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New
England dining >>> Norfolk County restaurants, Massachusetts
The best of dining
in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Norfolk County , located southwest
of Boston, has many nice, relaxed-feeling towns with lots of
great restaurants. For those who don't want the traffic and parking
hassles of Boston or Providence, it's very easy to find some
upscale or casual restaurants near, equal and sometimes better
than the urban establishments. The following list was difficult
to put together as narrowing down to the best eight ultimately
excluded some fine dining spots:
Our top choices:
Zebra's Bistro and Wine Bar
Zebra's
Bistro and Wine Bar,
21 North St., Medfield, Mass.. Tel. (508) 359-4100
Zebra's Bistro and Wine Bar takes
suburban dining to an entirely new level, often surpassing the
best of Boston city dining. Elegantly but casually residing in
a former U.S. Post Office, Zebra's Bistro and Wine Bar delivers
innovative New American offerings without ever falling into pretentiousness
or attitude -- common downfalls for this type of dining. We have
sampled memorable, hearty, made-from scratch food like Confit
duck leg with braised lamb, Boudin blanc sausage, French white
beans, slow roasted tomatoes, bacon rashers, and walnut bread
crumbs ; and Maryland striped bass pan roasted in a thin frittata,
with pumpkin ravioli, brussels sprouts, and lemon sage beurre
noisette. Service is pleasant and highly professional and the
warm wood tones, soft lighting and colorful walls result in an
interior design that would make the most finicky HGTV designer
proud. With an extensive wine list, sushi bar, brunch and a pastry
chef who sets the standard for tasty sweets (try anything chocolate
here), Zebra's creates savory dining options for the urban sophisticate,
parents looking for a well-deserved romantic night out, dates
trying to impress, or just about anyone else who likes good food.
Basil Restaurant
Basil
Restaurant
, 43 Frairy St., Medfield Mass. Tel. (508) 359-4400.
Some Norfolk County restaurants
rely on hype, promotion and pretentiousness to mask overrated
food, but Basil Restaurant takes the high road by concentrating
solely on high quality food, atmosphere and service. The efforts
of owner Tom and Karen McGue make Basil Restaurant the best American-style
(but yet reasonably-priced) restaurant in Norfolk County. Tucked
away in the poor part of beautiful Medfield ($400-500K homes),
Basil's soft tones, impressive fish-filled aquarium centerpiece,
dim lighting and bright dinner concoctions make this a nice little
getaway for lunch or dinner. The perfect place for a date, Basil's
expertly prepared chicken, steak and seafood dishes always come
with a flair and a flavorful persona. The shrimp, veal and chicken
marsala (one dish!) is one of the best dishes this writer has
ever experienced in a restaurant, sautéed with prosciutto
and mushrooms and finished with a marsala wine sauce and served
over linguine with asparagus. An herb garden out back offers
a fresh, wholesome taste to many of the offerings. Service is
top-notch and suggests a restaurant that is extremely well-run.
Few Norfolk County restaurants deliver as well as Basil's --
and with a comfortable, home-like atmosphere to boot.
Vello's
679 High St., Westwood,
Mass. Tel. (781) 461-2440
Twenty-something restauranteur
Victor Servello has created a masterpiece of a restaurant, quite
possibly the best we've tried in Norfolk County. Located in the
former Newport Creamery and Bergson's Ice Cream storefront in
an unassuming Route 109 strip mall, Vello's has instantly become
a local favorite by serving delicious, oversized sandwiches and
creative dinners worthy of the best of Boston. Try the oven baked
salmon with bacon mashed potatos and seasonal steamed veggies
and you'll be amazed by its tender and flavorful presence --
all for under $13.00 (includes an excellent mixed green salad).
The hot pressed turkey and pastrami sandwiches cry out "New
York, New York!" and the pizzas rival the freshness and
innovation of Boston's best-known North End establishments. The
clam chowder lets it be known 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. The fresh tomato
bisque is not far behind with its smoky flavor. Deserts are absolutely
amazing ranging from the authentic teramisu to the wide variety
of great ice cream -- the coconut stands out. Vello's is small
inside -- sort of like an elongated and somewhat sophisticated
luncheonette. Vello's also serves breakfast on the weekend. The
coffee is always great! Service is attentive, as Servello has
chosen a young but thoroughly professional and interested staff.
If there was a restaurant hall of fame, the board of directors
would waive the five year waiting period for Vello's as their
universal appeal and commitment to excellence is a model for
the way a restaurant should be operated.
Rossi's
Rossi's
Restaurant,
270 Exchange St. Millis, Mass. Tel. (508) 376-4995
If Rossi's were located in a
major city, it would be considered the cream of the crop of Italian
restaurants. Rossi's is an absolutely charming restaurant, the
perfect place for a special occasion. Situated in a pleasant
residential neighborhood in Millis, Mass., this elegant 1887
estate serves some of the best Northern Italian cuisine we've
sampled anywhere. The atmosphere is truly special, too, with
"nine elegantly appointed dining rooms that boast original
tile fireplaces and rich mahogany paneling." Our favorite
dish: the Seafood All' Apassionata, featuring fresh linguini
sautéed with lobster, shrimp and scallops, tossed with
bacon, plum tomatoes, garlic, butter and ripe olives. Save room
for dessert, too, especially the wonderfully moist carrot cake.
After leaving, you'll wonder how this great restaurant ever slipped
by you. You'll want to return again and again.
Luciano's
800 Washington St., Wrentham,
Mass. Tel. (508).384.3050.
Who would have thought an Italian
restaurant on "anytown USA" Route 1 is as good as any
high-quality North End Boston restaurant? Several elegant, carpeted
dining rooms, lovely wall murals and fresh Italian cuisine comprise
this long-time traditional favorite in the southwest suburbs.
The well-trained waitstaff professionally serves wonderful caesars
salads, homemade bread that requires eating several slices, and
dinners like veal oscar, fruitte de mare and tuna steak that
are consistently superb. Homemade deserts --especially the chocolate
cake category -- complete a throroughly enjoyable dining experience.
Luciano, a gregarious elderly man with a thick and charming Italian
accent, personally visits each table asking how the dinner is,
or was. We always answer in the affirmative!
Lafayette House
Lafayette House ,
Route 1, Foxboro, Mass. Tel. (508) 543-5344
One of the most charming restaurants
in New England, the Lafayette House dates back to 1784 and has
many interesting architectural nooks and crannies en route to
the several dining rooms -- crooked and creaky wooden floors,
low ceilings, post and beam design, etc. The atmosphere is rustic,
but the food is not. The lobster, roast duck breast with ginger
marinade, and the perfectly roasted prime rib stand out. It is
believed that George Washington once stayed here overnight, thus
confirming the Lafayette House place has been around quite a
while.
Spruce Pond Creamery
370 King St, Franklin,
Mass. Tel. (508) 520-7900.
Marc Bluestein has brought an
organic flair to this pizzeria/creamery. From the delicious mixed
greens salads to mouth-watering flatbread pizzas and homemade
ice cream, Spruce Pond Creamery is an affordable delight, unlike
any other place in the region. Organic cheeses, non-nitrate pepperoni
and great toppings and mixes like pesto, red peppers, shrimp
and goat cheese make you realize that this is a very distant
cousin of your basic house of pizza. All the ice cream is superb,
but the raspberry chocolate truffle is the absolute standout.
Decor is colorful with multi-colored fans, clean-tiled floor,
and an outdoor section overlooking pretty Spruce Pond. The open
kitchen with a wood stove oven has a certain charm. Organic food-lovers
and those about to discover the wonders of Bluestein's fresh
new concept of introducing a healthful style to conventional
foods, bring your appetites!
Budabing's 50s Cafe
1060 Main St. Millis, Mass.
Tel. (508) 376-8999.
A fun, brightly lit modern 50s
style diner with booths ample counter space and a very large
jukebox, Budabing's makes superb breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The menu is huge, including great barbecue chicken, pizza (the
brick oven type), shepherd's pie, meatloaf, turkey dinner and
a mixed green salad with chicken, steak and shrimp. Budabing's
is one of the great values on this earth, with excellent food
to match, making it a local favorite and a viable alternative
to cooking at home.
Colonial House
33 Savin Ave., Norwood,
Mass. Tel. (781) 762-3000
Set in a house with a tiny sign
within a residential neighborhood, the Colonial House is charming
on the inside with a roaring fireplace (useless in the summer
though) and food that won't roar through your digestive track.
From homemade meatloaf to delicious calimari, the Colonial House
is a local favorite offering affordable and tasty steak, seafood
and chicken dishes. The crowds hint that this is a great place
to eat.
Eagle Brook Saloon
258 Dedham St., Norfolk,
Mass. Tel. (508) 384-7312.
The Eagle Brook Saloon has changed
greatly from its rather rough and tumble days 20 years ago, when
one could see New Riders of the Purple Sage and other menacing
rock bands literally shake the building loose when combined with
a lively crowd. Byrds great Roger McGuinn also played here and
like the band's hit single about change "Turn, Turn, Turn"
(actually adapted from the Book of Ecclesiastes!),"the Eagle
Brook Saloon has for the past several years "turned"
into a new chapter of its revered existance. A great western-like
bar remains, but the Eagle Brook Saloon is essentially a top-notch
place to take the family. Healthy items like free-range chicken
and mesclun mix salad deliciously reside with old-time favorites
like the unbeatable chili, rib-eye steak and prime rib. The atmosphere
might just be one of the most unique and appealing in New England
with a wide, winding saloon-type staircase leading to a big,
rustic dining room that looks more like "High Noon,"
or Montana than New England. Small, charming rooms veer off from
the main dining room, providing the diner with the option of
dining loudly, quietly or romantically depending on where you
are seated. Service is always pleasant and attentive and providing
"equal opportunity" friendliness to children, adults
and adults who behave like children. The Eagle Brook may look
"western," but it's ultimately pure New England --
what place in the west could you go and order amazingly tasty
fried clams?
Giuseppe's
2 Kings Court, Dedham,
Mass. Tel. (781) 493-6563
Located in a basement across
from Dedham District Court, Giuseppe's is a favorite amongst
lawyers, jury duty people and hot shot professionals with cell
phones surgically attached to their ears. The wide breakfast
and lunch selections (with nice pesto, olive oil and garlic flourishes)
make Giuseppe's a comfortable, delicious discovery in a charming-tree-lined,
old colonial home section of Dedham center. The Mediterranean
paninis on foccacia are especially appealing.
Cafe Assisi
667 South Street, Wrentham,
Mass. Tel. (508)684-9400
Cafe Assisi brings authentic-tasting
Italian food to tiny Wrentham. The extremely active, equally
tiny kitchen concocts a wide variety of wonderful tasting pasta-based
dishes and pizzas that probably would stand out if it were located
in Boston's North End -- noteworthy given the high quality competition
there. The cozy, small dining room with framed pictures of Italy
on the wall fills up quickly, so the take out business co-exists
side-by-side with diners feasting some of the best freshly made
Italian food in the area. Cafe Assisi also serves wine and offers
homemade desserts. It's a great value and overall experience
while dining in the Wrentham area.
Mackie's Restaurant and Country
Store
49 North Washington St.,
North Attleboro, Mass. Tel. (508) 643-4141.
Mackie's Restaurant and Country
Store is the kind of restaurant you could take home to mother.
Old-fashioned and sweet, Mackie's is full of charm, character
and graciousness. Mackie's has it all -- breakfast, lunch and
dinner. A menu highlighted by "Mom's special of the week"
added to our feeling of being right at home in this family-oriented
establishment. Mom's special," a turkey dinner with all
the fixings tasted fresh and was plentiful -- something you would
expect from your grandmother many years ago. The tender and flavorful
steak tips were perhaps the best we've sampled, close in quality
to the famed Newbridge Cafe in Chelsea, Mass.
Mary Anne's Luncheonette
446 Main St., Medfield,
Mass. Tel. (508) 359-6859.
The red stools and black and
white tile lend a true feeling of being in a time warp at this
lunch counter tucked away in Lord's Department Store-- another
time warp where customers have been finding an amazing diversity
of merchandise for the past 65-plus years. Around the corner
from the toy section, Mary Anne's offers wholesome American favorites
like cheeseburgers, grilled cheese, apple pie and strawberry
shakes. It's much like the old days of Woolworth's luncheonette,
only much better.
Nick's Place
399 Neponset St., Canton,
Mass. Tel. (781) 828-7878
Nick's Place makes a wonderful
Greek baked lamb. The seasoned tenderness of this traditional
Greek favorite is prepared expertly, perhaps the best in the
metro Boston area -- very impressive considering all the fine
Greek-American restaurants in the region. Oh, by the way, they
also serve terrific moussaka and chicken, steak and seafood dishes.
Tom's Tavern
Tom's
Tavern,
263 Shears Street, Wrentham, Mass. Tel. (508) 384-8950
The first time we went to Tom's
Tavern, I had images of getting beat up and tortured by some
300-pound guy with a mean mustache and beard and a wild look
in his eye. The roadhouse look and the motorcycles outside truly
suggest that you can't always tell a book by its cover. Inside
are lots of smiling faces, a family-oriented dining room (children
can eat for $1.00 every Monday), a civil bar, and some of the
best seafood this side of Legal Seafoods. The best bets are lobster
dishes and the fresh shrimp, scallops, and clams sauteed in a
clam broth with herbs and spices, served over pasta with grated
asiago cheese. Tom's also makes a wonderful chicken florentine.
Tuesdays are very special nights with all-you-can-eat lobster
and crab clusters (call for pricing). Tom's is a favorite amongst
current and former New England Patriots football players, as
well as a legion of suburbanites who know a good deal as soon
as they get past the roadhouse image.
Town Spa
1119 Washington St., Stoughton,
Mass. Tel. (781) 344-2030.
Town Spa has been spinning truly
great thin crust pizza since 1956. Two big dining rooms are just
about as busy as Stoughton Center, but fortunately a competent,
largely experienced wait staff wastes no time bringing out the
graceless, almost pastry-like pizza. Town Spa is a great place
to eat pizza while watching usually sporting events on the large
screen televisions.
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