Friend's Lowell

Friend's Restaurant & Pub now has a website but with no prices. I found a menu online here that looks somewhat correct, but the prices are out of date. They do have a lunch menu on Thursdays and Fridays.

They are located opposite Tasty Dumplings. I used to go to Southeast Asia across the street and have seen this place but not really noticed it. Just another pub. I was recently made aware that they serve Portuguese food in the restaurant section.

It was a very delightful dining room that was empty at Sunday lunchtime. A couple strolled in a bit later. They also have a little patio in the back.

You can have the classic dish of Carne Alentejana ($16.95). "Marinated cubed pork with littleneck clams in a zesty white wine sauce, served over cubed potatoes with rice." Or you can have the "A Chefe" version for $21.95 that adds scallops (1 large) and shrimp (3). Not sure if this was worth the extra $5. I'll update this after trying the original version. It is available on the lunch menu, then called Jr. There were three whole clams, so it wasn't exactly an abundance of them. The potatoes were cooked perfectly and then lightly fried. The pork was tasty and tender. The gravy was fantastic, well seasoned, and really delicious. It was plenty of sauce, and that made me happy. The white rice was unremarkable and cold. 10/10/21

Bifes De Porco Amigos ($17.95). "Fried pork steaks, flavored with garlic and white wine. served with fried potatoes and rice." All the other pork dishes said pork loin, so I'm not sure why they called them pork steaks? This was pork loin as well. The rice was warm today, and the potatoes were just lightly fried. Three good-sized slices of tender pork in an excellent sauce. I think this was just about the same sauce that I got with my previous meal. It was coldish outside, and it was coldish inside as well. I'll be back in the spring. 10/24/21

It's spring, so I returned for another visit. 80℉ outside, and it was still cold inside. Peixe velmero frito ($17.95) *Fried Red Snapper* said the specials board. What it didn't say was that the fish was the size of a pet goldfish! The fried potatoes were good, but the Picante sauce was missing the picante part. Today I got a salad with a nice peppercorn parmesan dressing. I asked if this was a recent change? You always get a salad with your meal. I'll stick with IV Seasons for Portuguese food. 05/15/22

Address: 350 Market St, Lowell, MA 01852 Phone: (978) 453-8285

A small act is worth a million thoughts.

-- Ai Weiwei