Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Town Tavern Arlington

Town Tavern in Arlington opened in mid '18. They are located just outside Arlington center. You can see the Phantom Gourmet visit on their website. I looked at their menu shortly after they opened, and didn't see any lunch menu, so they fell off my radar until now. The lunch menu is basically a dinner menu, but with smaller portions.



It's a big building and there only on-street parking, but at least the dreaded parking meters haven't made it this far.



As you enter there is the bar area with the front dining room.



The first dish that I had my eye on was the Shrimp Poppers (11). "Oven Roasted Shrimp and Cheese stuffed Shishito Peppers. Citrus Aioli". These were absolutely delicious. Tender shrimp with tasty peppers. Sometimes you get lucky and get a hot one, but not today.



Next was Joel’s Hummus (9). "With fried Cumin Pita Chips, EVOO, Zaatar, Paprika and Parsley". The hummus was super smooth and tasty, especially with all the add-ons. The chips were fresh.



Another treat was the Mass Ave Dumplings (11). "Tavern Blend Pork and roast Veggie Pot Stickers in a Bacon Dashi". The dumplings had really thin skin, and the filling was excellent. There was some Chorizo involved, and the dumpling had a bit of heat that slowly sneaked up on you. The bacon dashi broth is genius. Why don't more places serve the dumplings in broth? It keeps them warm, and an added bonus is a tasty broth. And they arrive steaming!



I had picked the Paneed Chicken (12) because the menu said that it was made with chicken thigh. "Boneless, pounded and lightly breaded Chicken Thigh in a Lemon Pan Gravy over Spaetzle tossed with grilled Kale and Smokey Bacon Bits". I actually had to look up panéed, and it just means coated in breadcrumbs and then fried in hot oil. This was the best-cooked chicken I have had in a long time. Tender and juicy with a nice coating. The Spaetzle had been slightly browned, and the whole dish was just awesome. I even liked the kale. I'll have this again. Here's a secret for you. Both the Chicken sandwich and the Chicken La Mesa uses thigh too. Now I have to go back for the Crunchy Chicken sandwich.



They have a Monthly Tavern Treat and Februarys was the Grilled Chicken Fajitas with Rice (10). "Pineapple Pico, Menonita Cheese, Avocado Creme and Cilantro". The tortillas were nicely grilled and the rice was basmati rice that was cooked perfectly with each grain separated. Why can I only get rice like this in Indian restaurants? The pico was tasty and it even had some finely diced jalapenos in there. The chicken was tender and juicy and again dark meat. This is available as a soup & sandwich at lunch. The soup is also a monthly special. The Monthly Tavern Treat is posted on their FB page. The kitchen did an awesome job of cooking the proteins.



The back dining area.



Want to have a private function? The Town Hall awaits. The owner, Bootsy, was hanging out with me and I really like his attitude towards food and service and even more that he uses dark meat for the chicken dishes. He also has a solid and varied background in the food industry. Their best seller is The Town Tavern Burger. Check out their website for the entertainment schedule.

Address: 201 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02474 Phone: (781) 859-5413

I was invited as a media guest, but all opinions are my own.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

The Wardhurst Peabody

When a holiday falls on a Monday most restaurant stops serving from the lunch menu, but The Wardhurst Restaurant & Bar takes a different approach. They put out a very special low priced menu.




This is the all-day specials menu. Look at those prices!



I was invited by John, the GM, to come in and preview the menu. I sat at the bar, where the very nice Carol had things under control. She has only been with them for 28 years. I started with the Lollipop Meatballs ($4.99) that once came with a toothpick inserted. The meatball was outstanding, tender and juicy and well seasoned. The tomato sauce was bright without being overly acid. This is a far cry from the rubber balls that you so often get.



Next was the 14 oz Center Cut NY Sirloin ($9.99). "Available Pittsburgh Style: Charbroiled on the outside, rare on the inside". It was actually charcoal on the outside. I had never heard about Pittsburgs style, but John said it was very common when he grew up. I expected the specials to come with only one side, but no, you get two. Perfectly baked potato and nicely cooked green beans. The charcoal just added a hint to the taste. It was cooked as ordered. It was a very nice meal and a pleasure to chat with John and Carol. They also have a really excellent weekend special that I haven't blogged about yet. The outside really doesn't reflect on the nice inside that was renovated about six years ago.

Address: 31 Lynnfield St, Peabody, MA 01960 Phone: (978) 531-9730

I was invited as a media guest, but all opinions are my own.

Saturday, February 15, 2020

The Castle Beverly

I have never heard of The Castle: A Board Game Cafe in Beverly that has been open since 2015 until I received a Nift to them.



There is metered on-street parking using the same infernal meters as Medford, but I managed to find some free parking really close by. I didn't find out about the free parking in the rear until I got there. Now you know.



Big bar with bar seating and high-tops.



The dining room with table service. Plenty of games available for $5 per person/day. They do lighter fare and have a good beer and wine selection.



Spicy Bacon Grilled Cheese (7.50). "American and pepperjack, jalapeños, and bacon on sourdough". All sandwiches come with house-made chips. They were super crispy, reminiscent of the Cape Cod potato chips. The thinly sliced sourdough was very fresh and nicely grilled with the cheese properly melted. The pickled jalapeños added the heat.



Banh Mi Panini (9.75). "Pulled pork, carrots, cucumbers, and jalapeños with sriracha mayo on ciabatta". Again the bread was really light and fresh. Not really a Banh Mi, but it was nevertheless very tasty. Both sandwiches was tasty, but the fillings weren't exactly generous. Service from the bartender/server/manager was very pleasant.

Address: 240 Rantoul St, Beverly, MA 01915 Phone: 978-969-1719

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Good Thymes Lowell

Someone posted an article about Good Thymes Family Restaurant in Lowell on FB, and their menu looked somewhat interesting. They do attract an older crowd and are also known for their pies.



They occupy the whole building and have on-street parking and also a lot behind the building. They are located a good way from Lowell center. They are in the same area as the Target you can see from the connector.



The inside is nice and bright and really well kept. There is a bar all the way in the back.



You get some very soft bread, with some rock hard butter, so that didn't work out too well. Rolled up silverware, but at least it was very loosely rolled, so the napkin was actually usable.



I had my eye set on a couple dishes, but the had Lamb Shank ($16.99) on the specials menu. You have the choice of two sides. The sides are not listed anywhere, and neither are the specials. Instead of having the waitress recite all the specials and all the sides, print them out so I can see the prices. I was asked if I wanted gravy with my mashed potatoes and I assumed it would be the gravy from the lamb shank, but it was some thick brown gravy that tasted alright. The mashed were made from real potatoes, but it wasn't a whole lot of it. Most of the vegetable was either frozen or canned so slaw it was. It was soupy and had just a few strands of carrot. The onion rings seemed to be very popular. The lamb shank was excellent, super tender and well seasoned, and actually tasted of lamb. The tomatish gravy was OK. The service was pleasant.



Afterward, they bring around the tempter.



They are known for their pies, so I had a slice of Triple Chocolate Pecan Pie ($5.99). The filling was excellent, but the crust was rock hard. Stabbing it with a fork didn't work. I mentioned this to the waitress, and they promptly removed it from my bill. They close at 8 PM except on Saturdays when they close at 9 PM.

Address: 1278 Gorham St, Lowell, MA 01852 Phone: 978-441-2799

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

The Millers Tavern Methuen

The Millers Tavern in Methuen opened recently in the Loop. Easy to get to from Rte 93.



This is a big place with plenty of parking.



The bar area with a big bar and plenty of high-tops.



A bit unconventional seating, but it was nice and comfy. Yes, you get the dreaded rolled up silverware with a crinkly napkin that is pretty much useless.



"Unlimited Garden Fresh Salad Bar!! $12.95 Your choice of greens, fresh vegetables, beans, grilled vegetables, cheese and a variety of dressing". I didn't see any grilled veggies, but they had a multitude of dressings. There were eggs and a potato salad that had the skins left on. You can add the salad bar to the Two Hands Needed section.



Tavern Reuben ($12.95) from the all-day menu. "Corned beef, Napa slaw, 1000 island dressing, marble rye". Choice of French Fries or Napa slaw. When I asked what the corned beef was made of, much confusion ensued because my waiter didn't understand the question. "Beef", "Shredded" was the answers after multiple trips to the kitchen. Finally, a waitress showed up with a slice, and it was red corned beef brisket. Turned out that I didn't pay attention to the description on the menu since this wasn't a Reuben but a Rachel because they used slaw instead of sauerkraut. The corned beef was excellent, and I got extra dressing on the side. The bread was toasted nicely, and the cheese was melted. The fries were excellent, coated and seasoned. The service was OK, water refill on request.



They have both patio seating and an all-season porch.

Address: 105 Pleasant Valley St, Methuen, MA 01844 Phone: 978-208-8521

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Social Newton

Social Restaurant & Bar in Newton are located in Newton Plaza Hotel.



They are a bit hard to see if you are driving by. The traffic can be a bit intense here. They validate parking in the hotel parking garage.



The inside is very nice with a big bar and hightops.



The dining room was very pleasant, and Sunday Brunch includes live music. She played the blues like there was no tomorrow. I got a nice hightop next to the windows.



Trish's Bloody Mary was excellent, spicy but really well balanced. It's on the menu in honor of the owner's mother, who was looking forward to sitting at the bar drinking them. It didn't lack alcohol.



Lobster Slides. "Freshly shucked maine lobster, toasted brioche". The very light brioche was toasted nicely and the lobster was fresh with just a hint of mayo. The was some nice brunoise celery that added texture.



CRAB CAKE Benedict. "Fresh crab, poached eggs, hollandaise, english muffin, home fries". The potatoes were browned nicely. The eggs were poached perfectly with a runny yolk, and the hollandaise was excellent and seasoned well. The crab cakes were the real star here. Only crab with no fillers made this an excellent crab cake. This was a really nice brunch that I really enjoyed. The service was very good, and it seemed that everyone helped out.

Address: 320 Washington St, Newton, MA 02458 Phone: 617-244-4800

I was invited as a media guest, but all opinions are my own.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Yard House Burlington

The Yard House in Burlington opened recently on the lot where Chili's used to reside. Chili's will not be missed. I have signed up for the Yard House Eclub, and they sometimes have interesting offers, and the volume of emails is low.



Plenty of parking.



The inside is nice and bright.



The current deal was $5 Chicken or Tuna Nachos Mon-Thurs this week. This is the Chicken Nachos (13.75). "beans, cheese, red & green sauce, tomato, cilantro, onions, guacamole, sour cream". Hold the sour cream. This was an enormous plate of nachos. The chips were fresh and light and the chicken was tender. The guacamole was well seasoned. They now have a pay station on the table that allows you to order drinks and also call the waitress.



First they were out of the Poke Nachos (13.95), so I was all set to order two chicken nachos, but the waitress talked me out of that. Then she returned and said that Poke Nachos were back on the menu. "marinated raw ahi, avocado, cilantro, serranos, green onions, nori, sesame seeds, sweet soy, sriracha aïoli, white truffle sauce, crispy wontons". I was happy that they were available since they were absolutely delicious. The wontons were super light, and the tuna was fresh and there was a lot of it. It was sweet, spicy and had a bite from the sliced serranos. I would pay full price for these, they were that good. The service was friendly.



The patio area with roll-up windows.



This is how it looked when I left. They were absolutely packed.

Address: 108 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA 01803 Phone: 781-229-3911

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

LongCross Medford

LongCross Bar + Kitchen in Medford is located in Stations Landing complex, so there is plenty of free parking. They are also easy to get to from anywhere. When I looked at their menu, a lightbulb went off. On the menu, they have both Magoun's Reuben and Blackmoor Salmon BLT, and the Reuben are excellent in both places, made with thickly cut brisket. LongCross is the latest addition to the group. I had no clue the other two were related. The name comes from the shape of the bar.


No picture of the outside since the signage isn't up yet. Nice window tables, and a ginormous bar. You get a bottle of cold water for the table, and I really like that. Linen napkins and good silverware.



The open kitchen is on the other side of the bar.



I started with an order of BANGKOK WINGS (12). "Char grilled, Red Thai curry marinade, fried garlic and pickled jalapeno, chopped cilantro, purple cabbage, peanut sauce (contains trace amounts of shellfish)". The wings were really tasty and cooked well. The peanut sauce was excellent, with a bit of heat. Not sure how to get the thick sauce onto the wings, but using the knife or fork worked.



Next was the GRILLED AHI TUNA (18) from the lunch sandwich section. "Rare grilled tuna, smoked jalapeno aioli, baby spinach, tomato, Portuguese muffin". You get one side, and I picked the Caesar. The tuna was of excellent quality and cooked well. The sandwich needed more aioli, but that wasn't a problem and easily solved. The aioli was wonderful. The bread was excellent and super light. The aioli was so good that I spread it on the top of the bun, that I normally leave, and ate the whole thing. The Caesar salad was very good with a light dressing, fresh romaine and really light croutons. There was also plenty of freshly shaven parmesan. This was a very enjoyable lunch and the service was pleasant.

Address: 501 Fellsway, Medford, MA 02155 Phone: 781-874-1033

I was invited as a media guest, but all opinions are my own.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Not Your Average Joe's Burlington

Not Your Average Joe's in Burlington gave me $15 off for my birthday, and it was time to use it.


A very nice table setting. You get Foccacia that was slightly fresher today than on my last visit. The dipping sauce is now served in a small bowl that works much better than serving it on a plate. The amount of cheese was now more appropriate.



Lunch JAMBALAYA (14.50). "Andouille sausage, tasso ham, spicy chourico, pulled chicken, shrimp, veggies and rice, simmered in a cajun-spiced tomato broth". The portion looked way smaller than on my previous visit, but it might have been because it was now served on a plate instead of in a bowl. It was still pretty delicious! Really well seasoned, but it didn't qualified as spicy this time. The shrimp was freshly cooked and cooked really well. The rice was dry on the outside but otherwise fine. The service is always good here. The manager is still walking around, checking in on the tables, and I really like that.

Address 4c Wayside Rd, Burlington, MA 01803 Phone number (781) 505-1303