Fresco's Malden

I have had a few really excellent lunches at Fresco's Roast Beef & Seafood in Malden, and then I heard about the Monday's special and headed over to try it.

Fresco's are located just outside Malden center with private parking. There is also outside seating shared with Dominos.

This is how it looked when I left, when I arrived the place was packed. The inside is nice and bright and impeccably clean. Mama is manning the register, and her two sons are working in the back.

Monday's special is half price pasta dishes! This is the Chicken Parm with Ziti (normally $13, today $6.50) and it comes with garlic bread. The pasta was cooked well, could have been a bit more al dente. The picture doesn't really show how big the chicken was, but it was thick and breaded nicely. It was also cooked really well and was still juicy and tender. The tomato sauce was tomatoey and bright. Guess what I'm having for dinner?

This is the available pasta dishes. I'll be back for the Shrimp Scampi.

Address: 775 Eastern Ave, Malden, MA 02148 Phone: (781) 605-3531

Fresco's Malden

What's better than a Lobster Roll for Christmas Eve lunch? A gigantic Lobster Roll from Fresco's Roast Beef & Seafood in Malden of course!

It has gone up a couple of dollars to $23.50. It comes with nicely cooked fries. Just mayo and some scallions and that's it. There were at least five half tails in there plus a big claw. This is one great Lobster Roll.

Address: 775 Eastern Ave, Malden, MA 02148 Phone: (781) 605-3531

Fresco's Malden

I have read reviews about the Lobster Roll at Fresco's Roast Beef & Seafood in Malden that sounded like they were made up. I decided to head over and check it out today.

They are located in what's looks like a relatively new strip mall. There is plenty of parking.

No surprises inside, everything was super clean, and the padded seating was very comfortable.

Here is the much acclaimed Lobster Roll ($21.50). "French Fries and Lettuce On Roll". The actual menu is calling this a Lobster Salad Roll, which I think is misleading. It's a Lobster Roll. And it's a darn good lobster roll. Some mayo and some finely diced celery don't detract from all the fresh lobster meat. There must have been four or five lobster tails in there. No, not chunks of tail, but actual tails. This was so good that I got another one to go, but with a salad instead of the fries. The fries were terrible, way overcooked and dry. The total was $23.01 and I got $1.99 in change, which is correct but a nuisance.

What looks like outdoor seating for Domino's, is actually shared between the restaurants. They really should have a sign inside explaining this.

Address: 775 Eastern Ave, Malden, MA 02148
Phone: (781) 605-3531

Fresco's Malden

There is one item at Fresco's Roast Beef & Seafood in Malden that I have been waiting to try.

They have a very extensive menu. If you don't know what to get, grab a takeout menu, it's easier to read.

From the specials menu, I picked the Fried Shrimp Basket ($11.99). "One Dozen Shrimp, Fries & Onion Rings". The fries are underneath the rings and the shrimp. This is some really good sized shrimp that was lightly battered and fried perfectly. The onion rings were cooked really well and had some texture left. This time the fries were cooked perfectly. Their tartar sauce is also delicious. My only complaint is that there was too much food, and that's a nice complaint to have. Now I have to try their super roast beef three-way that I also have heard good things about.

Fresco's Malden

Fresco's Roast Beef & Seafood in Malden is home to one of the best lobster rolls I have ever had. I have also heard good things about their haddock.

I decided to get their Daily Special Fresh Fried Haddock Sandwich with a cup of Homemade Clam Chowder ($10.99). This is a saving of 21¢. I must agree with Gordon Ramsey that if it's on the menu every day, it's not a daily special. The fish had a light (unseasoned) batter and was cooked as well as I ever had a fish cooked. The sesame seed bun was super fresh and nicely toasted. Their tartar sauce was also very good.

The clam chowder smelled wonderful but was heavy on potatoes and light on clams. Sorry, a few shards of clam doesn't make a clam chowder. It was delicious, but also very salty. I like salt, but this was a tad too much. I like my chowder a little thicker, but that's just me. This would have been a fine clam chowder if it only had clams in it.

Best lunches of 2018

Best new restaurant goes to Khao Hom in Billerica. It's small, but the food is full of flavor. Asking for extra spicy gets you freshly sliced chilis.

Most visited go to Taipei Gourmet in Lexington. Run by a very friendly woman with excellent food coming out of the kitchen.

Best lunch Chirashi goes to, of all places, Cafe Escadrille in Burlington

Best BBQ is Rusty Can in Byfield.

Best deal is Taco Tuesdays at Temazcal Cantina in Lynnfield.

Best Prime Rib goes to Rusty Can (only available as a special), and the worst goes to Century House in Peabody.

Best Poké goes to Pokeworks in Davis Square.

Best Greek food goes to Brothers Kouzina in Peabody by a wide margin.

Best Brunch/Mexican goes to Acitron in Arlington.

Best Ramen goes to Pikaichi that relocated from Allston to Medford.

Best fast food chain that you have never heard of goes to Krispy Krunchy Chicken.

Best Lobster Roll goes to Fresco's in Malden.

Best Pizza goes to Blaze Pizza in Burlington. No charge for extra toppings.

Best Bloody Mary goes to American Legion in Middleton. Sundays only.

Another new Thai restaurant is Dakzen in Davis square.

Best Izakaya goes to Sugidama in Somerville.

Best new dish for me was found at Shadi's in North Andover.

Best deal during the summer was the Lobster Platter special at Uno Chicago Grill in Woburn.

Best Handpulled Noodles can be found at the recently opened Home Taste in Arlington.

If you haven't been to Maple Street Bistro in Danvers, you are missing out.

Best Vegan goes to Bayberry Cafe in Woburn.

Best and most flavorful Indian food goes to Royal India Bistro in Lexington.

Best new Mexican goes to 3 Amigos in Malden.

Best Sandwich goes to Anthony's in Stoneham.

Most improved goes to Loui Loui in Stoneham especially since they now serve a reasonably priced lunch.

Most missed are the shortlived Tsukiji Bistro in Melrose.

Worst management goes to Red Rose on Lowell. No prices on the menu and if you manage to get a menu with prices, they will tell you that the prices are incorrect.

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?

Anthony's Stoneham

I was intrigued by Anthony's Italian Specialties in Stoneham Friday's special.

The Friday's special here is the Lobster Salad that comes either on a bun ($20) or on a braided roll ($33), and I was really curious to see what you get for that price.

What you get is an enormous Lobster Roll with unseasoned lobster meat and very little mayo. This baby weighed in at 1 lb 7 oz including the roll. The lobster was fresh (I think) but it was only claw and knuckle meat including the rubbery smaller claw. I expected more quality for this price. If the price were no object, Island Creek Oyster Bar in Burlington would be the winner for best Lobster Roll. Best value is without doubt Fresco's Roast Beef & Seafood in Malden. Tons of tail meat and it comes with fries or a salad.

Address: 408 Main St, Stoneham, MA 02180 Phone: (781) 438-9840