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 New England
dining >>> What
New Englanders like to order when eating out
by Eric H.
Restaurants can't hit a "home
run" every time out. Have a unforgettable, mouthwatering
meal one time and the next time another menu item pales in comparison.
Sometimes, the simple meals outshine the more ambitious dishes
and vice versa. It's all trial and error, at a cost.
Like a greatest hits package,
our staff brings you the best of New England restaurant dishes.
Visit this page often, as staff and reader feedback will offer
you a constant flow and updating of dining information. If you
have a favorite New England meal at a restaurant, please e-mail us with
your favorite meal (include your name or initials, and town),
and we'll consider it for publication.
Pad Thai, Sala Thai, Arlington,
Mass. -- Very few Thai
restaurants mess up on Pad Thai, so there's a high quality uniformity pretty much prevails
in restaurants of this genre. Sala Thai, however, has a Pad Thai
that rises above this general excellence with a meal that tastes
more fresh in just the right quantity. The great Pad Thai reflects
the pride of ownership that the staff at Sala Thai exhibits in
their food presentation, service and overall restaurant management.
It's truly an "authentic" Thai restaurant and a great
place to start is the Pad Thai. Sala
Thai, 1377 Mass. Avenue, Arlington, Mass. Tel.
(781) 648-4533
Roast Half Duckling, Clay
Hill Farm, Cape Neddick, Maine
-- This ambitious version of Crispy duck features blueberry-molasses
sauce with real mashed potatoes. It's so phenomenal, not even
the hearty portion they serve is enough. Clay Hill Farm is set
in a quaint, rambling farmhouse, perfect for that special, romantic
night out. Clay Hill
Farm, 220 Clay Hill Rd., Cape Neddick (York), Maine, Tel.
(207) 361-2272
Smoked Mozzarella and Basil
Ravioli, Vanilla Bean Cafe, Pomfret, Conn. --
Pungent, cheesy and addictive, this one-of-a kind ravioli is
topped with a spicy cream sauce, asparagus, roasted red peppers
and served with a delicious asiago cheese bread. The Vanilla
Bean Cafe is set within a cozy, beautifully restored 1840s farmhouse,
located in Pomfret, Conn., one of New England's most attractive
"village green" communities. The
Vanilla Bean Cafe,
Corner of Routes 44, 169,
and 197, Pomfret, Conn.,
Tel. (860)-928-1562
Black Diamond Steak, Western
Hotel, Burrillville, R.I.
-- This mildly, spiced, tender sirloin comes in a single or double
serving and ranks right up there with the best steak house steaks.
The difference is, this is no high-end, expensive restaurant:
the Western Hotel is located in old lonesome-looking, craggy
long wooden building with a second floor balcony spanning the
entire width of the building, an untamed dirt parking lot, a
small air conditioner almost falling out a first floor window,
a "specials" sign with nothing listed on it, and a
straightforward brown "pizza and tavern" sign. Western
Hotel Pizza and Tavern, 610 Douglas Ave., Burrillville, R.I.
Tel. (401) 568-6253
Maple Ribs, Parker's Maple
Barn, Mason, N.H. --
The thought of combining maple syrup with a half rack of succulent
ribs is mouthwatering. Parker's follows through on its promise
with the best tasting ribs dishes we've sampled in New England.
Parker's is located in the middle of nowhere in a rustic, but
very clean and pleasant dining rooms. Parker's
Maple Barn, 1316 Brookline Road, Mason, N.H. Tel. (603) 878-2308
Seafood All' Apassionata,
Rossi's Restaurant, Millis, Mass.
-- Featuring fresh linguine sauteed with lobster, shrimp and
scallops, tossed with bacon, plum tomatoes, garlic, butter and
ripe olives, this dish surpasses many of the quality offerings
from restaurants in Boston's famed North End Italian neighborhood.
Rossi's atmosphere is wonderful, too, set in an elegant 1880s
estate with upstairs and downstairs dining in small, but charming
rooms. Rossi's
Restaurant, 270 Exchange St. Millis, Mass. Tel. (508) 376-4995
Lobster Roll, Markey's, Seabrook,
N.H. -- Packed with quality
lobster meat (not mayonaisse dominated), Markey's serves the
elusive, authentic lobster roll at a price that won't break the
bank. Add a large family style dining room and pleasant outdoor
dining overlooking the water and marsh land and you have a classic
New England seaside seafood (large) shack. Markey's Lobster Pool,
Route 286, Seabrook, N.H. Tel. (603) 474-2851. SEASONAL
Shed Burger, The Shed, Stowe,
Vt. -- This large, attractive,
popular Stowe landmark serves the incredible Shed Burger, soaked
in beer, enhanced with spices and served on an English muffin.
One serving is substantial, but just doesn't seem enough as the
taste begs for another burger. The Shed 1859 Mountain
Rd. (Route 108), Stowe, VT. Tel. (802) 253-4364
Berched Chicken, Ma Glockner's,
Bellingham, Mass. --
One of the most delicious chicken preparations on the planet,
berched chicken is parboiled in seasonings and the finished on
a flattop grill. The result is a 1/2 chicken that us crispy on
the outside, with juices remaining intact on the inside. Regarding
Ma Glockner's, it is a throwback restaurant (established in 1937)
with large, family-style dining rooms and friendly service. Ma Glockner's, 151 Maple St.,
Bellingham, Mass. Tel. (508) 966-1085
Forest Berry Pie with Vanilla
Ice Cream, Anne's Lakeview Farms, Bellingham, Mass. -- Forest berry consists of a blackberries,
raspberries and strawberries in a freshly made pie crust. The
accompanying vanilla ice cream from Bliss Brothers Farms in Attleboro,
Mass., is rich and flavorful. Amazing! Lakeview Farms has a medium
sized dining room, an ice cream stand, a goat farm, and amazing
turkey dinners, but save room for the terrific Forest Berry pie.
Anne's Lake View Farm, 1048 South Main Street (Route 126,)
Bellingham, Mass., Tel. (508)883-5003
Swordfish, Barker Tavern,
Scituate, Mass. -- By
far, the best swordfish we've sampled in a region serving great
swordfish. Seasoned with bread crumbs and served cajun or grilled,
the Barker Tavern gets this dish done right every time, as the
taste and tenderness is well known and savored by locals. The
Barker Tavern is located in a beautifully restored home, one
of the oldest in the area. The romantic, candle lit atmosphere
and attentive service make the Barker Tavern a great special
"date" place. Barker
Tavern, 21 Barker Road, Scituate MA, Tel. 781-545-6533
Clam Chowder, Vello's, Westwood,
Mass. -- Vello's clam
chowder proves that you don't have to travel to Maine to get
this traditional taste of New England -- it's the thickest and
most flavorful we've ever sampled. Call ahead, the clam chowder
is not served everyday at this informal, friendly dining room
with an open kitchen. Vello's, 79 High St., Westwood, Tel.
(781) 461-2440
Lobster Bisque, Inn on the
Blues, York Beach, Maine -- This
quirky, loud seaside restaurant/bar is known for its entertainment
menu (lots of great blues music), but equally impressive is its
delicious lobster bisque. The lobster taste is hearty and plentiful,
with the correct balance of the beloved New England shellfish
and spices. This is a great restaurant, offering quality
seafood (including lobster), a raw bar, salads, steaks, pasta,
burgers, sandwiches, and many beer and wine selections. Inn on the Blues, 7
Ocean Ave York, Maine, Tel. (207) 351-3221
Seafood Alfresco, Morin's,
Attleboro, Mass. -- White
wine and saffron flavorings add a special quality to an ample
serving of shrimp, scallops, clams and calamari and fresh vegetables
over pasta. This is one of VisitingNewEngland.com's all time
favorite mouthwatering meals, one we can't get enough of, at
this historic restaurant with comfortable dining rooms, diner,
tavern and bar all under one roof. 16 S Main St., Attleboro,
Mass., Tel. (508) 222-9875
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