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Dinner at New World Bistro Bar, Albany, NY
My wife and I drove to Albany a few weeks ago to see the Doc Watson concert at The Egg. Elisa had researched the restaurant scene in Albany, and after she showed me the menu, we decided that the New World Bistro Bar would be a great place to have an early dinner before the concert. We called ahead from the road and made reservations for two, and we arrived right on time. The New World Bistro Bar is a cozy location in the corner of a building on Delaware Avenue. There is ample parking in a lot behind the building. You can tell that the owner, Ric Orlando, has put…
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Lunch at Lilac Blossom, Nashua, NH
A few months ago, my good friend and coworker Darshan recommended that my wife and I try his favorite Chinese restaurant in Nashua, Lilac Blossom. We found ourselves in Nashua on a recent Saturday, so we dropped in for lunch. Lilac Blossom has two locations in Nashua; we chose the the location in the south end of town, based on Darshan’s recommendation. The thirty-item lunch menu was very affordable, and each item on the menu included choice of soup and rice. I ordered a spicy dish called Twice Fried Pork, accompanied with hot and sour soup and brown rice. Elisa made the same soup and rice choices to accompany another of…
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Lunch at Fritz, Keene, NH
After picking up my nephew at the bus station, we decided to have lunch. Fritz was very close by, and I was aware of the restaurant because they host an open mike. It had been on my list of places to scope out for quite a while. I ordered the cheeseburger and fries. My nephew ordered fries and a turkey club sandwich. The portion was generous and they were fresh and tasty. My burger was fine, but nothing out of this world. My nephew said he liked the club sandwich a lot. I do want to give Fritz some kudos for being one of the few “sandwich” restaurants I’ve come across…
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Lunch at Solea, Waltham, MA
After shopping in Waltham at an Indian grocery called Patel Brothers, we decided to give Solea a try for lunch, for a couple of reasons. First, we’d never eaten there before, and second, we had been invited to a potluck Tapas party on Sunday, and we were looking for a little inspiration. Sadly to say, we didn’t find it at Solea. My wife and I shared five Tapas plates: baked goat cheese with tomato & basil; snails; a Spanish antipasto platter, a moroccan sheherd’s pie, and a fifth dish so bland that neither of us remember what it actually was. Our choices can charitably be described as a mixed bag. The…
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Dinner at the Gibbet Hill Grill, Groton, MA
On several occasions I’ve dined at the Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton, Massachusetts. This is a restaurant that never disappoints, and it has a menu that is right up my alley–red meat and lots of it! Opened in the fall of 2004, The Gibbet Hill Grill is family owned and offers up a nice variety of gourmet steaks–but for my money, it isn’t the the steaks that makes this place special. Tucked into the menu are several items that place the cuisine here squarely into what can best be described as a gourmet version of American/New England comfort food. From the grilled farmhouse cheeses or the braised short ribs on the…
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Brunch at the Highland Kitchen, Somerville, MA
A couple of Sundays ago we had a family brunch at the Highland Kitchen in Somerville, Massachusetts. My wife Elisa had found some online reviews that were quite favorable, so we made reservations. Tucked away on Highland Avenue and owned by Chef Mark Romano, formerly of the Green Street Grill, the Highland Kitchen is a perfect example of an inexpensive neighborhood eatery that serves up exceptional food. When we arrived there were quite a few people waiting to be seated–reservations are only provided for parties of six or more. I ordered the chicken liver omelette with home fries. The omelette was among the best I’d ever had, and the home fries…
