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New England dining
>>> Arlington,
Mass., dining renaissance
Arlington, Mass. -- no
longer a place for just meatball subs
My most memorable dining
experience in Arlington occurred in the 1970s when I chomped
into a Center Sub and Pizza ( now closed) meatball sub and found
a ring.
No doubt Arlington's restaurant
scene was bleak for a long time. Perhaps the best way to prepare
for dining out in Arlington was bringing a bottle of Maalox and
a leaded groin apron.
Then in the late 1970s, something
miraculous happened: Jimmy's Steer House opened and served chicken,
steak and seafood dishes. This shift in dining out dynamics left
us shaking our heads in disbelief. We simply could not believe
that a restaurant in Arlington could have the ambition to serve
chicken, steak and seafood.
Many years later, everyone
in Arlington became rich and consequently demanded more than
meatball subs. High-class restaurants sprouted up everwhere.
It should be noted that after
I moved out of Arlington is when these restaurants opened. But
I gladly travel back to my hometown to taste the superb Thai
food at Sweet Chili's, the remarkable Chinese cuisine at Jade
Garden, truly fresh Mexican dishes at Ole, and inspired Middle
Eastern fare at The Olive Branch. You can also find high end
Japanese, Mongolian, Greek and Italian restaurants in a town
that has become infinitely more interesting than neighboring
Lexington, Belmont and Winchester.
Perhaps being next door to
eclectic Cambridge had produced a trickling effect. Whatever
the case, Arlington, with its fine neighborhoods, charming old
houses, nice parks, pretty Mystic Lake and Spy Pond, and now,
much better restaurants is suddenly the "hot spot"
outside Greater Boston.
And, by the way, if you are
looking for a great meatball sub, try AA Deli, of Arlington's
Brattle Square!
Related articles:
Memories of
Arlington, Mass.
Arlington
then and now
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