauce with green peppers, onions and spices. Garnished with lettuce and tomatoes". I didn't get a lunch menu until I asked for it. There is also no mentioning of a lunch menu on their website. The Pico de Gallo was placed on top of the ranchero beans. The rice was fluffy, and the beans were OK. The pork was fine with some drier pieces included. The tomatillo sauce was tart but a bit harsh. Not a bad dish and it was also plenty of pork. Service was OK.

Address 114 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906 (Northbound side) Phone number (781) 813-3980

Bacci's of Stoneham

I wanted some pasta today, so I headed out to Bacci's of Stoneham.

The lobster fest has had a significant price increase. They have private parking behind the building. They also have an entrance back there.

The bread! It's greasy and garlicky but oh, so good.

I was going to have the Shrimp Scampi but when I saw the Sauteed Shrimp, spinach in a lemon wine sauce over linguini (14) I changed my mind. The first version had shrimp that was so overcooked that they went back to the kitchen. The second version was better with shrimp that was just a tad overcooked. This is strange because I have had seafood here twice before and it has always been cooked perfectly. The pasta was good, as was the sauce. The shrimp had the tails left on, so I tried to cut the shrimp while eating and leave the tails for last. This kind of worked, but when I got to the tails, they were all cold. The service was friendly.

Address 316 Main St (rt 28), Stoneham, MA 02180 Phone number (781) 438-9200

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. It's a great deal. For $15 I can eat myself silly on Nigiri, Shrimp Dumplings and Soup Dumplings. Highlights on the buffet include Mala Fish and Coconut Shrimp.

They are located in the District Avenue street complex with plenty of parking. They also have outside seating.

There is two top in the corner that has my name on it. The buffet is in the back, and I can sit here and watch how people load up their plates. When the bartender sees me, he goes: Water and chilli oil?

The dining room with a function room in the back. They get really busy on Fridays, so I usually try to go on Thursdays.

The first trip to the buffet is to load up on Nigiri and mix the wasabi in the soy sauce. While that is dissolving, I pick up the shrimp dumplings, soup dumplings and coconut shrimp. The food is very good despite it being a buffet, and the dishes are replenished frequently.

Half of the Sushi section. I forgot to take a picture when I arrived and the section was fully loaded. 

You have to ask for the chilli oil, and it's HOT!

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

Uncommon Grounds Watertown

Uncommon Grounds in Watertown isn't exactly next door, but I had a delightful lunch here on my previous visit. I really like the name.

They have outside seating in the shade. What's more, they have a private parking lot. There is only metered street parking around here.

From the specials menu, I picket Biscuits and Sausage Gravy (10.99). It comes with home fries and two eggs. The red bliss home fries were excellent. Browned all around and seasoned. Look at my over-easy eggs. They have been browned as a proper fried egg should be. None of that steamed stuff here. The biscuits and gravy looked really good, but it turned out to be two gigantic biscuits with just a thin layer of gravy on top. The biscuits were very light and fluffy. The gravy was very tasty, but the sausages had been minced very fine and didn't add much flavor. The gravy was also appropriately peppery.

When I mentioned the lack of gravy to the waitress, she promptly brought me extra gravy. Now I was happy. The service was good.

Address 575 Mount Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472 Phone number (617) 924-9625

Olde Magoun's Saloon Somerville

Olde Magoun's Saloon is really in Magoun Square in Somerville. It's an interesting corner of Somerville with lots of exciting eateries.

On-street parking is expensive, but there is free parking before you get to the humongous intersection.

It's an "olde saloon". When I went here for brunch, it didn't look like this.

Magoun’s Reuben (14). "House cured corned beef brisket, bacon infused thousand island dressing, Swiss cheese on grilled marble rye & choice of ale braised sauerkraut or homemade coleslaw". Sauerkraut of course, otherwise it's a Rachel. From the sides, the waitress recommended the onion rings that comes with a horseradish dip. The onion rings were excellent, really crunchy but also very light. And they were salted! The Reuben has corned beef made of brisket, and it was tender and delicious. There was also ample sauerkraut that was tasty and crisp. Extra dressing? Not a problem. This was an excellent Reuben made the proper way. Service was very good.

Address: 518 Medford St, Somerville, MA 02145 Phone: (617) 776-2600

Tung's Taste Middleton

There was almost no red on Google maps today, so I headed out to Tung's Taste in Middleton. Rte 95 works way better than taking Rte 1.

My GPS gave me a choice of Main Street (N) or (S), and I picked North, and that was the wrong choice. Plenty of parking.

The small inside is pleasant.

I have had my eyes on the Fish Fillet in Spicy Broth🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ ($15.95). "Poached Fish Fillet w. Napa, Celery, Leeks & Enoki mushrooms in a Super Spicy Broth". Looks more like fried than poached to me. The fish was flounder. There is a heap of garlic on top that you mix in, or not. It was spicy but not really three peppers or Super Spicy Broth despite me telling the waitress that I liked spicy. The broth was very flavorful. This is a dish that Sichuan Gourmet excels in, but I think I like the broth here better. It was very rich and complex. The veggies underneath were all cooked nicely with the celery being on the crunchy side. The fish was cooked really well, and it was a very generous amount of fish. This would easily serve two. I also ordered a small white rice ($2 ouch!). The service was pleasant, and the manager remembered me from a previous visit.

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

Savinos Grill Belmont

This review has been removed. I was overcharged 30%, and despite several promises from the owner that the money would be refunded, nothing happened until I contacted my credit card company. Check your CC statements if you visit here.

Iron Town Diner Saugus

Iron Town Diner in Saugus was recommended to me from someone in the business.

They are a bit tricky to get to from home if Rte128 is busy. Plenty of parking.

It a nice and bright place and it's big. There is seating to my right and also another room further to the right. It was also impeccably clean.

From the coop section, I picked the Two Eggs Over Corned Beef Hash ($11). Homefries and toast are of course included. I chose light rye for my toast, and the bread was fresh, lightly buttered with butter and toasted. The homefries were unseasoned but cooked well and had the skins removed. My over-easy eggs were cooked right but were griddled, so it was more like poached eggs than fried eggs. The hash was the real thing, homemade and well seasoned. Eggs and hash don't get much better than this. Their Reuben is made with brisket, the waitress double-checked with the kitchen, so I'll be back for that. Service was very friendly.

Address: 325 Main St, Saugus, MA 01906 Phone: (781) 558-2070

Brothers Taverna Salem

I emailed Brothers Taverna in Salem asking if they used round or brisket in their Reuben. The exact answer was "The Ruben comes from brisket our chef cooks the corn beef daily".

The quarter an hour parking in the nearby parking garage is now gone. I did learn today that they have parking in the back.

The inside is nice and bright with a big bar and the open kitchen in the back,

I ordered the Reuben on Rye (12). "Lean corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing grilled on dark rye bread". What did I get? Sliced round of course. The extra dressing didn't make it. The sandwich that was griddled, not grilled, was warm, and the bread was toasted. The fries were excellent. The service was slow, very slow. The extra place settings were left untouched. My table was missing the salt shaker. A Yelp check-in gives you 20% off. They now have a Portuguese menu.

Address 283 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970 Phone number (978) 741-4648

Lobster Claw North Reading

I have been to Lobster Claw in North Reading and have been happy with my lunches. The link will redirect you to a site owned by the same guy that snapped up lobsterclawseafoods.com when they forgot to renew it.

They are located feet from Rte28 and they have a big private parking lot.

The inside is bright and very nice after it was refurbished a while ago. You order and pay at the counter then pick up your food when your number is called.

Today I went with the Shrimp Box ($12.95) that comes with fries and an excellent tartar sauce. I got ten big shrimp that was perfectly cooked, and I think the thin batter was seasoned. The fries are also delicious. Both their fish and clam chowder is really good and loaded with good stuff.

Address 7 Main St, North Reading, MA 01864 Phone number (978) 664-6349

Cap't Loui Stoneham

I have been going to Loui Loui in Stoneham for their lunch offerings, and I have been delighted with the food. They have changed their name to Cap't Loui. I must admit that I don't really get the Cap't.

Plenty of parking. The only thing that I don't like is that they don't open until noon. The sign in the window said open when I got there at 11:45, but they were still closed.

The inside is casual, you order at the register, get a buzzer and then get your beverage, condiment and plastic utensils.

Today I decided to forgo my usual shrimp basket for the fish basket ($10.95). The lunch prices have increased by a dollar across the board. You have a choice of fries, and I went with the cajun fries. Not overly spicy but nicely cooked. For my soup, I picked the Jambalaya that is excellent and almost a meal in itself. The fish was cooked really well and was moist inside and crispy on the outside. I must admit that I prefer the remoulade sauce over the tartar. The tartar sauce has gone downhill and was now pretty bland. Serving fish this way is really stupid. As soon as you cut into the fish, pieces of fish start to fall into the fries. Off to get another basket for the fish. There is one saltshaker for the whole restaurant. They also have a lunch sized seafood boiler that is served in a bag.

Address: 3305, 101 Main St, Stoneham, MA 02180 Phone: (781) 435-2145

Three Amigos Stoneham

It's Taco Tuesday so to change things up a bit I went to Three Amigos in Stoneham that still refuses to get a website. There is now a 3 Amigos in Malden, no relationship.

The road is now one way with added parking spaces.

The inside is nice, especially with the new booths.

You get chips and salsa. Two choices of salsa, I picked the hot of course, and it was spicy. The cold chips are very crispy.

On the specials board, I spied 2 Fish Tacos $6.99 (w/ Lettuce, Pico De Gallo & Guacamole). Being on the specials board mean that they are a dollar off. I also ordered a side of Refried Beans ($3.99). It was on the expensive side, but the beans were excellent. Right consistency and with a nice texture. The fish tacos had good sized fish that was cooked nicely. You get a good dollop of guacamole. The tortillas are fresh. You get rolled up silverware, but you get good quality cutlery. Another enjoyable meal here. I tend to forget about this place, which is a shame since the food is delicious.

Address 125 Main St, Stoneham, MA 02180 Phone number (781) 438-2773

Dakzen Sommerville

This is only my second visit to Dakzen in Sommerville, but they have an exciting menu. It has expanded quite a bit since their soft opening. My last visit was almost exactly a year ago.

They are located close to my free parking, and I got a spot today.

The flow has changed a bit. Now you get seated and are handed a menu. The staff will be back later to take your order, and you pay on the spot. Pick you utensils and napkins and when done, bus your own table.

Boat Noodle ($8.95). "One of the most famous street noodle soup founded in 1656. Choice of Prime Rib Beef or Pork". The menu said pork or beef. I wasn't sure if I would get the real deal or not, but I did. Look at that dark and rich broth! If you don't know what goes into a boat soup, don't google it, just order and enjoy. It was very rich and tasty and packed a bit of heat. There were some cracklings on to top that was super crispy. This was an excellent dish.

Each table has a set of condiment.

Address: 195 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144 Phone: (617) 718-1759

TWK Winchester

Today the Serenitee Group loaded a $10 off at The Waterfield Kitchen in Winchester onto my Reward card. If you haven't signed up, do. If you are a couple, sit at the bar with separate tabs, since there is only one card per table.

Parking can be iffy, but I usually manage to find a spot close by. They now serve lunch Wed-Sat and brunch on Sundays. The brunch menu looked really good. The menus here has been changing quite rapidly during the last year.

The now have a gorgeous patio, and finally, the weather cooperated today so I could finally sit outside.

DUCK HASH ($16). "Duck confit, shredded potato, caramelized onion, baby spinach, two fried eggs". Shredded potatoes it was not but finely cubed potatoes it was. Caramelized onions it was not but sauteed it was. Fried eggs it was not but steamed it was. Despite all the nitpicking, this was a cracker of a dish. Everything was cooked nicely and seasoned, and there was a ton of tasty and tender duck. Linen napkins and quality silverware. The service was excellent. However, I wish the manager would dress a bit better. He doesn't really fit in here.

14 Thompson Street, Winchester, MA 01890 Phone number (781) 729-0204

Blue Moon Grill Wakefield

I love Blue Moon Grill in Wakefield! The food is excellent, and the service is always great. And there is nothing wrong with breakfast for lunch but they also have lunch items.

When I got here at 11:45, there was no close parking. Don't park in the lot next door, you will be towed.

They were packed but at 12:05, almost everyone was done. Note to self: get here after noon.

One of my favorites is the OLD FASHION BISCUITS & GRAVY (was $9.95 then $10.95 now $11.95). "Eggs, biscuits, & sausage patties, topped with homemade sausage gravy. Served with home fries". On both the Eggs Benedict and anything egg related, you get three eggs. This time I went for over easy.. The home fries are outstanding, the best around. They are seasoned and cooked perfectly. They are also peeled, another plus. I think they get parboiled in stock since they are so flavorful. The biscuits are soft, and the sausage patties are tasty. The hero here is the appropriately peppery sausage gravy that is chock full of sausage. Service is always pleasant.

Address 955 Main St, Wakefield, MA 01880 Phone number (781) 245-4470

Chili's Reading

I have had a couple of gift cards to Chili's for a number of years now, and since they seem to close at an alarming rate around here it was time to use them, so I headed out to their Reading location.

Plenty of parking and they are conveniently located next to the Home Depot. A while back, they used to have a buy an entree, get an app free, and I used to get something cheap for lunch and then an order of their excellent wings to go for dinner.

It's the 4th, so it's not surprising that they were almost empty for lunch. It bright and nice inside and I got a hightop in the bar that had waitress service.

I had their ribs a long time ago, and they were tasty but not impressive. I ordered the Texas Dry Rub Full Order Ribs ($19.49). It comes with fries and street corn. The fries were really good and seasoned but needed salt. The street corn was also very good. This isn't technically a full rack but two halves. The rub was very tasty and had formed a light crust. The ribs were tender and really meaty, and I don't remember that. The waitress said that they changed the ribs a couple of years back. I can't believe that I'm saying this, but it was really good. The pickles were really really tart. Service was pleasant but I was surprised that no wet naps were offered.

Address: 70 Walkers Brook Dr, Reading, MA 01867 Phone: (781) 942-4670