From: ellis@osf.org (Ellis S. Cohen)
Newsgroups: ne.food,rec.food.restaurants,ne.general,rec.travel.usa-canada
Subject: The Whole Boston Restaurant List
Date: Tue Nov 22 16:44:24 EST 1994
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Lines: 9759
Distribution: world

(As of Nov 22, 1994) 

 o Introduction 
 o Boston Restaurants listed by Area 
 o Boston Restaurants organized by Cuisine 
 o Boston Beer and Cider 
 o Recommended Boston Sunday Brunch Buffets 
 o Other Boston Lists 
 o Restaurants Outside Boston 
 o This Month's Contributors 
 o Changes Since Last Month 
 o Reviews Needed 

======================================================================
Introduction
======================================================================

This is a list of recommended restaurants in the Boston area with a
focus primarily on flavor, quality & value, though the list reports on
things like service & ambience as well. The emphasis is on
moderately-priced restaurants which serve interesting food.  At the
same time, I've included the really fancy expensive restaurants that
are reportedly good as well.

Typical dinner prices, per person, (including a drink, if liquor is
served, tax, and tip) are indicated as follows:

 ($-) $5-8,   ($) $8-12,  ($+) $12-15
 ($$-) $15-18, ($$) $18-22, ($$+) $22-25
 ($$$-) $25-28, ($$$) $28-32, ($$$+) $32-35
 ($$$$-) $35-38, ($$$$) $38-42, ($$$$+) $42-45, etc

Either I've had a good meal at each restaurant listed, or more likely,
someone else has recommended it. Note that most of the comments in the
list are not mine, but are from other people who've taken the time to
write up something about their dining experience.

If you have comments you'd like me to include (especially if they
differ from the current review or are for an unlisted restaurant), let
me know at ellis@osf.org, post them to the ne.food or
rec.food.restaurants Usenet newsgroup, or send them via the
Restauarant Review form available via the World Wide Web.

                 ----------------------------
                 |      DON'T BE SHY!       |
                 |                          |
                 |    DON'T WORRY ABOUT     |
                 |  HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE  |
                 |  YOU MIGHT HAVE TO SAY   |
                 ----------------------------

I'm happy to get information about any and all aspects of any
restaurant you've eaten at, including

General 
   Name of the restaurant
   Type of Cuisine
   Typical price per person for dinner w drink, tax & tip
   Overall rating (great / very good / good / mediocre / avoid )

Location & Access 
   Town, Neighborhood, Area
   Address, nearest cross streets & landmarks
   Nearest public transporation stop
   Parking
   Phone number
   Days & hours the place is open
   Reservations (accepted / suggested / essential)?
   Wheelchair access from street to dining area & dining area to
     restrooms (ok / one step up or down / difficult)

Food & Beverages 
   How was the food in general (e.g. quality, quantity, richness,
     flavor, seasonings, style of preparation, etc.)
   What dishes would you especially recommend?
   What dishes should be avoided?
   Anything special about beverages (do they serve alcohol, have
     interesting beers, a good wine list, etc.)?

Service & Ambience 
   How was the service (pleasant, formal, helpful, rude, slow, etc.)?
   What's the appearance & ambience of the place (size, seating,
     crowded, noisy, calm, comfortable, posh, hole-in-the-wall, dark,
     danky, etc.)?
   How do most patrons dress (grundgy, casual, dressy, formal)?

Other 
   Prices for individual courses & appetizers
   Takes credit cards or cash only?
   Is an outdoor dining area available (with full service)?
   How child-friendly is the place?
   What kinds of options are there for vegetarians?
   How good a place is it for getting low fat meals?
   Anything else interesting, entertaining, or useful!

Entertaining quotes I can include, as well as any information that
would fill in holes in the current list are especially appreciated.

Please let me know if you do not want me to attach your name and/or
e-mail address to any review you send me. I'm also happy to use a
pseudonym or pen name if you send me one!

Restaurants are only included in the recommended list when I receive
at least two more positive reviews than negative reviews of the
restaurant.

I maintain a list of restaurants which only have one positive review
so far, or which were previously included, but have skimpy or
out-of-date reviews. I'd really like to get reviews of these
restaurants. Sending a positive review will get the restaurant on the
list; a negative review will keep it off. The list of these
restaurants (both in Boston and outside Boston) is available on-line
for web users, and is also mailed out twice a month to the ne.food
news group.

The Boston Restaurant List has been in existence, and posted on Usenet
to rec.food.restauarants and ne.food since mid-1993.

Thanks to Brian Lucas at the University of Manitoba, both plaintext
and html versions of the latest version of the Boston Restaurant List
are available for anonymous ftp access in the rec.travel archives he
maintains

  at
    ftp.cc.umanitoba.ca
  in the directory
    rec-travel/north_america/usa/massachusetts
  as
    boston-restaurants.ellis (for plaintext), or
    boston-restaurants.ellis.html (for html).

A more extensive hypertext version of the Boston Restaurant List has
been on the web since March 1994 at URL

     http://www.osf.org:8001/boston-food/boston-food.html

Since August 1994, a search engine has been available on-line which
allows searches of restaurants by area, cuisine, and price range.

The list primarily covers restaurants within Rt 128 along the Mass
Pike corrider.

However, the "Outside Boston" part of the list covers highly
recommended restaurants anywhere in Eastern Massachusetts (as far as
Worcestor), Southeastern New Hampshire (bounded by Nashua / Manchester
/ Dover), Southwestern Coastal Maine, or Rhode Island. I try to only
include restaurants that are especially good or very good and an
exceptionally good value -- that is, if someone should seek them out
if they were visiting nearby or travelling through the area.

If you have questions about this list, contact the maintainer,
Ellis S. Cohen, at ellis@osf.org or 617-621-8718. 

A revised version of the paper (in HTML) I presented at the WWW
Conference

 Review-Based Information Services:
 Lessons learned from the Boston Restaurant List 

is now available, as is the original paper (in Postscript). 

Postscript slides of that talk are available, as well as slides from a
longer talk I've given elsewhere.

As noted above, restaurants are only included in the printed version
of the Boston Restaurant List if they are recommended; the list does
not attempt to cover the vast number of decent and mediocre but
unexceptional places to eat in the Boston area.

However, on-line users who access the list through the web can get
access to reviews for all restaurants received (both in Boston and
outside Boston), including mediocre and awful restaurants, and
restaurants which have only received a single positive review thus
far. On-line users can also access interesting or controversial long
reviews from which the reviews "in the list" have been distilled.

In addition, the printed version of the list only covers places where
you can sit down and eat; take-out only places aren't included.

Finally, the printed version of the list primarily covers places where
you can get dinner; lunch-only places are not included unless they are
very very good.

I'm not likely to support new locales or new categories myself, but if
you're interested in maintaining a new related list, let me know and
I'll include a link to it from this list.

I'm happy to receive suggestions about how the information in the list
can be made more useful, however, the time I can spend on the list is
fairly limited. If you're excited enough to make a suggestion,
consider being excited enough to do the work, so that I can include it
or link to it.

Words of Wisdom (from betsys@cs.umb.edu)
========================================

I read an article once where a reviewer replied to people who had bad
experiences at places he had given good reviews, and his advice made a
lot of sense.

The reviewer said that people who complained had usually been to the
restaurant at the busiest times, Friday and Saturday nights. At those
times the staff is rushed and more likely to make mistakes, the
kitchen is crowded and might be running short of ingredients, the
customers can be boisterous, everyone is under stress, and you will
experience the restaurant at its worst.

When this reviewer went to eat, he tried to go weeknights, at the very
beginning of the dinner hour. The staff is fresh, the food is fresh,
and everyone has time to pay attention to your dining experience.

Of course, it is always reasonable to expect a certain standard, but
if you want to experience the restaurant at its BEST, visit at the
best times.

=====================================================================
Boston Area Restaurants (by SubArea)
=====================================================================

This is a list of all recommended Boston area restaurants organized by
neighborhood within the towns of

Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Charlestown,
Chelsea, Medford, Newton, Somerville, Waltham, and Watertown.

Arlington
---------

  Cafe Barada ($) [Lebanese / Middle Eastern]
  China Cafe ($+) [Chinese]
  Shanghai Village ($+) [Chinese]
  Tandoor ($+) [Indian]

Belmont
-------

  Andros Diner ($+) [Greek Diner]
  Cafe Fiorella ($) [Italian/Pizza]
  Ling Gardens ($+) [Chinese] -- Waverly Sq

Boston (Allston)
----------------

  Armadillo Cafe ($$-) [Tex/Mex]
  Big Burrito ($-) [Tex/Mex]
  Blackbird Baking Company ($+) [Cafe]
  Cafe Brazil ($$-) [Brazillian]
  Cafe Lampara ($$-) [Italian]
  Cafe Shiraz ($$-) [Kosher Persian]
  Choe's Cafe ($$-) [Korean]
  Chung Wah ($) [Chinese]
  Goemon ($+) [Japanese Noodle]
  Ichiban ($$-) [Japanese]
  Pho Pasteur ($) [Vietnamese]
  Quan's Kitchen ($) [Chinese]
  Rama Thai ($+) [Thai]
  Saigon ($) [Vietnamese]
  San Francisco Noodle House ($+) [Chinese]
  Siam Cuisine ($$-) [Thai]
  Thai House ($$) [Thai]
  V Majestic ($) [Vietnamese]
  Viet Hong ($) [Vietnamese]

Boston (Back Bay East, Copley to the Commons)
---------------------------------------------

  Twenty-Nine Newbury St ($$$-) [Eclectic]
  Bertucci's ($+) [Pizza / Italian]
  Blue Wave ($$) [Eclectic]
  Cottonwood Cafe ($$+) [Southwestern]
  Grill 23 ($$$$-) [Steakhouse]
  Kaya ($$) [Korean]
  Milano's ($$) [Italian]
  Mister Leung's ($$$) [Chinese]
  PapaRazzi ($$) [Northern Italian]
  Plaza Dining Room ($$$$+) [Continental]
  Rattlesnake Bar and Grill ($$-) [Latin American / Caribbean]
  Skipjack ($$+) [Seafood]
  Small Planet ($$) [Eclectic]
  Spasso ($$) [Italian]
  Turner Fisheries ($$$) [Seafood]

Boston (Back Bay West, West of Copley)
--------------------------------------

  Boodle's of Boston ($$$-) [Steaks]
  Cactus Club ($$) [Southwestern]
  Cafe Budapest ($$$$) [Hungarian]
  Caffe Jaffa ($) [Israeli]
  California Pizza Kitchen ($+) [Italian Pizza/Pasta]
  Casa Romero ($$) [Mexican]
  Capital Grille ($$$$-) [Steakhouse]
  Ciao Bella ($$$-) [Northern Italian]
  Davio's ($$$-) [Italian]
  Eliot/Kotobukiya ($+) [Japanese]
  Emporio Armani Express ($$$) [Italian]
  Famous Atlantic Seafood Company ($$) [Seafood]
  Gyuhama of Japan ($$+) [Japanese]
  House of Siam ($$-) [Thai]
  Hsin Hsin Chinese Noodle Restaurant ($) [Chinese]
  India Samraat ($+) [Indian]
  Kebab-N-Kurry ($+) [Indian]
  King & I ($$-) [Thai]
  Legal Seafood ($$+) [Seafood]
  L'Espalier ($$$$$$-) [Nouvelle French]
  Miyako ($$+) [Japanese]
  Morton's of Chicago ($$$$) [Steakhouse]
  Oceanic ($$-) [Chinese Seafood]
  Sonsie ($$$) [Eclectic]
  Steve's ($+) [Greek / Middle Eastern]
  Thai Basil ($$-) [Thai]
  Top of the Hub ($$$) [Traditional]
  Wild Ginger Bistro ($$+) [Asian Eclectic]

Boston (Beacon Hill / West End)
-------------------------------

  Another Season ($$$+) [French-American]
  Bangkok & Tokyo Grille ($$-) [Thai]
  Hungry I ($$$+) [Contemporary French / American]
  King & I ($$-) [Thai]
  Phoenicia ($) [Middle Eastern]
  Ristorante Toscano ($$$+) [Northern Italian]
  Siam Cafe ($$-) [Thai]
  Tangiers Cafe ($$) [North African]

Boston (Brighton)
-----------------

  Bangkok Bistro ($$-) [Thai] -- Cleveland Circle
  Bluestone Bistro ($+) [Italian Bistro]
  Chef Chow ($$-) [Chinese] -- Cleveland Circle
  Han Mi Ok ($$-) [Korean] -- Brighton Center
  Jasmine Bistro ($$) [Eclectic] -- Brighton Center
  Korea House ($$-) [Korean]
  Pars Cafe ($+) [Persian] -- Oak Sq
  Uva ($$+) [Italian]

Boston (Chinatown)
------------------

  Art Zone ($$) [American Casual]
  Asian Garden ($+) [Chinese]
  Ba Dat ($) [Vietnamese]
  Blue Diner ($+) [American Casual Funky Diner]
  Buddha's Delight ($) [Vegetarian Chinese / Vietnamese]
  Carl's Pagoda ($$-) [Chinese]
  Chau Chow ($+) [Chinese Seafood, Dim Sum]
  China Gate ($+) [Chinese]
  China Grove ($+) [Chinese]
  China Pearl ($+) [Chinese w Dim Sum]
  Chinatown Cafe ($-) [Chinese]
  East Ocean City ($$) [Chinese]
  Eldo Tea House ($) [Chinese]
  Food Hall ($-) [Chinese]
  Fortune House ($$-) [Chinese Seafood]
  Ginza ($$$) [Japanese]
  Golden Gate ($+) [Chinese]
  Golden Palace ($$-) [Chinese w Dim Sum ]
  Grand Chau Chow ($$-) [Chinese Seafood]
  Ho Yuen Ting ($$-) [Chinese Seafood]
  Hong Kong Eatery ($$-) [Chinese]
  Imperial Seafood Restaurant ($$-) [Chinese Seafood, Dim Sum]
  King Fung Garden ($+) [Chinese]
  New Shanghai ($$) [Chinese]
  Ocean Wealth ($$) [Chinese Seafood]
  Pho Bang ($-) [Vietnamese]
  Pho Pasteur ($) [Vietnamese]
  Rod Thai ($) [Thai]
  Siam Square ($+) [Thai]
  Vietnam Restaurant ($+) [Vietnamese]

Boston (Downtown / Financial District)
--------------------------------------

  Ben's Cafe ($$$-) [French]
  Cecil's ($+) [Latin / Caribbean]
  Country Life ($) [7th Day Adventist Vegan Vegetarian]
  Dakota's ($$$-) [Eclectic]
  Fajita & 'Ritas ($+) [Tex/Mex]
  Julien ($$$$$) [Nouvelle French]
  Locke-Ober Cafe ($$$$) [New England / American]
  Maison Robert ($$$$) [Classic French]
  Milk St Cafe ($) [Kosher Vegetarian]
  Nara ($$) [Japanese]
  Parker's ($$$) [Traditional American]
  Rami's Felafel ($) [Kosher Israeli]
  Sakurabana ($$) [Japanese]
  Schifino ($$$-) [Italian]
  Sultan's Kitchen ($) [Turkish]
  Trattoria Il Panino ($$$+) [Italian]

Boston (Dorchester / Mattapan)
------------------------------

  Beijing Garden Restaurant ($+) [Chinese/Vietnamese w Dim Sum] -- Dorchester
  Pit Stop ($) [Barbeque] -- Mattapan
  Thai Gourmet ($+) [Thai] -- Dorchester

Boston (East Boston)
--------------------

  Mama Julia ($) [Colombian / Salvadoran]
  Nana Cora's ($$-) [Italian]
  Sablone's Veal 'N Vintage ($$) [Italian]

Boston (Jamaica Plain)
----------------------

  Acapulco ($+) [Mexican]
  Black Crow ($+) [Cafe] -- Hyde Sq
  Center Street Cafe ($+) [Cafe]
  El Embajador ($) [Latin American]
  Five Seasons ($$) [Macrobiotic]
  International Restaurant ($) [Dominican]
  Pupuseria Quintanilla ($) [Salvadoran]
  Water Cafe ($$-) [Eclectic]

Boston (Kenmore Sq / West Fenway)
---------------------------------

  Buteco ($+) [Brazillian] -- West Fenway
  India Quality ($+) [Indian] -- Kenmore Sq
  Maluken ($$) [Japanese] -- Kenmore Sq
  Sorento's ($$-) [Italian] -- West Fenway
  Stars Ocean Chinese Seafood Restaurant ($+) [Chinese Seafood] -- West Fenway

Boston (North End)
------------------

  Al Dente ($$) [Italian]
  Artu ($+) [Italian]
  Bella Vista ($?) [Italian]
  Daily Catch ($$) [Seafood]
  Da Natale ($?) [Italian]
  Dom's ($$$+) [Northern Italian]
  Five North Square ($$$-) [Italian]
  Giacomo's ($$$-) [Italian Seafood]
  G'Vanni's ($$$-) [Italian]
  Il Nido ($$$) [Italian]
  L'Osteria ($$) [Italian]
  La Conte ($$-) [Italian]
  La Piccola Venezia ($+) [Southern Italian]
  Mamma Maria ($$$) [Nouvelle Italian]
  Massimino's ($$) [Italian]
  Mother Anna's ($$) [Italian]
  Nicole's ($$) [Italian]
  Pomodoro ($$) [Italian]
  Ristorante Lucia ($$+) [Northern Italian]
  Saraceno's ($$+) [Southern Italian]
  Terramia ($$$-) [Nouvelle Italian]
  Trattoria Il Panino: Dining Room ($$$+) [Italian]
  Trattoria Il Panino: Il Bistro ($$+) [Italian]

Boston (Roslindale / West Roxbury)
----------------------------------

  Bertucci's ($+) [Pizza / Italian] -- West Roxbury
  Sami's ($) [Middle Eastern] -- Roslindale

Boston (South End)
------------------

  Addis Red Sea ($+) [Ethiopian]
  Appetito ($$) [Italian]
  Azita Ristorante ($$+) [Northern Italian / Nouvelle American]
  Bob the Chef ($+) [Soul Food]
  Botolph on Tremont ($$+) [Eclectic]
  Butchie's ($$-) [Barbeque/Creole]
  Buteco ($+) [Brazillian]
  Claremont Cafe ($+) [Eclectic]
  Giacomo's ($$) [Italian Seafood]
  Hamersley's Bistro ($$$$) [Eclectic]
  Icarus ($$$$-) [Eclectic]
  Jae's ($$+) [Asian Eclectic]
  Legal Seafood ($$+) [Seafood]
  Moka ($) [Cafe]
  On the Park ($$+) [Eclectic]
  St Botolph ($$$-) [Eclectic]
  St Cloud ($$$) [Eclectic Nouvelle American]
  Thai Village ($$-) [Thai]

Boston (Symphony Area)
----------------------

  Arirang House ($) [Korean]
  Bangkok City ($$-) [Thai]
  Bangkok Cuisine ($$-) [Thai]
  Bangkok Room ($$-) [Thai]
  Dixie Kitchen ($+) [Cajun]
  Fine Arts Restaurant ($$) [Eclectic]
  Goemon ($+) [Japanese Noodle]
  Shawarma King ($) [Middle Eastern]
  Thai Cuisine ($$-) [Thai]

Boston (Theater District / Park Sq)
-----------------------------------

  Aujord 'Hui ($$$$$) [Nouvelle French / Continental]
  Biba ($$$$) [Eclectic]
  David's ($$$) [Mediterranean]
  Joyce Chen ($$-) [Chinese]
  Legal Seafood ($$+) [Seafood]
  Montien ($$) [Thai]
  Rocco's ($$$) [Neo Italian]
  Star of Siam ($+) [Thai]

Boston (Waterfront / Faneuil Hall)
----------------------------------

  Bay Tower Room ($$$$) [Continental/French]
  Bertucci's ($+) [Pizza / Italian]
  Cornucopia on the Wharf ($$$) [Eclectic]
  Daily Catch ($$) [Seafood]
  Durgin Park ($$+) [Traditional NE Regional]
  Eastern Pier Seafood ($$) [Chinese Seafood]
  Jaspers ($$$$+) [Eclectic New England]
  Joseph's Aquarium ($$-) [Italian-American Seafood]
  Marco Polo ($+) [Chinese]
  Old Spaghetti Factory ($+) [Italian-American]
  Sally Ling's ($$+) [Chinese]
  Seasons ($$$$$-) [Eclectic]
  Tatsukichi ($$+) [Japanese]
  Ye Olde Union Oyster House ($$$-) [Seafood]

Brookline (Coolidge Corner / JFK Crossing / North Brookline)
------------------------------------------------------------

  Beijing III ($$-) [Chinese]
  Bombay Bistro ($$-) [Indian]
  Chef Chow ($$-) [Chinese]
  Daily Catch ($$) [Seafood]
  El Bandido ($) [Tex/Mex]
  Enzo Ristorante ($$+) [Italian]
  Mi Vami ($+) [Israeli]
  Niko's ($+) [Greek]
  Noble House ($$) [Chinese]
  Providence ($$$$-) [Eclectic / Tuscan]
  Rami's Felafel ($) [Kosher Israeli]
  Rubin's Deli ($+) [Kosher Deli]
  Ruth's Kitchen ($+) [Kosher]
  Shawarma King ($) [Middle Eastern]
  Takeshima ($$) [Japanese]
  Victor's Pizza ($) [Kosher Pizza]
  Yu's ($) [Chinese]

Brookline (St Mary's / Longwood)
--------------------------------

  Atlas Kitchen ($+) [Turkish] -- St Mary's
  Cafe Han River ($) [Korean] -- St Mary's
  Chef Chang ($$-) [Chinese] -- St Mary's
  Elephant Walk ($$+) [French Cambodian]
  Sol Azteca ($$) [Mexican] -- St Mary's
  Veronique ($$$) [Classic French] -- Longwood

Brookline (Village)
-------------------

  Davio's ($$$-) [Nouvelle Italian]
  Fajita & 'Ritas ($+) [Tex/Mex]
  Sawasdee ($$) [Thai]
  Shalom Hunan ($$-) [Kosher Chinese]
  Skipjack ($$+) [Seafood]
  Village Fish ($$) [Seafood]
  Village Smokehouse ($$-) [Barbeque]

Brookline (Washington Sq)
-------------------------

  Golden Temple ($$) [Chinese]
  Indian Cafe ($$-) [Indian]
  T.J.'s Taqueria ($) [Mexican]
  Vinny Testa's ($$) [Italian]

Cambridge (Central Sq / MIT)
----------------------------

  Anago Bistro ($$$) [Mediterranean]
  Asmara ($+) [Ethiopian]
  Bertucci's ($+) [Pizza / Italian]
  Brookline Diner ($) [Middle Eastern]
  Cinderella's ($) [Italian]
  Fishery ($$) [Seafood]
  Green St Grill ($$) [Eclectic Caribbean]
  India Pavillion ($+) [Indian]
  Indian Globe ($+) [Indian]
  Korea Garden ($$-) [Korean]
  La Groceria ($$) [Northern Italian]
  Larry's ($+) [Chinese]
  Mary Chung Restaurant ($+) [Chinese]
  Middle East ($+) [Middle Eastern]
  Miracle of Science ($+) [American Casual]
  Oh Calcutta ($+) [Indian]
  Picante ($) [Tex/Mex]
  Pu-Pu Hot Pot ($+) [Chinese w Dim Sum]
  Rhythm & Spice ($$-) [Caribbean]
  Royal East ($+) [Chinese]
  Shalimar ($$-) [Indian]
  Taj India ($+) [Indian]
  Tandoor House ($$-) [Indian]

Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
----------------------

  Algiers ($+) [Middle Eastern]
  Bangkok House ($$-) [Thai]
  Bebop Burrito ($-) [Mexican]
  Bennett St Cafe ($$) [Eclectic]
  Bertucci's ($+) [Pizza / Italian]
  Bombay Club ($$) [Indian]
  Border Cafe ($$-) [Cajun/Southwestern]
  Cafe of India ($+) [Indian]
  Cafe Sushi ($$) [Japanese]
  California Pizza Kitchen ($+) [Italian (Pizza/Pasta)]
  Casa Mexico ($$) [Mexican]
  Casablanca ($$) [North African]
  Chef Chow ($$-) [Chinese]
  Delhi Darbar ($+) [Indian]
  Dolphin Seafood ($+) [Seafood]
  Eight Holyoke ($$$+) [Bistro]
  Giannino's ($$$-) [Northern Italian]
  Grendel's Den ($+) [American Casual]
  Harvest ($$$) [Eclectic]
  House of Blues ($$-) [American Casual]
  Il Panino ($+) [Italian Casual] -- Harvard/Central Sq
  Iruna ($$-) [Spanish]
  Mimi's Oriental Grill ($$+) [Asian Eclectic]
  Pampas ($$) [Brazillian ]
  Roka ($$) [Japanese]
  Rosies ($) [American Casual]
  Shilla ($$) [Korean]
  Siam Garden ($$-) [Thai]
  Singha House ($$-) [Thai]
  Skewers ($) [Middle Eastern]
  Skipjack ($$+) [Seafood]
  Ta Sheng ($+) [Chinese]
  Upstairs at the Pudding ($$$$) [Eclectic Continental / N Italian]

Cambridge (Inman Sqaure)
------------------------

  Akbar India ($+) [Indian]
  Cafe China ($$-) [European-Style Chinese]
  Jae's ($$+) [Asian Eclectic]
  Casa Portugal ($$-) [Portuguese]
  Chez Vous Creole ($+) [Creole]
  Daddy-O's Bohemian Cafe ($$) [American Casual]
  East Coast Grill ($$+) [Eclectic]
  Jake & Earl's ($+) [Barbeque]
  Koreana ($$) [Korean]
  Magnolia's Southern Cuisine ($$+) [Southern / Cajun]
  Midwest Grill ($$-) [Brazillian/Portuguese]
  Portugalia ($$-) [Portuguese]
  S & S Deli ($+) [Deli]
  Sunset Cafe ($$) [Portugese]

Cambridge (Kendall Sq / East Cambridge)
---------------------------------------

  Biggs Restaurant ($+) [Jamaican]
  Blue Room ($$$-) [Eclectic]
  Boca Grande ($-) [Mexican]
  Chandra's ($+) [Caribbean / Indian]
  Davio's ($$$-) [Nouvelle Italian]
  Florentina ($$) [Italian]
  Helmand's ($$-) [Afghan]
  Izzy's Sub Shop ($) [Puerto Rican]
  Legal Seafood ($$+) [Seafood]
  PapaRazzi ($$) [Italian]
  Poppa & Goose ($+) [Asian Eclectic]
  Rayz ($$-) [American Casual]
  Salamander ($$$$) [Eclectic]
  Sammy's Deli ($) [Deli]
  Sindibad ($+) [Middle Eastern]
  Thai's ($$) [Thai]

Cambridge (Porter Sq / North Cambridge)
---------------------------------------

  Boca Grande ($-) [Mexican]
  Cafe Mami ($) [Japanese]
  Changsho ($$-) [Chinese]
  Chez Jean ($$$-) [Classic French]
  Cottonwood Cafe ($$+) [Southwestern]
  Dali ($$+) [Spanish]
  Greek Corner Restaurant ($) [Greek]
  Hana Sushi ($$-) [Japanese]
  Ittyo ($+) [Japanese]
  Jade Flower ($) [Chinese]
  Kotobukiya ($+) [Japanese]
  Maharajah ($+) [Indian]
  Masao's Kitchen ($+) [Vegan Macrobiotic]
  Matsu-Ya ($$) [Korean / Japanese]
  Mexican Cuisine {Forest Cafe} ($$) [Mexican]
  Noelle ($+) [Eclectic]
  Passage to India ($$) [Indian]
  Porter Exchange Mall [Japanese Food Mall]
  Porter House Cafe ($$-) [Barbeque]
  Ristorante Marino ($$+) [Italian Natural]
  Sapporo Ramen ($+) [Japanese Noodle House]
  Snakebites Canteen ($$-) [Southwestern]

Cambridge (West Cambridge / Fresh Pond / Alewife)
-------------------------------------------------

  Bertucci's ($+) [Pizza / Italian]
  Jose's ($) [Mexican]
  Joyce Chen ($$-) [Chinese]
  Koto ($$) [Japanese]
  Pentimento ($+) [American Casual & Natural]
  Tokyo Restaurant ($$$-) [Japanese]
  Trattoria Pulcinella ($$$) [Northern Italian]

Charlestown
-----------

  Barrett's Restaurant ($$+) [Traditional]
  Blossoms ($$-) [Nouvelle Italian]
  Figs ($$) [Italian Pizza/Pasta]
  Olive's ($$$$-) [Nouvelle Northern Italian]

Chelsea
-------

  New Bridge Cafe ($+) [Barbeque]

Medford
-------

  Bertucci's ($+) [Pizza / Italian]
  May's Cafe ($+) [Chinese]

Newton (Centre)
---------------

  Appetito ($$) [Italian]
  Chengmai ($$-) [Thai]
  Ha Ha ($+) [Chinese]
  Provizer's Deli ($-) [Deli]
  Sabra ($+) [Middle Eastern / Israeli]
  Seoul House ($$-) [Korean]
  Seven Stars Mandarin ($+) [Chinese]
  Sol Azteca ($$) [Mexican]

Newton (Chestnut Hill)
----------------------

  Bernard's ($$-) [Chinese]
  Legal Seafood ($$+) [Seafood]
  Marco Solo ($$+) [Eclectic]
  PapaRazzi ($$) [Italian]

Newton (Four Corners / Highlands / Upper Falls)
-----------------------------------------------

  Cantin Abruzzi ($$-) [Italian] -- Highlands
  Mill Falls ($$$) [American Formal] -- Upper Falls
  Moon Woman Cafe ($$+) [Mediterranean] -- Upper Falls
  Vinny Testa's ($$) [Italian] -- Four Corners

Newton (Lower Falls / Auburndale / West Newton)
-----------------------------------------------

  Pillar House ($$$) [Traditional] -- Lower Falls
  Shogun ($$) [Japanese] -- West Newton

Newton (Nonantum / Newtonville / Newton Corner)
-----------------------------------------------

  Amarin ($$-) [Thai] -- Newton Corner
  Bertucci's ($+) [Pizza / Italian] -- Newton Corner
  Karoun ($+) [Armenian] -- Newtonville
  Ru Yee ($+) [Chinese] -- Nonantum

Somerville (Beacon St) 
-----------------------

  Chang Feng ($+) [Chinese]
  Chef Lee ($+) [Chinese]
  Jimmy Mac's ($+) [Barbeque]
  Little Bali ($$) [Indonesian]

Somerville (Davis / Powderhouse / Teele / Ball Sq)
--------------------------------------------------

  Bertucci's ($+) [Pizza / Italian] -- Davis Sq
  India ($+) [Indian] -- Davis Sq
  Johnny D's ($+) [American Casual] -- Davis Sq
  Panda ($$-) [Chinese] -- Ball Sq
  Picante ($) [Tex/Mex] -- Davis Sq
  Redbones ($$-) [Barbeque] -- Davis Sq
  Rudy's ($) [Mexican] -- Teele Sq
  Sepal Cafe ($) [Vegetarian Middle Eastern] -- Teele Sq
  Street Cafe ($+) [Chinese] -- Davis Sq

Somerville (Union Sq)
---------------------

  Elephant Walk ($$) [French/Cambodian]
  Hometown/Kohyang ($$-) [Korean]
  India Palace ($+) [Indian]
  Neighborhood Restaurant ($+) [Portuguese]
  New Asia ($$-) [Chinese]
  Oasis Grille ($+) [Middle Eastern]
  Union Square Bistro ($$+) [Eclectic]
  WooChon ($$-) [Korean]

Waltham (Downtown)
------------------

  Bombay Mahal ($$-) [Indian]
  E.J.'s Barbeque ($+) [Barbeque]
  Erawan of Siam ($$) [Thai]
  Iguana Cantina ($$-) [Tex/Mex]
  Il Capriccio ($$$$-) [Northern Italian]
  Little India ($+) [Indian]
  New Mother India ($$-) [Indian]
  Sadie's ($+) [Barbeque]
  Taqueria Mexico ($+) [Mexican]
  Tuscan Grill ($$$) [Nouvelle Italian]

Waltham (Outlying Areas)
------------------------

  Bertucci's ($+) [Pizza / Italian]
  Bluestone Bistro ($+) [Italian / Pizza]
  Buckaroo's ($+) [Barbeque]
  Green Papaya ($$-) [Thai]
  Sakura ($+) [Japanese]
  Saro's ($$-) [Northern Italian]
  VietFoods ($) [Vietnamese]

Watertown
---------

  Ararat ($) [Armenian]
  Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse ($$-) [Steakhouse]
  Casa Elena ($+) [Latin American]
  Demo's ($) [Middle Eastern / Greek]
  Hunan Palace ($$-) [Chinese]
  Kareem's ($+) [Middle Eastern]
  Le Bocage ($$$$-) [Nouvelle French]
  Porcini's ($$+) [Italian]
  Sepal ($+) [Vegetarian Middle Eastern]
  Stellina ($$$-) [Nouvelle Italian]
  Taste of India ($$-) [Indian]

======================================================================
Boston Area Restaurants (by Cuisine)
======================================================================

 o Afghan 
 o American Casual 
 o American Formal 
 o Armenian 
 o Asian Eclectic 
 o Barbeque 
 o Brazillian 
 o Cafe 
 o Cajun 
 o California Cuisine 
 o Cambodian 
 o Caribbean 
 o Chinese 
 o Continental 
 o Creole 
 o Deli 
 o Eclectic 
 o Ethiopian 
 o French 
 o Greek 
 o Indian 
 o Indonesian 
 o Israeli 
 o Italian 
 o Japanese 
 o Korean 
 o Kosher 
 o Latin American 
 o Macrobiotic 
 o Mediterranean 
 o Mexican 
 o Middle Eastern 
 o Mongolian 
 o Moroccan 
 o North African 
 o Nouvelle American 
 o Persian 
 o Portuguese 
 o Russian 
 o Seafood 
 o Southern 
 o Soul 
 o Southwestern 
 o Spanish 
 o Steaks 
 o Tex/Mex 
 o Thai 
 o Traditional 
 o Turkish 
 o Vegetarian/Vegan 
 o Vietnamese 

Afghan Restaurants
******************

Helmand's ($$-) -- East Cambridge
  143 First St (at Bent St) nr Cambridgeside Galleria, 492-4646
  T: Green Line E @ Lechmere, Red Line @ Kendall Sq
  DineAccess: ok; ToiletAccess: ok
  CreditCards: yes; OutdoorDine: no; ChildFriendly: ok
  Dress: casual; VegOptions: lots
  Food: Very good food.  Seasonings are very similar to that of Indian
food, but a little subtler.  Presentation is elaborate - they seem to
put a lot of time into presentation.  Portions are not very large, but
are adequate, especially since the flavors are intense, almost to the
point where you're overloaded by the time you finish a dish.
  GoodDishes: Try the leek-filled pastry w something else (yellow
peas?), served over a mint/yogurt sauce; similar to a flattened samosa
over raita, but much crispier yet not at all greasy.  They also have
an incredible Baklava (spelled differently of course) with a *very
intense* flavoring.
  Beverages: No liquor license yet, but they have a wall dedicated to
an extensive wine selection.  They say they have their wine lists all
printed, they're just waiting for the liquor license.
  Service: Service is very attentive
  Ambience: They're trying to be a classy place.  White tablecloths,
hostess in a fashionable suit, fancy coffee service, show-offy wine
racks, etc.  The restaurant is a decent size, probably 15-20 tables
that are comfortably spaced, lighting is bright but indirect.  Music
is similar to that in many Indian restaurants.  Even though this isn't
an Indian restaurant, think of it as Indian-like food with an upscale
ambiance.
  Prices: Entrees range from 8.95 to around $13.  Appetizers are in
the 2.50-3.50 range. (11/94)

American Casual & Deli Restaurants
**********************************

Art Zone ($$) -- Chinatown
  150 Kneeland St, 695-0087
  While the food is perhaps not especially noteworthy, it is usually
fairly tasty, somewhat eclectic for barbecue, and comes in large
portions.  The rib platters & pulled pork are quite good, though you
can get the occasional annoying huge glob of fat in pork sandwiches,
and the barbecue sauce (served in a plastic cup) is very sweet --
something that Kraft would sell in a supermarket.  The bbq should
become better, now that the kitchen staff has been specially trained by
a barbeque expert.
  The grilled calamari in balsamic vinagrette is an excellent
appetizer, they have some of the best onion rings, sweet potato chips,
and cornbread in Boston, and there's very good guacamole and veggie
chili (with grilled eggplant and zucchini, which is quite nice, but has
nothing whatsoever to do with chili).  OK crab cakes (with a lamentable
sauce) and fajitas; other dishes are even more ordinary, including the
salad, served with "industrial" dressing.  They do have a fine beer
list, including Burton Bitter from the Commonwealth Brewery.  Overall,
the place is upscale and very pricey though, with the same owner as the
Blue Diner next door.
  The main reason to come here is for the amusing decor -- its a lot of
fun, especially if it's uncrowded enough that you can look at the
tables on the way in and out -- they are all different creations from
local artists, in glass-topped boxes.  The decor really steals the show
- every table is different, and their artistic content (or lack
thereof!)  provides plenty of material for good dinner conversation
among friends.  Good juke box too. [=>interesting long review]

Blue Diner ($+) -- Chinatown
  178 Kneeland St (edge of Leather District), 338-4639
  T: Red Line @ South Station
  Fine retro-diner food, which is to say all the flash and fresh
ingredients of a gentrified neighborhood bistro (plus beer and wine) in
a genuine diner setting (assembled on-site in 1947).  The sign in the
window says: "Food like your mother would have made, if she'd gone to a
very good white-trash cooking school."  Traditional diner dishes with a
twist that makes them inauthentic but worthwhile.  A tad pricy, but top
notch burgers, hand-cut fries, homefries, omelettes & excellent sausage.
Pies are worth a trip all on their own, esp the pineapple meringue or
apple.  A recent review indicates problems and possible closure due to
the Central Artery construction (9/94) [=> review ]

Daddy-O's Bohemian Cafe ($$) -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  134 Hampshire St, 354-8371
  Reservations: Not Accepted, long wait on weekends
  Good imaginative home cooking; if you can bring yourself to order
something as dull-sounding as macaroni and cheese, you *won't* regret
it.  In some ways, Daddy O's food resembles the East Coast Grill's, but
with more of a Jewish accent and with more non-grilled dishes.  The menu
changes seasonally.  Good dishes have included latkes, mussel fritters,
black bean soup, seafood assortment (with a Chinese twist to the spices
and side dishes).  Sunday Jazz Dinner.  The wine list at Daddy O's is
also one of the best deals in town - interesting, well-selected and very
reasonably priced. (8/94)

Grendel's Den ($+) -- Harvard Sq
  89 Winthrop St, 491-1050, T: Red Line @ Harvard Sq
  A Harvard Sq institution, the menu feeds all tastes from vegan to
steak & potatoes, but ther main reason to go is for the salad bar,
which has a fairly good selection for vegetarians, including tabouli
and hummus.  The rest of the food is good, but not exceptional; the
simpler things and the curried meats are best.  The portions are a
little on the light side, but the prices aren't that bad either.  The
atmosphere is pretty nice, relaxed and casual, and the staff is
pleasant and attentive -- a friendly, studenty sort of place.  Can be
slow on weekends as it's too busy.

House of Blues ($$-) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  96 Winthrop St, 876-3030, T: Red Line @ Harvard Sq
  Restaurant downstairs, blues club upstairs.  The restuarant has
pretty good food, including smoked ribs, chicken tandoori (but beware
of it being undercooked), pizza w spinach, sundried tomatoes & roasted
garlic, and the chocolate peanut butter pie.  There are many
complaints about the us vs them mentality of the waitstaff, and the
rushed service near showtime, but at other times, the service can be
pretty good. (7/94) Sunday Gospel Blues Brunch. 
  [=> reviews ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Johnny D's ($+) -- Somerville (Davis Sq)
  17 Holland St, 776-2004, T: Red Line @ Davis Sq
  A music club and restaurant owned by vegetarians.  The menu has some
vegan options, but is not strictly vegetarian.  It is pretty good
food, natural hormone-free ingredients, reasonable prices.  Try the
chicken palermo, blackened chicken strips, broccoli, cajun fried
shrimp, pecan pie.  The music tends to be blues, cajun, and folk; the
place gets crowded when the music starts later in the evening.  Also
good for Sunday Brunch. If you like the band thats playing, then call
and make a reservation for dinner - you get to keep your table (just
pay the cover charge) and not have to run around beforehand.  Early
bird special -- everything on the menu is half price, which is a real
bargain.  (8/94)
  [=> review ]

Miracle of Science ($+) -- Cambridge (MIT)
  Mass Ave, T: Red Line @ Kendall Sq
  Mostly a bar (albeit very trendy) in an otherwise isolated stretch of
Mass Ave.  They have small tables and a limited menu, but the food,
though occasionally bizarre, is generally done well.  Specialty is
shish kebab -- dry rubbed beef, chicken, shrimp, or veg.  Good veg side
dishes.  Good juicy burgers, which come w tasty fried potatoes and
tomato chutney.  Good hummous w pita.  Nice chutneys, relishes, and hot
sauces.  If you don't drink, the meal will be extremely cheap for the
quality.  Techies gotta love (or not) the well executed science-lab
decor, w cutesy little petri dishes and ehrlenmeyer flask.  On the
other hand, there are those who hate the place -- the "100% pushy
yuppie scum crowd of the most obnoxious stripe" and because it can be
overcrowded, noisy, and the waitstaff can be slow and unprofessional.
  [=> intense review]

Pentimento ($+) -- West Cambridge
  344 Huron Ave (nr Fayerweather), 661-3878
  A nice 60's style restaurant.  Generally very good food, especially
"comfort food" such as stews & shepherd's pie, but service is uneven &
sometimes disdainful.  Soups always sound better than they taste.
Homemade muffins and other desserts are great.  At lunch, sandwiches
seem small but fresh.  Wonderful place for Sunday Brunch, especially
the french toast & hash browns, though food is limited to omelets &
such, and beware of long lines. (10/94)

Provizer's Deli ($-) [Deli] -- ~Newton Center
  Commonwealth Ave, couple of blocks E. of Center St.; 
  CreditCards: no; NonSmoking: none; Reservations: not accepted
  Dress: casual; VegOptions: no; LowFat: no; Rating: very-good
  This is not dining but it fits the bill of an "insider" place with
big delicious corned beef sandwiches, heaping pastrami sandwiches;
with meats hand-cut as you watch.  Not a "real" restaurant -- they
have only a couple of little convenience tables, and zero ambience,
although it feels "authentic" as you read the long menu posted on the
wall.  Customer smoking is bothersome.  It's less than lunch counter
atmosphere but worth the trip. (8/94)

Rayz ($$-) -- East Cambridge
  Cambridgeside Galleria, 577-0044, T: Green Line @ Lechmere
  Friendly service, large portions, good bbq and grilled fish.
Pleasant place and good food, especially for a mall, but nothing to
write home about.  Warning: the dinner menu and dinner portions are
virtually the same as the lunch menu and portions, but all the prices
go up for the dinner stuff.

Rosies ($) -- Cambridge (Harvard/Porter Sq)
  Mass Ave, between Harvard and Porter Sqs
  Prices: The most expensive steak is $13, entrees start at $6 or $7
  Hours: kitchen open til 1am or later;  Wheelchair: accessible
  Hey, it's a bar with bar food, but it's a nice bar, the kind of bar
where you could take your mother.  They've been named the bar that's
the most like Cheers was supposed to be.  Reasonable prices, good
service, quite friendly.  The food comes in large portions, well
prepared.  Steak and fish are most of the menu, along with taco salads
and a lot of Italian stuff -- nothing fancy but everything is well
prepared.  Good boneless buffalo wings. This is absolutly the place to
go to have a steak, a couple of beers and watch the game. (7/94)
  [=> review ]

S & S Deli ($+) [Deli] -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  1334 Cambridge St (at Hampshire), 354-0777
  Wheelchair accessible.  No credit cards.
  This place is a neighborhood classic.  Like most delis, the emphasis
is on meat, with excellent generous burger & reuben plates, though
other sandwiches tend to be smaller and the bread is too thin for some.
Lots of veggie options too, including great appple or potato pancakes
and good lowfat options incl fruit plates.  A pleasant busy place;
always good service.

Sammy's Deli ($) [Deli] -- Kendall Sq
  1 Kendall Sq, Downstairs below Thai's
  Not at all bad for a Boston Deli.  It's not New York, but it does a
good job trying; good basic New York deli fare, and the characters
behind the counter really grow on you.  Cafeteria-style service.  Very
fast-paced feel at lunchtime; first-time visitors are often taken aback
by the barked "Next! You! What can I get you?", but it feels like home
to the Manhattanite.  Nice photos of old Jewish delis and other Jewish
neighborhood scenes on the walls (though this is not a kosher deli).
For locals, they also have reasonable lunch specials, and give a
discount with an MIT ID.  Outdoor dining at lunchtime.
  Sufficient (though not enormous) sandwiches with good meats, in the
$5-7 range, still the pastrami sandwich comes in two sizes, big and too
big.  Very chopped liver sandwiches too, and decent burgers.  Very good
knishes, esp the turkey knish.  The potato knish is tasty but fluffy - a
fork knish, not a hand knish.  The kishke used to be good, but it's gone
downhill a bit.  They have good pickles and pickled tomatoes that you
can help yourself to.  Very nice salads with good homemade dressings.  A
very good collection of oddball brands of soda. (9/94)

Asian Eclectic Restaurants
**************************

Jae's ($$+) [Hip Pacific Rim] -- South End & Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  520 Columbus Ave, South End, 421-9405 
  T: Mass Ave Orange Line, #1 bus to Mass Ave at Columbus
  1281 Cambridge St, Inman Sq, 497-8380;  DineAccess: yes
  VegOptions: not many; ChildFriendly: not particularly
  Hours: Mo-Sa 11:30-4, 5-10:30, Su 12-10
  Very good and very fresh tasty hip Korean/Thai/Japanese mix with a
twist.  The Korean dishes were truest to tradition, but still with
some interpretation, esp the nouvelle / non traditional preparations
of standards like BibimBap.  Lots of different kinds of nigiri sushi
and sushi rolls, as well as sushi boats ranging from $35 (24 pieces)
to $65 (for 64 pieces), and lots of sushi dinners.
  GoodDishes: Very good large pieces of sushi.  Excellent tuna nigiri,
tuna tartare, eel maki, salmon/avocado roll, East Coast grill maki,
soft shell crab maki, shredded squid maki, squid/cucumber maki.
Excellent Pad Thai, and the Crispy Pad Thai is even better.  Good
tempura shrimp.  Excellent grilled squid appetizer, good cold sesame
appetizer.  Bento box combos for lunch are a very good deal, esp the
Jae's combo, which includes sashimi and lots of other goodies.
  BadDishes: Weird soups, esp. the hot&sour. Uni.
  Service: Service seems to vary widely.  It is usually good and a bit
eclectic too, though sometimes a bit detached, esp since the wait
staff tends to be young and lacking in experience, but they are
nonetheless ususally helpful and pleasant.  However, service can be
awful as well -- some wait staff have "an attitude", and you can be
ignored for long periods of time, esp if they're busy.  And they seem
to be completely incompetent at dealing with large groups of people.
  Ambience: Doesn't look like an Oriental/Japanese restaurant at all;
If you are looking for a traditional, serene, sushi bar, Jae's will
not be for you, though when not crowded, the decor is calm and restful
in a non-subdued, hip kind of way, which matches the crowd.  The South
End location has reasonable lighting; The Inman Sq restaurant is quite
dark.  During dinner, it can be quite crowded; there is rock music
playing at a fair volume -- the acoustics are a bit on the lively
side, so the restaurant tends to be very noisy and frenetic; like
eating in a stadium during a yuppie rock concert, so it will be
difficult to converse with people who are not seated directly next to
you or across from you.  If you are in a sort of rock-n-roll sushi,
"let's party" kind of mood, it may be just the ticket.
  The bar area is cut off from the main dining area by a long fish
tank which makes a wall about 5 feet high and 20 feet long.  The tank
is well maintained with many beautiful salt-water fish (*NOT* on the
menu. :) There is seating for maybe sixty people.
  [=> interesting reviews] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Mimi's Oriental Grill ($$+) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  950 Mass Ave, betw Central Sq & Harvard Sq, 354-1665
  Mixed reviews, a tad pricey -- some find it completely unimpressive,
others think its creative and great.  Nice atmosphere, though.  Try
the Korean beef dish, Formosa squid, tangerine scallops, the grilled
vegetable platter and the scallion pancakes.

Poppa & Goose ($+) -- East Cambridge
  69 First St (nr Galleria/Lechmere), 497-6772
  Excellent creative tasty inexpensive Asian, mostly Vietnamese, food
by the same people whose truck serves wonderful cheap lunches on Main
St at Tech Square in Cambridge.  It's best to go for their lunch
buffet, incl a terrific thai roll, meat kabob, brown rice w veggies,
and various combos w chicken, meat, or tofu.  Salad fixing and soup
too (though the hot & sour soup is really awful), all for $7.  If you
order off the menu, there are great dishes available, incl crabmeat &
white asparagus soup, mi lanh, and seegoo chicken, but the service is
horrendously slow -- it's hard to get in and out in an hour for lunch,
and it's best to go early if you go for dinner.  Apparently the place
isn't run to make oodles of money -- they just want to break even
mostly and be able to serve neat foods that people otherwise wouldn't
get a chance to savor.  P.S. great Vietnamese iced coffee too.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Wild Ginger Bistro ($$+) [Asian Eclectic] -- Back Bay
  95 Mass Ave (at Newbury St), 267-2868, (fax) 267-2560
  T: Green Line @ Hynes; Reservations: accepted
  Hours: Mo-Fr Noon-11, Sa 5-1, Su 5-11pm, lighter fare 11pm-1am
  DineAccess: ok; ToiletAccess: ok
  CreditCards: yes; OutdoorDine: no; Dress: slighty dressy
  VegOptions: lots; LowFat: definitely
  Prices: Soups, salads & appetizers: $3-5.50, lunch entrees $5-7,
dinner entrees $10-14
  Food: Outstanding high quality food, fun and inventive, using a wide
range of Asian flavors superbly blended together.
  GoodDishes: The Seafood Quenelle Wonton Soup is remarkable; the
broth is flavorful yet simple, with a few black sesame seeds providing
a perfect touch.  The Seafood Vegetable Raviolis in Lemongrass Cream
presents 3 raviolis with a filling similar to the quenelles, but are
served in an amazing sauce -- a lemony, spicy, slightly sweet cream
sauce that is the perfect accompaniment to the raviolis.  The Shu Mai
is tasty and gorgeously decorated; the Dumplings are tasty too.  The
Jasmine Tea Rice Salad is another relatively simple dish that simply
blends flavors togethers in an absolutely perfect way.
  OkDishes: Confit duck w Chinese Black Mushrooms and Bamboo Shoots in
Tofu Wrapper is also quite good, but not as awesome as the other
dishes.  The pan seared beef dish is good.  The Ginger Corn Soup is a
thin cream broth that doesn't have either a strong ginger or corn
flavor; it's tasty but not great.  The Gingered Pork Chimichanga is
more like a turnover (actually two) filled with a good amount of bite
sized pork and some vegies, but weak on the ginger, and served with a
large helping of rice and mixed vegies.
  Service: Pleasant, informal (but not overly so), friendly & helpful.
No pretensions, and they honor reservations.
  Ambience: Very dark walls and somewhat austere table and chairs give
the place a sense of mystery -- not too forbidding, but not cozy,
homey, either.
  Other: Some of the portions, especially the appetizers, are on the
small size, so this is not the place for the hearty eater to go when
they are very hungry unless they're willing to get lots of stuff.  But
the food is unusual, delicious, and worth coming back for. (11/94)
  [=> dissenting review ] [=> Boston Globe Review 6/94 ]

Barbeque Restaurants
********************

Buckaroo's ($+) -- Waltham
  This places has has a VERY Western atmosphere, from the upholstery on
the booths to the murals on the wall, to the Navajo type rugs on the
back of the barstools, to the branding irons on the walls.  Amazingly
enough, it's tastefully done.  The menu has ribs (pork only), BBQ
sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, chargrilled lamb and beef tips,
enchiladas, and some miscellaneous other items.  The lamb tips over
rice were tasty, served with lots of grilled vegetables, for $8 or so.
The ribs, a light portion for lunch, were of the dry variety -- but
meaty and good.  No sauce was served on the side; it was a decent sauce
but not memorable.  Probably not unusual enough for rib enthusiasts but
a fine item on the menu.

Butchie's ($$-) [Bbq/Creole] -- South End
  Washington St nr Mass Ave
  The menu mostly emphasizes bbq, which is pretty good, but the Creole
dishes on the menu are quite good as well, esp the hush puppies &
Jampbalaya, which may be the best in Boston, as well as an excellent
Gumbo, with lots of crab, shrimp, and fish.
  [=> Boston Globe Review when it was in Cambridge ]

E.J.'s Barbeque ($+) -- Waltham
  275 Moody St, 891-7427
  Mixed reviews -- the bbq ranges from ok to excellent, with large
portions and low prices.  Good Memphis dry rub ribs, texarkana ribs,
babybacks, chicken, mashed potatos.  Beef brisket & pulled pork are not
as good. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Jake & Earl's ($+) -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  1273 Cambridge St, 491-RIBS
  Excellent southern bbq, same kitchen as East Coast Grill.  Excellent
dry rub pork chops.  Try the pulled pork & the Memphis dry-rub rib
plate.  Mostly take-out plus a small counter, though the food is also
featured next door at the East Coast Grill.)

Jimmy Mac's ($+) -- Somerville
  300 Beacon St
  Southern-style food place.  Food has declined somewhat; the pulled
pork sandwich is now chopped pork and the sauce is not as good.  The
new owner actually speaks, so that part has improved.  The hand-made
sign on the door says something like "We are now friendly", but
evidently also now mediocre as well.  Now sharing space with Little
Bali, an Indonesian restaurant.

New Bridge Cafe ($+) -- Chelsea
  650 Washington Ave (at Woodlawn), 884-0134
  Best steak tips and pork tips & ribs (red/chinese style) on the North
Shore; their dishes are accompanied by huge steak fries that are
awesome and a house salad with an vinegar-pepper dressing.  Be prepared
to wait, esp on Fri & Sat nights, because the place is always packed.

Pit Stop ($) -- Mattapan
  888a Morton St, 436-0485
  Great bbq, better for take-out.  Only open Th, Fr & Sa.  Park in the
fenced yard.

Porter House Cafe ($$-) -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  2046 Mass Ave, 354-9793
  Good barbecue, in a different style than Redbones, more (occasionally
experimental) variety of sauces on the ribs, and a different assortment
of dishes (for fried okra, go to Redbones; for hoppin' john, go to
Porter House).  Very good Texas bbq, superb pulled chicken & beef ribs,
great hot sauce, interesting food in enormous portions, often good
draft beer.  The spicy fries & sides of beans and rice are average.
The "hashes" (sautes of whatever - such as chicken, shrimp, and Texas
sausage+veggies) are very good, as is the Texas brisket and
chicken-fried steak.  It looks like a dive from the outside, but they
have separated the tables from the bar, so the eating situation is
reasonable.  The servers are congenial and helpful, and don't rush you.

Redbones ($$-) -- Somerville (Davis Sq)
  55 Chester St (off Elm), 628-2200
  Hours: Closed between lunch & dinner
  Great atmosphere, all kinds of bbq -- Memphis, Arkansas [bbq pork
chops/great ribs], Texas, Georgia.  They are the quality leader in
Texas bbq, including the brisket & beef ribs; elsewhere, almost as
good as Jake & Earl's, though not everyone likes their baby-back ribs
& brisket sandwiches.  Also good sausage, catfish, corn pudding,
greens, fried okra, pecan pie, ice tea (year-round!), and an improving
selection of draft beer.  They have a $6 all-you-can-eat BBQ lunch
special on weekdays (with a 1 drink [$2 each] minumum required as well).
(8/94)

Sadie's ($+) -- Waltham (Moody St)
  just off Moody, across from Iguana Cantina
  Good inexpensive ribs and steak tips, w a decent spicy sauce for the
ribs.  Service is friendly and efficient.  The drawback is the bar
which is noisy and smoky, and the incredibly loud jukebox.

Village Smokehouse ($$-) -- Brookline Village
  1 Harvard St, 566-3782; CreditCards: No, cash only
  A bar/restaurant, with a brightly lit homey dining-room decor that is
full of Texas influences, including neon signs, checked tablecloths,
and country music.  The atmosphere and presentation aren't as trendy or
authentic as Redbone's, but for some, that's a plus.  Mixed reviews on
the food, though it seems to keep getting better -- good meat, esp. the
delectable brisket, the ribs (the pork ribs are almost always tender,
and the beef ribs are huge), and chicken.  No choice of bbq sauces; the
sauce is ok though, very tasty, but not too hot/spicy.  Good pecan pie
too.  Some people love this place, but the general consensus is that
Redbones is still somewhat better.

Brazillian Restaurants
**********************

Buteco ($+) -- West Fenway, South End
  130 Jersey St (nr Park Drive & Boylston), West Fenway, 247-9508
  57 West Dedham St (betw Tremont & Dartmouth), 247-9249
  Good solid Brazillian fare; the one in the South End is better.  For
appetziers, try the frango a passarinho and the little
chicken/meat/cheese turnovers.  Good black beans & rice, fried breaded
thin steak (w fried onions & limes), rolled steak w ham and cheese, and
chicken dishes.  The feijoada is a bit dry.  Decent but not great
desserts & coffee.  Limited wine selection, but a good hearty house
wine.

Cafe Brazil ($$-) -- Allston
  421 Cambridge St (nr Harvest Food Coop), 789-5980
  Good flavorful food in a cozy atmosphere, sometime w a quiet
guitarist playing.  Meat & poultry dishes are authentically prepared
and won't disappoint those w heartier appetites.  The tastiest food can
be high in fat, e.g. fried manioc & chicken livers.  Nice variety of
Brazilian appetizers and side dishes.  Feijoada Completa, served on
Saturdays, is superb.  Not very child friendly, though.

Midwest Grill ($$-) -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  1124 Cambridge St, 354-7536
  A churasqueria - basically the kind of restaurant that serves
endless skewers of meat.  Excellent Brazillian & Portuguese food &
service, family run w friendly waitstaff.  Generous meat and
vegetables.  Salad bar is better at Pampas, and the ambience is more
upscale.  As for service, food (and even ambience), some prefer this
place, some Pampas.  No liquor license. (11/94)

Pampas ($$) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  928 Mass Ave, between Central Sq & Harvard Sq, 661-6613
  Great churrasqueria -- 15 kinds of skewered meat [not strongly
seasoned], including beef, pork, sausage, chicken, turkey, lamb, goat,
and even chicken hearts, all you can eat for $15.  Price includes an
awesome salad bar (which can be ordered separately, for the
herbivorously inclined), containing lots of palm hearts.  A great place
to go with friends or out-of-town guests.  Clean, comfortable, and apt
to be filled with boisterous Brazilians, who pack many of the tables
until they're kicked out.  The service may be leisurely at times, but
that's perfectly authentic, too.  Feijoada on Sundays.

Caribbean / Cajun / Creole / Soul / Southern Restaurants
********************************************************

Biggs Restaurant ($+) [Jamaican] -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
  111 Harvard St (at Portland, betw Main & Broadway), 492-5154
  A pleasant place serving very good and plentiful Jamaican food.  Cash
only.  The beef patties and the ackee & salted fish are especially good.
Also try the curried chicken (usually excellent, though on one visit, it
was very bony), curried goat, jerk chicken, & Jamaican fish.  Jamaican
soft drinks & superb home made concoctions including ginger beer,
sorrel, and irish moss drinks.  They also have serve beer, including Red
Stripe.

Bob the Chef ($+) [Soul] -- South End
  604 Columbus Ave (nr Mass Ave), 536-6204
  Quite good traditional soul food, as well as BBQ ribs to die for.
Especially good fried chicken, sweet potatoes, cornbread and collard
greens.  Also good desserts, esp sweet potato pie.

Butchie's ($$-) [Bbq/Creole] -- South End
  [see under Barbeque]

Chandra's ($+) [Indo-Caribbean] -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
  266 Broadway (a few blocks west of Kendall Sq), 497-6955
  Indian & Caribbean food, Trinidad style.  A nicely done interior,
with decent food.  Often plagued by long waits, caused by making
everything [except the microwaved frozen appetizers] from scratch.
Best to go when they have a lunch buffet, with jerk chicken, rice,
aloe chole, a steamed vegetable dish (esp good when its calaloo, akin
to creamed spinach), and chicken roti, all of which can be quite good.
Avoid the mushy veggy mixture over rice.  No liquor license but good
soursop punch & ginger beer.

Chez Vous Creole ($+) [Creole] -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  1263 Cambridge St, 868-3161
  Not much atmospehere -- a little on the shabby side w tacky posters
& a few tables, but large portions of tasty interesting inexpensive
food, especially the flavorful conch stew and goat.  The menu is
interesting, but often only a few items are available.  Pleasant and
very low-key, though service can be lackadaisacal.

Dixie Kitchen ($+) [Cajun] -- Symphony Area
  182 Mass Ave (betw Boylston & Huntington), 536-3068
  Pretty good, not as upscale as Magnolia's, and on some nights, the
balance of seasonings can be off, resulting in bland unsoulful food.
But, on other nights they're great, and they mean well, have dishes that
can't be had elsewhere in Boston, and the food always is inexpensive and
comes in large portions.  Definitely try the Gumbo Ya-Ya, Etoufee,
Jambalaya, and the Jalapeno Cornbread.  They even have fried alligator
tail.  Also, good bread pudding, as well as other huge decadent desserts
incl key lime pie and banana custard.  No liquor, and you can't BYOB.
The background music is great though!

Green St Grill ($$) [Caribbean] -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  280 Green St (betw Magazine & Pearl), 876-1655
  DineAccess: 3 steps up; ChildFriendly: very
  Caribbean influence, very good spicy seafood and ribs.  A funky
place with unusual combinations of ingredients that usually works.  It
is in the back of a downscale bar with atmosphere to match, but don't
let that stop you; the food is great.  Often music late.  Some of
their food (e.g. seafood stew, gazpacho) can be extremely fiery.  Try
the conch fritters, the pumpkin ravioli, and the Caesar salad (one of
the best in town).  (7/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

International Restaurant ($) [Dominican] -- Jamaica Plain
  3160 Washington St, 522-7410
  Great inexpensive food.  Funky neighborhood.  Try fish escoveitch,
carne cerdo con berenguena, mondongo.

Izzy's Sub Shop ($) [Puerto Rican] -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
  169 Harvard St (at Windsor), 661-3910; Accessible: No
  Not a sub shop; the owner (Izzy) is Puerto Rican and most of the
food is also Puerto Rican.  The owner is quite a character and calls
frequent visitors "primo(a)" for cousin.  A hole-in-the-wall that's
not in the nicest of neighborhoods.  It is nicer than La Espanola,
though, and the service is good, friendly, and quick.  The food has a
comfort food quality (if you are Cuban or Puerto Rican) although it is
not quite as good as La Espanola in quality.  The black beans are
canned and the steaks a little bland.  Then again, Puerto Ricans don't
really eat black beans, preferring red kidney beans or "gandules"
(pigeon peas?), of which they have plenty at Izzy's.  Besides these,
they also serve some great snacks: filled (with meat) potatoes,
alcapurrias, bacalaitos, limbos (these seem to be Jamaican in origin),
etc.  These are deep fried and fatty but delicious!  They also serve a
wide variety of beverages popular with Latin Americans, such as malta
(non-alcoholic sweet malt drink) and Goya fruit juices.

Magnolia's Southern Cuisine ($$+) [Southern] -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  1193 Cambridge St (nr Prospect), 576-1971
  The old Cajun Yankee has gone Southern, the food is still good,
tasty and filling, though the decor is plainer and more crowded, and
consequently seems somewhat overpriced, especially for dishes like the
grilled chicken & fish.  Some old favorites are gone, but they still
serve jambalaya, blacked redfish, cajun popcorn, awesome banana and
corn muffins & Blackened Voodoo beer. The desserts can be unpalatably
sweet.  Reasonable wine list.
  GoodDishes: fried avocado with melted cheese, vinegary fried green
tomatoes, home smoked salmon with olive oil biscuits, grilled pork
tenderloin with mango chutney, chicken with a honey-orange sauce, the
chicken and sausage jambalya, spicy & filling.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Rhythm & Spice ($$-) [Caribbean] -- Cambridge (MIT)
  315 Mass Ave (across from Larry's Chinese), 497-0977
  Accessible: One step at the entrance
  The best atmosphere and service of the Caribbean restuarants; it is
also the most expensive.  The chef and much of the staff from the
Seagrape Tree restaurant in Arlington have moved here.  The
atmosphere, formerly pastel and serene, is now colorful, and the size
has gone from small to large.  Not as cozy as Arlington was, but still
a very helpful and pleasant staff w very good service.
  The food here is the same style and quality as the Seagrape Tree,
with a few changes, generally for the better.  The rice and beans has
cut back a bit on the coconut milk, to good effect, and the vegetable
side dish remains superb, especially the cabbage & sauteed greens.
The Jamaican pattie appetizer is excellent -- 3 small stuffed
turnovers with a light flaky crust and a well- seasoned ground meat
filling.  The smoked herring salad appetizer, a dish of shredded
smoked fish tossed with vinegar and spices, served with plantain chips
for dipping is very good, though some think the plantain chips here,
in general, are over crispy.  The conch fritters are good, but are
somewhat bland without the tasty dipping sauce.
  The escoviched fish is excellent, as is the curried goat -- very
lean tender goat, in a brown gravy w potatoes and carrots; the curried
chicken is ok, but can be too salty for some.  The jerk chicken
entree, roasted over an open fire, is juicy and outstanding, as is the
grilled grouper w jerk seasoning.  The ribs were done with a tasty
jerk seasoning but can be dry.  The consensus is that the jerk
seasoning is too mild.  There are also various stews; Matouk or Pukka
hot sauce can be added if you like them spicier.
  The space is larger than the Seagrape Tree and quite reminiscent of
some city restaurants in the Caribbean.  They also have a full liquor
license, with a good selection of Caribbean beers, including Banks,
which is hoppy yet light and fresh.  Good homemade sorrel drinks too.
The restaurant seats about 60 and the bar can hold maybe 10 or so
more.  Reservations seem like a good idea on weekend evenings.  Great
reggae background music, though it can be distractingly loud, and they
have live music late in the evening on weekends, with a complimentary
buffet from 10:30 pm - 11:30 pm, and a $5 after 11 pm.
  They also have a limited lunch menu, with jerk pork, a jerk chicken
cutlet sandwich, a jerk hamburger, and one or two other things, served
with plantain chips which appear to be out of a bag.  The quality of
lunch varies tremendously; it is certainly worse than dinner, and
definitely overpriced. [=> review] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Chinese
*******

Asian Garden ($+) -- Chinatown
  46 Beach St, in the basement, 695-1646
  Good fresh food, esp great steamed fish (taken from the tanks by the
door, Hong-Kong style seafood, and excellent hotpots.  Try the eel,
whole roe scallops, lobster, crab, chinese broccoli in oyster sauce.
Reasonable prices.  If you're Chinese or know enough to ask, you get
an interesting dessert -- taro root and tapioca in coconut milk --
instead of the ubiquitous fortune cookie.

Beijing Garden Restaurant ($+) [Chinese/Vietnamese Dim Sum] -- Dorchester
  1111 Dorchester Ave, Savin Hill (nr U Mass), 288-5345
  T : Red Line @ Savin Hill
  Dim Sum from 9am to 10 or 11pm.  The dim sum are light, not greasy,
very fresh, w no MSG.  Other items on the menu are of the same
quality.  Tell them you heard about them via netnews.

Beijing III ($$-) -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  1366 Beacon St, 2 blocks west of Coolidge Corner, 277-1011
  Mixed reviews, some think its great, others think it's the pits.  Some
really like the lunch buffet; I think it was one of the worst buffets
I've ever tried.  The place is a bit pricy, also one reviewers
questioned whether the food is handled/prepared safely.  The Dragon &
Phoenix is reported to be very good.

Bernard's ($$-) -- Newton (Chestnut Hill Mall)
  199 Boylston, 969-3388, 10 min walk from Chestnut Hill T Station
  Excellent food, a bit pricey.  Coldish ambience.  Try the Hunan Lamb
or Sesame Chicken.

Buddha's Delight ($) [Vegetarian Chinese] -- Chinatown
  5 Beach St (across from Naked I strip club), 451-2395
  T: Orange Line @ Chinatown, Red Line @ Downtown Crossing
  Temple cuisine -- very good vegan variants of Chinese & Vietnamese
dishes, well presented.  Try the spring rolls, summer rolls, noodle
soup, hot & sour soup, moo shi, Lake Tung-Ting "shrimp", tofu and
vegetables, anything spicy or w lemongrass.  Excellent bbq gluten!
Service can be slow when crowded.

Cafe China ($$-) -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  1245 Cambridge St, 868-4300
  Pretty food, reportedly bland, though.  Good wine list and Swiss
desserts.

Carl's Pagoda ($$-) -- Chinatown
  23 Tyler St, 357-9837; CreditCards: No, cash only; Accessible: No
  T: Red Line @ South Station, Orange Line @ Chinatown
  A hole-in-the-wall that's been around for 25 years, with Carl
sitting in the back.  Good food, with lots of things on the menu worth
trying that are unique or at least done differently than elsewhere.
Try the tomato soup, Carl's Special Steak, and the better-than-average
lo mein, with pan fried noodles added to the dish.  OK service, seats
about 30.

Chang Feng ($+) -- Somerville
  289 Beacon St (across from Chef Lee's), 864-6265
  Some unusual dishes on menu.  Try the bean curd homemade style &
strange flavor chicken.  Excellent appetizers, fried & steamed
dumplings & noodles, esp garlic noodles.  Occasionally an off night,
but definitely the place to go in the area for cheap and delicious
food.

Changsho ($$-) -- Cambridge (betw Harvard/Porter Sq)
  1712 Mass Ave (nr Linnean), 547-6565, Accessible
  Mixed reports.  Some think this is one of the better Chinese
restaurants in the area; others say they're a step above your typical
neighborhood Chinese, but not worth going out of your way for --
somewhat elegant but unimpressive.  Used to have wonderful dumplings,
and a very good roast duck; meat dishes are generally best.  They now
serve a good lunch buffet -- not too greasy, good tasting, no shortage
of expensive ingredients (i.e. meat, oriental mushrooms, etc.).
Better food than you'll be served a la carte as most of the Chinese
places in the area. The only downside is that it's a bit pricey at
$7.25/person. (11/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Chau Chow ($+) [Chinese Seafood] -- Chinatown
  52 Beach St, 426-6266
  Good cheap Chinese, sometimes long lines.  Try pea greens, chicken w
black bean sauce, peking ravioli, hot & sour soup.  Excellent seafood,
incl steamed fish w ginger sauce, salted jumbo shrimp, fried squid,
and squid in black bean sauce.  Avoid the beef dishes; thet're often
mediocre & the moo shi beef, while tasty, was way too oily.  Try the
fatty but tasty fried pig intestine [seriously!] and fried tofu w
seafood.  The seafood is so good here, that some people think of this
place, rather than a standard seafood place, when they want good fresh
seafood! (9/94)

Chef Chang ($$-) -- Brookline (St Mary's)
  1006 Beacon St, 277-4226
  Average food -- lots of excellent dishes, especially the seasonal
specialities, as well as some real disappointments.  Overall, moderate
prices & a pleasant place to eat.  Try the potstickers, the crispy
beef, and the hot & spicy green beans.

Chef Chow ($$-) -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner), Brighton (Cleveland Circle),
    Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  54 Chestnut Hill Ave, Cleveland Circle, 566-2275
  230 Harvard St, 1 blk s. of Beacon at Coolidge Corner, 739-2469
  50 Church St, Cambridge, 492-2469
  Many people find the food consistently good; others are unimpressed;
good lunches, though, and try the Szechuan Spicy Fish.

Chef Lee ($+) -- Somerville
  296 Beacon St (across from Chang Feng), 876-7666
  Pretty good, especially considering the neighborhood.  Specials tend
to be very flavorful and occasionally interesting.  The potstickers
are seasoned very differently from most other places in the area,
which makes them worthwhile just for the variety.  Style is basic
neighborhood Chinese, w good Szechuan food, esp the Yu Hsiang dishes,
Kangsho shrimp, Ta Chien chicken, and shrimp-stuffed eggplant.  BYOB.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

China Cafe ($+) -- Arlington Center
  882A Mass Ave (betw High School and Stop & Shop), 646-6621
  "Interesting" flavor variants of hot & sour soup and peking ravioli
[they like to add extra sugar to soups and sauces].  Try the schezuan
wontons, scallion pie, spicy aromatic & dry-cooked garlic shrimp, yu
hsian fish, peking noodles, and beef chow foon.

China Gate ($+) -- Chinatown
  21-23 Edinboro St
  Ok for conch in black bean sauce, seafood in ginger & scallions,
chow foon.

China Grove ($+) -- Chinatown
  10 Tyler St, 542-5857
  Good food, good prices, possibly slow service.  Try the grilled eel
and the scallop or shredded eel w yellow leeks.

China Pearl ($+) [Chinese Dim Sum] -- Chinatown
  9 Tyler St, 426-4338
  NonSmoking: separate floor, ask for it, and your wait to be seated
should be shorter.
  Food: Very good dim sum, almost or as good as Golden Palace & less
chaotic.  Good soups & Cantonese & Hong Kong style seafood.  Also
excellent dinners, with good flavors and good variety, at very
affordable prices.
  Ambience & Service: Crowded and friendly on weekends, more
comfortable during the week, wait staff pleasant and patient in
general.  It's a big room, w Hong Kong decor -- big golden dragons on
the wall at the head of the room, a little glitzy, big bar when you
walk in.  Quite presentable. (10/94)

Chinatown Cafe ($-) [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  on Harrison Street, down the streets from the Tufts Emergency Room
  Great rice plates (9/94)
  No tip, no MSG, but great, authentic Chinese (Cantonese) food for
less than $5.  Not much atmosphere but hey it is a good deal.  Another
plus: food is ready in 5 to 10 minutes.  Great rice plates. (11/94)

Chung Wah ($) -- Allston
  Harvard St
  Cheap & funky, good food, try the Broccoli in Garlic Sauce.

East Ocean City ($$) -- Chinatown
  25 Beach St, 542-2504
  Good place, good service, nice atmosphere, a lot of unusual dishes
which are really excellent -- one of the best places for seafood in
Boston.  While they have good familiar stuff like sesame beef, this is
the place to get adventurous, especially w the seafood dishes, which
are their specialty.
  GoodDishes: Excellent house-special soup, dungeness crab, fresh
scallops, crispy spicy shrimp, tofu w shrimp, clams in black bean
sauce, and chow foon.  Also excellent duck with taro (on the specialty
menu) and the squid (calamari) with spicy salt (fried).
  Ambience: Recently renovated with a glass and aqua colored eave and
a polished granite tile wall with a fishtank in the window.  However,
prices seem to have increased somewhat recently.  Possibly better on
weekends than weekdays.  (11/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Eastern Pier Seafood ($$) [Chinese Seafood] -- Waterfront
  237 Northern Ave, Fish Pier, 423-7756
  Excellent Chinese seafood, moderately priced, w one of the best hot
& sour soups in Boston.  Try sauteed pea-pod stems as a light first
course.  Good entrees include ginger crab, salt & pepper squid, and
squid w ginger & scallions.  The sole dishes, such as sizzling grey
sole in black-bean sauce, are superb, but not cheap.  If you're
adventurous, try the goose intestines with yellow chives.  Don't be
afraid to ask for house recommendations which might not appear on the
menu.

Eldo Tea House ($) -- Chinatown
  57 Beach St, 338-2128
  Cheap, good, generous portions.  Seafood is good.  Try the Singapore
dishes, esp laksha noodle soup.

Food Hall ($-) -- Chinatown
  Northeast corner of Beach & Harrison, 2nd floor
  The atmosphere is unique, the opposite of elegant, with rows of
tables crowded with every sort of person at lunch time.  If you're
looking for good, cheap Chinese or Thai food in Chinatown, this is it.
  Wua Pei has some excellent dishes - sesame [chicken/tofu/beef],
garlic [chicken|pork|beef|shrimp|...], vegetable curry with or without
meat.  The hot & sour soup, however, offered free if you eat there,
may not appeal to everyone.  The rice plates are the best deal and the
owners are generally very accomodating to special requests.  By the
way, this is only stand where they speak Mandarin (a Chinese dialect)
rather than the Cantonese dialect, which is the dominant one in
Chinatown.
  The stall next to Wua Pei isn't as good but does have one dish -
satay chicken on pan-fried noodles which is great.
  Rod Thai, a Thai stall is very good.
  The other vendors tend to draw a more exclusively Chinese clientelle
and offer more unusual dishes like duck feet with tripe in black bean
sauce. (9/94)

Fortune House ($$-) [Chinese Seafood] -- Chinatown
  3 Beach St, 2nd floor, 482-9800
  Good Hong Kong style seafood; try stone oysters w garlic, ginger &
scallions.

Golden Gate ($+) -- Chinatown
  66 Beach St (between Hudson & Tyler), 426-5022
  All the ambience of an aging truck stop, but consistently high
quality.  Try the Butterfly Shrimp w mixed Veggies & the Golden Gate
Chow Mein.

Golden Palace ($$-) [Chinese Dim Sum] -- Chinatown
  14 Tyler St, 423-4565
  Wonderful variety of tasty Dim Sum, probably best Dim Sum around.  Get
there no later than 1 pm for hot food and the best variety.

Golden Temple ($$) -- Brookline (Washington Sq)
  1651 Beacon St, 277-9722
  Good suburban Chinese food in an innovative and dramatic
Chinese-modern setting (without a hint of red!).  The place to go for
large unusual drinks.
  GoodDishes: the golden cloud noodles, crispy orange beef, and
excellent lamb, though they can overdo the MSG.
  Service & Ambience: Fast seating, even on a busy Saturday night.
Usually good wait staff, but if there are problems, the owner can be
unpleasant if you're not a regular.  Regulars are known by name...try
and get the waiter Benny; he is hilarious.  Be sure to make
reservations if you are going on the weekend or Sunday brunch.  They
get really crowded. (10/94)

Grand Chau Chow ($$-) [Chinese Seafood] -- Chinatown
  41-45 Beach St, 292-5166
  Same menu as Chau Chow, across the street, but is a tad more
expensive and is fancier & cleaner.  Very elegant food, and extremely
flavorful and fresh fish (they bring the still-living fish to your
table for inspection before steaming it).  Very friendly and efficient
service.  Superb seafood includes steamed fish, clams in black bean
sauce, and lobster and crab with ginger and scallions, Also try the
stir-fried pea pods, squab, fried pig intestine, and fried tofu with
shrimp; these are only on the Chinese menu, which you can actually ask
the waiters to decode. (8/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Ha Ha ($+) -- Newton Centre
  Langley Rd (at Centre), 332-3600
  A new restaurant located in the same space that Sally Ling's used to
be.  They still have the "core" of Sally Ling's menu, but the focus is
on "healthy" Chinese food, will a willingness to accomodate diet
restrictions.  They have a whole slew of new, healthy, dishes.  More
vegetable and noodle dishes.  Less fried food.  Lots of dishes sans
meat.  Beware -- though there is less salt than usual, it is still too
much for those on salt-restricted diets.
  The style of food seems to be more northern Chinese than southern...
not so hot and pepper-spicy.  The food seems to be quite good (spiced
well, not over or undercooked, garnished nicely, etc.), but the
portions are small, and somewhat overpriced, though the prices are low
as well, with the new dishes in the range of $4.50 to $7.00 or so.
  Service can be quite problematic. [=> review ]

Ho Yuen Ting ($$-) [Chinese Seafood] -- Chinatown
  13 1/2 Hudson St, 426-2316 [original, and still the best]
  58 Beach St, 426-2341
  Very good food; specializes in seafood, but does a good job w
everything.  Try hot & sour soup, peking ravioli, hunan chicken, beef
ginger scallion hot pot, hon sue sea bass, steamed & stir fried
flounder, lobster w black bean sauce, salted spicy shrimp, beef satay,
sizzling hot pots, Westlake beef soup, house special eggplant.
  [=> Boston Globe Review 9/94 ]

Hong Kong Eatery ($$-) -- Chinatown
  79 Harrison Ave, 423-0838
  Just like being back in Hong Kong! Plentiful, cheap, and very tasty.
But you may have to share a table - good fun.
  GoodDishes: Excellent dumpling soup, and perhaps the finest roast
duck in Chinatown.  Also, try the stir-fried conch with chives, lamb
and dried beancurd hotpot, or the special soup made from tiny,
black-skinned chickens and enough medicinal ingredients to cure
anything that might ail you. (10/94)

Hsin Hsin Chinese Noodle Restaurant ($) -- Back Bay
  25 Mass Ave, 536-9852
  Mixed reviews.  Many think this is a wonderful soup and noodle
restaurant w excellent scallion pancake and house-special pan fried
noodles.  Other reviews decry the mega-oily Chow Foon and the odd
tasting soups. [=> menu ]

Hunan Palace ($$-) -- Watertown
  Galen St, just across the river from Watertown Square
  One of the best of the suburban Chinese restaurants, with good food
and a good menu.  Decor is minimal, but prices are low enough so that
you don't need to complain.  Szechuan style food is the specialty,
particularly the two lamb dishes and a wonderful ginger-coriander-fish
soup that will feed four.  They also do a very nice job on Crispy Fish
Filet.

Imperial Seafood Restaurant ($$-) [Chinese Seafood, Dim Sum] -- Chinatown
  70 Beach St, 426-8439
  The place has been done over since they were Imperial Teahouse --
not only decor but, it seems, the kitchen as well -- and the food is
fresher and the menu's a lot more interesting.  The kind of place
where you go with a group of people and you have a hard time narrowing
your choices down to a dozen different dishes, and then everything's
really good.  The dim sum is also pretty good, and the wait is shorter
than at China Pearl or Golden Palace, with a good chance of getting
your own table.  Smoke isn't as bad here as at some dim sum spots
because the ventilation is decent, there's space between the tables,
and there are more (nonsmoking) gringoes here than elsewhere.  The new
owner is frequently on the floor, chatting with clients and making
sure that all is well.

Jade Flower ($) -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  1908 Mass Ave, 497-8638
  T: Red Line @ Porter Sq (just across the street)
  Not a fancy place; just a long broad hall with tables on either
side.  The food gets mixed reviews, but is reasonably priced -- $10
gets you enough for dinner and leftovers for lunch.  Good bets are
Scallion Pancakes, Peking Ravioli, Eggplant in Garlic Sauce, Rice
Sticks Singapore Style or just about any noodle dish, Chicken in Black
Bean Suace, Cold Sesame Noodles, and Orange Chicken.  The Suan La Sho
Chow actually is hot & sour soup w wontons.  There are reports that
the food is gluey & that many dishes taste tomato-ey, based on a sweet
version of yu-shiang sauce.  Fast, friendly service; quick delivery.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

King Fung Garden ($+) -- Chinatown
  74 Kneeland St (across from the Mass Pike approach), 357-5262
  Hours: Closed Mo; Accessible: No; CreditCards: None, cash only
  A slightly rundown hole-in-the-wall dive converted from a gas
station w terrific food, though w lots of oil.  Not a place to go to
if you're looking for refined atmosphere, healthy food, or fancy
cooking.  You will find great Hunan style food, including a GREAT
scallion pie, good dumplings, noodles (esp the excellent homemade
Shanghai noodles), shrimp/tofu w vegetables, and an awesome
beef/tofu/hot pepper fried dish.
  Service is good and dishes arrive promptly if the restaurant is not
packed.  A very casual atmosphere; a place you can stay and talk for
hours. (9/94)

Joyce Chen ($$-) -- Cambridge (Alewife) & Theatre District
  115 Stuart St, Theater District, 720-1331
  390 Rindge Ave, Alewife, 492-7373
  A comfortable place, very good food, w a high standard of
preparation, but a bit over-priced.  Previously the food has sometimes
been overly greasy or salty, though they really excelled at sauces.
Recently, the quality has improved and the menu has undergone some
changes w a focus on low-fat low-sodium foods, and interesting
non-traditional dishes using local ingredients.  Some say the downtown
restaurant is better, w excellent peking ravioli & lemon chicken, and
great service, even when crowded before the theater.  At Alewife, the
food can be blander (though the soups are excellent and the Ma Pa Tofu
& General Gau's Chicken are very good), the service is worse, &
parking can sometimes be a problem.  If you like Joyce Chen's (and
many think it is a major disappointment) go soon, before they are
closed down for nonpaymenet of rent -- at least downtown.
  [=> Menus and on-line ordering (Alewife only) ]

Larry's ($+) -- Cambridge (MIT)
  302 Mass Ave, 492-3170
  Good place for cheap neighborhood urban Chinese fare, nice owners, no
MSG, recently redone decor -- a good place to hang out, but can
sometimes get annoying from the loud jukebar at the bar next door.
Extremely delicious Suan La Sho Chow and very good Dun Dun Noodles.
Also try the General Gau Chicken.  They now have a new menu w new items
including several Chow Foon dishes, but no longer deliver. [=> menu ]

Ling Gardens ($+) -- Belmont (Waverly Sq)
  Just off of Trapelo Rd, around the corner from Belmont Wheel Works
  A great find in a dismal part of Belmont.  Fresh ingredients,
quickly prepared, tasty, large portions, with lots of good fresh
veggies, and msg-free.  Imaginative approaches too, such as the
Szechuan Ruby Shrimp made w tangerines. Also, excellent dumplings.
Service is quick, friendly, and eager to please.  Prices are avg for
Chinese food: $6-10 for most dishes, w free delivery within 2 miles
for orders over $20.  Also a very nice $6 lunch buffet -- hot, tasty,
and fresh, w a good variety of dishes incl fried rice, noodles
w/veggies, veggie stir-fry, two main dishes, Chinese restaurant
"tempura" and good pan-fried ravioli.  Not a life-transforming
experience, but very pleasant.  Separate non-smoking area. (11/94)

Marco Polo ($+) -- Boston (Faneuil Hall)
  19-21 Union St (next to Union Oyster House), 720-7811
  T: Green/Orange Line @ Haymarket, Blue Line @ Govt Center
  Hours: 11:3o-2am daily; Accessible: Yes
  Excellent food.  The pan fried Peking Ravioli that was not oily; the
meat inside is better quality than most in Boston.  The Paradise
Chicken has perfectly cooked vegetables, and a good novel flavoring.
The Szechuan shrimp has a nice slightly sweet, yet tangy and spicy
sauce.  The Orange Beef is pretty much like the standard Chinatown
dish, but made with higher quality beef.  The steak teriyaki strips
are hot, juicy, and thick, and the Pork Fried Rice is chock full of
non-rice goodies.  One of the best General Gau's Chicken around, and
even the hot mustard has a nicer flavor than many.  Also a large wine
& beer list, reasonably priced.  2 Meals + Appetizer, about $22.00.
  Pleasant, genuinely warm, friendly staff, quick service. ~25 tables.
Upscale compared to Chinatown, but not lavish; suitable for an evening
out; light bright enough to read by comfortably but subdued enough to
be intimate.  Delivery downtown, good luncheon buffet as well.

Mary Chung Restaurant ($+) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  460 Mass Ave
  Closed, but poised to reopen at the above address as soon as the
license is transferred from the Crystal Restaurant.
[=> latest news! ]

May's Cafe ($+) -- Medford
  Well done Szechuan and Mandarin dishes; the Yu Hsiang dishes are
particularly good.  Efficient service, very fresh ingredients.

Mister Leung's ($$$) -- Back Bay
  545 Boylston St (betw Clarendon & Dartmouth), 236-4040
  Some say best Chinese in town, but quite pricey.  In the process of
being rechristened as Bernard's.

New Asia ($$-) -- Somerville (Union Sq)
  326 Somerville Ave, 628-7710
  Pretty good; consistent and reasonably priced; very quick-cooked
Szechuan-style food.  Try the Yu Hsiang [savory green beans].  Also in
Lexington. (8/94)

New Shanghai ($$) -- Chinatown
  21 Hudson St (nr Kneeland), 338-6688
  Prices: ~$10/person, VegOptions: lots
  Shanghai/Szechuan food; not the usual Chinatown menu but very good
food, and pleasant decor, service, and prices.  Especially good for
Westerners who are timid about Chinatown, this place has carpet,
(Western) classical music, a decipherable menu, a huge aquarium full
of tropical fish (as opposed to critters that may end up in your rice
bowl or on your dinner plate), and a mostly-Caucasian clientele.
Fairly elegant ambience, so a good place for a moderately fancy
Chinatown meal.
  Mixed reviews on the food -- mostly very good reports, though some
find the menu and the food aren't particualrly exciting, with too
mmuch cornstarch.  The double-cooked pork is unusual and excellent,
flavored with star anise.  Also one of the best Peking ducks around --
ask the waiter to have soup made from the bones -- it's wonderful.
Great eggplant with hot garlic sauce, good scallion pancake appetizer
and broad beans (actually fava beans). [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Noble House ($$) -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  1306 Beacon St, 232-9580
  Well prepared Szechuan & Cantonese food in a pleasant atmosphere.
Reviews are mixed.  Some find it uninteresting and overpriced; others
consider the food very good and reasonably priced.  The chef certainly
knows how to cook shrimp better than most other Chinese and
non-Chinese cooks.  Also try the Singapore Rice Stick.

Ocean Wealth ($$) [Chinese Seafood] -- Chinatown
  8 Tyler St, 423-1338
  Very nice, dressier than the average Chinatown place.  Emphasis is
on fresh and exotic seafood which is very good (often taken from the
tanks you see as you enter), with some dishes you don't find
elsewhere, but can get quite expensive.  In their tanks they keep live
lobsters (including very large ones), scallops, abalone, giant clams
(geoducks), rockfish, etc.  The steamed fresh rockfish with ginger and
scallion is very good, as is the soft tofu with shrimp (very good).
Non-seafood dishes, like the baby bok choy with garlic and the Chef's
special duck can also be quite good, but things like sesame beef are
just ok.  More upscale than many Chinatown eateries, it even has
carpet on the floor, and the second floor is particularly clean and
well-ventilated.  Ask for help from the manager to deal w the
chinese-language menu. (9/94) [=> review ]

Oceanic ($$-) [Chinese Seafood] -- Back Bay
  91 Mass Ave, 353-0791
  Good seafood dishes, a little expensive.  While still seafood-
oriented, the menu is now more slanted to the usual meats &
vegetables.  Food is tasty and varied, and they're not really bound by
the "neighborhood Chinese" formula.  Good squid dishes.

Panda ($$-) -- Somerville (Ball Sq)
  719 Broadway, 625-9441
  Very decent neighborhood Chinese food.  Good spicy wonton appetizer
-- variation of Suan La Sho Chow.  Also a good spicy pork dish w
basil.

Pu-Pu Hot Pot ($+) [Chinese Dim Sum] -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  907 Main St (nr Mass Ave), 491-6616, T: Red Line @ Central Sq
  Food: Mixed reviews, with opinions ranging from very good, to
mediocre, to bad. Tasty dim sum on the weekends.
  GoodDishes: They do a nice job w duck in general & especially w the
Pressed Duck Appetizer.  The Kung Pao Shrimp, General Gau's Chicken
(flavorful, w interesting spices & slightly hot) & Szechuan Braised
Beef (quite hot) are good too, as is the beef w vegetables.  Great
vegetarian dishes.  Note that by default, the steamed rice has veggie
pieces mixed in.  Lunch specials come w appetizers (incl the
interesting Scallion Donuts) and soup.
  Ambience & Service: A rather uninspiring appearance, and a small
eating area, but many think that the decor and appearence is the
highlight of the place.  It's a nice friendly place, with good
service, and a comfortable place to eat.  Very popular and busy at
lunchtime; since the place is pretty small, you may have to wait for a
table if you don't get there early. (11/94)
  [=> menu ]

Quan's Kitchen ($) -- Allston
  1026 Commonwealth Ave (betw Brighton Ave & Babcock), 232-7617
  T: B Green Line @ Babcock St, #57 bus. Mo-Sa 11am-2am, Sun 1pm-11pm
  Not for that fancy sit-down dinner with a hot date, the prices and
decor say "cheap eats" -- this place is just a handful of plastic
tables in a fluorescent-lit room; most people get take out.  The menu
has over 180 items on it, incl Hong Kong style soups, Congee dishes,
and Chinese Bbq.  Very satisfying & good food for the price, though
highly variable.  No MSG & 100% veg oil, but many of the dishes are
overly oily, esp vegetable dishes like watercress; go with dishes
where this doesn't matter, esp good are the rice dishes w duck, smoked
chicken & bbq pork (better than Chinatown), salt & pepper shrimp, most
noodle dishes, esp seafood fried noodle & soup noodles w beef brisket.
Also avoid the hot & sour soup, stir-fried noodles, and Ma Po Tofu.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Royal East ($+) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  782 Main St, 661-1660
  Still erratic, but some say this is one of the best in the area.
Good quality Chinatown-style food -- chow fun, rice sticks, fantastic
tangerine beef, good Suan La Sho Chow.  Very nice hot & sour soup with
good dose of Szechuan peppercorns. [=> menu ]

Ru Yee ($+) -- Newton (Nonantum)
  Adams & Rt 16 (Watertown St)
  Not fancy, but the food is great and the lunch specials are an
excellent value.  Also good Lemon Chicken and Hot & Sour Soup.

Sally Ling's ($$+) -- Waterfront
  256 Commercial St (next to Long Wharf Marriot), 227-4545
  Mixed reviews -- some say bland food, overpriced, small portions;
others say expensive but good.  Their lamb with scallions is
remarkable.  Do not fall for desserts though.

San Francisco Noodle House ($+) -- Allston
  1029 Commonwealth Ave, 783-5111
  Pretty good place, spacious, extremely clean.  Service is very
polite, but can be haphazard, since it just recently opened.  Nice
potstickers and scallion pizza; excellent cheap large portions of chow
foon noodles.  Also good tangerine chicken w tangerine rind actually
ground into the sauce.  Lots of unusual seafood entrees on the menu,
but many were not actually available, and you should avoid the sea
conch w vegetables unless you like an overly strong smell of conch.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Seven Star Mandarin House ($+) -- Newton Center
  22 Union St, 527-3841
  Probably the best Chinese food in the area.  Fast service & cheap.
Decor leaves something to be desired, but it is comfortable &
child-friendly.  Good ravioli, great five-flavor chicken, and "ants
climbing the tree"; maybe the best scallion pancakes around.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Shalom Hunan ($$-) [Kosher Chinese] -- Brookline Village
  92 Harvard St (at School)
  Tasty well prepared food, generous portions, a tad pricy [though
possibly due to the extra cost of kashrut].  A diverse menu including
veal, beef, chicken, duck, and whole fish dishes, as well as moo shu,
not to mention chicken soup w matzoh balls.  Polite attentive wait
staff, pleasant comfortable dining room, wine/beer available.  Quite
good for Chinese food; Excellent for Kosher Chinese.  Try the hot &
sour soup, veal in garlic sauce, triple crown, orange-flavored
chicken.  May have to wait -- it's very popular.

Shanghai Village ($+) -- Arlington Center
  434 Mass Ave on left just before center of town, 646-6897
  Prices: $8-10/person; VeggieOptions: lots
  Mixed reviews, though most find the food consistently good &
reasonably priced.  Szechuan-style entrees are quite fiery.  They are
very accomodating to vegetarians and serve especially good vegetarian
dishes -- lots of food, well seasoned, and even the "vegetarian's
delight" is good, as is the sizzling rice soup with vegetables, and
vegetarian crispy fried lo mein.
  A calm, comfortable, well-maintained, clean place.  The service is
is almost always fantastic, though it can be horrible on off nights.
(7/94)

Stars Ocean Chinese Seafood Restaurant ($+) [Chinese Seafood] -- W. Fenway
  70-72 Kilmarnock St, 236-0384
  Cheap & good, w no atmosphere to speak of, but very very nice
people.  One of the best hot & sour soups around, and their wonton
soup is also an order of magnitude better than what you get in most
places -- the wontons actually taste like, well, wontons, and not like
boiled lumps of dough wrapped around last week's mystery meat, but
avoid the house special soup, which is flavorful but uses canned
mushrooms & isn't very special.  Try the crispy crispy scallion
pancake, the Shanghai duck, lemongrass shrimp, and the green beans.

Street Cafe ($+) [Chinese] -- Somerville (Davis Sq)
  across the street from the Somerville Theater
  The best of the Chinese restaurants in Davis Sq.  No atmosphere at
all, and built like a fast-food joint, but the food is OK.  They have
some very interesting and reasonable tofu dishes and combinations,
especially the Han Shao tofu. (11/94)

Ta Sheng ($+) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  Elliot St, 2nd floor, across from the Charles Hotel
  Mixed reviews.  Those who like it say that it is reliably good to
excellent, and reasonably priced, with a fantastic whole crispy fish,
and a very good Crispy Orange Chicken.  Tasty, specially-priced lunch
menu, too.  Those who don't like it say that it's bland -- even the
spicy dishes aren't, that the hot & sour soup is neither, and that the
beef dishes are greasy.  Go figure. (7/94)

Yu's ($) -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  1374 Beacon St, 734-2929
  Takeout, with sitdown area, now serving noodle dishes.  Not fancy,
but good food at reasonable prices.  Good hot & sour soup, Peking
noodles, Beef Chow Foon.

Continental / Traditional / French Restaurants
**********************************************

Another Season ($$$+) [French-American] -- Beacon Hill
  97 Mt Vernon St (nr Charles), 367-0880
  Odette Berry's imaginative French-American restaurant.  Food at
lunchtime is only average.

Aujord 'Hui ($$$$$) [Nouvelle French] -- Park Sq Area
  Four Seasons Hotel, 200 Boylston St, 338-4400
  Mixed Reviews: Some say maybe the best restaurant in Boston; others
say there are much better places in this price range.  Reasonably
interesting food, superb presentation, excellent service.  The dining
room is extremely spacious, and has a very nice view.)
[=> Boston Globe Review ]

Barrett's Restaurant ($$+) [Traditional] -- Charlestown
  2 Constitution Plaza (on Boston Harbour), 242-9600
  Good food, and reasonably priced, with several $9.95 meals on the
menu.  Friday night, for $27.95, they have All You Can Eat Lobster,
which includes salad, potato, and the like -- the lobsters vary from
good to outstanding. (8/94)

Bay Tower Room ($$$$) [Continental/French] -- Faneuil Hall Area
  60 State Street, next to Faneuil Hall, 33rd floor, 723-1666
  Terrific food, wine list, live jazz on Fri and Sat, smashing view of
Boston, contingent on good visibility.  It falls in the romantic, posh,
elegant, and pricey categories, but the food, ambiance, and view of the
city and harbor is well worth every cent.  Good dishes are escargot,
lobster bisque, swordfish with lobster-chive vinaigrette and roasted
tomato couscous.
  
Ben's Cafe ($$$-) [French] -- Downtown
  Downstairs at Maison Robert, 45 School St, 227-3370
  Food somewhat lighter and in a more modern setting than the formal
upstairs dining room at Maison Robert.  Order from a number of choices
within either a $17 or $23 prix-fixe menu that changes monthly.

Cafe Budapest ($$$$) [Hungarian] -- Back Bay
  Copley Hotel, 90 Exeter St (at Huntington), 266-1979
  Expensive classic Hungarian food, good food, fancy classy romantic
ambience, but some say the prices are a bit high for the quality, that
there are too few authentic Hungarian dishes, and that it has perhaps
gone a bit downhill lately.  The mixed grill for two and the tir tarator
is wonderful, the Gulyas soup has a nice kick to it, and the goulash is
decent.  The desserts, of course, are to die for.

Chez Jean ($$$-) [French] -- Cambridge (Harvard/Porter Sq)
  1 Shephard St (at Mass Ave), 354-8980
  VegOptions: not really
  Reasonably priced quite good traditional French food.  Been around
for a long time; needs redecoration.  Great Steak Au Poivre.

Durgin Park ($$+) [Traditional NE Regional] -- Faneuil Hall
  Faneuil Hall Market, 227-2038
  Prices: Entrees $8-12 for the most part
  Food is basic American seafood and steak.  So traditional that they
regularly have mashed turnips on the menu, and their beef stew also
has lots of turnips in it.  The beef is always in large amounts.
delicious prime rib, well-flavored and tender.  Try their baked beans,
which are excellent.  Fish chowder is good, but do not depend on their
fresh fish.  There is a "Bale of Hay" (vegetarian platter) for those
who discover they came to the wrong restaurant.
  Interesting atmosphere -- you can watch the cooks preparing since
the kitchen is open to customer view & waitresses always seem to be
hustling around.  Their waitstaff is renowned for an "attitude" --
sharp tongue, but the service is basically good, and the waitresses
are not as rude as they were years ago.  They mostly don't yell at you
any more, or refuse to get you desert if you didn't eat your
vegetables.  Tablecloths are still red checker.  That will never
change.  Excellent place for very fast lunch.  Singles sit at a common
table.  Have lunch with a busy Beacon Hill legislator.
  [=> interesting long review ]

Hungry I ($$$+) [Contemporary French / American] -- Beacon Hill
  71 1/2 Charles St, 227-3524
  Wonderful food in a very romantic elegant atmosphere, esp
downstairs, which has a warmer ambience than the upstairs room, which
can stark & uncomfortable when empty.  Food as expected for the price,
excellent service.  Try the game dishes.

Julien ($$$$$) [Nouvelle French] -- Downtown
  Hotel Meridian, 250 Franklin St, 451-1900
  An impressive French Nouvelle place w a beautiful dining room that
really must be seen.  An enjoyable place but too expensive & too
stuffy [real French accents w real French snobbery].  The food was
very good but w very small portions for the entrees although the
excellent desserts were large & spectacularly presented.
 [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Le Bocage ($$$$-) [Nouvelle French] -- Watertown
  72 Bigelow Ave (nr Mt Auburn), 923-1210
  Nouvelle French food.  They often host full course meals w various
vineyards & running wine commentaries.  Portions are on the light and
rich end of the scale, though there's also regular dishes like poached
salmon. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

L'Espalier ($$$$$$-) [Nouvelle French] -- Back Bay
  30 Gloucester St (nr Commonwealth Ave), 262-3023
  Very expensive Nouvelle French. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Locke-Ober Cafe ($$$$) [Traditional New England] -- Downtown
  3 Winter Place (betw Winter & Washington), 542-1340
  American / New England Cuisine in a wonderful (some say stuffy)
old-Boston atmosphere.  At one time it was one of the better
restaurants in town, and still remains reliable with a meat-heavy
menu, dark, rich decor, good wine list, minimal experimentation.  The
kind of place where firms take lawyers when they pass the bar or join
the firm, or where you might go for a very private dinner.  Excellent
appetizers & steaks.  Reservations a must.  Service is good and food,
using those famous "best of ingredients", is often excellent [their
calves liver is superb] and you can have a good meal for a reasonable
price.  Their baked alaska is monumental in size, of reasonable
quality and served flaming [if you don't want the alcohol, tell your
server].  Their indian pudding is also an excellent desert choice.
(8/94)

Maison Robert ($$$$) [Classic French] -- Downtown
  45 School St (betw Tremont & Washington), 227-3370
  Classic French w some Nouvelle touches, cooked to perfection.  Not
very experimental or inspiring, and somewhat meat-heavy, but very
consistent and very very good.  Upstairs is a formal, though
pleasantly open, dining room; Ben's Cafe is downstairs.  A rather
formal dining experience with knowleadgable, impeccable, though
slightly haughty service.  One of the best wine lists in Boston esp.
for clarets (and also unusual Alsatian wines).  Limited list of
traditional appetizers, w some pastas and soups changing daily.  Very
good sauce reductions on the main entrees, and very good desserts,
especially the apple tart & souffles) [see long review]

Mill Falls ($$$) [Contemporary American] -- Newton Upper Falls
  383 Eliot St (at Chestnut), 244-3080; Accessible: Yes
  Hours: Closed Su, Lunch Mo-Fr only; Prices: Most Dinner Entrees $12-18
  Basic & contemporary American food w a lovely view of the falls and
a romantic atmosphere.  The food can be very good, though often bland,
and the prices are really for the view.  Dress code; a nice place to
take the relatives.  Service is pretty good, but can vary.  Very good
filet mignon; good, and somewhat inexpensive pasta dishes.  Lunch is a
better deal, especially on a hot day when you can sit on the terrace
next to the roaring waterfall.

Parker's ($$$) [Traditional American] -- Downtown
  Omni Parker House, 60 School St (at Tremont), 227-8600, ext 1600
  Ritzy atmosphere, with beautifully prepared classic traditional food.
Great dessert tray.

Pillar House ($$$) [Traditional] -- Newton Lower Falls
  26 Quinobequin Rd (Rts 16 & 128), 969-6500
  Dress: dressy; Reservations: suggested; NonSmoking: completely
  ChefsTable: yes!
  While the clientele is often "older", the food is universally
excellent.  There is a single chef's table in the kitchen which seats
four, putting yourselves in the hands of the chef for food and wine,
while you get to watch your dinner being prepared -- it makes for a
memorable meal.
  [=> Middlesex News Review ]

Plaza Dining Room ($$$$+) [Continental] -- Back Bay
  Copley Plaza Hotel, Copley Sq, 267-5300
  Expensive Continental food.  Sunday Brunch available.

Top of the Hub ($$$) [Traditional] -- Back Bay
  52nd floor of the Prudential Center (Boylston/Huntington), 536-1775
  Prices: Entrees in the $15-24.00 range.
  The lure of this establishment is the view; call ahead, tell them
it's a special occasion and request a table at the window, for a
wonderfully romantic evening.  A recent change in management has
reportedly led to better food, w beautiful presentation and delectable
sauces, though brunch gets mixed reviews. 
  GoodDishes: superb mussel cream soup, very good caesar salad, garlic
bread with a tomato and leek salsa on top, filet of sole, rack of
lamb, and prime rib, w good veggies and potato.  Good desserts include
the green apple tart with caramel and the key lime pie.
  Service: Consensus is tha service is attentive yet relaxed, though
some find it snooty.
  They'll be moving downstairs in January '95 to remodel. [=> reviews ]

Veronique ($$$) [French] -- Brookline (Longwood)
  Longwood Apts, 20 Chapel St, 731-4800
  Hours: Closed Mo, Open Su til 9pm; Prices: Most Dinner Entrees $14-20
  Classic French cuisine.

Eclectic / Nouvelle American / Californian / Cafes
**************************************************

Bennett St Cafe ($$) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St, 661-5005
  Pleasant environment w decent food.  They now have a dessert buffet,
Fr&Sa 9pm-midnite, $7/person

Biba ($$$$) -- Park Square
  272 Boylston St, 426-7878
  Trendy and stylish but informal, strange and unusual food
combinations, food that can be showy but inedible; people's reactions
vary widely from "it's amazing" to "how awful".  Richly flavored food,
but not heavy, w relatively generous portions.  The wide ranging menu
has some great individual dishes, but you won't necessarily get a great
meal overall.  High energy room intriguingly designed, somewhat lacking
in comfort, tables spaced closely.  Good service.  Excellent but
expensive wine list.  First course $8-$16, entrees $15-25.  Good bets
are the lobster and the spit-roasted quail. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Black Crow Caffe ($+) [Cafe] -- Jamaica Plain (Hyde Sq)
  403 Centre St (at Perkins), 983-9231
  T: the #39 bus stop at Perkins and S. Huntington;
  Small, excellent full-service California-style casual cafe, w an
emphasis on fresh fish and expertly cooked seasonal vegetables, and
light flavorful dishes that may use regional or ethnic flavorings as
inspiration, w attention paid to presentation.  Pizzas, extravagant
desserts, Beer & wine also too.  Friendly service.  Prices are not
cheap for a cafe, but not out of line for the quality.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Blackbird Baking Company ($+) [Cafe] -- Allston
  1032 Commonwealth Ave (nr Brighton Ave), 739-9755
  Hours: Dinner Tu-Th 5-12, Fr-Sa 5-1, Lunch Sa 10-2, Su 10-3 (w jazz)
         Music Tu-Sa after 9pm
  Blackbird Baking Company is possibly the best of the new cafes that
are burgeoning around town.  The owners and wait staff are friendly
and relaxed, and the cafe is as well.  So while the eclectic
nouvelle-yuppie food is quite good, the cafe doesn't exude the hip
pretentiousness that its Back Bay and South End cousins do.
  Not to say the place isn't interesting.  In fact, when you walk in,
your eye is immediately drawn to the colorful mural behind the serving
area, which is a collage of Miro takeoffs, painted by one the owners.
The love of things Spanish extends beyond Miro -- they frequently serve
a really nice selection of tapas (along w a variety of sherrys).
  The restaurant is partly a front for an excellent bakery, now
supplying baked goods to a variety of other restaurants as well.  But
this place is more than just a fine place to have a capuccino and baked
goods.  The food here is generally creative and tasty as well, though
some dishes are blander than one might expect.  The menu changes daily.
  For lunch and late evening, there is eclectic snack food, including
tapas, a very good baked brie, unusual veggie combo sandwiches, and dips
such as a mashed fava beans and eggplant dip, which is nice and light;
it's slight lack of flavor is made up by the terrific toasted bread
served with it.  Avoid the mushy crabcakes.  At dinner, there are a
variety of entrees (many on the light side) as well, artfully presented.
  Soups tend to be very good, including a subtle but flavorful squash
soup, and a wonderful rich garlic soup.  Salads are very nice, with
flavorful and well balanced salad dressings.  The warm noisettes of
lamb salad w chevre and pinenuts is excellent.
  Leave room for dessert, including one of the best blueberry
cheesecakes in town.  One odd thing, they don't have coke or other
common sodas, though they do have Orangina and a full liquor license.
  Ventilation can be a problem, especially up on the balcony, which can
be annoying.  And when the karate studio upstairs is in high gear, the
occasional thumps of people falling can be disconcerting. (9/94)
  [=> reviews ]

Blue Room ($$$-) -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
  1 Kendall Sq (On Hampshire St), 494-9034, T: Red Line @ Kendall Sq
  Very good unusual combinations of multi-ethnic grilled foods; always
an innovative menu and very pleasant ambience.  I love it, because of
the flavorful, exciting, well-prepared dishes, and the majority of the
are very positive, but others have been disappointed.  It is possible
here to go for entrees, or just stick to the appetizers; a group can
graze nicely on appetizers for less money.  They have a fairly
well-stocked bar with some unusual entries, like their own list of
flavored grappas, as well as special beers from the Cambridge Brewery
next door.  They also offer free parking for a nearby garage.  On
weekends they have live performers, and they periodically host
reservation-only shindigs with all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffets.
Excellent Sunday brunch & evening buffet. [=> reviews ]
[=> Boston Globe Review ]

Blue Wave ($$) -- Back Bay
  142 Berkeley St (betw Stanhope & Columbus), 424-6711
  Hip, interesting menu, a good value, can be noisy.  A bright open
atmosphere; one of the most Californian restaurants in town.  Food is
ample, tasty & reliable.  The salads, pizzas & roast poultry are all
first rate, with most entrees in the $9-13 range.  Well chosen wine
list w nice selection of wines by the glass.  The atmosphere is fun,
but noisy. (7/94)

Botolph's on Tremont ($$+)) -- South End
  569 Tremont St (betw Dartmouth & Clarendon), 424-8597
  Prices: ~$9 for a typical main course
  A cafe menu w wonderful appetizers and entrees served all day; the
food is very flavorful, though some dishes are overly rich.  Good
calamari in a nice light batter & great sweet potato fries w w maple
sour cream.  Great foccacio, wacky gourmet pizzas -- the bbq pork &
onions is esp good.  Excellent skewered veggies w rice noodles & pnut
sauce; superb penne w tomoatos, gorgonzoal & wild mushrooms.  The
risooto is very tasty but way too oily, and the duck ravioli is very
falvorful but the buerre blanc sauce is way too rich.

Center Street Cafe ($+) [Cafe] -- Jamaica Plain
  597 Center St, 524-9217
  T: Orange Line / Arborway Bus (E Green Line extension) @ Green St
  Cozy cafe w great food and vegetarian options.  Also an excellent
Sunday Brunch served from 9am - 3pm

Claremont Cafe ($+) -- South End
  535 Columbus Ave, 247-9001
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Cornucopia on the Wharf ($$$) -- Waterfront
  100 Atlantic Avenue, 367-0300
  The consensus is that you will find delicious, creative food in a
comfortable atmosphere, w great views and ambience, and an emphasis on
fruits & vegetables, but not vegetarian.  It's not cheap, but food and
service is good and location is especially nice in the summer.  An
opposing review suggests that the food is good but not great, and that
there is better dining elsewhere.  Recommended dishes include the lamb
on a pizza style circle of polenta, grilled portobello mushroom
carpacio, duck w figs, seafood specials, oven-roasted lobster w veg
enchilada, white chocolate bread pudding.  Good wine list.  Eat
downstairs, where the kitchen is, so you won't have over-tired
waiters. (7/94) [=> negative review ]  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Dakota's ($$$-) -- Downtown
  34 Summer St/101 Arch St, 737-1777
  Food is good, fresh and creative, the service is quick, but the room
can be too noisy to hear across a large table.  For lunch, its probably
the perfect place for salesmen to bring their slightly-hip but
ultimately-not-too-hip prospects.  Try the lobster dishes -- especially
the mesquite grilled lobster, the lobster tempura, and Dakota's
lobster.

East Coast Grill ($$+) -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  1271 Cambridge St (nr Prospect), 491-6568
  Very very good.  No reservations.  Excellent bbq and jerk dishes,
made next door at Jake & Earl's,
as well as superb grilled fish (esp tuna), veggies, and fruits.
Terrific veggie platter (w or w/o dairy), great salads, and terrific
desserts.  Very nice collection of bottled microbrewery beers that go
well w the food.  However, recent reviews have been mixed, naysayers
found the food undercooked and uninteresting. [=> reviews ] (8/94)

Eight Holyoke ($$$+) [Bistro] -- Harvard Sq
  8 Holyoke St (next door to Hasty Pudding), 497-5300
  T Stop: Harvard (Red Line)
  Hours: Lunch M-Sa 11:30a - 2:30p (Brunch Sunday)
    Dinner daily 5:30p - 11:00p, Tapas 11:30a - 1:00a
  DineAccess: ok; ToiletAccess: ok, through elevator
  CreditCards: yes; Dress: casual
  Prices: Tapas ~ $6, Entrees: $17 - $25, less for a vegetarian/pasta
dish which changes daily; VegOptions: few
  Food: The food is excellent, tasty and carefully prepared.  The food
is primarily Spanish, Provencal, and North African.  Portions are just
right to leaave you satisfied without feeling bloated.  Excellent
well-seasoned grilled fish, chicken & meat as well as an extensive tapas
menu.
  GoodDishes: The tapas are all wonderful, especially the baked goat
cheese (wonderfully herbed), Catalan Pork Ribs, grilled wild mushrooms &
leeks and the kiba (spiced ground lamb balls). The roasted pumpkin with
lentils was also very good.
  Delicious Free Range Chicken: tender, moist, baked with a North
African rub, served over spinach with preserved lemon.  Also excellent
grilled maine salmon (with plantains?), in a sauce enriched with foie
gras.
  Save room for dessert; especially good ones include the Orange
Couscous pudding (a pudding of couscous made with pistachio nuts,
pomegranite seeds, orange water, and served with creme anglaise), the
Moroccan Serpentine (flaky pastry with a nut filling, served with a
small scoup of lavendar ice cream), the warm apple/pineapple charlotte
with honey-vanilla ice cream, and the strangely named (?) chocolate
concoction.
  BadDishes: Nothing to avoid, but for those who have been to Aigo
Bistro (under the same ownership), the Aigo Bouido is different (no
croutons and the soup has been thickened with bread), and not as good.
Also the reddened drummettes were sort of bland.
  Beverages: Good wine and sherry selection, with some interesting,
moderately priced wines from Languedoc incl a nice Cotes de Rousillon.
Almost 40 wines available by the glass.
  Service: The wait staff is helpful, friendly and attentive without
being fawning, but at this point, a little inexperienced.
  Ambience: Very comfortable.  Upscale without being pretentious.  The
restaurant interior is decorated with paintings, etc. which are
variations on the motif of the numeral "8".  Quiet, no loud music.
Plenty of room at the tables and they aren't crowded together.  The
decor makes one feel like one is in a small neighborhood restaurant in
southern France. (9/94)
  [=> reviews ]

Fine Arts Restaurant ($$) -- Symphony Area
  in the Museum of Fine Arts , 465 Huntington Ave, 266-3663
  Considering that it's a museum restaurant, this place is amazing.
The ambiance is quite nice, and the food is actually rather good.  The
menu is all over the place, nouvelle, regional, whatever.  Often,
dishes are intended to match up with featured exhibits at the museum.
Good starters of two smoked salmons and ceviche; very good lemon roast
chicken (and enough for a picnic the next day!).  The venison chilli in
corn bread is a bit monotonous, but OK in smaller quantities.  Quite
good wine list, some wines as low as $17, reasonable prices for what
you get.  Very pleasant setting, especially if you can get a table near
the window.  It's the obvious place to go if you're going to a concert
or movie at the museum, not a bad choice if you're headed to the
theater district.  NB: if you tell the people at the entrance to the
museum that you're going to the restaurant, they normally won't make
you pay the museum entrance fee. [=> Boston Globe Review 7/94 ]

Hamersley's Bistro ($$$$) -- South End
  553 Tremont (at Clarendon in Boston Center for the Arts), 423-2700
  The new location in the Cyclorama bldg is more elegant than than the
old, and the clientele seems richer and better-dressed.  Service is
generally impeccable, but since they cater to a well- dressed
middle-aged crowd, service can potentially be a problem if you're out
of place. Food continues to be very good -- delightful, interesting,
meticulously prepared.  Try the veal chop, or the roast chicken w
garlic, lemon & parsley.  Interesting wine list also.  The environment
is pleasant though it can be overly noisy at times.  Caveat: you'll
need reservations, and you'll need to reconfirm them the day you plan
to dine.  About $55/person w first course, main course, dessert, & 1/2
bottle of their cheapest wine ($20/bottle) per person.
  [=> dissenting review] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Harvest ($$$) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  44 Brattle St, 492-1115
  Hours: L Mo-Sa 11:30-2:30pm Su 11:30-3pm, Di Su-Th 6-10, Fr-Sa 6-10:30
  Reservations: accepted; NonSmoking: completely; CreditCards: yes
  DiningAccess: ok; ToiletAccess: ok
  Well prepared interesting food, a bit pricy [some say overpriced], in
a very Cambridgy [some say stuffy] atmosphere crowded w upscale
academic types, and decent service.  Sometimes quite creative, but not
always successfully.  Very good wine list, and a wonderful place for a
business lunch.  A bit expensive for Sunday brunch ($10-15), but go
early for great Eggs Benedict.  The attached cafe is good for smaller
and simpler meals. [=> Boston Globe Review 9/94 ]

Icarus ($$$$-) -- South End
  3 Appleton St (betw Arlington & Berkeley), 426-1790
  Creative food which keeps getting better, nice atmosphere.  Try the
polenta w mushrooms, thai squid, grilled tuna w cumin & coriander,
scallops w black ink ravioli stuffed w white beans, grilled salmon w
lemon sauce.  Mixed reviews on the hazelnut sweetbreads.  Avoid curried
pork tenderloin & grilled chicken.  Wonderful desserts, eclectic wine
list.  Romantic setting. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Jasmine Bistro ($$) -- Brighton Center
  412 Market St, 789-4676
  A small storefront, made intimate and elegant, serving high quality,
carefully prepared food, including Hungarian Goulashes, nouvelle
pasta, curries, kabobs, and more, presided over by the ex-chef of the
Cafe Budapest and his family, all very friendly and helpful.  All the
food is excellent, with high quality ingredients, subtly spiced, and
yet the prices are very reasonable.  Excellent, unusually good soups.
They also do a take-out business.
  GoodDishes: Exceptional choices include the the tuna cake appetizer,
veal gulyas, veal chop, lamb or vegetable curry, grilled salmon w two
sauces, and the chocolate mousse and rice pudding.
  [=> reviews ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Jaspers ($$$$+) [NE Regional] -- Waterfront
  240 Commercial St (at Atlantic Ave), 523-1126
  Fresh native New England ingredients sensually prepared.  Definitely
worth going to every couple of years.  Prepares some of the best
seafood in town.  Will reportedly close in May '95. (11/94)

Marco Solo ($$+) -- Newton (Chestnut Hill) [The Atrium]
  Recently opened by the ex-manager and son of the owner of Legal
Seafood, and already quite popular.  The olive sampler is an unassuming
little bowl of perhaps half a dozen different varieties of olives and
an exquisite olive pate.  The chicken sate was done to perfection & the
grilled chicken was tender, moist, but minimally spiced if at all,
accompanied by a sauce that was tastier than it was hot.  The
create-your-own salads are huge -- basic Caeser/Garden/Spinach salad to
which the customer can add such things as calimari, grilled mushrooms,
roasted peppers, etc.  Desserts, including the flourless passover cake
& the white chocolate cheesecake are terribly rich and terribly good,
and can be got with a very good cappucino.  Lunch for 2, about $35.
  [=> Boston Globe Review 9/94 ]

Moka ($) [Cafe] -- South End
  next to Back Bay Station
  Moka explicitly calls itself a California cafe -- we're talking
about a very self-consciously casual interior setting, with both table
service on the upper level (including a livingroom sofa) and take-out
counter service on the lower level.  Al fresco dining, too, when
weather permits.  The menu is soups-sandwiches-burritos-pizzas, with
an emphasis on fresh ingredients and artful combinations.  All in all,
a great place to hang out.  Cheap for dinner (under $10 a meal),
average for lunch, as far as prices.  Just slightly higher price, but
much much better value than, say, Au Bon Pain.
  GoodDishes: The burritos are big and tasty, and one of the best
value on the menu.  The baked brie is delicious, as well as the
mushroom/leek duxelle sandwich.  Soups of the day, such as the carrot
w cilantro, are superb.  Interesting polenta dishes too, such as the
red pepper polenta w wonderfully rich pestos of basil, and of spinach
& dried tomato on the side.  Also, delicious desserts, incl a sweet
potato pie with whipped cream that's very rich, but not too sweet, and
a nice white chocolate covered mousse.  Good coffee too, and wonderful
almond-flavored milk.
  BadDishes: The pizzas are individually sized, meaning small, and
somewhat disappointing: e.g. a chicken-pesto topping rested in the
center of a too-tough square crust like an oversized hors-d'oeuvre.
No sauce held the ensemble together; a couple of bites and the whole
thing crumbled into fragments, spilling the topping off.
  Ambience/Service: Nice atmosphere, eclectic clientele, beer and wine
license, and friendly service, although the tables inside tend to get
slighted when the tables outside get busy.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Noelle ($+) -- Cambridge (Porter Square)
  1755 Mass Ave (nr Linnean, betw Harvard & Porter Sq), 491-7750
  T: Red Line @ Porter Sq, #77 Bus
  NoSmoking: completely; DineAccess: ok
  Mixed reviews.  While some have found the food to be good and
well-prepared, others thought the food uninspiring and mediocre.  Latest
news indicates it's back on the upswing.  As ever, the specials of the
day are much more interesting than the regular fare, but it seems to be
finding its mark.
  The prices are low ($7-12), although the main courses might be a
little bit small if you're very hungry.  Lunches are also a good deal,
and the homemade soups are very good, esp the clam chowder.  Try the
spicy "Chicken Noelle", the steak tips, fra diavolo, and the excellent
pork chop special.  The specials seem to be higher-priced than the menu
items.  Some interesting beers on tap, incl Sam Adams, Bass & Tucher.
  The "posh" Cambridge facade belies a very friendly restaurant.
Service is VERY friendly and VERY professional/formal at the same time;
pretty much they start out on the formal side until they decide they can
relax a little.  There are two floors; the downstairs room feels a bit
too much like a basement painted white; the bright, airy, skylit
upstairs area includes a bar area, and seats around 20, but a dark
ceiling makes the lighting somewhat difficult. (9/94)
  [=> review ]

On the Park ($$+) -- South End
  1 Union Park (on Shawmut Ave), 426-0862
  An absolutely delightful hole-in-the-wall with friendly informal
service, and uniformly delicious food.  The daily specials are reliably
good, as are the standbys - garlic chicken is a perennial favorite.
The wine selection is thoughtful and changes month to month.
Reminiscent of Hamersley's Bistro, but a little less formal, a little
more friendly and crowded, and less expensive.

Providence ($$$$-) -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  1223 Beacon (at St Paul), 232-0300
  A mix of Tuscany & nouvelle New England food in a room transformed
from its former stuffiness to funky w columns, fireplace, blue cobalt
ceilings, black marble pillars, gargoyles everywhere, and interesting
lighting.  The menu is set up like Biba's but is more interesting.
Mixed reviews, though most are very positive, citing subtly presented,
excellently prepared great food; the negative reviews argue that the
food is complicated, but not complex.  The pastrami-style veal, which
usually gets rave reviews, also can be mealy and fatty.  One person
loved the thick braised pork chop over white beans and cabbage; another
thought that it was ok, but not as good as Porterhouse Cafe's.  Go
figure.  Great vegetable side dishes too w lots of flavor, unlike
insipid renditions elsewhere.  You will either love or hate some of the
more unusual appetizers like the fruity(!) squash polenta w grilled
squid.  Desserts still need improvement, though the chocolate fondant
cake is excellent.  Service also seems to be extremely variable.
Entrees from $7-20, appetizers and desserts from $5-$9.  Good wine list
in the >$15 range.  Reservations needed, though even with them there
can still be long waits. [=> Boston Globe Review ]
  
Salamander ($$$$) [Eclectic] -- Kendall Sq
  1 Athenaeum St (off First), 225-2121
  Reservations: essential, but 15% of seating reserved for walk-ins
  This is an expensive place, with entrees ranging for $16 for chicken
breast and fish dishes to over $30 for the lobster dishes; most are in
the $25 range.  Recommended as a special occasion place; the price is
very fair for the quality that you get, though some dishes appear to be
real losers -- order them and you will be very disappointed.  Owned by
Stan Frankenthaler, who was chef and co-owner of The Blue Room when it
opened.
  GoodDishes: Superb bread.  The scallion pancake w beef three ways
appetizer serves the purpose of supplying interesting little tastes,
without filling you up.  Also there's a really good garden salad incl
some grilled squash and a very piquant and peppery dressing.
  Excellent entrees include the duck special w foie gras and plum and
fig confit, the hoisin-and-spice rubbed squab served w a couple of
delicious roasted oysters, and "pan-seared dumplings" (like blintzas),
a great delmonico steak with wild mushroom ragout, a very tasty
boneless rabbit loin, with rabbit ragout and sausage, and the chicken
thigh dish.
  Excellent very large portion of chocolate walnut cake with cookies,
candies, and fruit.  Other desserts, incl the chocolate tart, creme
brulee, and the banana wontons, are fairly good, but not up to the
same standard as the entrees.
  BadDishes: Mixed reviews on the appetizers incl pumpkin/ginger soup
and the cod cheeks.  Also on the chick-pea cakes, which got raves, but
also a review calling it an uninteresting badly reheated vegetarian
chili served over mashed chick peas.  The squid appetizer, while very
tasty, can be overcooked.  Avoid the fried giant prawn, which is
beautifully presented, but contains little food.
  Beverages: Well chosen and well priced wine list.  DeLoach 1992 Late
Harvest Gewurztraminer and 1977 Taylor Vintage Port available by the
glass.  An interesting aspect of the wine list is that the by-the-glass
selections are available in very reasonably sized "tasting" portions at
half the price of a full glass.
  Lunch: For lunch, there is an order-at-the-counter arrangement --
you can either take out, or eat at the seating area in the indoor
courtyard.  In additional to traditional sandwiches, they also have
specials w unusal fillings, such as cod/swordfish/squid with lime
cilantro mayonnaise ($5), which is terrific on focaccio.  They also
have entrees like Beef and Beans ($3) or Lamb Tandoori Stew ($6).  And
finally, you can choose from a range of eclectic salads for $7/pound.
Lots of desserts as well, excellent and inexpensive, such as a superb
Pear Creme Brulee, a steal at $2.  Awesome food at very reasonable
prices.  Oh yes, you can also their breads, which are unusual, very
good and very reasonably priced.
  Ambience: The basic shape of the place and some of the seating
remains from Michela's, but there's an open kitchen now and the mural
is gone; the colors are a little darker overall.  Tables are nicely
spaced.  Soothing music.  Don't go if you dislike the smell of wood
smoke, which can remain on your clothes: "My jacket still smells like
I had dinner with the Campfire Girls.  Add a drycleaning bill to the
cost of your outing at Salamander, or maybe ask for a table as far
away from the open hearth as possible."
  Service: Prompt, attentive, intelligent, knowledgable and helpful,
but can be on the leisurely side -- perhaps too leisurely for some.
Excellent helpful wine steward, who obviously enjoys wine, enjoys the
work, and helps the customer feel at ease. (11/94)
  [=> reviews ]

Seasons ($$$$$-) -- Fanueil Hall
  Bostonian Hotel, 9 Blackstone St (nr North St), 523-3600
  T: Red Line @ Aquarium
  ToiletAccess: ok;  CreditCards: yes; OutdoorDine: no
  Reservations: suggested; ChildFriendly: no; Dress: dressy
  VegOptions: some; LowFat: pretty good
  Food: Mixed reviews; seems to depend on how busy they are.  Can be
excellent w a beautiful overall presentation of dishes.  Different fixed
prices depending on the # of courses.
  GoodDishes: An excellent ham appetizer, and the fried sweetbread
appetizer is exactly the right crispiness -- "Brings to mind my
grandmother's best turkey stuffing, only much better".  Excellent soups
include the Nantucket & Sweet Corn Chowder, and the Lobster chowder.
The seafood appetizers and entrees seemed better than the rest.
  BadDishes: The sauce for the duck doesn't work, and the sirloin entree
with mustard/pepper crust can be both tough and tasteless.  The
carmelized onion soup has a good flavor, but the texture is off.
  Beverages: Good wine list, though not very many wines are available by
the glass.
  Service: Can be awful when they are busy (9/94) [=> review ]

Small Planet ($$) -- Back Bay
  565 Boylston nr Dartmouth, 536-8993/4477
  Groovey vibes, nice service, reasonable prices, casual, gets louder
later.  A colorful place serving multicultural food which is quite
good, but lacks the extra something that would make the food
exceptional -- on the other hand, the food seems lower in fat that
similar food elsewhere.  Try the jerk chicken salad, gourmet pizza,
ratatouille, quesadilla, fried conch, veggie risotto.  The kitchen can
be slow at lunchtime. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Sonsie ($$$) -- Back Bay
  327 Newbury St, 351-2500
  Well, the food is supposed to be quite good, especially entrees like
the Filet of Sole in Chervil Sauce & the Roast Lamb Stew.  But beware
the ambience -- the crowd is young and affluent and mostly foreign...
which is to say, you'd better be hip, urban, and xenophilic or you may
feel a little out of place.  It's an absolute poser's paradise, only
slightly less pretentious than the Emporio Armani Express.  The wait
staff is, naturally, also hip and snooty, and if you're not a Newbury
St regular, the service may be lacking unless you order an expensive
meal. [=> review ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

St Botolph ($$$-) -- South End
  99 St Botolph (at W. Newton), 266-3030
  A pleasant open sunny casual techno-brick environment, w slightly
formal but very pleasant service.  The same cafe menu as Botolph on
Tremont is served at lunch; separate dinner menu.

St Cloud ($$$) -- South End
  557 Tremont St (at Clarendon), 353-0202
  Interesting Nouvelle American cuisine serving some of the best food
in town, visually appealing, though not always exceptional.  For
example, the veal, though high quality, can be bland and boring, making
the appetizers and potatoes au gratin the highlights of a dinner.
Small menu, but each offering is equally appealing.  The portions are
not huge; rather, they are perfectly sized so you can eat an appetizer
or salad, an entree, a dessert (which can be quite large though), and a
cappucino and not feel bloated when you leave.  The atmosphere is
typical snobby, arty South End, but don't let that deter you.  Now
serving a dessert buffet 11pm-1am on weekends.

Twenty-Nine Newbury St ($$$-) -- Back Bay
  29 Newbury St (nr Berkeley), 536-0290
  Nouvelle at quite reasonable prices.  Gracious, attentive, pleasant
service in comfortable surroundings despite its chic reputation.
Excellent flavors, wonderful presentations, and enormous portions, all
at very reasonable prices (e.g. $15 for an excellent veal risotto, and
$6-7 for an excellent large fried calamari appetizer).  Tasty duck soup
too.  A decent wine list as well. [=> review ]

Union Square Bistro ($$+) -- Somerville (Union Sq)
  16 Bow St, 628-3344
  Hours: Lu Tu-Fr, Su Br 2-5, Di 5-9:30 daily
  Parking: easily available on street
  Very good food, romantic atmosphere, reasonable (though increased)
prices, friendly service, easy to park.  Busy on Fri and Sat nights,
but there's a bar/lounge on the first floor, almost always empty and
you can get any of the food downstairs as well as up.  Upstairs is a
lovely dining room, warm and pleasant at night, light and airy during
the day, with windows along one side that open up onto a roof deck
used for outdoor dining.  The food ($8-$17 for entrees) is very good
and comes in good-sized portions, starting with a great breadbasket
including carrots, and whole walnuts w a nutcracker.  They make an
effort to add special dishes that take advantage of seasonal foods and
local foods. (Such as having apple cake with apple ice cream during
apple picking season.)
   GoodDishes: the very onionny french onion soup, the polenta or wild
mushroom appetizers w goat cheese, an incredibly tender osso bucco w a
fine rich sauce, and eggplant & garlicky potato cakes (a steal at
$12), a good sized paella, with perfectly nicely done ingredents
($17), and a very good chicken esposito.  You can order from a
separate "Nutritionally Correct" menu, then blow it all on one of
their really decadent desserts, such as the chocolate mousse cake with
fresh raspberry sauce, or some of the best the home-made expresso ice
cream in the city.
  Service: Very good service, friendly & informative (11/94)
  [=> reviews ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Upstairs at the Pudding ($$$$) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  10 Holyoke St (off Mass Ave), 864-1933
  Expensive, but romantic & sublime.  Always nice and very impressive
for its 'Havahd' ambience, high ceilings (its easy to carry on a
conversation) and its very good imaginative cooking, though the result
can be extraordinarily variable.  Game meats are a specialty.
Reasonably priced lunches.  For dinner, the best bet (though expensive)
is the complete dinner. (9/94) [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Water Cafe ($$-) -- Jamaica Plain
  701 Centre, 522-6458
  Pleasant place to eat.  Try the barbecued duck & white bean empanada,
and the cajun seafood gumbo. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Ethiopian Restaurants
*********************

Addis Red Sea ($+) -- South End
  544 Tremont St (betw Dartmouth & Clarendon), 426-8727
  Good well-spiced Harrar food, more than adequate portions.  For
folks who don't know much about Ethiopian food, the numerous
combination plates provide excellent samplers.  Intimate seating;
authentic woven tables, close together.  Fancier, larger menu & higher
prices than Asmara.  Heating problems on cold days.  Down one flight;
not wheelchair accessible.

Asmara ($+) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  739 Mass Ave, 497-9635/864-7447.  T: Red Line @ Central Sq
  Quite good Eritrean food, especially for the price, and good service
too.  Small and family run, this place has a limited menu and a very
relaxed atmosphere, with an incredibly warm & hospitable owner.  The
food is inexpensive and pretty good, though a lot of the dishes do
seem very similar to each other, both in description and taste.  It's
a great place to go with a group to talk, since the style of eating
puts you around a central platter and really forces you to interact.
Intriguing homemade honey wine also.  Good vegetarian options.

Indian Restaurants
******************

Akbar India ($+) -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  1250 Cambridge St, 497-6548
  Very good buffet, unusual South Indian items like black doughnut,
sambar, masala dosai.  Try the samosas, allo bada, dahi vada, garlic
naan, tandoori fish, chicken, and shrimp masala special.
[=> menu ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Bombay Bistro ($$-) -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  1353 Beacon St, west of Harvard, 734-2879
  Excellent Indian food w a very pleasant slightly upscale ambience.
focus is not on hot and spicy food, but on food which is very
flavorful, fresh and well-prepared.  This is possibly the least oily
Indian food I've ever had.  Good sheesh kabobs & tandoor.  Also try the
makhabar curry, chicken tikka, chicken or seafood xacuti, and sour
chicken soup.  Also excellent vegetarian dishes, including a very
flavorful aloo chole, as well as an excellent eggplant in tamarind
sauce.  Excellent breads including terrific papadum topped w onions and
cilantro, kulcha, and peshwari nann.  A good beer selection, but also
check out the yogurt drinks, esp.  the one with saffron.  Service isn't
super speedy, but acceptable.  Not very wheelchair-accessible or
particularly child-friendly though.  Quite popular; even a line on
weekday nights.

Bombay Club ($$) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  57 JFK at Winthrop, 661-8100
  Better than average, and perhaps the best in Boston for taste,
atmosphere, and lower-than-usual oiliness, with an adventurous menu to
boot.  The kadai (similar to a wok) dishes are particularly good and
relatively low-fat.  Also try achar gosht [for spice freaks], chicken
methi, lamb shorba, veggie curries, reshmi kebab, kachumber salad, the
kadai dishes, the nan, prawn saag & (for dessert) badami kheer.  South
Indian brunch on weekends w idlis, sambar.
  North Indian buffet weekdays for $6 incl tandoori chicken, which is
good, and a number of other excellent dishes, incl basmati rice,
lentil soup, minced beef and peas, a veggie zucchini dish, and
excellent rice pudding for dessert.  Also yogurt, and superb mint,
onion and sweet chutneys. (8/94)

Bombay Mahal ($$-) -- Waltham
  Moody St
  Mixed reviews.  Some folks really like this place, especially the
very tasty bhaigan bharta.  A great, though slightly pricey, South
Indian brunch on Sundays from 12-3 w good dosai and Dahai Burra.  Some
questions about sanitation, though recent reviews have not seen any
evidence of uncleanliness.  If they're playing insipid rock music, ask
them to play Indian music instead. (8/94)

Cafe of India ($+) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  52a Brattle, 661-0683
  One of the best in the square, reasonable prices too.  Try bhindi
masala kadahi, aloo chole, baingan bharta

Delhi Darbar ($+) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  14 Holyoke St, 492-8993
  Pretty good overall, w excellent weekend brunch -- some say even
better than Bombay Club's -- though they overuse their tomatoey sauces.
Special menu of South Indian vegetarian dishes served Sunday
afternoons.  Very extensive menu, and they will adjust the spices on
any dish as you wish.  Try the chicken w spinach, tandoori mixed grill,
chick pea dish, mango lassi

India ($+) -- Somerville (Davis Sq)
  256 Elm St, 354-0949, T: Red Line @ Davis Sq
  Prices: Entrees $8-10; Veggie Options: lots
  Mixed reviews, food said to range from excellent to uninspired --
nothing particularly original, but there are generally no unpleasant
surprises, the food is nicely spiced, and the prices are reasonable,
for adequate, though not generous portions.  Not very busy often (even
on Sat nights), so the place is kind of dark & quiet (unless they
happen to be cranking the tinny-sounding Indian music) and service is
usually fast and attentive, but can be careless.  Good bhajia, breads,
chicken tandoori, curries & mango lassi, but the vindaloo is too mild
and the nan can be stale.  Make sure they give you the chutney
assortment (it's free for the asking); the red onion stuff is
particularly good.  This place lends itself to the "everybody picks a
dish and samples a little of each" school of ordering, so bring
friends.  (8/94)

India Palace ($+) -- Somerville (Union Sq)
  23 Union Sq, 666-9770
  Prices, serving size, service, and food quality are all excellent.
Particularly good dishes include the garlic naan (w lots of garlic),
the subtly flavored chana masala, the chicken saag, and a saag aloo
that is very hot but still retains the separate flavors of the spinach
and the spices.  They also have a pretty good lunch buffet on Fridays
and Saturdays.  Romantic Indian music videos for ambience. BYOB (10/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

India Pavillion ($+) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  17 Western Ave (at Mass Ave), 547-7463, T: Red Line @ Central Sq
  Quality of food can vary, but often excellent, and cheap.  The Pullao
dishes are tasty but somewhat greasy.  Superb carrot (gazer) halwa!
Not a particularly insprired or exciting menu, but decent cheap
standard Central Square Indian fare.  Always full and can be quite
cramped, a wait on weekends.  They'll vary the spicyness on request.
Lots of veggie options.

India Quality ($+) -- Kenmore Sq
  536 Commonwealth Ave, 267-4499
  Funky place, but one of the best Indian restaurants with Punjab
(North Indian) cuisine, and very reasonably priced.  Try the Chicken
Dahiwala, Beef Shajahanai, Beef Kabab Masala & Chicken Tikka.  Also
excellent breads, esp the chapati, garlic naan & spinach poori.  Food
tends toward the hot side. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

India Samraat ($+) -- Back Bay
  51a Mass Ave, 247-0718
  Mixed reviews.  Some say forgettable yucky food; others like the lamb
jalfrozie & chicken tikka masala

Indian Cafe ($$-) -- Brookline (Washington Sq)
  1665 Beacon St (at Winthrop), 277-1752
  Green Line: C train, Tappan St stop (at Star Market)
  Standard Indian fare, very high quality, better in some ways than the
more popular Bombay Bistro in Coolidge Corner, esp since the wait staff
here is very pleasant and congenial.  Above average tandoori dishes and
shrimp samosas.  One note: if you like your food spicy-hot, make sure
you ask for 'hot'.
  Nice decor, spacious room.  Very open feeling with large windows
looking out onto Washington St, but avoid sitting by the window; it
feels kind of like you're in a fish bowl.  The overall ambience is very
pleasant though.  Open till ~10:30pm.  Wheelchair accesible.  Lots of
veggie dishes.  Very child-friendly.

Indian Globe ($+) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  474 Mass Ave, 868-1866
  Reasonable prices.  Good for take out.  Try the Malia Kofta

Kebab-N-Kurry ($+) -- Back Bay
  30 Mass Ave (betw Beacon & Marlboro), 536-9835
  A good value for pretty good, and often excellent food, though some
dishes are only so-so.  Really good chicken kachumbar salad, chicken
jal frezi and do piaza.  The vegetable kofti curry is flavorful and
piquant, and the marinated lamb uses good quality meat and actually
tastes like lamb, but the mint chapathi is just mediocre.  It's a very
small place, and there can be a long wait on weekend nights.

Little India ($+) -- Waltham
  Moody St
  Reasonably priced, good veggie fare, tandoori chicken, and various
biryanis

Maharajah ($+) -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  2088 Mass Ave (at Walden), 492-9538, T: Red Line @ Porter Sq
  Mixed reviews.  A small place which doesn't look like much on the
outside, but some think it's superb, esp for vegetarians, w great
service; others think the food is awful or at least boring.  Very good
tarka dal, alu gobi, chicken tikka masala, good tandoori & curries, but
avoid the baingan bartha.  Selection at different levels of spicyness,
though specializes in especially spicy food.  One reviewer though the
place was awful w chicken curry that looked like dogfoof on minute
rice, w awful service too.  Cheap, but some concerns w sanitation --
one reviewer saw a rat sliding out the door. (7/94)

New Mother India ($$-) -- Waltham
  336 (or is it 363) Moody St, 893-3311
  Very good food, though a bit pricy.  Particularly excellent shrimp
dishes, their specialty, at reasonable prices.
  GoodDishes: Shrimp Bhuna ($11.25) shrimp pan fried in fresh
ginger,onion,garlic and pepper, Shrimp Masala ($11.25) shrimp
marinated overnight and pan fried with delicious light cream curry
sauce, Shrimp Saag ($11.25) shrimp smothered in creamy spiced spinach
and herbs, Shrimp Korma ($11.25) a classic entree -- shrimp served in
a fragrant sauce of light cream, cashews, herbs and spices, Shrimp
Jalfrezi ($11.25) shrimp cooked with fresh mushrooms, tomatoes,
peppers, onions,broccoli and herbs, Shrimp Curry ($11.25) of course,
the regular curry sauce with shrimps simmered, Shrimp Vindaloo
($11.25) shrimp smothered in hot tangy sauce with potatoes.
  Prices: $8.75-11.25 for entrees.
  Beverages: Excellent selection of special beers (fruit beers also)
American/Belgium/Indian/Holland/English/German, plus Lindeman's
raspberry/peach/blackcherry/gueze, all $8, Samuel Smith
(Tedcaster,Yorkshire,England) Nut Brown Ale/Taddy Porter/old brewery
pale Ale/ Pure Brew Lager/Winter Welcome ($4.50 -- $8.00), Pete's
Wicked Ale, Wicket Lager, Anchor (San Francisco) Steam Beer/Liberty
Ale/Porter.
  Ambience: Now a modern, swanky mauve storefront.  It has got nice
interior and welcoming atmosphere which is lacking at most of the
indian restaurant.
  Service: Generally very good, but occasionally problematic. (11/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Oh Calcutta ($+) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  468 Mass Ave, 576-2111
  Favorite of many Indian connoisseurs, especially for lunch.  Good for
dinner too; try golden biryani

Passage to India ($$) -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  1900 Mass Ave, 497-6113
  The food gets mixed reviews.  Good bets are the special dal nan, and
the vegetarian stuffed pepper, a roasted yellow pepper with a
chili-flavored sauce.  Service is friendly, place is comfortable and
warm.

Shalimar ($$-) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  546 Mass Ave, 547-9280
  Great place for dinner, w a few things that don't show up at other
places, like the Shrimp Do Piazza [which is entirely different from the
Lamb Do Piazza].  Realiably high quality, w extra points for freshness
& adjustability of spice level.

Taj India ($+) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  781 Main St (nr Mass Ave), 354-4984
  Decent inexpensive lunch buffet which is an excellent deal.  Good
service.  They now have a liquor license.

Tandoor ($+) -- Arlington
  Mixed reviews, with the worst saying that Tandoor serves small
portions of cheap Indian fast food and doesn't pretend to rise above
medicrity or be anything more.

Tandoor House ($$-) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  567 Mass Ave, 661-9001
  Reasonable prices, excellent tasty Mogul style food, friendly
service, though it can be noisy when crowded.  Good & cheap for lunch.
But the food can be greasy, and the chicken pullao can include bits of
gristle and cartilage; might be best to go vegetarian here.

Taste of India ($$-) -- Watertown
  91 Bigelow Ave (nr Mt Auburn), 926-1606
  Indian food on a par with the best in Cambridge, but without the
traffic.  Try the paneer dish from the small section of specialties on
the menu.

Indonesian Restaurants
**********************

Little Bali ($$) -- Somerville
  300 Beacon St, joint w Jimmy Mac's
  Mixed reviews on the food, which is a combination of Javanese /
Sumatra / Balinese.  They have gado-gado, chicken and pork satays,
bami kecap (pork), opor ayam (chicken), but no nasi goreng.  They have
a vegetarian dinner as well.  Some say the food is good, others say
its way too greasy.  Service was fair; they seemed to not have enough
kitchen staff to really keep up with a Saturday night crowd.  The
place has very interesting bbq decor with some Indonesian bits thrown
in, and as Jimmy Mac's, they still offer a bbq menu as well (the
present owner of Jimy Mac's, is half Dutch and half Indonesian).
Seating for about 20.  They have what they call a rijstaffel but it's
more just a dinner at $35 for 2 persons.  You can also get other
dinners (about $14) and order a la carte as well.

Italian Restaurants
*******************

Al Dente ($$) -- North End
  109 Salem St, 523-0990
  Comfortable, though crowded, place, serving ample quantities of
well-flavored good quality food.  Moderate prices; pleasant helpful
service.  Delicious appetizers; succulent clean mussels & a light
flavorful rotini of eggplant.  Wonderful specialities, particularly a
melange of chicken, seafood, artichokes,... w the ubiquitous side of
pasta.  Go for the specials of the day.  Gets busy early in warm
weather; always is packed late.

Appetito ($$) -- Newton Center, South End
  761 Beacon St, Newton Center, 244-9881
  1 Appleton St, South End, 338-6777
  Prices: Most entrees $10-17
  Good food, accent on Italian cuisine, moderate prices; long lines
sometimes.  Excellent linguine with shrimp, scallops, garlic,
tomatoes, basil and scallions, "arrosto di pollo", and salmon.
However, beware of poor smoke isolation and way too much attitude.
(10/94) [=> review ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Artu ($+) -- North End
  6 Prince St (nr Hanover), 742-4336
  Pleasant informal place with good Italian bistro food, more eclectic
& less expensive than usual for the North End.  Good lamb & pork loin.
 [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Azita Ristorante ($$+) -- South End
  560 Tremont St (at Clarendon), 338-8070
  Combination of Northern Italian & Nouvelle American, stylish &
romantic.  Very very good, thoroughly modern Italian, moderately
pricey.  Service is pleasantly informal but attentive.  There's a
candle-lit annex which looks major-league romantic.

Bella Vista -- North End
  288 Hanover St, 367-4999
  A very attractive place, with a more open feeling than many other
North End restaurants.  Though there are rarely lines there, this is a
wonderful place to go for pasta.  The penne pasta with spicy tomato
sauce or the ziti al'arrabiata are favorite of vegetarians.  The grilled
lamb and sausage dish is very good too, well prepared, though it may be
slightly tough.  Service can be a bit slow.  Entrees around $7-10.  Amex
only.

Bertucci's ($+)
  Faneuil Hall, 227-7889
  43 Stanhope, Boston (Back Bay), 247-6161
  683 VFW Pkwy, Boston (West Roxbury), 327-0898
  4 Brookline Place, Brookline (Village), 731-2300
  1 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge (Alewife), 876-2200
  21 Brattle, Cambridge (Harvard Sq), 864-4748
  799 Main St, Cambridge (Central Sq), 661-8356
  Medford, 396-9933
  275 Center St, Newton (Corner), 244-4900
  197 Elm St, Somerville (Davis Sq), 776-9241
  475 Winter St, Waltham, 684-0650
  The most ubiquitous of the wood-fired-brick-oven pizza joints.  High
quality (if sometimes a bit sparse) toppings.  Recommended: Melanzana
(eggplant), Nolio (carmelized onion), Fra Diavolo,
pesto/proschiutto/artichokes/tomato slices.  Excellent rolls, usually
served hot.  Other Italian entrees and appetizers worth trying:
bruschetta, tomato-mozzerella salad, gnocchi.  Cioppino portion tasty,
but on the small side.  Went non-smoking in July.  Noisy.

Blossoms ($$-) -- Charlestown
  One First Ave (Rear), Bldg #34, Navy Yard, 242-1911

Bluestone Bistro ($+) [Italian Pizza] -- Brighton, Waltham
  1799 Commonwealth Ave (at Chiswick), 254-8309,
  T: Green Line, C train, Chiswick St stop
  DineAccess: ok; ToiletAccess: difficult (downstairs)
  663 Main St (nr Moody), Waltham, across from town green, 891-3339
  DineAccess: ok; Parking: nearby municipal lot
  Dress: casual; VegOptions: some; ChildFriendly: yes w high chairs
  Excellent pizzas, pasta (w interesting combinations), calzones (huge
at $6.75) & appetizers at very reasonable prices in a pleasant, but
somewhat noisy bistro atmosphere.  The food is well-flavored but more
importantly, everything here tastes very fresh, including an
outstanding tangy tomato sauce w basil, very good on pasta and
ravioli.  Good appetizers include the smokin' shrimp, and the maple
glazed scallops in bacon.  Well-balanced salad dressings go on large
inexpensive salads; both the house and the Mediterranean salad are
good.  The vegetarian lasagna, made with mascarpone cheese, is usually
superb, as is the wild mushroom (mainly potrabella) dish served over
linguine, but the asparagus w crabmeat calzone is disappointing.
Small, but very nice wine selection (nice merlot) and hard cider
available too.  Service is friendly, but can be a bit scattered or
inexperienced at times, and waits for food can be stretched by the
large take-out business.  Busy, so come early or expect to wait.  Full
bar at both locations. (9/94)
  [=> review ] [=> Boston Globe Review 10/94 ]

Cafe Fiorella ($) [Italian/Pizza] -- Belmont
  Belmont St
  Parking: a reasonable amount of on-street parking nearby
  Very good food, particularly the pasta, which they make themselves
and is wonderful, as are their sauces.  It comes with free (and quite
decent) garlic bread.  They have a fairly extensive menu, and package
things well for take-out.
  GoodDishes: The Fettucine Alfredo is wonderful, and the Pasta
Primavera (with or without chicken) is very good.  Also worth trying,
pasta with meat sauce.  The pizzas are also wonderful (although make
sure you ask to have the eggplant and mushrooms cooked before iit's
put on the pizza).  They also have a selection of desserts, including
very good baklava.
  Ambience: Atmosphere is not a selling point of this place, but the
people are always friendly, and the owner is often behind the counter,
cooking on a portable stove. Seating at the restaurant is fairly
limited. (11/94)

Caffe Lampara ($$-) -- Allston
  916 Commonwealth Ave (nr St Paul's), 566-0300
  Good atmosphere, dependable food, great bread.  Authentic pizza.
Reasonably priced, pretty good wine list.  Good fried polenta, lentil
soup, salads, antipasto & pastas.

California Pizza Kitchen ($+) -- Back Bay & Harvard Sq
  Eliot St nr JFK, Harvard Sq, T: Red Line, Harvard Sq
  DineAccess: yes
  Prudential Mall, Back Bay
  DineAccess: yes
  Food: Excellent quality; flavorful, well presented, appropriately
cooked.  Not an Italian style "crust/tomato- sauce/cheese"
pizza-place, instead, lots of funky Calif-style pizzas, many with
chicken, or more unusual ingredients.  More unusual and exotic than
Bertucci's, but reviews are mixed as to which is better.  Also, pizzas
come in individual sizes only.  Avoid the Black Bean Shrimp and Pasta
and beware of flat soda.  Good lemonade though.  Beer & Wine.
  GoodDishes: Delicious soups and salads, tasty sauces for pasta.  The
Field Green salad was great, the small was enough for two, with a
dozen difficult-to-identify greens in it, and the greek salad is very
good as well.  Very good peking duck pizza.  Their Moo Shi Calzone is
really weird, but tasty.  Excellent quesadillas with Asian mushroom
and Southwestern fillings, chicken & pasta in tomato sauce,
ginger/black bean chicken over pasta, tiramasu and key lime pie.
  Service: Overall very good service, friendly, quick & efficient,
including a whiteboard where they give estimates of how long pasta,
pizza, and the like take.  They update it, too (how innovative :-).
Service in newer locations (e.g. Natick) can be awful though.
  Ambience: A bright atmosphere, casual but neat.  The walls are lined
with mirrors, the floor is hard tiled, lending to a noisy, frenetic
feel.  CPK is not intended to be a restaurant in which a lingering
meal is enjoyed. (10/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Cantin Abruzzi ($$-) -- Newton Highlands
  51-53 Lincoln St, 964-7260 
  Family friendly, reasonably priced, pleasant atmosphere, friendly
staff.  The food is good, though not particularly adventurous, and not
as good as it was when it opened in the mid 80's.  Often a long wait
for tables from Thursday to Sunday.

Ciao Bella ($$$-) -- Back Bay
  240A Newbury St at Fairfield, 536-2626
  Upscale, excellent pasta, but last time I was there, admittedly late
at night, the Carpaccio was dry and tasteless.

Cinderella's ($) [Italian] -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  901 Main Street, nr Mass Ave, 576-0280; T: Red Line @ Central Sq
  Hours: Su-We 11am-1am, Th-Sa 11am-2am
  Food: Very good food, not too spicy; if you like garlic, you will like
this place.
  GoodDishes: Their pasta dishes have all been very good.  The
sandwiches are also very good.  Try the garlic bread at your own risk
(risk of garlic-OD, that is).
  Service: *very* casual, not so fast, but pleasant
  Ambience: small, half a dozen tables not usually too crowded.  Well
kept, but not fancy
  Other: Free, prompt, friendly delivery (8/94) [=> Menu ] 

Da Natale -- North End
  448 Hanover St (nr Commercial), 720-4480

Davio's ($$$-) -- Back Bay
  269 Newbury St, 262-4810
  Very good tiramisu.

Davio's ($$$-) -- East Cambridge
  Royal Sonesta, 5 Cambridge Pkwy, 661-4810
  Very good Nouvelle Italian food in a dressy atmosphere.  Try the
grilled squid & chick pea crespelle, pizzas, corn chowder, rabbit
ravioli, chicken w pappardelle, salmon, skirt steak.  In general, the
meat & fish dishes are great but perhaps too rich.  For dessert, try
the white chocolate torte & mango sorbet.  Good wine list.
Inconsistent service.  Also very nice lunches.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Davio's ($$$-) -- Brookline Village
  204 Washington St, Brookline Village, 738-4810
  Hours: Early Bird Special Mo-Th 5-6:30, Fr-Su 5-6
  Prices: Most entrees $12-20
  Good Nouvelle Italian food in a dressy atmosphere.  Try the salt cod
lobster cakes, pasta, duck, lamb & salmon, braised lamb shanks, and rib
steaks.

Dom's ($$$+) -- North End
  100 Bartlett Place, off Salem St, 367-8979
  T: Green Line @ Haymarket
  DineAccess: difficult; ToiletAccess: difficult
  CreditCards: yes; OutdoorDine: no
  Reservations: essential; ChildFriendly: no; Dress: dressy
  VegOptions: some; LowFat: no; Rating: good to very-good
  A somewhat eccentric restaurant w mixed reviews.  The menu is ummm..
interestingly organized, but Dom or his son will sit down with you to
have a detailed serious discussion about your order, and if you
express indecision about dishes, on occasion he will offer a small
portion of the cheaper one for free or a reduced price.  They offer a
discount (5%) for cash payments.
  Food: In general, generous portions of high-quality, Northern
Italian cooking, that is sometimes great, and sometimes misses the
mark.  The use of quality ingredients adds multidimensional layers of
flavor to every dish.  Outstanding veal dishes, and very fine pasta
dishes.  Generally good seafood dishes.  Risotto and osso bucco are
good, but can be overcooked.  Some dishes, especially the more
expensive ones (including the osso bucco), are simply too rich,
without the subtlety or variety of flavoring that redeem them from
simply being artery cloggers.  Desserts are quite good, especially the
chocolate cheesecake, but are overpriced and marred by perhaps the
worst espresso in the North End.
  Beverages: The wine selection is rather expensive.
  Service: The service can be problematic when they are busy.  Even w
reservations, you may wait a while to be seated.  One can have trouble
getting bread and water served, and requests may either be forgotten
or fulfilled very slowly.
  Ambience: You will find the tiny faux brick dining room in the
basement to be somewhere between lovely and tacky, and it can be
noisy, though the brick walls control the noise levels somewhat.
Nevertheless, if you enjoy the food, you will find this a lovely
romantic experience. (8/94)

Emporio Armani Express ($$$) -- Back Bay
  214 Newbury St, 437-0909
  Marvelous food, exquisite pastries, very good service.  More a scene
than anything else, though the food is rather good with superb pizza &
risotto.  A place for the glitterati.
  [=> reviews ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Enzo Ristorante ($$+) -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  329 Harvard St, 277-1288
  One of my favorites; very nice ossu buco w risotto, excellent wait
staff, moderately priced lunches, nice wines & romantic ambience.  Also
try antipasto, carpacio, saltimbocca, pappardelle alla bolognese, or
anything grilled.

Figs ($$) -- Charlestown
  67 Main St, 242-2229
  Memorable pasta & the best pizza in town; try the calamari pizza or
the fig w prosciutto.  Wonderful bread too, perhaps even better than
the pizza.  And try any dessert. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Five North Square ($$$-) -- North End
  5 North Sq, 720-1050
  Enjoyable food & intimate atmosphere.  Great Caeser Salad for 2.

Florentina ($$) -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
  143 Main St, 577-8300
  A great place for a cheap, interesting, authentically Italian lunch
in a pleasant atmosphere.  Much pricier for dinner with mixed reviews.
Excellent, though somewhat overpriced appetizers, including the
antipasto & portabella mushrooms.  Excellent pepper pasta w grilled
chicken, well made & perfectly spiced, and a very big portion.
Excellent tiramisu & cinnamon ice cream.  A recent review indicates
problems with the food and the service (10/94). [=> review ]
  [=> lunch menu ]

Giacomo's ($$$-) -- North End, South End
  431 Columbus Ave, South End, 266-1122, 536-5723
  Hours: Mo-Th 5-10, Fr-Sa 5-11, Su Br 11-3, Su Di 5-9
  Reservations: only for parties of 6 or more; CreditCards: yes
  DineAccess: ok; ToiletAccess: ok
  355 Hanover St (betw Little Prince & Fleet), North End, 523-9026
  A tiny, get-em-in-and-out place, with prompt, but not overly rushed
service.  Go early or expect a long wait.  Not a place for an intimate,
lingering evening, but a fun, light, busy atmosphere.  The food is
better than what might be expected -- excellent Italian-style seafood,
though the prices seem a bit high.
  [=> Boston Globe Review 10/94 ]

Giannino's ($$$-) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  in the Charles Hotel courtyard, 20 University Rd, 661-0733
  Attractive, quiet cozy place, with wonderful northern Italian food and
very pleasant service (though there are reports of rudeness from the
hosts).  Nice ambience incl nice view of the hotel courtyard.  It's
been suggested, with justification, that the power lunch crowd goes to
Rarities, while people who don't need to impress anyone go to
Giannino.  This is a place where anything you order from the varied
menu will be excellent.
  GoodDishes: The wild mushroom w garlic cream sauce is especially
good.  Also try the eggplant appetizer & the risotto.  The desserts
are very good also.  Many entrees can be ordered in half portions.
Excellent wine list with many wines not widely known. (10/94)

G'Vanni's ($$$-) -- North End
  2 Prince St (nr Hanover), 523-0107
  Consistently excellent food, emphasis on quality meat & seafood,
prompt & professional service.  Good cream of mushroom soup,
excellent seafood pescatore (huge portion!), and superb raspberry
cannoli.  Good, but not exceptional house wines.

Il Capriccio ($$$$-) -- Waltham
  53 Prospect St, 894-2234
  Excellent Northern Italian food, a great wine list, a tad snooty.
Try the lemon mousse nut dessert. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Il Nido ($$$) -- North End
  257 North St, 742-4272

Il Panino ($+) [Italian Casual] -- Harvard/Central Sq
  1001 Mass Ave, 547-5818
  Reasonably priced.  Good simple food.  Large tasty sandwiches (e.g.
prosciutto, fresh mozarella and basil), excellent cheese steak and
pizza, and (probably) the best budget-priced Italian food in the area.
(11/94)

L'Osteria ($$) -- North End
  109 Salem St (at Parmenter), 723-7847
  Nice enough place, not a terribly inspired menu, quiet, not fancy.
Dinner for two was under $30, with a couple glasses of wine.

La Conte ($$-) -- North End
  Salem St
  Small restaurant with excellent food, very generous servings, good,
inobtrusive, fast service, and reasonable prices.  Excellent spaghetti
carbonara and chicken marsala.  Ok wine list.

La Groceria ($$) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  853 Main St, 497-4214
  Mixed reviews.  Some say it's still good food, others say it's
overrated and overpriced, and eats like "Cambridge WASPS do Italian".
Good Penne Amalfi.  Beware of coming for the early dinner special, but
being seated late.  And beware of an older woman who is an especially
rude waittress.  (8/94) [=>reviews]

La Piccola Venezia ($+) -- North End
  63 Salem St (betw Cross & Parmenter), 523-9802
  Very straightforward, cheap Italian-American food.  A fun place w a
family feel.  The place is small, the tables are VERY close, the
waitresses call you dear and put their hand on your shoulder when you
order, and the owner's relatives serenade you on accordian.  This is an
order a pitcher of the house red wine kind of place.  The traditional
dishes (gnocchi, calamari) are best.  However, some think that the food
and ambience are awful, but there's always long lines.

Mamma Maria ($$$) -- North End
  3 North Sq at Prince St, 523-0077
  Pricey, but wonderful food and an interesting menu.  Fawning
service.  Nice ambience.  Valet parking.  Good wine list.  A romantic
evening in a charming building. (11/94)

Massimino's ($$) -- North End
  207 Endicott St, 523-5959
  3 min walk from North Station or Haymarket T stations
  One of the better of the inexpensive North End Italian restaurants.
Casual; fast service; off the beaten North End track, which probably
helps.  Small, unpretentuous, excellent food, especially vegetable
dishes.  Try the gnocchi Massimino's, potato gnocchi of just the right
density, with a robust sauce of olive oil, carmelized onions and black
pepper, or the pork chops w potatoes & vinegared peppers.

Milano's ($$) -- Back Bay
  47 Newbury St, 267-6150
  OutdoorDine: yes
  On Newbury St, but actually has very good food, good prices and good
service without the pretense. There is usually a long wait during the
weekends and no waiting area.
  Food: Interesting dishes, incl brick-over pizza, and great pasta.
Excellent food, but portions are on the small side; a salad is a must
if you are hungry.  Tasty desserts, and a nice wine list,
  Prices: Entree and salad: $10 - $14 per person (8/94)

Mother Anna's ($$) -- North End
  211 Hanover St (at Cross St), 523-8496
  Great food, good portions, reasonably priced.  Try the Chicken
Creation [kind of Chicken Eggplant Parmesan] & Shrimp Exquisito.

Nana Cora's ($$-) -- East Boston
  295 Bennington, 569-1551
  Small family-owned restaurant w very good moderately priced food,
including some excellent made-to-order dishes.

Nicole ($$) -- North End
  54 Salem St (betw Cross & Parmenter), 742-6999
  A wonderful place.  Cozy atmosphere, wonderful food, an admirable
wine list.  It's not cheap, but it's not excessively expensive either.

Old Spaghetti Factory ($+) -- Waterfront
  44 Pittsburgh St (nr Northern Ave), 737-8757
  Inexpensive family restaurant w funky entertaining furnishings.
Mostly standard fare except for the excellent spaghetti in browned
butter and mizithra cheese. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Olive's ($$$) [Nouvelle Northern Italian] -- Charlestown
  10 City Sq, 242-1999, 5 min walk from North Staton T
  Reservations: no, often long waits
  Great, though rich and heavy food.  Semi-Italian creative, menu
changes seasonally.  Expensive, but ample portions.  The consensus is
that the food is rarely disappointing, though some would argue that
though there are very original culinary ideas here, execution falls
just short of the mark.
  GoodDishes: Excellent creative seafood dishes, such as whole sauteed
red snapper with garlic mashed potates & olive / eggplant chutney, good
lamb & duck, excellent desserts.
  Beverages: The wine list had good selection, and fairly reasonable
prices.
  Bad Dishes: Avoid the (cold) creamed spinach w mushrooms
  Ambience: A very popular hangout for the well-heeled yuppie and
beautiful people set, or for those who totally trust the Zagat guides.
The brick-oven, hustle-bustle, very noisy atmosphere can either be very
annoying or cozy and romantic, depending on what like.
  Service: Service is attentive, efficient, and polite, and is better
than might be expected given the hustle-bustle.  However, service can
be extremely slow when they are busy, especially in the bar, and can
sometimes be downright surly. (9/94)
  [=> review ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

PapaRazzi ($$) -- Newton (Chestnut Hill), East Cambridge, Back Bay
  CreditCards: yes; OutdoorDine: no; VegOptions: lots
  Chestnut Hill Mall, Newton, 527-6660
  Cambridgeside Galleria, Cambridge, 577-0009
  271 Dartmouth St nr Boylston, Back Bay, 536-9200
  Lots of people like this place.  But, I have found the pasta entries
disappointing, although the Bolognese is quite good, albeit too small
a portion.  At some Papparazzi locations one can order "grande"
portions of pasta, which are intended to feed 3-4 people, for about
double the price of a "medio" (regular) portion.  Mixed reviews on
pizza, good salads, good for lunch.  Very reasonably priced wine list,
many by the glass.
  GoodDishes: Unusual appetizers w very good carpaccio, antipasto
plate, insalata toscana, grilled eggplant.  For lunch, good mozzarella
and chicken sandwiches.  Also good pesto pizza and pasta Bolognese.
Good veal dishes, roasted chicken, lobster ravioli, Tuscan sausage.
  Ambience: Tables fairly close together, some seats are noisy.
Atmosphere is enjoyable.
  Service: Very pleasant and helpful.  They are great at helping you
get out quickly if you have other plans!  Waits are not overly long
even on weekends, and they are good at estimating the wait time.
  Locations: Chestnut Hill is the best location.  Also in
Burlington and Wellesley. (10/94)

Pomodoro ($$) -- North End
  319 Hanover St, 367-4348
  A small place w a small menu and an exposed kitchen that can serve
some wonderful imaginative dishes, including a nice collection of
soups, stews and specials, at reasonable prices.  Try the suckling pig.
Cash only. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Porcini's ($$+) -- Watertown
  68 School St, 924-2221
  Most people think the place is great -- imaginative flavorful
preparations using quality ingredients (though one dissenting review
found the food overseasoned), good portions, moderate prices, pleasant
professional waitstaff; overall a very enjoyable place to eat.
Excellent Cacciucco (flavorful Italian fish stew); maple-roasted pork
rib chop; wood-grilled shrimp w tomatoes, fennel & oyster mushrooms;
beef tenderloin tart w risotto & porcini sauce, tuna steak w pimentoes,
roasted garlic & tomatoes; pan fried ravioli w butternut squash &
prosciutto; exquisite veal; very good Spaghetti Bolognese; and
irresistible desserts.  The actual entrees available will probably be
different when you go though; the menu changes seasonally.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Ristorante Lucia ($$+) -- North End
  415 Hanover St, 367-2353
  Crowded & pricey, but quite good.  Also in Winchester.

Ristorante Marino ($$+) [Italian Natural] -- North Cambridge
  2465 Mass Ave (nr Washburn), 868-5454
  Prices: Entrees $13-18, apps $3-7
  All pesticide-free, anitibiotic-free, hormore-free ingredients, though
some say this also means that it is flavor-free and overpriced, while
others say that the food is excellent.  Good pasta but even better roast
and grilled meats.  Organic vegetables are the highlight, also
steroid-free free-range meats.  Good sourdough rolls, served w herbed
olive oil.  Try the porchetta & pasta, butternut squash ravioli, and the
roast pork.  Better than average wine list. Full bar.  Espresso and
cappucino available, including decaf.
  The servers are knowledgable and professional, never rude but not
especially friendly. The maiun room has high ceilings with a trellis
covered with plants; light, spacious and airy.  Well-lit, not smoky.
Tables a little too close together. Very busy and popular and weekend
evenings - get reservations.

Ristorante Toscano ($$$+) -- Beacon Hill
  41 Charles St (nr Mt Vernon), 723-4090
  Mixed reviews.  Most say elegant outstanding food, w nice ambience,
and an interesting menu -- particularly the 4-6 daily special dishes.
Some say hugely over-rated w boring food & a selection that is too
small, though one might argue that the menu selection is appropriately
sized for a good restaurant preparing everything from fresh
ingredients.
  GoodDishes: Butternut squash tortellini with young rabbit in cream
sauce is fabulous. (10/94)
  [=> review ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Rocco's ($$$) -- Theater District
  Transportation Building, 5 Charles St South, 723-6800
  Pricey, but very good.  Similar to Michela's.  Wild theatrical decor.
Great pasta.  Very creamy sauce w the Spaghetti Carbonara.  Bread served
w olive oil & roast garlic.  Interesting wine list.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Sablone's Veal 'N Vintage ($$) -- East Boston
  107A Porter St (nr Logan local traffic exit), 567-8140
  Excellent veal.  Mostly patronized by locals, next to impossible to
get in on weekends.

Saraceno's ($$+) -- North End
  286 Hanover St (betw Cross & Richmond), 227-5353
  Great Italian food -- perhaps the best traditional Italian in the
North End.  Unfortunately not cheap.  Get the vegetable side dishes,
because someone in the kitchen really knows how to saute.  Very good
service, lovely presentation of the food.  Reservations needed for
dinner.  A wonderful place to take out of town guests.

Saro's ($$-) -- Waltham
  Main St (Rt 117 nr 128), 899-SARO
  Not fine dining, but a hole in the wall.  Mixed reviews -- from
unusual and great dishes, w nice ambience and great jazz on the stereo"
to "awful ambience, bored and ignorant waitstaff, no better than what
you can make at home".  Lots of food though.

Schifino ($$$-) -- Downtown
  21 Broad St (betw State & Milk), 523-0590
  Wonderful restaurant w good friendly service.  Superb calamari salad
and main courses.

Sorento's ($$-) -- West Fenway
  86 Peterborough St (betw Kilmarnock & Jersey), 424-7070
  Wonderful small casual place; you can taste the garlic when you nter!
Service is sometimes flaky, but the food's always very ood here.  They
know how to cook pasta al dente.  Try the Rigatoni ilano, and the
reliably good scampi.  Good pizzas & calzones too.

Spasso ($$) -- Back Bay
  160 Commonwealth (at Dartmouth), 536-8656
  Yes its a hotspot and a meat market, but the creative Northern
Italian food is quite good, and at off hours, it can be a nice quiet
little place -- the nice, quiet below-street-level patio seating area
that makes it seem you are someplace calmer than the Back Bay.  Good
service.  Prices are moderate, but some claim that the food is
overpriced and rumored to be going downhill, and the wine list still
leaves something to be desired.

Stellina ($$$-) -- Watertown Sq
  47 Main St, 924-9475
  Bistro ambience, combination of Italian & Nouvelle.  Well prepared
and flavorful foods.  Lots of imaginative dishes at moderate prices.
Friendly place.  Excellent warm tomato salad, good spicy black bean
soup, outstanding bread.  Minority opinion is that meat entrees &
desserts can be disappointing. (7/94)

Terramia ($$$-) -- North End
  98 Salem St, 523-3112
  Very good Nouvelle Italian food.  Entusiastic wait staff.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Trattoria Il Panino: Dining Room ($$$+) -- North End
  Parmenter St, 2nd floor, North End 338-1000
  Franklin St, Downtown
  Excellent vegetable antipasto, wild mushroom risotto, fresh ravioli
stuffed w lobster & mushrooms, veal sauteed in wine & pine nuts.  Avoid
the chicken w prosciutto in cream sauce.  Very good tiramisu, but still
lacking good liquor and expresso flavors.  If you want water, you must
buy it.  Popular, make reservations or arrive very early.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Trattoria Il Panino: Il Bistro ($$+) -- North End
  Parmenter St, 1st floor, 338-1001
  Better than average food.  Fair prices, clean, and relaxed.
Good pasta dishes, especially good gnocchi. (9/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Trattoria Pulcinella ($$$) [Northern Italian] -- West Cambridge
  147 Huron Ave (nr Concord Ave), 491-6336;
  T: #72, 74, 78 bus @ Concord Ave; DineAccess: ok
  Credit Cards: NO!, checks ok; Hours: Dinner only, Closed Mo
  An informal cafe serving terrific Northern Italian food, much more
relaxed than previous restaurants in this space, but still not cheap.
They've made the decor a lot less formal, and it's somewhat noisier than
it used to be but still not overly loud.  A fair amount of grilled meat
and fish and a lot of extra virgin olive oil.  The food quality varies
from fairly good to superb, with the waiters' suggestions being
reliable.  Good range of Italian reds wines, adequate whites. (7/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Tuscan Grill ($$$) -- Waltham
  361 Moody St (betw Spruce & Walnut), 891-5486
  Hours: Dinner Tu-Th til 9:30, Fr-Sa til 10
  Reservations: essential; NonSmoking: completely; Dress: casual
  Very good nouvelle cuisine.  Pricey, need reservations, worth it.  You
can sit at the food bar in the back and watch them cook.  The softshell
crab is exceptional.  Also try the gnocchi, cacciucco, grilled squid,
shrimp, steak & duckling. (8/94)
  [=> Middlesex News Review ]

Uva ($$+) -- Brighton
  1418 Commonwealth Ave, 566-5670
  Nice neighborhood bistro, large portions, good antipasto & pizza,
wonderful entrees.  Choose your own ingredients for pasta.
  GoodDishes: Eggplant salad (on the antipasto), crostini w an olive
spread.  The grilled lamb served tender and perfectly medium rare,
over foccaicia, w roasted new potatoes and arugala, chicken
saltimbocca (chicken breast served with mozzerella, spinach,
prosciutto, and a sage butter sauce that was just wonderful).  For
dessert, the macademia nut ice cream with a dark chocolate terrine,
and raspberry sauce over.
  Beverages: Extensive & reasonably priced wine list.
  Service: good
  Ambience: relatively casual.
  Prices: It's pricey, but not outrageous.  Entrees were $13-20 or so
(7/94) [=> mixed reviews ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Vinny Testa's ($$) -- Brookline (Washington Sq), Newton (Four Corners)
  1700 Beacon St, Washington Sq, 277-3400
  1114 Beacon St (west of Walnut), Newton Four Corners, 332-6767
  Outdoor Dining Available in Washington Sq;  Accessible: Yes
  Hours: Open late (11pm or so) weekends
  Good food with overly enormous portions.  Large pleasant room w an
informal, comfortable & tasteful atmosphere.  You'll be happiest if you
stick to simple foods.  Good pasta, eggplant, chicken & veal parmigiana,
shrimp scampi, and very good salads, though the Caeser salad gets mixed
reviews.  The bread served with roasted whole garlic in olive oil is
great.  Meals come in either solo or large size.  Solo meals run from
about $9-16 & includes a large dish of pasta.  The large meals cannot be
finished by anyone.  For $3.50, you can get a side salad that is served
family style and is easily enough for three.

Japanese Restaurants
********************

Cafe Mami ($) -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  [see Porter Exchange Mall], 547-9130
  Very authentic food, but service can be very slow

Eliot/Kotobukiya ($+) -- Back Bay
  Mass Ave, betw Newbury & Commonwealth Ave.
  There's definitely a niche for a casual, quick, inexpensive sushi
bar, the place where you'd go if you just wanted a tekka maki or two
and weren't expecting a really stellar experience.  Mixed reviews on
whether or not the Eliot fills that niche, primarily because the
service varies from reasonable to abysmal/nonexistent when crowded.
However, the sushi is good (not terrific, but good), and if the wait
for sushi is bad, you can always have noodles!  (8/94)

Cafe Sushi ($$) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  1105 Mass Ave (betw Harvard & Central Sq), 492-0434
  Just reopening, previously known for good quality food.  It's mostly
sushi with a few salads and appetizers and one or two other dishes,
including hot pots, which are unexceptional.  The quality is good.
Quality comparable to Roka, with a wider variety of ingredients but
fewer interesting combos on the menu.  On the other hand, the guys at
Cafe Sushi will make you whatever you want if you ask them nicely.  For
beer, stick to the Kirin.  Service can be glacial if you don't sit at
the sushi bar, which can be good or bad depending on what you have in
mind.  Beware of the 15% service charge they add for takeout!

Ginza ($$$) -- Chinatown
  16 Hudson St (nr Beach), 338-2261
  CreditCards: yes; OutdoorDine: no; Reservations: accepted
  Dress: casual
  Prices: depending on how much you eat, can run anywhere from $10-20
to $40-50 per person.  $4 - $9  for sushi a al carte
  Food: Majority opinion is that this is one of the best Japanese
restaurants around, w a huge selection of excellent sashimi (esp the
melt-in-your-mouth salmon) and sushi, including very tasty maki in
interesting designs, such as caterpillar, spider, and scorpion, though
a minority think that fresher & better quality sushi can be had
elsewhere for less.
  GoodDishes: Perfectly fried tempura.  The Ginza boat ($72 for 2
people), a beautiful display of food, comes with sashimi, shumai,
tempura, raw beef, baked lobster, plus soup and salad.
  Service: Generally very courteous and quick.  The waitresses are
polite and nice.  There can be serious screw-ups in service though.
  Ambience: From the outside, the place looks small but once you go
inside, you realize it is really big.  There are two huge rooms, the
main one has the sushi bar.  The place is nicely laid out and
well-lit, but the air-conditioner can sometimes be revved up way too
high (8/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Goemon ($+) -- Symphony Area, Allston
  267 Huntington Ave (nr Gainsborough), Symphony Area, 859-8669
  Commonwealth Ave (betw Kenmore Sq & BU Bridge), Allston
  Japanese Noodle house with good Soba, Udon, and Ramen with Hot or
Cold Broth and a wide choice of toppings, generously provided.  There
are complaints that at Symphony the soup is served luke-warm w mushy
overcooked noodles, and that the ramen is weak in general.
Friendly wait-staff in Allston. (11/94)

Gyuhama of Japan ($$+) -- Back Bay
  827 Boylston St (betw Gloucester & Fairfield), 437-0188
  T: Green Line @ Hynes Convention Center
  Good, generally fresh sushi; opinion varies as to whether it is
great or not.  The "Treasure Boat" is nice looking and has a good
assortment, but is overpriced.  Avoid anything in the annoying
"ice-cream cone" roll...they are too small and hard to eat.  Its a
small place w a nice setting and the service is generally polite and
courteous, though the head hostess can be quite volatile w loud
parties, and a recent review warns of extremely inappropriate behavior
on the part of the management.  Becomes "Rock & Roll Sushi" from 11pm
to 2am, which can be fun if you can tolerate or emulate the upscale
snobbish clientele. (8/94)
  [=> reviews ]

Hana Sushi ($$-) -- North Cambridge
  Reliable excellent sushi.  The presentation isn't as fancy as some
places, but the quality is high.  The eel is particularly fine, as is
the ohitashi.  It is a small, clean place with good service and
moderate prices.  They deliver, also. (7/94)

Ichiban ($$-) -- Allston
  166 Harvard Ave (betw Coomonwealth & Brighton Ave), 787-5656
  A small storefront, a tad crowded, lower than average prices.  A
good place to sit at the sushi bar.  Good sushi, noodle dishes, esp
seafood yaki udon & chachamen noodles & dumplings.  Also try the
pressed sushi, cucumber roll, spicy tuna, salmon salad, soft-shell
crab maki (pretty good, but not quite great), chicken & beef teriyaki.
The songpan is ok, but not great, and the miso soup was flavorless.
On a Sunday night a few weeks after the place opened, the service was
truly awful.

Ittyo ($+) -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  [see Porter Exchange Mall], 354-5944
  Excellent noodle dishes and donburi, especially the eel.  Very good
Shrimp & Veggie Tempura w Udon.

Koto ($$+) -- Cambridge (Fresh Pond)
  465 Concord Ave, 491-6600
  Small mom & pop sort of place seats 34 people with 6 more at the
sushi bar.  It may not be the very best Japanese food around, but
*great* value -- very good fresh, high quality fish, thickly sliced;
the $13.50 chirashi sushi is so jam-packed it's tough to finish;
likewise the noodle dishes are usually more than one person can eat.
The sushi chef makes some truly novel combination maki!  There's an
"Early Bird Special" which is a dinner box for $9.50.  There is a
choice of 5 different boxes, sushi, tempura, chicken teryaki, chicken
katsu, and yakitori/yakisoba.  The Early Bird Special is offered
Tuesday through Thursday 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM.
  GoodDishes: Octopus, unagi, salmon, uni, plum maki (strong), miso
soup, tempura.
  BadDishes: Rice!
  Ambience: Pleasant, simple, moderately informal decor; Needs
better air-conditioning on hot days.
  Prices: Appetizer prices ranged from $4 to $8. (8/94)
  [=> Boston Sushi Society Review ]

Kotobukiya ($+) -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  [see Porter Exchange Mall], 354-6914
  Perhaps the cheapest good sushi in town; the quality is ok, but the
ambience and presentation are not fancy, and the pieces are small.
(8/94)

Maluken ($$) -- Kenmore Sq
  645 Beacon St on west corner of Kenmore Sq, 859-3149
  Huge menu with lots of variety, especially lots of appetizers.
Excellent but expensive fresh thickly cut sushi, good soups &
ohitashi.  The tempura is somewhat disappointing; the batter is a tad
too thick, and too little variety in the vegetables.

Miyako ($$+) -- Back Bay
  279A Newbury St (at Gloucester), 236-0222
  Wonderful sushi and other dishes, with a stylish twist.  try the eel
and the mackarel oshi sushi, the smoked salmon sushi & the basil &
plum paste maki.

Nara ($$) -- Downtown
  85 Wendell St (at Broad), 338-5935
  Very fresh and tasty food.  Good selection of sushi and also other
dishes for non-sushi eaters.  Most of the sushi pieces (except
futomaki) are bite sized.  Very friendly owner and waitstaff.
Frequented by Japanese business folk - always a good sign.  Try
futomaki (large maki roll), chicken katsu (fried chicken bits w/
veggies), version of California roll using eel rather than crab.
Prices are moderate (more than Porter Square, less than Roka).  Very
busy at lunch, but more relaxed at dinner time. (8/94)

Porter Exchange Mall -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  1815 Mass Ave, T: Red Line @ Porter Sq
  The place to go for an authentic Japanese eating experience, with a
number of little stalls such as you might find at a Tokyo train
station -- modest and fresh food, well prepared.  Includes Kotobukiya,
Ittyo, Cafe Mami, and Sapporo Ramen.  There's also Seki Tei, a sit
down Japanese restaurant, a Japanese grocery, Shiatsu massage, and
Masao's Kitchen -- a macrobiotic restaurant.

Roka ($$) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  1001 Mass Ave (betw Harvard & Central Sq), 661-0344
  Reliably good, fresh sushi, somewhat expensive; also lots of
interesting maki rolls.  Perhaps not the best in the area, but a good
alternative.  Not much of a sushi bar; it's more of a sit-down place w
good service.  Great eel!  Watch out for extra charges for extra
ginger, wasabi & inside-out California roll.

Sakura ($+) -- Waltham
  on a little street off Rt 117, a block or so from Rt 20, 891-0720
  A very nice homey traditional Japanese place in a non-descript
clapboard house, reminiscent of a somewhat rundown Tokyo
restaurant.  Small, maybe 8 tables, service sometimes suffers.
Karaoke music.  Average but not excellent food.  BYOB.  Possibly
closed Sunday; limited hours in general.

Sakurabana ($$) -- Downtown
  57 Broad St (nr Milk  & State Sts), 542-4311
  Excellent sushi, a tad pricey, but a welcome break if you happen to be
at Quincy Market and don't relish a dinner of greasy things.  Recently
redecorated, so its nice inside though rather small.  The sushi is still
better than many places, and there is disagreement about whether it has
gone downhill some.  Good Sushi heaven & Boston Maki.  Don't forget to
look at the specials board near the cash register, because there's
always something fun to try.  Small parking lot next door, but you need
to pay.
  [=> Menus and on-line ordering ]

Sapporo Ramen ($+) -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  [see Porter Exchange Mall], 876-4805
  Japanese noodle house, very good, just like Japan.  One reviewer
recently complained about the taste of cinnamon in their ramen.

Shogun ($$) -- West Newton
  1385 Washington St (nr Elm), 965-6699
  Small homey pleasant place, a couple of blocks from the W Newton
Cinema.  Consistently good food, reasonably priced for Japanese
food.  Non-smoking.  Very low staff turnover.  Can fill up as the 
evening progresses.  Good Chicken Katsu.

Takeshima ($$) -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  308 Harvard St (nr Babcock), 566-0200
  Pleasant place, reasonable prices, very good food & service.
a perfect neighborhood Japanese restaurant.  Good sushi and
popular enough to be crowded on weekday nights.

Tatsukichi ($$+) -- Faneuil Hall
  189 State St (nr Atlantic Ave), 720-2468
  Very fresh, reliably excellent sushi.  Also good cooked
appetizers, especially their specialty, kashiage -- little
tidbits deep fried and served on sticks.  Huge portions of
shabu-shabu.  Karaoke bar upstairs w stiff cover that caters to
Japanese.

Tokyo Restaurant ($$$-) -- Cambridge (Fresh Pond)
  307 Fresh Pond Parkway, 876-6600
  Authentic Japanese food, frequented by visited Japanese business
people.  Excellent fresh, well prepared sushi in many varieties, and a
good yakitori bar also.  Don't miss the Dobinmushi (soup).  The sushi
lunch platters are really nice, but a bit expensive ($12 to $15); the
general consensus is that the place is overpriced.  Service is on the
slow side - not a place to go for a quick meal.  Tatami rooms can be
reserved for $20 extra, a really nice touch for a quiet, private
dinner.

Korean Restaurants
******************

Arirang House ($) -- Symphony
  162 Mass Ave, 536-1277
  The reviews on the food overall seem to vary (other Korean
restarants seem to be better), but the reason to come here is the
all-you-can-eat buffet for $7.50 (at dinner; for lunch it is $5.50),
featuring a great variety of Korean food cooked to all levels of
spiciness -- nothing spectular, but still, generally quite good.  The
meats are a tad fatty, and the jigaes a bit salty, but the pan-chan
were good.  There are over 20 items at the buffet (almost all Korean)
including several types of kim-chi.  There's also california roll, but
it is mediocre.  About the only drawback is that the buffet dishes
aren't labeled, so you should ask for help if you're wary of very
spicy foods. (9/94)

Cafe Han River ($) [Korean] -- Brookline (St Mary's)
  1009A Beacon St, 739-6221; T: Green Line C @ St Mary's
  Hours: 'til 10:30; OutdoorDine: no; NonSmoking: completely;
  DineAccess: ok; Dress: casual; VegOptions: some; LowFat: pretty good
  Rating: very-good; Beverages: No alcohol
  A Korean cafe that looks more like an industrial modern sandwich
place -- very clean, brightly lit, a counter down one wall and a few
tables.  Very pleasant and surprisingly good.  Order from the limited
menu at the counter for both eat-in or take-out.  Very good bibim-bop
($6.25) and bulgolgi on brown rice.  Kimchee could be a tad spicier.
(8/94)

Choe's Cafe ($$-) [Korean] -- Allston
  957 Commonwealth Ave (nr Pleasant St), 783-8702, (fax) 783-8703
  T: Pleasant St on Green B Line; Dress: casual
  NonSmoking: no, and it can get smoky
  Food: Excellent Korean food, served with a nice set of condiments,
including km chee, broccoli, and fish.  The sushi is not always fresh,
perhaps due to the fact that they do not seem to be very busy.
Decent selection of beer.
  GoodDishes: The ok dol bi bim bap is excellent -- very tasty and a
lot of food, and served with a very good sauce.  The mixed seafood
dish is also good, as is the dumpling soup appetizer.  Especially good
miso soup.
  Prices: the bi bim bap dishes from $8-11, appetizers ~$2-4.
  Service:  A pleasant wait staff.  Prompt service, and the food comes
out really quickly.
  Ambience: From the outside, the place doesn't look all that great.
From the inside, it's not all that great either, but it's ok.  It's
painted in these odd shades of green, ranging from dark green to
lightish, almost flourescent green.  The place doesn't look that big,
but once you entered, you are surpised at how large it was.  They have
maybe 10 tables and a bar area in the back where the kitchen is.  The
only annoying thing about the place is the music in the background --
it usually CD's of obscure reggae music, annoyingly played from
beginning to end. (11/94)

Han Mi Ok ($$-) -- Brighton Center
  351 Washington St (nr Market), 783-2090, T: #57 & #86 bus
  Very good Korean food in a slightly funky but pleasant cozy
atmosphere.  The food is not as highly spiced as some other places, the
portions are larger, and prices are moderate.  Very fresh sushi,
wonderful noodle soup dishes, especially the seafood ones.  Lots of beef
dishes, lots of seafood specials on the blackboard, not much for
vegetarians.  Try the squid dish or the beef bulgogi for a safe intro to
the cuisine.  The bibimbap is good, too.  Sometimes the service can be
slow when crowded (mostly w Asians at the sushi bar).  Thai & Chinese
food too, and the spicy fried squid, under the Chinese menu, is
outstanding.  No sushi on Wednesdays.

Hometown/Kohyang ($$-) -- Somerville (Union Sq)
  9A Union Sq, 623-7220
  The food quality seems to vary enormously, ranging from delicious to
horrible, and on the sushi from below average to fresh & well
prepared.  Friendly service, reasonable prices, mostly Korean
clientele (including some w diplomatic license plates).  Try squid
Korean style.

Kaya ($$) -- Back Bay
  521 Boylston St, 236-5858, T: Green Line @ Copley
  Hours: Open till 11pm daily.
  Well prepared flavorful dishes, in generous portions, and served at
just the right temperature.  Good choices are dumpling soup, skewered
chicken, yaki gyoza, steak tartare, red snapper shioyaki, galbi, spicy
stir-fried squid, bi bim bap, chapchae, tempura udon, green tea & red
bean ice cream.  Also very good reasonably priced sushi, though the
size of slices varies tremendously from visit to visit.  Avoid the
spicy pork dish, and note that the rice can be gummy.  Food can take a
while to come, and once it does, you may need to work to get your wait
person's attention.  Nice place w a lot of greenery, quiet even when
crowded w upscale Asian clientele. (8/94)
  [=> review ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Korea Garden ($$-) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  20 Pearl St, 492-9643
  This is a very good, small, family-run restaurant.  A nice traditional
place w nothing too inventive and a fairly limited menu, but what the
place serves is prepared well and consistently.  And with lots of
garlic!  Their Ok dol bi bim bap is excellent, and stone-pot dishes are
good also.  Lots of Koreans eat here, giving confidence that the food is
fairly authentically Korean.  Service is friendly and low-key; the
atmosphere is casual and relaxed.  Reasonable prices.

Korea House ($$-) -- Brighton
  111 Chiswick St (off Comm. Ave, betw Wash. & Market), 783-7030
  One of the better Korean restaurant in Boston, great soup dishes,
though some are extremely fiery.  Clientele is almost exclusively
Korean, therefore there is no such thing as a non-smoking section.
Service can be slow since it's a family run place.  The restaurant does
traditional dishes traditional style (as opposed to Jae's or Han Mi Ok,
which adds more vegetables than usual).  Best Bul Go Gi and Kim Chee
stew around here.  Stir-Fried Squid and Bi Bim Bap are also good.
Avoid the sushi.

Koreana ($$) -- Cambridge (~Inman Sq)
  154 Prospect (at Broadway), 576-8661
  An ambitious variety of Korean food in a pleasant atmosphere with
comfy booths and somewhat variable service. Very fresh sushi;
especially the hamachi.  The Korean food is really very fiery, though
they will make it milder on request (but it will still be quite hot).
Some dishes are exceptional (such as the stir fried squid and baby
octupus); others are still fairly good, but not as good as elsewhere.
Good noddle dishes and hot pots.  Good standard condiments.  Open til
1 am some nights.  Parking can be a problem.  Prices somewhat high.
(11/94)

Matsu-Ya ($$) -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  1790 Mass Ave (nr Arlington), 491-5091
  Food generally well done, not very spicy though, with good noodle
dishes.  Reasonable prices.  Small place, relatively quiet, though it
can get crowded on weekends.  A number of complaints, though, about
abysmal service.  See review.)

Seoul House ($$-) -- Newton Center
  57 Union St (across from T stop), 244-6438
  Small family run place w good, reliable, but slightly suburbanized
food.  Portions just a tad small; prices just a tad high.  The best
stuff here is the Galbi and Bulgogi. (9/94)

Shilla ($$) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  95 Winthrop St (off JFK), 547-7971; Prices: $10-15/person
  Very good Korean food -- a fun place w a wondeful menu and lots of
interesting things to try.  They give you the typical korean entries
when you order like kimchee and sprouts but they give you a couple
more like cucumber and a little seafood type dish, so that is a nice
bonus.  The food is always well prepared and in generous portions so
go with a large appetite!  Excellent Bibim Bap, esp. the version in
the stone pot, very good cold noodles, and they serve a wondeful huge
bowl of soup which includes meat dumplings, rice sticks, noodles,
cilantro, and other goodies.  The sushi is ok, and reasonably priced,
but not always the freshest.
  Service/Ambience: The service is friendly and courteous.  Also very
relaxed, so you may need to flag down the waiter/waitress in order to
get the eheck, more water, or anything else.  Unlike other
Korean/Japanese places, Shilla is very wide open and uncramped.  The
tables are huge and are not in close proximity to other tables, so you
don't have to worry about squeezing into a table and practically
becoming close friends with the table next to you.  They have two
stories, but mostly use the first floor. (7/94)

WooChon ($$-) -- Somerville (Union Sq)
  290 Somerville Ave, 623-3313
  Excellent high quality Korean food in a pleasant contemporary
setting, often crowded, though still not overly noisy.  Woo Chon just
came under new ownership (8/94), and the food quality seems to have
slightly declined.  Could improve again with time, though.
  Nice group of side dishes come incl with your meal, which they will
keep refilling, including spinach, seaweed, kimchee, & marinated tofu.
The food tends toward the fiery side.  Good sushi, cut in large pieces
(even too large for some), and they provide a good amount for the
price.
  GoodDishes: Dumplings, mung bean pancake, bulgoki, bibim pap and
chap chae, and the many eel and fish items on the menu provided a
pleasant surprise.  Great duk man du guk too!  Good, piping hot barley
tea as well.
  Beverages: No liquor license, but BYO from across the street.
  Service: Somewhat variable, but generally quite pleasant.
  Prices: Reasonable prices, though a tad higher than some
competitors. (8/94) [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Kosher Restaurants
******************

Cafe Shiraz ($$-) [Persian] -- Allston
  [see under Persian]

Milk St Cafe ($) [Vegetarian] -- Brookline (Longwood), Downtown
  0 Post Office Sq (Franklin & Congress St), 350-7275
  50 Milk St (at Devonshire), 542-3663

Rami's Felafel ($) [Israeli] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner), Downtown
  [see under Israeli]

Rubin's Deli ($+) -- North Brookline
  500 Harvard St (nr Commonwealth), 731-8787

Ruth's Kitchen ($+) -- North Brookline
  401 Harvard St, 734-9810
  Run by an Asian woman who converted to Judaism.  Latke's and Szechuan
beef right next to each other!  Not really a restaurant as much as a
prepared foods counter with seating.  The food is quite good &
reasonably priced.

Shalom Hunan ($$-) [Chinese] -- Brookline Village
  [see under Chinese]

Victor's Pizza ($) -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  1364 Beacon St (actually behind the parking lot), 730-9903
  Prices: About $10/large pizza;  Hours: Open til 8pm daily, except
    closes before sunset Fr, Open Sa in winter only after sunset
  Primarily a take-out place.  If you're in Brookline, keep kosher, and
want pizza, this is really your only option, aside from making it
yourself -- and while the price seems a little high, they are pretty
good, albeit somewhat greasy and bland.  The pizzas are generally made
fresh, but it takes about 10 minutes. [=> review ]

Latin American Restaurants
**************************

Casa Elena ($+) [Peruvian / Spanish / Mexican] -- Watertown
  45 Lexington St (at Main, nr Waltham line), 926-3222
  Small, casual, family-run restaurant -- Peruvian owner.  Good,
well-prepared, interesting dishes, good-sized portions.  Service ok, but
it can take awhile to get the food.  Good fried yucca w carrot sauce,
paella.  Moderate prices, dinner only.

Cecil's ($+) [Latin / Caribbean] -- Downtown
  129 South St, 542-5108
  Variety of Latin & Caribbean food.  Good black bean soup & Jamaican
Jerk Pork.

El Embajador ($) [Latin American] -- Jamaica Plain
  3371 Washington St, 524-6812

Mama Julia ($) [Colombian / Salvadoran] -- East Boston
  54 Bennington St, 568-9020
  Good Colombian & Salvadoran food, but make sure you speak some
Spanish, since the staff doesn't.  Cheap delicious soups, and good fish
in "homemade" sauce.  The main dish comes with a huge plate of rice,
beans, banana and a generic salad.  The food is very home style and way
filling.

Pupuseria Quintanilla ($) [Salvadoran] -- Jamaica Plain
  Washington St, 522-9680
  Try Salvadoran pupusas, tamales, arroz negro, shrimp soup.

Rattlesnake Bar and Grill ($$-) -- Back Bay
  384 Boylston (betw Arlington & Berkeley), 859-8555
  Good reasonably priced food, fairly authentic.  Urban Canyon Patio in
back is nice in the summer.

Mediterranean Restaurants
*************************

Anago Bistro ($$$) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  798 Main St, 876-8444
  Small intimate place serving well prepared Mediterranean- influenced
food, pricey, but with a wonderful, very inventive menu and
knowledgeable, enthusiastic waitpeople.  Often simple food, elegantly
presented.  Try the pan roasted baby manila clams w rabe, duck
croquettes, grilled mushrooms, chocolate rum bread pudding.
Reservations needed. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

David's ($$$) -- Theater District
  123 Stuart St (Transportation Bldg), 367-8405
  Gutsy, full-flavored food, creative and well-prepared, in a relaxed
atmosphere, with a fun ambience, and with prices relatively low for
this kind of place.  An excellent place to go when you want to dress
up a little and have a nice dinner.  Try the spanakopita, shish kebab,
grilled squid, and the outstanding desserts. (10/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Moon Woman Cafe ($$+) -- Newton Upper Falls
  108 Oak St (betw Highland Ave & Chestnut St), 630-9569
  Hours: Tu-Fr 11:30-2:30, 5:30-9:30, Sa-Su 5:30-9:30
  DineAccess: ok
  Creative American/Italian, including pasta dishes and a full gamut of
seafood, meat, poultry.  Creative breads with a red pepper spread are
set out on the tables to whet one's appetite and the wine list is also
quite good.  The menu is surprisingly large, and there are also daily
specials.  Friendly and knowledgable.  Under Stellina's management w
desserts brought in from there (excellent chocolate cake w raspberry
sauce).  Tables are closely spaced, so it can get noisy.  Nice ambience
w a bar area & a number of small connected rooms.  Large parking lot.
Main dishes in the teens to low twenties. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Mexican, Tex/Mex, Southwestern Restaurants
******************************************

Acapulco ($+) -- Jamaica Plain
  464 Centre St, 524-4328
  Good food, very inexpensive, good service.  Try the Camarones
Veracruzanos, which is broiled shrimp in wine and garlic with mexican
rice and beans @ 7.95.  No margaritas, just wine & beer.

Armadillo Cafe ($$-) -- Allston
  1314 Commonwealth Ave, 2 blocks west of Harvard Ave, 232-4242
  Small range of generally reliable, somewhat eclectic Mexican food
(though not very hot or spicy) and chicken and ribs as well, all very
good.  Great smoked chicken quesadillas.  Good chips & salsa.  Good
size portion, reasonable prices -- dinner for 2 w drinks is about $25.
Nice decor, service can be slow on off nites.  Live Mexican music on
week-nights, old rock&roll on weekends.  A recent review suggests that
the food and service may be going downhill, and live music is just on
Wednesday's. [=> review ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Bebop Burrito ($-) [Mexican] -- Harvard Sq
  The Garage, 36 JFK, 661-1619
  This place went into the space in the Garage that used to be one of
the rolled sandwich places.  For Mass-Mex quick food, it's not bad.
It's an owner-run place with the owner behind the counter much of the
time, which seems to help the quality.  It's got your basic varieties
of burritos in regular and large and some other related Mexican
sandwich-ish things.  It doesn't pretend to be authentic anything, but
it's good fresh food in good portions at cheap prices, with a choice
of pinto or black beans, yum!  OK guacamole too.  It is especially
nice as a place to get a good, cheap, vegetarian snack in Harvard
Square, although the veggie burrito is sort of dull.  Not quite as
good as Boca Grande, but you don't have to walk halfway to Porter to
get there.  (11/94)

Big Burrito ($-) [Tex/Mex] -- Allston
  Brighton Ave just W of Harvard
  Transport: 57 Bus, Harvard T Stop (B Line)
  Fresh, massive quantity for a great price.  Most Bs are at $3.95 -
$4.95.  Basically the idea is a burrito wrapped around rice, lettuce,
and fresh cooked meat, made to order.  Even cheaper than Boca Grande or
Picante, superdelicious, and you won't leave hungry.  Excellent beef
burrito and cilantro salad.  Very friendly pleasant counter service,
food came up pretty quick.  Not really crowded, but has the atmopshere
of a Taco Deli.  Designed for a quick bite, not a quiet dining
experience.  Cash only.  Wheelchair accessible.

Boca Grande ($-) -- Cambridge (Harvard/Porter Sq & E. Cambridge)
  1728 Mass Ave (betw Porter & Harvard Sq), 354-7400
  149 First St (nr Galleria), 354-5550
  Not ambience or decor, but nice burritos, and cheap.  The burritos
are all good, including the chicekn, beef, carnitas, and grilled veggie
ones; all but the veggie are worth spedning 50 cents on for guacamole.
Sometimes more interesting stuff, including tamales and elote.  The 1/2
grilled chicken w hot sauce is definitely a steal for $4 or so.  Great
lemonade. [=> review ]

Border Cafe ($$-) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  32 Church St, 864-6100
  OutdoorDine: no; Reservations: not accepted; Dress: grundgy
  Fun, cheap, quite good cajun/southwestern food -- a great place a
casual meal at an inexpensive price.  A noisy studenty Harvard
Square-y kind of place with a party-like atmosphere, though still very
child-friendly.  Think of it as a sort of Bennigan's with a quasi
tex-mex/cajun slant.  There have been reports of rodents scurrying
about & and roaches climbing the basement walls, and the steps to the
lower dungeon tables can be greasy.  Also in Saugus
  GoodDishes: Great margaritas, fajitas (chicken, beef, and shrimp) &
popcorn shrimp, good jambalaya.  Very good salsa & chips. (11/94)

Cactus Club ($$) -- Back Bay
  939 Boylston St, 236-0200
  Dress: casual
  Food: Good lunches, abundant food, reasonable prices.  Dinner said
to be less exciting, though they now have a new dinner menu, including
a very good, though nonstandard Caesar salad.
  GoodDishes: great Venison stew, and the Mountain Oysters are worth a
try.  The chicken chimichanga is great - made with fresh, whole
chicken breast (not shredded chicken smothered in generic sauce as
many chimichanga's are).
  Ambience: Large open rooms - nice atmosphere, but can get noisy.
Good people watching; good place to unwind after work.  (1/94)

Casa Mexico ($$) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  75 Winthrop St (at JFK), 491-4552
  Mixed reviews -- it used to be better 20 years ago, but on a good
night, some entrees may still be quite good.  Try the Chicken Mole,
Enchilada Mole, and the Camarones al Cilantro.  Also excellent Mexican
coffee.

Casa Romero ($$) -- Back Bay
  30 Gloucester St (betw. Comm Ave & Newbury St), 536-4341
  T: ICA/Hynes Green Line stop, also the #1, #55, & inbound #39 buses
  Prices may be on the high side, but for an excellent sampling of
Mexican haute cuisine, this is *the* place to go in Boston.  It has
returned to its previous high level of quality after a dip when
someone attempted to turn into a yuppie nouvelle-Mexican restaurant.
From the handpainted tile decor to the desserts, this place could have
been lifted right out of Mexico city.  Beware of the $1/person coat
check charge.
  GoodDishes: Try the chile relleno, the mole poblano and mole
enchiladas, the avocado soup, and the flan with Cognac and pleasantly
dispel the notion that Mexican food means nothing but nachos and
burritos.  Also good margaritas. (11/94) [=> reviews ]

Cottonwood Cafe ($$+) -- Cambridge (Porter Sq) & Back Bay
  222 Berkeley St (at St James), Downtown, 247-2225
  Porter Exchange Bldg, 1815 Mass Ave, 661-7440
  The most upscale and eclectic of the Southwestern places, with
creative tasty food.  Good salads, pot stickers, puebla duckling, zuni
roll, desserts, esp. pecan pie.  Expensive appetizers.
[=> Boston Globe Review ]

El Bandido ($) -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  1412 Beacon St (at Summit), 730-5663
  Pleasantly decorated storefront, serving excellent homemade Tex/Mex
food.  No lard!  Superb Carnitas Burritos, and they have Chicken Mole
too.  No liquor license.

Fajita & 'Ritas ($+) -- Brookline Village, Downtown
  48 Boylston (Rt 9), Brookline, 566-1222
  A charming kindergarten atmosphere, with the crayon on the walls and
the butcher paper tablecloths.  The service is friendly and fast, w
very good fajitas (esp chicken), pretty good assorted munchies, and
good margaritas and beer.  Lunch is better than dinner, as the portions
are similar and it's a bit cheaper.  A very boisterous & noisy place,
but it's lots of fun. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Iguana Cantina ($+) -- Waltham
  313 Moody St (betw Crescent & Spruce), 891-3039
  NonSmoking: completely; OutdoorDine: no
  Dress: casual; LowFat: pretty good
  Food: The food is fresh, flavorful, and almost as eclectic as the
atmosphere.  Trendy, good meat dishes.  Plentiful quantities
  GoodDishes: The West Indian grilled chicken with fried bananas and
cucumber salad is fantastic.  Try the chicken Veracruz & the catfish.
  BadDishes: Stick w the Mexican dishes, avoid pasta dishes.  If you
have an apetite for "snake bites", you're better off at Cottonwood's.
  Beverages: They have Boston Ale on tap.  Margaritas are very good.
  Service: The ambiance is *very* informal, and a bit peculiar.  This
isn't a place to bring the folks.  Given that, the waitstaff is
surprisingly cordial and helpful.
  Ambience: The restaurant is small and easy to miss.  It the outward
appearance of a bar, but is well-lit and comfortable inside, although
the seats are fairly close together, and it can be fairly noisy.  The
mix of wall murals and southwestern decor with strategic paint
splatters and concrete floors make it a nice diversion from the norm.
(10/94)

Jose's ($) -- Cambridge (Alewife)
  Sherman St between Harvard & Alewife
  Freshly made chips, OK food, nice people -- perhaps the best cheap
Mexican place.  Good salsa w lots of cilantro.  Good fajitas &
burritos.  Avoid the frozen drinks. [=> menu ]

Mexican Cuisine / Forest Cafe ($$) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  1682 Mass Ave (betw Harvard & Porter Sq), 661-1634
  Looks like a dive, but don't be put off -- excellent authentic
Mexican food very reasonably priced.  Yucatan Peninsula style w an
emphasis on seafood; try the Tuna with Mole Verde or the Salsa Mocajete
con Pescado.  Also excellent chicken-coriander soup.  They temper their
use of spices for the delicate New England palate, but they'll put some
kick into your food if you ask.  Be prepared to spend $40+ for the two
of you.  Entrees are in the $10 to $20 range, with most between $13 and
$15. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Picante ($) -- Somerville (Davis Sq) & Cambridge (Central Sq)
  217 Elm St, Davis Sq, 628-6394
  735 Mass Ave, Central Sq, 576-6394
  Good burrito place with big wonderful burritos, and a changing 6
hoice help-yourself salsa bar (w wild varying reviews; some think the
salsa bar is the only good thing at Picantes, others think the salsas
are not spicy enough, or all too smoky). The chicken flautas are sorta
dry but the enchiladas are great.  Also flan to die for.  It's nothing
fancy, but it's good food. (7/94)

Rudy's ($) -- Sommerville (Teele Sq)
  248 Holland St (off Broadway), 623-9201
  Good cheap basic Mexican, and they have Pacifico and Catamount beer!
Not as cheap as Jose's, but more options, w quality a bit below
Armadillo or the Border Cafe.  A dissenting review calls it a a cross
between Taco Bell and the Sizzler w endless psuedo-Mexican variations
on ground beef and diced tomatoes.

Snakebites Canteen ($$-) -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  Porter Exchange Bldg, 1815 Mass Ave, 661-7440
  A more casual, less expensive sidekick to the Cottonwood Cafe, with
light southwestern meals, sandwiches and snacks.  Try the unusual
roasted vegetable nachos or the baked Sonoran Chimichanga)

Sol Azteca ($$) -- Brookline (St Mary's) & Newton
Center
  914A Beacon St, St Mary's, 262-0909
  75 Union St (betw Beacon & Langley), Newton Center, 964-0920
  Good haute-Mexican food, reasonably priced, though the quality can be
somewhat variable.  Try the Pork in Orange Chipotle sauce or Adobo, the
Shrimp in Cilantro sauce, and the Fish in spicy Tomato sauce.  Service
can be lackadaisacal as well.

T.J.'s Taqueria ($) -- Brookline (Washington Sq)
  690 Washington St (nr Beacon), 734-8226
  Mostly takeout w small eat in area.  Excellent burritos & other
authentic Mexican food, which keeps getting better.  Try the chicken &
carnitas fillings as well as the soups.  No liquor license, but lots of
tasty homemade Mexican candies & sweets.

Taqueria Mexico ($+) -- Waltham
  139 Prospect St, off of Moody, 647-0166
  Hours: 9 am to midnite, daily
  Food: the food is great -- they have quite a variety of stuff,
tacos, tortas, burritos, gorditas (tortilla hand rolls), tostadas, and
a bunch of combinations of these and other items.  The large Mexican
clientele is a good indicator.  No liquor license, but you can BYOB,
or get the great "liquados" (banana, made fresh is especially good).
  GoodDishes: They serve large huge tasty burritos w lots of onions at
prices which are probably cheaper than Taco Bell.  The corn tortillas
tend to be gritty & fall apart easily, but you can ask for a flour
tortilla instead.  Try their plain nachos-chips, cheese, refried
beans, lettuce, tomato, onion and jalapenos -- all for $2.  The chips
are freshly made with two really good sauces.
  Prices: Entrees run from 3.95 to about 8.95.
  Ambience & Service: Not fancy -- you don't come for the ambience --
in fact, the place is kind of a dive.  The music on the jukebox is all
Mexican, and the service can be authentically slow, lackadaisacal, and
flaky.  But unless you're in a tearing hurry, the wait is worth it.
(11/94)

Middle Eastern Restaurants
**************************
Greek / Turkish / Israeli / Persian / Armenian
**********************************************

Algiers ($+) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  40 Brattle St
  Although not entirely Middle Eastern (is grilled steak a Middle
Eastern dish??), the Algiers in Harvard Square has the usual assortment
of hummus, falafel, tabouli, etc and is cheap.  Plus the tiny tables
jammed together, various odd people with 15 books in front of them, and
the regular erratic service.  What more could you want?

Andros Diner ($+) [Greek Diner] -- Belmont
  Trapelo Rd
  Hours: Close 8pm weeknights, Open Sundays only til 1:30 pm
  Good, high-quality food, generous portions, friendly surroundings,
casual, and inexpensive!  The accent is on diner-like Greek food, w
excellent lighty-spiced gyros w a perfect yogurt cucumber sauce,
monstrous souvlaki, and very good spinach pie, loukiniko, shish kebab,
lamb stew, greek salad dressings.  They also have an extensive menu of
breakfast and excessively generous sandwich items as well (very good
grilled chicken sandwich w good fries).  No liquor.  Usually a line for
tables. [=> review ]

Ararat ($) [Armenian] -- Watertown
  71 Arlington St, betw Mt Auburn & Arsenal Mall, 924-4100/7011
  Hours: Mo-Sa 11-9; DineAccess:ok; ToiletAccess: ok
  Dress: Casual; ChildFriendly: yes; Rating: very-good
  A wonderful small Armenian restaurant with all the usual Middle
Eastern favorites (including a superb smoky Baba Ghanoush), as well as
Armenian specialities such as Sujuk (Armenian sausages), Pilaki (white
bean salad) and Lahmejune (Armeniuan Pizza).  They specialize in
barbeque, especially a barbequed chicken served with a garlic sauce
that (to garlic lovers) is a good reason to go there on its own.  The
Chicken Taratour sandwich, made w a thick tahini sauce, and pickled
vegetable is amazingly good, and cheap at $2.75.  Beer & Wine
available as well,
  The place is casual -- a kind of Armenian version of Mom's diner.
There is table seating for about 25, but there's no table service --
you order and pick up your food at the counter, and get to watch the
TV which is on all the time.  But who cares about ambience; this is a
great place to come for excellent inexpensive Middle Eastern food.

Atlas Kitchen ($+) [Turkish] -- Brookline (St Mary's)
  1002 Beacon St, 566-6605, (fax) 566-7750;
  Prices: $10-15/person ($8-16 for entrees, $3-6 for appetizers)
  Hours: Open Su-Th till midnite, Fr-Sa til 2am; Accessible: Yes
  Quite good authentic Turkish cuisine in a pleasant well-lit spacious
room, reasonably priced, though a bit higher than most Middle Eastern
places.  Excellent appetizers include the stuffed eggplant ($4.25), red
lentil soup (well, not everyone agrees), cigar pies ($4.50) -- a
heavenly mixture of feta cheese, parsley & light spices rolled in flaky
dough; and fried eggplant ($3.95) served w/a delicious yogurt sauce,
though the grape leaves were bland, and the eggplant spread was
definitely overpriced.  For entrees, try the manti ($10), which is
something like Turkish tortellini served w/delectable garlic-yogurt
sauce ($9.95).  Tasty lamb w okra, though short on the lamb.  Delicious
Turkish-style shish-kebabs; also the doner-kebab (Turkish-style
shwarma, $9) is good and comes in generous portions, and the mixed
grill plate ($16) is recommended as well.
  Service is quite pleasant, though it can be slow at times.
Excellent desserts, esp the milk "cake".  Beer available. (7/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Brookline Diner ($) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  9 Brookline St, 354-9473
  Small place w stylish food.  Good cashew chicken salad for lunch

Cafe Barada ($) [Lebanese] -- Arlington
  Mass Ave nr Capitol Theater
  Lebanese, uniformly good & cheap; excellent grape leaves

Caffe Jaffa ($) [Israeli] -- Back Bay
  48 Gloucestor (between Newbury & Boylston)
  Good inexpensive Israeli/Middle Eastern food.  Interesting falafel &
very good steak tips, shashlik, hummus, and eggplant dishes.  Avoid
dessert. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Cafe Shiraz ($$-) [Kosher Persian] -- Allston
  1030 Commonwealth Ave (nr Brighton Ave), 566-8888
  Fairly tasty Persian food (as well as a diverse selection of other
stuff), but nothing spectacular if you don't keep kosher, and a bit
pricey for what you get.  A spacious place that doesn't get too busy,
nice owners, unremarkable service.  The Persian Wedding Soup is
different and worth trying, excellent skewers, and there's a vegetarian
platter very heavy on the garlic.

Demo's ($) [Greek] -- Watertown Sq
  64 Mt Aurburn St (Rt 16), 924-9660
  Decent cheap food, very good shish kebab -- in fact, get the Demos
special sandwich -- a lamb shishkabob with pita and a greek salad --
enough very good food to fill you, for the extraordinary price of
$3.75.  Seating for 100, split between smoking and non.  Tables for 2,
4, 6, with a good chance you'll share with people you don't know.
Stand in a line (sometimes long, but it moves along) to order.
Generally full but not crowded, noisy, child- friendly, wheelchair
accessible.  Great for take-out, too.

Greek Corner Restaurant ($) [Greek] -- North Cambridge
  Dudley St & Mass Ave
  T: Red Line @ Davis Sq
  Hours: Open late.  closed Sundays.
  This is a little hole-in-the-wall family-run place, with low prices
and a friendly extremely casual atmosphere.  The menu is pretty much
basic Greek, but all very competent, if not particularly memorable.
The food is simple, tasty & fresh, w good mousaka, and Greek standbies
such as taramousalata, a fish egg paste appetizer which is actually
very good, and not found at many other places.  Service friendly and
considerate; can be a little distracted, particularly when local guys
come by to flirt with the waitress.  Wine & Greek beers.  Very
child-friendly. (9/94)

Kareem's ($+) -- Watertown
  600 Mt Auburn St, 926-1867, Hours: Odd/short hours, closed by 8pm
  Veggie Options: lots
  The food is superb, the ambiance a somewhat nice version of
storefront, and the prices are very reasonable.  The menu is small but
augmented by a continually changing set of specials, and tends more to
kibbeh than falafel (which are both excellent).  Also try the fine
hummus, kebabs, and sauteed chicken.  Lots of vegetarian entrees too,
including excellent veggie versions of baked kibbeh and stuffed grape
leaves.

Karoun ($+) [Armenian] -- Newtonville
  261 Walnut St (at Washington), 964-3400
  A family run Armenian restaurant, with a friendly atmosphere and
excellent food.  Most of the wait staff are family members of the
owner, and regular patrons are greeted like old friends.  The best
dishes include the Dolma (a combination of stuffed grape leaves,
stuffed zucchini, and stuffed cabbage), Patlijan (a layered meat and
eggplant dish) and the various kabobs (lamb, swordfish, and shrimp are
excellent).  Excellent shwarma as well.  They have a whole range of
tasty Armenian appetizers and delicious baklava for dessert, along w
excellent coffee brewed in Ibriks.  Very good wine list as well.
Entertainment on weekends after about 8:30 PM, including middle eastern
music and belly dancing.  Inexpensive.

Middle East ($+) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  472 Mass Ave, 354-8238, T: Red Line @ Central Sq
  A pleasant casual restaurant w pretty good food; also live music in
the back room.  Great pumpkin kibby, tasty lentil stew, but mediocre
falafel.  Fairly inexpensive.  A really nice staff, and an interesting
clientele.

Mi Vami ($+) [Israeli] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  14A Pleasant St (at Beacon), 277-0272
  Inexpensive, no ambience, but very good shish kebab [which can be
chewy on occasion], grilled chicken, greek salad, felafel & hummus, and
a wonderful smoky baba ganoush that's one of the best I've ever had.

Niko's ($+) [Greek] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  187a Harvard St, 277-2999
  Small family-run Greek place with decent moderately priced food.
Pretty good avgolemono.  Try the skordalia & taramosalata, spinach
pies, gyros, meatballs, grape leaves & roast lamb.  Avoid the combo
platter; go for the daily special instead

Oasis Grille ($+) [Lebanese/Armenian] -- Somerville (Union Sq)
  255 Washington St, 666-5122; DineAccess: quarter step at entrance
  Hours: Mo-Fr 8:30am-9pm, Sa 9am-10pm; Cash Only
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Rami's Felafel ($) [Kosher Israeli] -- Brookline (Coolidge C.), Downtown
  324 Harvard St (Coolidge Corner), 738-3577
  48 Winter St (Downtown), 426-9770
  Mostly a takeout place.  Some think it is excellent, esp the
felafel/hummus plate, but I find the food too greasy

Pars Cafe ($+) [Persian] -- Brighton (Oak Sq)
  559 Washington St, 783-4900
  Perhaps the best Persian food in Boston.  While other Persian
restaurants have come and gone, Pars Cafe has consistently provided
authentic, rich-tasting, and mouth-watering Persian dishes for several
years, and at reasonable prices.  Try the beef & chicken kabobs and the
traditional stew dishes, all served over rice.  No alcoholic beverages,
but they have yogurt drinks & persian tea as well as ice cream and
other deserts.  Nice and cozy place, with traditional Persian arts and
crafts decorating the dining area along w lots of plants.  Service is
always cordial and quick.  About $15 for dinner; lunch specials about
half that.  Open daily from 11 am - 10 pm.

Phoenicia ($) [Middle Eastern] -- Beacon Hill
  240 Cambridge St, 523-4606
  DineAccess: half-step to entrance
  Food: Good solid middle-eastern food.  The name was changed from
Ann's recently when it was expanded and spruced up.  The food is the
same; good cheap great stuff.  Portions appear small, but are
substantial.
  GoodDishes: Excellent tabouleh, very good pumpkin kibee (though some
might find it dry).  Good hummous.
  OkDishes: The pita was OK but ordinary - like you'd buy at the
supermarket.  The spinach pie had good flavor but seemed like
leftovers - it had a tough chewy crust.
  Alcoholic beverages: yes - bottled beers and some wines.
Undistinguished.
  Service: pretty good on average, with dry spells. (11/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Sabra ($+) [Israeli] -- Newton Center
  45 Union St, 527-5641
  Quite good Israeli food; good lunch buffet.  Try the dardara,
moussaka, pilaf, tabouli, hummus, shwarma & shish kebab

Sami's ($) -- Roslindale
  4197 Washington St, Roslindale Sq, 323-2799

Sepal ($) -- Watertown, Somerville (Teele Sq)
  555 Mt Auburn St, Watertown (mostly takeout, 3 sm tables), 924-5753
  235 Holland St, Teele Sq, 776-7771
  Reservations: not accepted; ChildFriendly: ok; Dress: casual
  VegOptions: lots; LowFat: no (but felafel can be baked!)
  Rating: very-good
  Food: A good cut better than your average Felafel place.  Also, a
more interesting selection of dishes.  Everything is meatless.
  GoodDishes: Combination plate (felafel, baba ghanoush, grape leaves,
tabouli, hummus), Mujadharra (rice, lentils, onions), both soups
(squash and red lentil).  Possibly the best felafel in Boston, sold by
the piece, and much healthier than normal: it's made with 8
vegetables, which makes it green inside.  It's not oily at all -- but
if you really don't want oil, you can even get it baked instead of
fried, and available with a very tasty hot sauce.  Excellent hummos,
and the baba ganouge is unusually good, smokier than most, with some
pieces of unmashed eggplant left in it.  The kibby sounds good as well
-- a shell of cracked wheat and butternut squash; a filling of chick
peas, onions, pomegranate(!), and more squash.
  Beverages: No alcohol.
  Service: Seems to be a "family run" sort of place.  They seem eager
to please.  I asked if there was iced coffee which was not on the menu
and they were willing to make it for me.  The owner is a really nice
guy, too.
  Ambience: Fairly small. Not elegant, but not unpleasant.  They have
newspapers to read if you're alone or want to ignore your dining
companion. (7/94)
   [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Shawarma King ($) -- Symphony Area & Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  Beacon St, 2 blocks west of Harvard, Coolidge Corner
  Huntington St, Symphony Area
  Very good shawarma & grape leaves -- mediocre baba & hummus.  The
downtown one is takeout + counter; the Brookline one is a tad less
funky with a few tables

Sindibad ($+) -- East Cambridge
  145 First St (across from the Galeria), 492-2421
  I think the food is terrific, although other reviews are mixed.  The
food is much more interestingly favored than similar places in the city;
the kibbee and grape leaves are particularly tasty.  The baba ghanoush
has a very good eggplant flavour, those not as smoky as I would have
liked.  Good sized portions, very reasonable prices (mostly about $3-5
per item), and the folks who run it are very nice -- they were happy to
add more bulghur to my taboule.  The place is huge, so you order at the
counter and they bring the food to you.  Lots of vegetarian items as
well as halal meat dishes.  At dinner time, they are not very busy, so
beware of food that has been sitting there since lunch (e.g. dried out
shwarma & shish-kebab, soggy salad). (7/94) [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Skewers ($) [Middle Eastern] -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  92 Mt Auburn St (nr JFK), 491-3079
  While the reviews are mixed, many think this crowded basement dive as
reliably good and sometimes great food for great prices, with specially
noteworthy shwarma and hummos.  Service is always prompt if not
elegant.

Steve's ($+) [Greek] -- Back Bay
  62 Hereford / 316 Newbury, 267-1817
  Excellent soups, hummus, interesting chips, very good gyros, decent
grape leaves.  Waitresses can be rude sometimes.  Tables are crowded
together, and there's not much ambience, but the prices are very
reasonable (11/94)

Sultan's Kitchen ($) [Turkish] -- Downtown
  Broad St; Hours: lunch only
  Seating is non-luxury (:-) to say the least, but the food
is cheap and very good.  Ozcan is a lemon juice and garlic wizard.

North African Restaurants
*************************

Casablanca ($$) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  40 Brattle St, 876-0999
  Moroccan & other foods, very interesting, and pretty good, especially
for brunch or lunch.  If you like spices, this is the place to try.
Their food generally is a bit hot.  The appetizers should not be missed,
and are reasonably priced. The grilled eggplant, crab cakes, and Middle
Eastern platter are particularly good.  Good wine selection.  Very good
desserts.  Nice interior, w a warm and comfortable atmosphere.  The
service is a bit slow.  Weekends are very crowded.

Tangiers Cafe ($$) [North African] -- Beacon Hill
  37 Bowdoin St, 367-0273
  A small informal place with reasonable prices, but the food gets mixed
reviews.  Good middle east appetizers, plus Moroccan entrees.  Try the
harina, mujadara, mashwi chicken & sokatha tea.  But the lamb dishes can
vary from overly oily to watery. [=> review ]

Russian Restaurants
*******************

Seafood Restaurants
*******************

  [In addition to the places below, there are a number of Chinese
   and Italian restaurants that specialize in seafood.]

Daily Catch ($$) -- North End, Waterfront
  441A Harvard St, North Brookline, 734-5696
    Hours: Daily Noon-10pm
  323 Hanover St, North End, 523-8567
  261 Northern Ave, Waterfront, 338-3093
  Good Sicilian seafood dishes, great place for calamari (esp the
fried stuffed calamari & calamari scampi), lobster fra diavolo, and
pasta-based seafood dishes, especially the black pasta aglio et olio
(w calamari).  You may have to wait if not there early.  Best calamari
is in North End. The Brookline location just reopened, and has the
nicest ambience. (9/94) [=>review]

Dolphin Seafood ($+) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  1105 Mass Ave (betw Harvard Sq & Central Sq), 354-9332
  Good simple fresh seafood at good prices in a neighborhood
atmosphere.  Many say the food is excellent -- as good as No-Name used
to be, though some say its not that good lately and too crowded and
unrelaxed.  All agree the lunch special is a good deal.  Try the fish
chowder & broiled fish.  Also good farm-raised catfish, esp the
Cajun-style.  Often a twin lobster special for around $12 (though they
can sometimes be overcooked).  100% No Smoking.  A child-friendly
place.  Also a fancier branch in Natick.

Famous Atlantic Seafood Company ($$) -- Back Bay
  777 Boylston St (betw Fairfield & Gloucester), 267-4000
  T: Green Line, Auditorium stop
  The best food here is plain fish: broiled, grilled, fried or baked.
It's fresh and carefully prepared in the best yankee no- frills style.
Their bowl of clam chowder served in a hollowed-out loaf of bread is
an outstanding antidote to winter.  Full licence.  Fair beer list,
short wine list.  Service is sometimes hurried but usually competent.
Saloon ambiance, oak & brass decor.  High ceilings help keep the noise
level tolerable.  Most entrees $10-15.

Fishery ($$) -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  718 Mass Ave, 868-8800
  Very good seafood.  Other reviews recommend the crabcakes, calamari
w roasted garlic, briney oysters, mussels w lemongrass, smoked
alligator sausage, & hazelnut cappucino torte.

Joseph's Aquarium ($$-) -- Waterfront
  101 Atlantic Ave, 523-4000
  Good seafood -- the specialty is cheap twin lobsters.

Legal Sea Foods ($$+) -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq), Newton (Chestnut Hill),
    Back Bay, Park Sq, South End
  Park Plaza Hotel, 35 Columbus Ave, Park Sq, 426-4444
  Statler Office Bldg, 27 Columbus Ave, 426-5566
  5 Cambridge Center (Main St & Ames), Kendall Sq, 864-3400
  43 Boylston St, Chestnut Hill Mall, 277-7300
  Copley Place, 100 Huntington Ave (bet Dartmouth & Exeter), 266-7775
  Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St, 266-6800
  Very nice fresh fish, but a long wait & somewhat overpriced.  Avoid
anything fancy. e.g. cioppino, but excellent chowder, clam chili,
lobster casserole, and bananas foster.  Your best luck is with fish,
prepared simply, e.g. cod, haddock, bluefish, tuna, farm-raised Arctic
Char.  On good days, the mussels are fine, and the fried clam roll is
wonderful, w tender, sweet, big-bellied clams.  The Imperial Hot &
Sour soup (w seafood) is very good as well.
  Maryland Crab Cakes are very good -- big, moist, and a bit spicy.
prepared differently depending on which location is serving them: the
ones from the Burlington Mall location are deep-fried whereas the ones
from Chesnut Hill location are pan-fried. Either way, they are very
tasty (and high in calories).  Also, their sizes vary at different
times and places.
  Cost for two for dinner, excluding booze, should be between $40 and
$50.  Lobster is very overpriced.  Kendall Sq is the best location;
Chestnut Hill is the worst, especially when it is busy -- beware of
over-righteous management and small fish portions. (9/94)
  Natick is a good location as well.  Also in Burlington and Peabody.
  [=> menu ] [=> interesting long review ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Skipjack ($$+) -- Brookline Village, Cambridge (Harvard Sq), Back Bay
  2 Brookline Place on Boylston St, Brookline Village, 232-8887
  199 Clarendon St, Back Bay, 536-3500
  5 Bennett St in Charles Sq, Cambridge, 876-9900
  Consistently good, w several "lite" entrees.  Service efficient and
light-hearted, pleasant atmosphere.  Mostly standard fare, except for
their wonderful but spicy blackened tuna sashimi.  Good broiled bass,
fried seafood platter, crab cakes, pan-fried scallops & shark, and
grilled catfish prepared "skipjacks style".  In season, twin lobster
dinner on Sundays for $12.95.  Clam chowder reported to have an odd
flavor.  Excellent chocolate bread pudding.  The Brookline Village
location offers free validated parking in the garage.
  [=> review ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Turner Fisheries ($$$) -- Back Bay
  Westin Hotel, 10 Huntington Ave (in Copley Place), 424-7425
  Upscale ambience and prices, but pleasant waitstaff and good
service.  Best elaborate seafood dishes you could find in Boston.
Expensive, so no need to go there if all you need is just broiled
salmon or somesuch.  Awesome clam chowder & bouillabaise.  Also try
the poached fish w tapenade, the salmon fennel soup, and the crab
cakes.  They also have an outstanding steamed dish, prepared in a
bamboo steamer, with several types of vegetables and seafood, and 3
dipping sauces.  Reservations helpful.  Sunday Brunch too.

Village Fish ($$) -- Brookline Village, Jamaica Plain
  22 Harvard St, Brookline Village, 566-3474
  707 Centre St, Jamaica Plain (opening July '94)
  Reservations: not accepted, so be prepared to wait more than an hour
    on weekends; CreditCards: no, cash only
  Casual atmosphere, comfortable open brick-modern, red & white
checkered tablecloth kind-of-place.  The kitchen is in the open, so
you can watch your food being prepared.  The waitstaff is always very
busy but always in good spirits.  There's a raw bar for "snacking"
while you wait for your table, and a nice selection of wines by the
glass.  The menu is written on a big chalkboard high up on one of the
brick walls.  The food is quite good, and there's a reasonable amount
of it.  Try the excellent fresh fish, or the shrimp or scallop
marsala, which arrive in front of you in the frying pan they were
cooked in, and the lobster fra diavlo, or fried calamri.  Entrees come
with pasta, with a choice of red (marinara) or white (clam) sauce
(which is excellent) and salad.  Beer and wine license.  Used to be
called the Village Catch; it's rumored the Daily Catch complained.

Ye Olde Union Oyster House ($$$-) -- Faneuil Hall
  41 Union St, 227-2750
  Wildly mixed reviews.  At worst, this is an over-rated, over-priced
tourist trap serving overcooked bland food.  Prices are definitely
steep, but still the place may be worth a shot, since the crab cakes
and the seafood pasta are said to be good, and I've had excellent
poached salmon there.

Spanish & Portuguese Restaurants
********************************

Casa Portugal ($$-) [Portuguese] --- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  1200 Cambridge St (at Prospect), 491-8880
  Mixed reviews.  The seafood stews and salt cod dishes are good, and
the sausage & fig appetizer is delicious, as are the Vitella Grilhada
(grilled veal) [ask for extra garlic] & Porco Escallopes [in a spicy
sour onion sauce].  The House Special Shrimp is good too.  Ask for your
potatoes extra-well done (less oily that way), and hope that the soup of
the day is kale soup.  I may have been there on an off night, but I
thought the food was unimpressive (starting with the bread), as have
some other respondents, though you do get lots of it.  Friendly service,
low prices, and a nice selection of inexpensive Portuguese wines.

Dali ($$+) [Spanish] -- Cambridge (~Porter Sq)
  415 Washington St (at Kirkland/Beacon), 661-3254
  DineAccess: ok; ToiletAccess: ok;   Dress: casual; LowFat: no
  CreditCards: yes;  OutdoorDine: no; ChildFriendly: no
  Reservations: not accepted, long wait on weekends
  Very good tapas, and wonderful Spanish (Catalan, Pyrenees, Basque)
food in reasonable sized portions.  Can be pricey if you go overboard;
it can be better to get a variety of tapas and fewer main courses.
Very good spanish wine selection and excellent Sangria.  A great
unique fun place to go with friends or out of town guests, though it
can be noisy when it gets crowded.
  GoodDishes: Most of the tapas are very good; try the baked goat
cheese, mussels, marinated mushrooms, chorizo & tripe w chickpeas.
The baby eels sauteed in garlic oil are pricy but very interesting,
and thesquid in its own ink is definitely memorable.  Good oxtail
soup.  Most main courses are wonderful; the rabbit is especially good,
as is the specialty of the house -- a fish baked in coarse sea salt,
very tender and impressively presented.  There are lots of dishes here
you'll get nowhere else in the Boston area, and they use fiddlehead
ferns in some dishes when in season.  Some of the desserts are good as
well, esp the dessert crepe w chocolate sauce.
  BadDishes: Oddly enough, there have been reports that the paella, of
all things should be avoided -- it can be cold and flavorless.
  Service: Can be a long wait at peak periods, but you can get tapas
at the bar.  Service is quick & not overly formal service, but can be
occasionally fussy.
  Ambience: Warm, homey, romantic, funky Dali-esque decor.  Talk about
romantic -- well this is the place.  It's dark, and loaded with dark
hardwood, candles on the table, etc.  If you go with just a date, the
owner comes over to you and welcomes you to the restaraunt and seats
you and tells you how beautiful your date is.  (10/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ] [=> review ]

Iruna ($$-) [Spanish] -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  56 JFK (nr Mt Auburn), 868-5633 (not wheelchair accessible)
  OutdoorDine: yes; CreditCards: yes
  Mixed, but mostly positive, reviews for a restaurant that's been
around a long time.  Many people love the place, others find the food
bland.  The food is not haute cusisine -- and not as complex as
Dali's, but Iruna serves the sort of food that people in Spain might
actually eat at home on a regular basis.  Reliable, and a good value.
Crowded, relatively plain atmosphere; service good, friendly, fairly
efficient except when the kitchen bogs down.  Somewhat short menu.
Wonderful garlic soup, good squid in ink sauce, authentic Cuban Black
Bean Soup, delicious steak w herbed butter, very good paella.  Good
lunch deals, about $5-$6 for soup, salad, and a potato omlette.

Neighborhood Restaurant ($+) [Portuguese] -- Somerville (Union Sq)
  25 Bow St, 623-9710; Hours: Open early for breakfast
  Huge cheap portions of Portuguese food, very tasty, but not necc.
high quality.  Try the roasted chicken, baked cod, grilled pork
casserole w clams.  Large aluminum washtubs filled w arroz con pollo.
Fried Sardines in tomato sauce is a strongly flavored treat.  Very
tight seating indoors, w no decor, but they open a very pleasant
wheelchair accessible terrace in summer.  Also good cheap, very large,
somewhat unpredictable, breakfast specials -- pancakes with fruit,
lobster omlettes, homemade bread w amazing homemade jam, excellent
scrambled eggs, homefries with lots of onions and garlic.  Unusual
oatmeal on the weekends.  Interesting waiters too, esp. if you're into
the 70's. (7/94)

Portugalia ($$-) [Portuguese] -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  723 Cambridge St (at Tremont), 354-9340
  CreditCards: yes; Reservations: accepted; Dress: casual
  A nice clean little upgraded neighborhood restaurant, and an
excellent value -- moderate prices, well worth the food.
  GoodDishes: Shrimp in beer sauce appetizer.  For lunch, the mussels
steamed in beer is an unbelievable value.  For dinner, the piece de
resistence is the mussels in wine broth appetizer - ask for additional
bread (it's good & toasted hot) to sop up the broth.
  OkDishes: The veal entree is tender and tasty, and the accompanying
veggies are ok.  The shrimp entrees are also good, perhaps the shrimp
could be a little softer but they're decent size.
  Service & Ambience: Smallish place, w nice ambiance and pleasant
decorations, not overbearing at all, soft Portuguese or Spanish music
in the background.  Polite but inconsistent service, faster on
weeknights, which are not very busy.

Sunset Cafe ($$) [Portuguese] -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
  857 Cambridge St, 547-2938
  Large amounts of food, good & flavorful, though sometimes heavy on the
salt, good service, reasonably priced.  Specialities include garlic
soup, roast goat, octopus stew, pork & littleneck clams, seafood
casseroles, as well as a killer paella chock full of clams, mussels,
lobsters, etc.  Fun to go on Fri or Sat evening for the fados
(Portuguese torch songs) w acoustic guitar accompaniment.

Steak Restaurants
*****************

Boodle's of Boston ($$$-) -- Back Bay
  Back Bay Hilton, 40 Dalton St (btw Boylston & Huntington), 266-3537
  Service & food went downhill for a while, but they're better again,
and moreover, they serve about 90 different beers from
micro-breweries.  Both their regular and their brewers dinners are
fine, and prices are reasonable.  They have bi-weekly beer dinners and
monthly brewer's dinners that feature different beers matched with
each course, typically from one brewery which then does a
presentation.  When Brooklyn Beer Company was there with their
Brooklyn Lager and Brown Ale, the main course was duck, buffalo and
pheasant that had been marinated in a sauce with the beer before
roasting and was very good.

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse ($$-) [Steak] -- Watertown
  In the parking bldg at the Arsenal Mall
  Ambience: Bugaboo Creek is a chain with a "fun, outdoors, relaxing"
theme, owned by the people who own the Capital Grille in Boston and
Providence.  The restaurant looks like a big ski or hunting lodge with
sleds, fishing rods, ski's and an all wood interior.  The restaurant
also has about 5 or 6 large moving and talking animated "things",
including a singing moose, a talking tree and an annoying wood pecking
woodpecker.  Can be noisy, with lots of kids.  Some (all?) locations
have a "trading post" in the restaurant that sells Coonskin caps and
other essential Frontierware.
  Food: Definitely a place for meat eaters; they serve "hearty fare"
in Flintstone sized portions (massive) at reasonable prices --
definitely not the place for a vegetarian.  The quality of the beef is
very good, and they also have chicken and fish (not a great selection
of either, but the blackened catfish is quite good).  Avoid the
lumberjack's pie, but the steaks are very good (and marinated nicely)
as is the filet mignon.  Bloomin' onions available too.  For $12.95
you can get a massive rack of very respectable ribs, side order of
baked beans (very good), choice of mashed potatoes, curly fries, or
baked potato, choice of a regular salad or Caesar salad (huge too),
and two loaves of homemade bread.  There are free refills on drinks
too.  Good desserts (esp apple crisp), and excellent coffee.
  Service: Lines can be long, especially on weekend.  Service is fast.
  Prices: Most of the adult meals range between $7.95 and $15.95, kids
meals are $2.95 to $3.95 and comes with a bottomless drink and a large
dessert sundae (which contained Ben & Jerry's ice cream. (10/94)
  [=> reviews ]

Capital Grille ($$$$-) -- Back Bay
  359 Newbury St, 262-8900
  Upscale steakhouse, aged steaks almost as good as Morton's, but this
place has the more elegant atmosphere.  Stick to meat, seafood &
salads.

Grill 23 ($$$$-) -- Back Bay
  161 Berkeley St (at Stuart), 542-2255
  Price: Appetizers: $5-9, Entrees: ~$20-25, Deserts: ~$7
  Steaks and other traditional food in an elegant atmosphere,
elegantly prepared; a nice place to show off or celebrate.  The food
has mixed reviews -- some say food is good; others say terrible.
Don't skip the appetizers, but skip the plain cuts of meat section and
order the house specialties.  Service is exceptional and the waiters
are very knowlegable.  In general, this is a very memorable place for
dinner; however, the price is a bit forbidding, and the place is very
noisy.  The dining area is one large room connected to an open
kitchen; you can see your meal being prepared. (9/94)

Morton's of Chicago ($$$$) -- Back Bay
  One Exeter Plaza on Boylston St, 266-5858
  Superb prime rib, amazing porterhouse steak, wonderful shrimp
appetizer, seafood dishes & desserts; good souffles too.  Best steak &
potatoes in Boston in a high-class, steakhouse atmosphere w prices to
match.  Avoid the coffee, though.

Thai Restaurants
****************

Amarin ($$-) -- Newton Corner
  287 Centre St, Newton Center, 527-5255
  Very pretty restaurant, and excellent food, almost as good as Erawan.
Great Pad Thai & Tom Kar Gai; the noodles and beef at lunch are good and
not served elsewhere.  Service is generally good, but there can be
exceptions.  They have a pretty good tolerance for noisy kids.

Bangkok & Tokyo Grille ($$-) -- Beacon Hill
  26 Charles St, 723-5939
  Good soups, satay, green curries.

Bangkok Bistro ($$-) -- Brighton (Cleveland Circle)
  1952 Beacon St, 739-7270
  Good and consistent, especially good chili fish, shrimp, sate, pad
thai, and stir fries.  Large portions, moderately priced.  It is a
small seating area, but the service is great.  Lunch $5-8. (8/94)

Bangkok City ($$-) -- Symphony Area
  167 Mass Ave, 266-8884
  Biggest & nicest & best of the thai restaurants nearby, & easiest to
get seated before a concert.  Tell them your time constraints and they
will meet them.  Very good food and surprisingly inexpensive.  Try the
shrimp mermaid, garlic fish, beef jungle, mee grob noodles.  Good soups
too.

Bangkok Cuisine ($$-) -- Symphony Area
  177A Mass Ave (nr Berklee), 262-5377
  Some say this place is better for soups than for main dishes.  But
said to have great Chicken Cashew Nut, Pad Thai & Tom Mar Gai.  The
service can be rude though, and the mostly student clientele makes for a
noisy place.  Recent report that it has perhaps "lost its edge"; it is
still good, but not as good as it once was -- the duck choo-chee, in
particular.

Bangkok House ($$-) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  50 JFK, 547-6666
  VegOptions: yes, and they're willing to substitute tofu
  Very good food, but cramped accomodations, small portions for the
money.  Fast lunch specials Mon-Sat. (10/94)

Bangkok Room ($$-) -- Symphony Area
  329 Huntington Ave, 859-2969
  Good hot & sour shrimp soup, satay & golden bags.

Chengmai ($$-) -- Newton Center
  Picadilly Square
  Ok food & decor; service not so good.

Erawan of Siam ($$) -- Waltham
  469 Moody St, 899-3399
  Excellent food -- as good as Amarin.  Beautiful, stylized Thai temple
setting.  Attentive, pleasant, friendly service.  A large place, so
never a wait for a table.

Green Papaya ($$-) -- Waltham
  475 Winter St (at Winter St exit off Rt 128), 487-9988;
  Reservations: accepted; Hours: L Mo-Sa, D 5-9:30 daily
  DineAccess: ok; ToiletAccess: ok; Dress: casual; VegOptions: some
  A pleasant surprise. Don't be put off by the name and the chubby
cartoon-character pictures of happy little Thai people on the menu;
this turns out to be a serious place, owned by the same people as the
Lemon Grass in Lexington, serving food with excellent flavor and
appearance, and with some unusual dishes not seen on other menus.
They can be quite inconsistent with the use of hot peppers.  While the
Wild Board Basil & Hot and crazy Noodles are hot, many other dishes
(even 3 pepper ones) can be very mild.
  Good Dishes: Spicy Basil Chicken, Wild Boar Basil, Huglay chicken,
Larb Kai, and Hot & Crazy Noodles, a sweet/spicy dish using wide
udon-type noodles.  The Oriental Salmon manages to be quite spicy
without killing the delicate taste of the salmon,
  Beverages: They now serve alcohol as well as some Thai beers such as
Singha.
  Service: Amazingly fast on crowded weekend night; at lunch, they
kinda throw the food on the table.
  Ambience: comfortable and pleasant, plenty of room, lots of plants
  Prices: Luncheon $5.50-7.75 is about the standard (9/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ] [=> Middlesex News review ]

House of Siam ($$-) -- Back Bay
  21 Huntington Ave (nr Exeter), 267-1755

King & I ($$-) -- Beacon Hill & Back Bay
  145 Charles St, Beacon Hill, 227-3320
  259 Newbury St (at Fairfield), Back Bay, 437-9611
  Good sized servings of good Thai food, though some say it's not quite
as good as it used to be.  One of the best Pad Thai's around.  Try the
Chicken w basil, mint & chili peppers, and the beef tar-tar (oddly
named, since it is cooked).  The Back Bay location has better
atmosphere, but the food in Beacon Hill is better.

Montien ($$) -- Theater District
  63 Stuart St (betw Tremont & Washington), 338-5600
  Very good under-patronized (and under-publicized) Thai food -- it's
hard to go wrong no matter what you order.  They put a lot of emphasis
on food presentation as well as taste.  Service is also good, and they
can speed things up if you are rushing to the theatre.  Hot and Sour
soup is very good, as are the curries, the seafood specialties, and the
Pad Thai.  Prices are moderate, but higher than other Thai restaurants
in the area, but the food and atmosphere are better.

Rama Thai ($+) -- Allston
  181 Brighton Ave (Osco Plaza), 783-2434
  Cheap, large portions, well flavored, good Tom Yung Goong soup, Pad
Thai, Fish Choo Chee, Spicy & Sour salads.  Food somewhat better and
less expensive ($3.50 - $5 for lunch) than Bangkok Bistro, though
ambience a tad more downscale. (8/94)

Rod Thai ($) -- Chinatown
  In the Food Hall, NE corner of Beach & Harrison, 2nd floor
  One of the best Thai places around.  They have very good food and
don't hold back on the spices (not meaning that the food is necessarily
spicy hot either).  The usual curries (more than you can eat for $4),
ram long and pad thai are very popular.  Sub-zero atmosphere, but who
cares?

Sawasdee ($$) -- Brookline Village
  320 Washington St, 566-0720
  Pleasant decor; Usually very good food, elegantly presented, as good
or better than most Thai food in the area.  Very good golden bags,
stuffed wings, pad thai, and veggie curry.  The food can be variable
though; on a recent visit, the mussel appetizer which is usually good
was gritty and used cheap mussels; the whole tamarind fish, usually
excellent, was too vinegary, and the wait staff didn't handle my
complaints very well.

Siam Cafe ($$-) -- Beacon Hill
  197 Cambridge St (Charles River Plaza), 277-1431
  Good satay & spicy seafood dishes.

Siam Cuisine ($$-) -- Allston
  961 Commonwealth Ave (couple blocks from BU Bridge), 254-4335
  ChildFriendly: yes; Accessible: steps to both entrance & restrooms
  One of my favorite Thai restaurants.  The food doesn't dazzle, but is
reliably and uniformly good.  Very nice Chicken Coconut Soup and
excellent Beef Macadamia, Siam Fish, and a wonderfully crunchy Siam
Duck.  Very pleasant ambience, including a special seating area at the
center of the room, worth asking for, especially if you have infants or
toddlers, and a pleasant, soliticious wait staff. (7/94)

Siam Garden ($$-) [Thai] -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  45 1/2 Mt Auburn St, 354-1718
  Popular, but wildly mixed reviews.  Some think this is the best of
the Thai places in the square (though there are better places
elsewhere in Boston), with the balance of spices much less
heavy-handed than the other two.  Others think it is awful or at least
hit & miss, and they don't offer to replace bad dishes, either.  The
moderate view is that they have a rather standard Thai menu, Pad Thai,
Chicken Himmaparn, etc, prepared well, but uncreatively.
  GoodDishes: The Stuffy Shrimp are an excellent appetizer (if you eat
shrimp and meat), and the Golden Jumbo Shrimp dish is highly
recommended, with an exquisite explosion of flavor from the herbs and
spices.
  BadDishes: the rubbery fried fish.
  Prices: Entrees are $10-$13. (7/94)

Siam Square ($+) -- Chinatown
  86 Harrison Ave, 338-7704
  Try tod mun, chicken coconut soup, squid pik pow, vanilla tea.  Also
good chow foon & steamed ginger fish.  Cheap, but small portions.

Singha House ($$-) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  1105 Mass Ave (betw Harvard Sq & Central Sq), 864-5154
  A very good value in Thai food for lunch; more expensive for dinner.
Duck dishes are very good, esp Chili Duck.  Soups are tasty and loaded
with stuff (try the chicken coconut soup).  Curries are good w just the
right amount of fire.  Excellent vegetarian curry and Chicken in the
Garden (especially good peanut sauce in the latter).  A dissenting
review notes several interesting choices on the menu, but nothing very
unusual or well executed.  Wheel chair accessible.  Service is cordial
and prompt.  They usually get a rush at lunch which they handle very
well.

Star of Siam ($+) -- Theater District
  93 Church St (at Stuart), 451-5236
  The food here seems to be different from that of other local Thai
restaurants, more homey/rustic, but fairly good and copious.  The menu
is orthogonal, you can get any main ingredient prepared in any way (Pork
Massaman or Duck Pad Thai, for instance).  They validate parking in the
garage on the same block.  Good service, even when crowded before the
symphony.

Thai's ($$) -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
  1 Kendall Sq, 577-8668
  Nicely prepared and flavored Thai food, though the portions are on the
small side, and the food is mild, so you may need to ask it to be made
hotter.  Good beef spring roll & shrimp asparagus roll, grilled meats w
lemongrass, shrimp chee, red curries & pad thai.  When they're very busy
for lunch, service and food can suffer, though.  (7/94)
  [=> negative review ]

Thai Basil ($$-) [Thai] -- Back Bay
  132 Newbury Street, Australian Clothing Store, 424-8424
  T: Green Line at Copley
  DineAccess: difficult; ToiletAccess: difficult
  NonSmoking: completely; Reservations: accepted
  Dress: casual; VegOptions: lots
  Food: Quite good, with excellent quality and flavor, though perhaps
somewhat overpriced (not uncommon for Newbury St).  They can customize
dishes to your taste.
  GoodDishes: Chicken Basil and Chicken Ginger
  Beverages: Beers available include Singha
  Service: Excellent: courteous and available
  Ambience: Small but very comfortable and lovely modern decor.  Special
Thai tables are available as well.
  Prices: Entrees $6.75-$13.00 approximately (7/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]  

Thai Cuisine ($$-) -- Symphony
  Has good food and is very close to the symphony, but it's small & hard
to get into unless you arrive quite early before a show.

Thai Gourmet ($+) -- Dorchester
  1155 Dorchester Ave, Savin Hill, 436-0444

Thai House ($$) -- Allston
  1033 Commonwealth Ave (few blocks from BU Bridge), 787-4242
  Many think this is one of the better Thai restaurant around; I
thought their soups were only so-so; one duck dish was good though the
sauce was just a tad off.  A very good peanut sauce (try the
Rama-a-bathing, which puts it on top of steamed vegetables).

Thai Village ($$-) -- South End
  592 Tremont St, 536-6538
  Small place, very good food.  Try fried sweet potato sticks, mussel
pancake, seafood salad.  Good soups.

Vegetarian / Vegan / Macrobiotic Restaurants
********************************************

Buddha's Delight ($) [Vegetarian Chinese/Vietnamese] -- Chinatown
  [See under Chinese]

Country Life ($) [7th Day Adventist Vegan] -- Downtown
  High St nr Intl Place, nr expressway, 350-8625
  T: Red Line @ South Station, Orange Line @ Washington / State,
     Blue Line @ Aquarium
  Pretty good all-you-can-eat lunch and sunday brunch buffets based on
low-fat dairy-free vegetarian food, very innovative, w lots of
well-prepared food for the price.  Everyday they have different soups
and entree, and you can always get an advanced copy of the menu for
the entire month.  Quiet atmosphere.
Sunday Brunch too.)

Five Seasons ($$) [Macriobotic] -- Jamaica Plain
  669A Centre St, 524-9016
  T: Arborway Bus (E Green Line extension) / Orange Line @ Green St
  Tasty, fresh, well prepared fish & veggie dishes.  They also serve
poultry, but the focus is on vegan & macrobiotic fare.  The desserts
are really good, enough to recommend the place by itself, especially
considering how low in fat and sugar they are.  Go for the
mocha-hazelnut tort, it was fantastic.  Large portions, too.  Pleasant
service, but the place can be quite crowded.  No smoking, wheelchair
accessible, very child-friendly.  About $15/dinner.

Masao's Kitchen ($+) [Vegan Macrobiotic] -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  [see Porter Exchange Mall], 497-7348, T: Red Line @ Porter Sq
  Vegan macrobiotic restaurant with very affordable, excellent,
well-prepared food; good adzuki bean soup, seitan dishes, macro platters
& vegan blueberry "cheese" cake.  Try their organic carrot juice.  Nice
people. (10/94)

Milk St Cafe ($) [Kosher] -- Brookline (Longwood), Downtown
  [See under Kosher]

Vietnamese & Cambodian Restaurants
**********************************

Ba Dat ($) -- Chinatown
  28 Harrison Ave, 426-8838
  Very good large bowls of pho.  Good noodle & rice dishes too, esp the
bbq chicken w/lemongrass & shrimp w/sugarcane.  A cafe like atmosphere,
and a nice place to share a long table w a bunch of people when you're
eating alone.

Elephant Walk ($$) [French Cambodian] -- Somerville (Union Sq)
  70 Union Sq, 623-9939
  Dress: casual; Reservations: needed, but not always accepted
  Very good Cambodian and decent French food.  Not inexpensive, but
plenty of food for the price.
  GoodDishes: Try the soups, Cambodian salads, spring rolls, shrimp
toast, noodle appetizer, amok, poulet phochani, poulet dhomrei, and
the mie siem.  On the French side, the Coquilles St Jacques is spicy,
subtle, and artfully presented.
  BadDishes: The vegetarian noodle dish is rather plain.  In general,
stick to the Cambodian side of the menu; french dishes like the
Mussels au gratin are ok, but unimpressive, though.
  Other: Do try to go early or be prepared for a wait. It's worth it,
though. (8/94) [=> reviews ]

Elephant Walk ($$+) [French Cambodian] -- Brookline (St Mary's)
  On Beacon St nr Park
  Dress: casual; Reservations: needed, but not always accepted
  Food: The menu is supposedly different from the one in Somerville,
particularly on the French side.  In any case, the food is very good,
although spiced very mildly.  The portions are quite large, but the
food seems a bit more expensive than in Somerville.
  GoodDishes: the Phnom-Penh soup, which could easily pass for a large
lunch, and the rouleaux (also available in from Somerville).  Also the
chicken and green beans, and the very rich beef stew flavored with
coconut milk, peanuts, and various other spices.  There is now a
liquor license, and the waitress told us that the liquor was in the
process of being ordered.
  Ambience: The restaurant is quite airy and yet also romantic,
because the lighting is dim.  However, because the floors and walls
are bare, the noise level is quite high, which hurts the atmosphere
quite a bit.  (11/94)
  [=> reviews ]

Pho Bang ($-) -- Chinatown
  7 Beach St, 422-0501
  Very good food, not a very large menu -- it's mostly pho, noodle
dishes, a few rice dishes, and the usual selection of creative
beverages.  Their pho is not quite as good as Pasteur's or Ba Dat's, but
the difference is slight and all three are excellent.  They also seem to
use a slightly skinnier noodle.  Pho with a drink and a tip was $6.50.

Pho Pasteur ($) -- Allston, Chinatown
  137 Brighton Ave (just east of Harvard St), Allston, 783-2340/2060
  8 Kneeland St, Chinatown, 451-0247
  682 Washington St, Chinatown, 482-7467
  Great salads, beef (pho) and seafood soups, very good quail appetizer,
banh xeo, Lemongrass Chicken and Shrimp in Special Sauce; other entrees
not as good.  Very inexpensive, nice ambience.  Lots of unusual
non-alcoholic drinks.  The Allston location is better.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Saigon ($) -- Allston
  431 Cambridge St, 254-3373
  Hours: Closed Sundays; VegOptions: lots
  Small low budget restaurant, good & inexpensive, though portions
aren't that large.  A storefront but the atmosphere is quiet and
relaxing.  The food is consistently good with a homestyle feel to it.
It is a tiny restaurant, and looks kind of run down, but the service
is excellent -- the husband minds the tables; the wife cooks.  Saigon
is a solid choice for good food with no frills.  Lots of vegetarian
food; the veggie rolls are especially good.  Try the lemongrass squid
and the banh xeo.  Good spring rolls and tofu dishes.  Oversized soup
bowls are filled with rich fragrant broths, vegetables, chicken and
seafood, and rice noodles (not to mention lemongrass) but avoid the
seafood soup.  Very good Fisherman's soup, though the portion is
small.  The chicken curry is a simple dish, well executed, which
captures what this restaurant is all about.  All the dishes are made
on the spot and the freshness of the ingredients is exhilarating.
Their tea contains some Jasmine and is heart-warming. (10/94)

V Majestic ($) -- Allston
  164 Brighton Ave, 782-6088
  T: B Green Line @ Harvard Ave, also on the #66 & #57 bus lines
  The decor might be Food-Import-Company-Calendar Modern, some entrees
might be forgettable, but within certain categories this place
consistently shines for many people, while others (myself included) find
the food to be somewhat greasy & mediocre.  Stick to anything w Special
Noodle or Caramel Sauce.  The Rolling Beef & Sea of Vietnam are very
good here, too, and the Yellow Crispy Noodle dishes and the Shrimp with
Vermicelli compares favorably w more expensive Chinatown versions.
Soups are good, too, esp the Crab Meat soup & the hot & sour soup,
though better Pho can be had elsewhere.  I'd avoid the fried greasy
spring rolls (though some people think they're great) but try the
excellent Vietnamese rolls -- a little spicy, not fried, with a
wonderful dipping sauce.  Also very good lemon-grass chicken and pan
fried fish.  A funky place w friendly service, which is often prompt,
but can get slower when it gets crowded.  This place cultivates
regulars.  Amazingly cheap.

Viet Hong ($) -- Allston
  182 Brighton Ave, 254-3600
  T: Green B Line, Harvard Ave, also on the #66 & #57 bus lines
  Superb food, inexpensive, with very large portions -- I think this
is the best Vietnamese food in the city.  The specialty seafood soups,
such as sea moss soup and fisherman's soup are superb.  There are lots
of Pho variations as well, which are quite good, though for Pho and
for Vietnamese salad, Pho Pasteur, down the block, is still better.
If you like Crab Rangoon, their's is excellent, and their Vietnamese
rolls (both fried and unfried) are good too.  Most of the entrees are
very good here, including the various tofu and vegetable dishes,
caramel shrimp, ginger fish.  Their beef w lemon grass, seafood
spaghetti, and salt & pepper fried squid are especially good.  They
sometimes do tend to undercook chicken; if you order chicken dishes
(which are good), ask them to make sure the main ingredient is very
well cooked.  The owners, who generally wait on the tables, are very
friendly, and will make you feel welcome and taken care of.  Open till
11pm most nights.  No liquor license, but you can BYOB as long as you
hide it in a bag under the table.

Viet Foods ($) -- Waltham
  Willow St, nr River St
  Out of the way, hole in the wall place with excellent food.  No decor
to speak of, and service is slow because only 2 people work there and
only one seems to know English.  But they are very nice, and remember
you after only a couple of times.  Everything there is good -- very
light and not greasy.  Favorites include the Fresh Spring Rolls, Fried
Wonton, Pho, Cha Chien (Vietnamese meat patties over vermicelli) and
Vietnamese iced coffee.  Prices are very cheap.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Vietnam Restaurant ($+) -- Chinatown
  38 Boylston St, 423-1665
  Oldest Vietnamese restaurant in Boston.  Great canh chua, goi cuon,
bun, cari.

======================================================================
Where to Drink Beer & Cider Around Boston
======================================================================

Brew Pubs
=========

Boston Beer Works ($+) -- West Fenway (near Fenway Park)
  61 Brookline Ave (at Lansdowne St), 536-2337
  T Green Line: Kenmore Square
  Excellent micro-brewed beer.  Wide selection: well-hopped lagers,
amber ales, porters, stouts, barley wines, Weissbier, and seasonal brews
like pumpkin ale and spiced winter ale.  The lighter beers are
particularly nice.
  The food here is not incredibly extraordinary, but it's well-prepared
standard pub food, from light fare in small portions to huge
starch-laden dishes, reasonably priced for the location.  Good sweet
potato fries, mako shark with raspberry marinade, and very good burgers.
Avoid the filling but bland and overcooked pasta dishes.
  Not exactly a charming place.  Rather big, clean, and slightly
industrial.  But interesting architecturally, and not as much high
school cafeteria feel as Cambridge Brewery.
  Service seems to vary -- it can be awful, but it generally is very
good for a place that gets very crowded.  Expect big crowds and long
waits during concert events and club nights on Lansdowne St.  Extra
points to their servers -- they're friendly folks and don't seem to get
frazzled by the zooey atmosphere.  Not recommended, EVER, for an
intimate occasion...  very, very highly recommended if you want a
slightly noisy time with a lot of friends.  Least stuffy brewpub in
Boston.  Snacks: $5-10; meal w a beer: $10-20.  Wheelchair accessible.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Cambridge Brewing Company ($+) -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
  1 Kendall Sq, 494-1994
  Excellent beer, and they serve it in pitchers!  The standard beers are
excellent, especially the pale ale.  Special beers vary all over the
place, though they're rarely less than good, which makes them worthwhile
just for the adventure, and there have been truly excellent brews, incl
the raspberry stout.  The worst thing that can be said about the
specials is that they're variable, with flavors changing noticably from
batch to batch, so if you want consistency, go for the standards.
  The food is occasionally interesting, but usually indifferently
prepared; it's been better at points in the past -- at present it's best
to avoid anything even remotely fancy.
  The atmosphere is lots of red brick and a jukebox that's usually one
notch too loud -- there's not much atmosphere to speak of.  Service is
extremely variable, though never positively rude.

Commonwealth Brewery ($+) -- West End (near Boston Garden)
  138 Portland St, 523-8383
  The food and the beer are somewhat similar to that of the Cambridge
Brewing Company, with some disagreement about which has the better
brews.  At Commonwealth, the dark brews are particularly recommended,
especially the porter and bitter.  Go for the beer, and avoid any truly
fancy food.  They also have hard cider.

John Harvard's Brew House ($+) -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  33 Dunster St, 868-3585
  Mixed reviews on the beer; some think its great, others find it
disappointing, though recently musch improved.  The ales are
light-bodied, and at worst weak & bland, although the flavors that make
it through are worthwhile.  The food also gets mixed reviews; some find
it imaginative and tasty, w excellent home made sausages and great lunch
specials, while others think its a ripoff, with the presentation
frequently winning out over edibility; they're obviously trying hard to
provide interesting (if often heavy) dishes, but they might have done
better working on the basics.  The steak & garlic mashed potatoes are
good.  Enormous desserts heavy on the maple sugar (although the
strawberry shortcake is good), and poor coffee.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Other Great Beer Places
=======================

Boodle's of Boston ($$$-) [Steaks] -- Back Bay
  [see listing under Steaks]

Cornwall's ($$-) -- Kenmore Sq
  The best British-style pub in the area, and it is very good indeed.
They have Woodpecker and Welsh Ale on tap, scores of other beers, nd the
couple who owns it is on-site, managing really well, an lso doing a
first-rate job of cooking good fish & chips, and lots ore.  It draws a
crowd of regulars, including lots of BU faculty at lunchtime.

Doyle's ($) -- Jamaica Plain
  Washington St (at Williams)
  T: Orange Line; Hours: 7 days; CreditCards: no; OutdoorDine: no
  NonSmoking: ok; Reservations: not accepted; ChildFriendly: ok
  Dress: casual; VegOptions: some; LowFat: no
  Doyle's is an old Boston establishment, around since 1882.  A very
community/family type place; relaxed and easy -- the kind of place
your softball team would go after a game in the summer.  Typical bar
atmosphere, so it can get crowded and noisy.  Good hearty fare -
nothing spectacular, but good food at cheap prices -- very good pizza,
good burgers (esp the Braddock burger), steak, American-type food,
chowder, soup, salad, fish n' chips.
  Primarily a great place for beer, with 20+ beers on tap!  Not as
great a selection as the Sunset but much better prices - near the
Boston Beer Company and thus gets new Sam Adams products first. (9/94)

Frogg Lane ($) -- Faneuil Hall
  Quincy Market Main Building, 2nd floor, 720-0610
  T: Green line (Govt Ctr, Haymarket)
  DineAccess: ok; ToiletAccess: ok; Hours: lunch thru 2 am daily
  CreditCards: yes; OutdoorDine: no; Reservations: not accepted
  ChildFriendly: ok; Dress: casual; VegOptions: some;
  LowFat: pretty good; Rating: very-good
  Food: Good but greasy burger fare. Tends toward the very mildly spicy.
  GoodDishes: Turkey burgers, Mexican dishes, onion ring brick
  Beverages: 30+ beers from 'round the world
  Service: friendly, casual
  Ambience: bright, a little noisy, friendly and casual.  Jukebox
caries 70's/80's rock, and is usually playing. Bar is a prominent
feature. Tends to be a popular Fri/Sat night meeting place, and gets
louder and crowded, then.
  Prices: apps - @$5, meals $4-$9
  Other: Drink 30 beers, get name on a plaque - great place to meet
(10/94)

Sunset Grille and Tap ($+) -- Allston
  130 Brighton Ave nr Harvard St, 254-1331
  T: B Green Line at Harvard & Comm Ave, also #66 & 57 buses
  Best known for its unparalled selection of beers on tap (74, and not
one of them Budweiser or any of that mass-produced crap) and in bottles
-- a total of 150 beers and 5 or 6 ciders.  They also serve enormous
portions of butter-heavy food that gets mixed reviews.  Very good
nachos.  3 rooms, one busy and open, one quieter, one for smokers.
Mostly a 20-something crowd with a lot of BU students.  The waitstaff is
young and friendly.  The wait can be tough at peak weekend times but
otherwise it's pretty easy to get a seat. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Places that serve Hard Cider
============================

    Bill's Bar              Cider Jack on tap about one day in six...
    Boston Beer Works       Woodchuck on tap, sometimes Woodpecker,
                              others in bottles
    Commonwealth Brewery
    Cornwalls               Woodpecker on tap
    Plough & Stars          Cider Jack on tap!
    Sunset Grill & Tap      Woodchuck & Woodpecker on tap; also
                              Merrydown, Strongbow, Cider Jack, Purpom

======================================================================
Recommended Boston Sunday Brunch Buffets
======================================================================

[Note: this list is really incomplete. New entries very welcome!] 

Barrett's Restaurant [Traditional] -- Charlestown
  I've had Sunday Brunch at Barrett's a couple of times.  The price is
about $16 per person.  The price includes some non- alcoholic drinks,
like juice.
  The buffet is quite large.  They have all the standard breakfast
items, like eggs, bacon, sausage, muffins, etc.  They also make fresh
waffles and omelettes.  They also have some lunch type stuff, carved
roast beef and turkey, several sides, shrimp, etc.
  The dessert area is extensive.  Lots of cakes, cookies, and
pastries.  Also, they have a whole table with various package candy
and chocolate.
  The quality of the food overall is good.  There are some average
things, and some outstanding things.
  They have a deck which faces the water, which is one of the things
my wife and I like best. (Steve.Gagne@analog.com 9/94)

Bennett St. Cafe ($$$) [Bistro] -- Harvard Sq
  in the Charles St. Hotel
  T: Red Line @ Harvard Sq
  Price $25/head excluding alcohol, tax, or tip
  CreditCards: yes; OutdoorDine: yes
  Reservations: accepted; Dress: dressy
  VegOptions: lots; Rating: great
  Food: The food was EXCELLENT!!!  This is the best brunch I have ever
seen.  They had everything from omlettes, fruit (very fresh
blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, melon, and a few other
fruits), cheeses and crackers, pastries, and eggs benedict, to smoked
salmon, shrimp, oysters, roast beef, and other various, and extremely
wonderful entrees.  It was an all-you-can-eat buffet-style brunch, and
the sevice was prompt and friendly.  They also had a wide array of
desserts, including chocolate covered strawberries, fruit tarts, flan,
cheesecake, bread pudding, peacan pie, and some other desserts that
Ican't remember (there was a whole table full of them).  I left
totally stuffed, and totally in heaven!!
  GoodDishes: I would recommend the salmon, the roast pork with
cherries, and the eggs benedict.
  Beverages: For $6.50 they have a personal bottle of champagne
waiting on you table for you to mix with you fresh squeezed orange
juice (which is included in the cost of the brunch, and the server
refills your glass frequently)
  Service: The service was excellent, friendly, and very prompt...but
not too prompt.
  Ambience: The restaurant was located on the first floor patio of the
Hotel.  Most of the inside was covered in skylights, and you could eat
outside if you wanted to. (9/94)

Blue Room [Eclectic] -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
  Sunday brunch is recommended highly -- for $15 adults, $8 kids under
12, patrons are treated to a good combination of your standard
buffet-style brunch as well as hip out-of-the-ordinary dishes with
many unexpected items; its a cold and hot buffet of delights that fit
the Blue Room's standard philosophy of ethnic blendo nouvelle cuisine,
but without any portion control.  This means you might find
apple-pineapple-guava crumble next to old- fashioned chocolate
brownies (but updated with that hint of bitter chocolate instead of
gooey sweetness) and traditional scones (equally modern with their
lacing of apricots), or pasta salad next to maki rolls, buttermilk
pancakes next to collard greens and fried bananas, sausage and bacon
next to eggs scrambled with asparagus tips and sundried tomato.
Everything works well together, and not a thing cannot stand proudly
on its own -- a remarkable feat, I think, for a buffet.  Portions of
the hot food are prepared continually in small amounts so that nothing
sits long enough to cool.  A full menu of cocktails for the person who
has to wake up with a screwdriver is available, at additional cost.
To add to the whole effect, a pianist belts out a few sets of
foot-stomping ragtime New Orleans jazz from an upright they wheel in
to near the bar; if conversation is critical, don't sit too close.
Goes from 11am - 3pm, with a similar dinner buffet that starts at 4pm.

Country Life [7th Day Adventist Vegan] -- Downtown
  All you can eat; serve and bus tables yourself.  Very impressive
lowfat selection (I asked specifically about fat content).  Included 2
soups, small salad bar, hot entree, rice, vegetable, french toast &
waffles, fresh fruit, frozen fruit drink, a fruit tart (all this was
non or low fat), "scrambled" tofu, other baked goods & desserts.
Herbal teas and juice included, other (soft) drinks were extra.
$7.95/adults, $4.50/children.

Dick's Last Resort -- Back Bay
  Sunday Gospel Brunch. Every Sunday, 10a-3p I believe. The
entertainment is a rock/jazz gospel group. Food was good, omlette bar,
waffle bar, lots of fresh fruits, breakfast and lunch foods.  Deep
southern backwoods feel to the place.  A great new experience.  It was
about $15pp.  Parking validated for the Pru Mall Garage.

House of Blues -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  3 hr Gospel brunch Sundays, 1/2 for eating, 1/2 for music -- you can
get reservations a week in advance, but they're often not necessary.
The food is ok, though they don't always refill the better stuff, and
the gospel is good, but they rush you in and out -- it's more like a
"ride" than a brunch.) [=> reviews ]

Marriot Copley Place -- Back Bay
  Great food, about $20/head, excellent shrimp.

Meridian Hotel -- Downtown
  The Meridien hotel in Boston runs an excellent Sunday brunch,
possibly w a special "kids table".  Neat way to introduce someone to
sushi (one table) too because they use only smoked salmon and other
commonly-eaten products to produce their maki rolls.  Shrimp & mussel
table, crepe table, usual egg & etc. table, usual cheese & breads
table, usual salads table, a pseudo-natural breakfast foods table, and
on the hot food side, they always have salmon en croute of some sort,
as well as the usual beef, vegetable, and potato entrees.  Desserts
are worth eating, too; real stuff, not the usual over-sugared generic
goop.

Milk St Cafe ($) [Kosher Vegetarian] -- Downtown
  0 Post Office Square
  T: Red/Orange Line-Downtown Crossing
  Hours: Sunday Brunch 10AM-2PM, July-August (Weather permitting)
  OutdoorDine: only; VegOptions: lots; Rating: very-good
  GoodDishes: Eggplant parmesan is particularly good
  Service: Cafeteria style service
  Ambience: Seating is outside in the park, surrounded by the downtown
skyline
  Prices: Individual items: $2.95-$4.95,
All you can eat: $14.95/Children $8.95 (8/94)

Park Plaza -- Park Square
  Park Plaza Hotel, 35 Columbus Ave, Park Sq, 426-4444
  Really good hotel brunch -- excellent even if seated just before
closing time.  Excellent omelettes, roast beef, plus some slightly
more unusual stuff like tuna steaks in orange sauce and capellini with
sun-dried tomatoes.  Good selection of dessert stuff too -- cakes,
some nice fruit tarts, etc.  Good quality.  All of it was fresh,
well-prepared, made with the right ingredients.  Service was
excellent, plates were removed and silverware was replaced promptly
but without rushing us.  Basically, we never had to wait for anything.
Servers were all very pleasant, too.  $18/head.

Parker's [Traditional American] ($$$$) -- Downtown

Rowes Wharf Restaurant -- Waterfront
  Boston Harbor Hotel, Atlantic Ave, 439-3995
  One of the most lavish brunches around if price is no object.

Sheraton Commander -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  $21 for very good buffet.

Spinnaker -- Cambridge (Cambridgeport)
  Top of the Cambridge Hyatt Regency Hotel
   575 Memorial Drive (nr BU Bridge), 492-1234
   $25/person, large variety, complimentary champagne, the whole
restaurant revolves.

Top of the Hub -- Back Bay
  2nd floor of the Prudential Center (Boylston/Huntington), 536-1775
  Classical Sunday brunch, ~$22/person.  Interesting cheeses, and a
reasonable wine list (w Frascatti a good value).  Mixed reviews on the
food, but terrific views of Boston.

Turner Fisheries (Seafood) -- Back Bay
  Extensive excellent seafood-focused brunch.  Not cheap at $22/ head,
but simply wonderful.  They had just about anything you could want in
a brunch, lots of it, and the quality was excellent -- bacon, sausage,
waffles, omelettes, blackened monkfish, sole, smoked seafood platter,
clam chowder, etc.

======================================================================
Other Boston Lists
======================================================================

Where to have English Tea around Boston
=======================================

Ace of Cups Tea Room -- Brookline Village
  220 Washington St, 232-1114
  High Teas available 3-5 Th-Sa w 24 hrs notice.  $12 for scones,
clotted cream, cakes, finger sandwiches.  Otherwise they are a normal
tea place with lots of good teas and baked goods.

Colonial Inn -- Concord Center

Four Seasons Hotel -- Boston
  200 Boylston St, 338-4400

Montage -- Chelmsford

Ritz Tea Room -- Boston (Back Bay)
  Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Arlington & Newbury, 536-5700
[=> negative review ]

SpecialTeas -- Grafton

Dessert & Chocolate Buffets in Boston
=====================================

Cafe Fleuri [Chocolate Buffet] -- Downtown
  Hotel Meridian, 250 Franklin St, 451-1900
  The Cafe Fleuri's chocolate buffet at the Hotel Meridien on
Saturdays from 1-4pm from Sept. thru May is highly recommended.
Basically, it is chocolate ecstacy for $13.50 pp. Cakes, cookies,
puddings... Crepes prepared for you by a chef who can drizzle
chocolate sauce or scoop ice cream on it for you.  Reservation
required. (8/94)

Four Seasons [Dessert Bar] -- Downtown
  The Four Season's Hotel in Boston has a dessert bar on Friday and
Saturday nights from 9PM to midnight. It is in their Bristol Lounge, a
very elegant lounge with both table-and-chair seating and
sofas-with-a-low-table seating. You can get an amazing array of teas,
coffees, drinks, etc., plus selections from their dessert bar. You get
2 desserts for the initial fee plus more if you are willing to pay
more. The desserts are the best I have ever had, and the service is
excellent. The cost usually comes to about $10 per person depending on
your drinks.  I highly recommend this if you want to go somewhere
really nice for dessert at night.  The only bad part is that there is
sometimes a line to get in since it is so popular. (11/94)

======================================================================
Outside of Boston
======================================================================

 o North Shore (east of US 1) 
 o North of Boston (east of Rt 3, west of US 1) 
 o West of Boston (as far as Worcestor) 
 o South of Boston (east of US 1) 
 o Cape Cod & the Islands 
 o Southeastern New Hampshire
   (bounded by Nashua, Manchester, Dover) 
 o Southwestern Coastal Maine 
 o Rhode Island 

======================================================================

North Shore Restaurants
***********************
(east of US 1)
**************

Beverly
-------

Union Grill ($$) (Beverly MA) -- Nouvelle American Grill
  208 Rantoul St, (508) 927-2028
  Fresh food, of very high quality, and very imaginatively prepared.
The decor is lovely, the service is excellent, and the wine list good.

Danvers
-------

Ponte Vecchio ($$$) (Danvers MA) -- Northern Italian
  435 Newbury St (nr Topsfield Fairgrounds), (508) 777-9188
  Excellent tiramisu.

Essex
-----

Tom Shea's ($$$) (Essex MA) -- Seafood
  Good food, mostly seafood, w/some meat entrees.  Food done a la Legal
Seafood (traditional (i.e., baked stuffed) cajun, broiled, fried) and
there's several pasta dishes.  Setting is nice - right on Essex marshes
so you can watch boats coming in from Ipswich bay.  Fairly extensive
wine list, good desserts.

Woodman's ($+) (Essex MA) -- Seafood (Clam Shack)
  Rt 133, a bit east of Rt 22
  Wildly mixed reviews.  A place for fried seafood, boiled lobster,
french fries & onion rings, cole slaw, beer and wine, too.  Indoor &
outdoor dining on picnic tables w/paper plates, with a nice view of
the surrounding marshes.  Long lines on beach days, but they move
quickly.
  The clams (as well as everything else) are fried (proudly) in lard.
While some say the clams are perfect, others claim the breading on the
clams is tasteless and thick, and that the clams are rubbery, and not
always fresh.
  As for other food, some say its great, w excellent fried sole,
reasonably priced, very good onion rings, and very good scallops and
shrimp.  The shrimp in particular are fried in the tastier Southern
way using a salty corn flour batter.  The lobster and the
fritter-style crab cakes gets wildly mixed reviews.  Others claim all
the food is bland, greasy and overpriced (not substantially cheaper
than fried food at Legal).  Avoid the corn on the cob.  (9/94)
  [=> reviews ]

Gloucester
----------

Bistro ($$$) (Gloucester MA) -- Eclectic
  Very good, with lots of Mediterranean food, including fine seafood and
grilled foods of all sorts.

Ocean View (Gloucester MA) -- Portuguese
  on Ocean View Av just past the Fisherman statue on the right
  This is a very good casual Portugese resturaunt.  It looks like a
dump, but is very pleasant inside.  The food is nearly amazing,
wonderful rich sauces over delightful assortments of seafood.  The
non-seafood is fine, but the seafood is better.  The portions are
large, prices around $10 for most entree.  They serve liquor.  The
customers are mostly regulars and the staff is almost always friendly.
They are nice to children.  If you happen to get a seat by the window
you can pretend that you have an ocean view. (11/94)

Ipswich
-------

Clam Box (Ipswich MA) -- Seafood
  Rt 133 / 1A north of the Ipswich town center
  Highly recommended for their fried clams and fried fish, though some
think the place is over-rated.  It get's a low decor rating on the
interior but then the building's exterior is shaped like a clam box to
make up for that. (8/94)

Newburyport
-----------

Captain's Quarters (Newburyport MA) -- Fried Seafood
  Downtown, on the harbor
  Excellent fried seafood in a beautiful setting.  Excellent huge
Fisherman's Platter w a fair sampling of fried fish (Cod) and shrimp
and lots of scallops.  Very good Shrimp Casserole.  Reports that the
fish chowder is not quite up to par. (10/94)

Ciro's ($$) (Newburyport MA) -- Italian
  Firehouse Theater (nr the waterfront), (508) 463-3335
  Prices: Pizza/Calzone 6-11$, Entrees 8-14$
  Hours: Sun-Thur 11-11 Fri-Sat 11-12; DineAccess: ok
  Food: Lots of good Italian food.  It tends to be very busy.
Servings are fairly large, lots of interesting pizza e.g. gorgonzola
and walnut on a white pizza; some think it's not quite as good as
Bertucci's nor does it have as expansive a menu.  Fair sized portions.
Moderately priced.
  Good Dishes: Tortellini al Ferro
  Beverages: Full bar.  2 Italian beers, neither very good.  Others
range from BudMillerCoors to SamAdams. Wines: small list,
below-average quality, above-average prices.  Get the carafe of
Montipulciano - 1 liter of decent table wine at a reasonable price -
sets a festive mood.
  Service: Attentive (uncrowded) - mildly unpleasant (crowded.)
  Ambience: Great location!  There are two outdoor eating areas.  In
the rear is a terrace facing the Newburyport Waterfront Park and
Newburyport Harbor.  The front faces the Market Square area.  These
seating areas fill up quickly - during nice weather count on a long
wait.  While you wait you can visit the art gallery in the lobby (no
seating.)  Or get a beeper and wander around downtown. (9/94)

David's ($$$+) (Newburyport MA) -- American/Continental
  11 Brown Sq, in the Garrison Inn, (508) 462-8077
  CreditCards: yes; OutdoorDine: no; Dress: casual
  Dress: Casual; Rating: very-good
  Food: The food is exceptional, w fresh ingredients and amazing
sauces.  Food is prepared perfectly, w shrimp served as tender and
succulent as salmon.  The presentations are inventive and attractive.
The portions are just right, served on large white plates, with fresh
herb garnishes.
  GoodDishes: the appetizer of Ipswich goat cheese with sun-dried
tomatoes, in a nest of crispy leeks is both attractive and delicious.
Excellent grilled salmon, and also excellent grilled shrimp in a sauce
of artichokes, basil, and lemon over linguini.  For dessert, try the
white chocolate mousse (presented as a Napoleon) with a raspberry
sauce; one of the best desserts anywhere.
  Beverages: They have a full liquor license.  A fairly short wine
list that is medium priced (most bottles are in $20 range).
  Service: The service is pleasant and helpful.
  Ambience: Elegant and relaxed at the same time in a quant colonial
atmosphere.  White tablecloths and attractive place settings.
  Prices: approx. $4 - $6 for appetizers, $16 - $20 for entrees
  Other: A pleasant way to end a day of bird watching at Plum Island.
More enjoyable than Joseph's Winter Street Cafe or Scandia.
  There is also a less formal cafe downstairs which serves full
portions and half-portions.  We didn't try it, but it might be a good
way to sample this wonderful food for less money. (9/94)

Glenn's Galley ($$$) (Newburyport MA) -- Nouvelle American Grill Eclectic
  44 Merrimac St, (508) 465-3811
  Artfully prepared, tastefully presented food, servings tend to be
small (one reviewer felt that they paid a lot of money for 4 beautifully
presented pieces of asparagus with some fish on top. :-) Menu varies
weekly - some standards, with lots of potential for hot (spicy) foods,
and lots of specials.  Great seafood.  Occasional oddities such as wild
boar, antelope, venison, etc.  Get reservations on weekends.
[=> Boston Globe Review ]

Grog (Newburyport MA) -- Southwestern/Traditional
  13 Middle St (first left off of State St), (508) 465-8008
  1760 meets 1960.  Relaxed atmosphere days -- loud R&B/Blues at night
-- local artists on display.  Some say the the quality & selection has
gone downhill somewhat in the past few years, but still reasonably
good family fare, moderately priced.  Try the Black Bean Soup or the
White Ash Blackened Steak. (7/94)

Joseph's Winter St Cafe (Newburyport MA) -- Italian/Continental
  Winter St.
  Cozy up-scale room.  Piano bar on weekends.  Terrace in summer.  Try
the roasted peppers, veal.  Get reservations on weekends.

Middle St Foods (Newburyport MA) -- Eclectic
  Middle St.
  Similar to the old Black Forest in Cambridge.  An excellent selection
of salads and small entrees, which vary by the day -- almost all of it
very good.  Take out or self serve.  Best at lunch.  Good recent bets
are paella and the curried vegetables with lobster in filo.  Fairly
Spartan decor.

Peabody
-------

Legal Sea Foods ($$+) (Peabody MA) -- Seafood
  Northshore Shopping Center, (508) 532-4500

O'Fado ($$-) (Peabody MA) -- Portuguese
  52 Walnut St (nr Central), (508) 531-7369
  Mixed reviews.  Huge portions, but overall disappointing.

Revere
------

Mirage ($$) (Revere MA) -- Russian
  220 Lynnway, 286-3310/3359
  This is the place to come for a unique Russian dining experience.
The decor and location would make it a good candidate for something
more like a VFW post; the food is, well, meat-and-potatoes, but very
good and genuine.  The reason to go, though, is to experience the
Russian rock'n'roll band that provides the live entertainment, as well
as the groups of Russians and Armenians getting as smashed as they
can; if you're lucky, the place will erupt into table dancing and
raucous sing-alongs; toast everyone's health, the health of their
spouses and children, and you'll get along just fine.  Needless to
say, it's the sort of place you would best go to in the company of at
least six others, so you can raise your own hullaballoo if no else
does.  It's only open on the weekends, and reservations are advised,
mostly because they do a lot of Russian parties, weddings, receptions,
etc.  Oh, the Mirage also has a dress code (jackets, ties preferred,
absolutely no jeans or sneakers) and runs $20/person easy, more
depending on your alcohol consumption. (10/94)

Rowley
------

Agawam Diner (Rowley MA) -- Diner
  A steel-and-chrome old-time diner, with food from your childhood, or
from your parents childhood.  Salisbury steaks, turkey with gravy....
Good quality food, good desserts (excellent pie, esp the banana cream
pie), inexpensive. (9/94)

Seafood Village ($) (Rowley MA) -- Seafood
  Rt 1, about a mile N of rt 133
  Great fried seafood; one of the best on the North Shore.  Better
fried clams than Woodman's.  Nothing fancy.  Not a place for someone
who is watching their fat intake.

Salem
-----

Asahi ($$) (Salem MA) -- Japanese
  21 Congress St, (508) 744-5376
  Very nice Japanese food, lovely service, pleasant decor.  Good sushi,
also specializing in simmered dishes.  Nice bento box selections.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Grapevine ($$+) (Salem MA) -- Nouvelle Italian
  26 Congress St, (508) 745-9335
  Very nice -- pizzas, pasta, duck dishes.  One of the better
restaurants in the area. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Red Raven ($$-) (Salem MA) -- Eclectic
  75 Congress St, (508) 745-8558
  A small place that is very pleasant, with a very dramatic but very
dark decor, and food that can be very good.  The menu consists of
dishes (many spicy) which the owner finds interesting, with influences
from many continents.  Moderately priced.  Interesting wine list, w
many unusual moderately priced wines.
  GoodDishes: a very nice cold smoked mackerel, jumping squid in a
perky sauce with vegetables over spinach, grilled shrimp with a tomato
polenta and a vegetable and bean salad on the side.
  [=> review ] [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Salisbury
---------

Chin Chin (Salisbury MA) -- Mongolian Bbq / Chinese
  237 Elm St (Rt 110, I95/495), (508) 463-4332
  Good food.  The mongolian barbeque/buffet Fri and Sat nights is
worth a visit.  The Bbq is quite good, you can observe them cooking
your food. They typically have around 8 vegetable and 6 meat
selections for the bbq.  The traditional food is Mandarin and
Szechuan.  Typical price for good chinese food. (7/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Saugus
------

Border Cafe ($+) (Saugus MA) -- Tex/Mex
  Rt 1, betw Friendly's & Hilltop; Accessible: yes; ChildFriendly: very
  Prices: Entrees from $5 (tacos, beans, & rice) to $15; full meal < $20
  Rating: great
  Like the one in Harvard Sq, but cleaner & better ambience.
Excellent quality, flavor, variety; esp good fajitas.  Tex/Mex beers
only.  Good margaritas.  Variable service, but usually helpful.  Lots
of tables (50?) but always a wait; noisy; OK lighting.  Kid's menu
too; in fact, one of the few places you can bring children comfortably
and still get a decent meal. (10/94)

Hilltop Steak House ($$-) (Saugus MA) -- Steakhouse
  Rt 1 [look for the cow!], 233-7700
  A family place w long lines and good reasonably priced steak, though
some say that the quality has gone a bit downhill over the years.

Swampscott
----------

Bertucci's ($+) (Swampscott MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  581-6588

Palmer's ($$$-) (Swampscott MA) -- Italian
  408 Humphrey St (at Greenwood), 596-1820

Restaurants North of Boston
***************************
(east of Rt3, west of US 1)
***************************

Andover
-------

Andover Inn ($$$) (Andover MA) -- Sunday Rijstaffel
  Chapel Avenue (off Rt 28), Phillips Academy, (508) 475-5906
  A blue-blood place serving traditional food, except that they also
serve Dutch/Indonesian Rijstaffel on Sundays -- the proprietor/manager
of the Andover Inn is Dutch.  The Rijstaffel itself gets somewhat
mixed reviews -- it's not incredibly spicy, but you can ask for sambal
on the side, and that should heat things up quite nicely.  Sundays
only, call ahead for reservations.  Two or more members of your party
should have the rijstaffel, since that should make for an larger
assortment of dishes.
  Also a good place for Thanksgiving but you had better call early if
you want to get reservations.  They have a traditional turkey dinner
and two or three other items on the menu. (11/94)

Beijing Restaurant (N Andover MA) -- Chinese
  on Rt. 125, just N of Rt. 133 (near the Lawrence airport).
  Down the block from China Blossom.  A bit more varied Schezuan food.
Reasonably good americanized Chinese food.  Now has a buffet every
night.  Same owner of the Tai-Pan (now closed) in the Galleria.  Food
quality went downhill when David Woo (owner) split his time between N.
Andover and Cambridge.  Now that he's full-time in N. Andover, food's
above average to very good.  Each dish has a unique flavor (not the
same light brown sauce for everything).  Don't miss the chef's
specialty "Aromatic flavored beef".  Prices range from the $8-13
range.  If they are doing Karaoke in the bar, ask David to sing "Teddy
Bear" by Elvis.  He's quite good.  (11/94)

Bertucci's ($+) (N Andover MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  (508) 685-4498

Burlington
----------

Cafe Escadrille ($$+) (Burlington MA) -- Italian/American
  26 Cambridge St (Rt 3A & 128), 273-1916
  Most upscale decor and highest prices of nearby Italian restaurants --
a big place with above average quality and prices; not overly expensive,
but not cheap.  Not gourmet fare, but solid, though the frog legs are
delicious.  Dissenters say that dinners are dull with indifferent
preparation (esp fish).  But it's a place with a great Sunday brunch.

Jimmy's on the Mall ($+) (Burlington MA) -- American Casual
  In the Burlington Mall
  Standard American fare -- meat-chicken-seafood -- with good sized
portions of above average food at average prices; never a bad meal, and
hard to beat for the price.  A large restauarnt with plenty of seating
and speedy service.  Excellent Salmon w Dill sauce & Baked Stuffed
Shrimp and great desserts too, including Mud Pie & Strawberry Shortcake.
Entrees, which include potato or rice (a nice pilaf w spinach), are
generally $8-$11. Salads ~$1.45 extra. [=> review ]

Legal Seafood ($$+) (Burlington MA) -- Seafood
  In the Burlington Mall, 270-9700
  Good food, pricey, always crowed, forget it for 6-8 people unless you
arrive after 9:00 PM or want to wait an hour.  Excellent baked stuffed
lobster and the salmon is also good.

PapaRazzi ($$) (Burlington MA) -- Italian
  Wall St. in Burlington off Rt. 3 just S of Rt. 128
  T: 350 bus from Alewife; Outdoor Dining: available

Thai Tai (Burlington MA) -- Thai
  Middlesex Turnpike, across 128 from the Mall
  ChildFriendly: very
  Food: Good food; well presented dishes.  Some dishes are Chinese.
Good but not spectacular lunch buffet.
  GoodDishes: Great appetizers, excellent Thai PuPu.  The chicken
coconut soup is the best anywhere.  Very good Pad Thai.  Best Chicken
Satay anywhere -- meat is real juicy.
  BadDishes: Avoid the Salmon dish.
  Beverages: Anchor Steam on tap!
  Service: Good service; very helpful waiter, remembers you.
  Ambience: Nice relief carving on river delta market that I find
fascinating.  Beautiful plain woodwork inside.  Pleasant and not
overpowering.  Not noisy in the evening. (8/94)

Dracut
------

Lin Garden ($+) (Dracut MA) -- Chinese
  511 Merrimack Ave. (Rte 110), 508-458-8113
  Good Chinese food, including a variety of authentic Chinese dishes
(plus others available by special order), which attracts a large
Chinese clientele.  Good all-you-can-eat buffet and Sunday Dim Sum
buffet. Too much MSG, but if you can get over that, the food will
satisfy, and the price is right.  From the menu, the curry chicken was
quite tasty.  Nice view of the Merrimack river.

Haverhill
---------

Hong Kong Kitchen ($$-) (Haverhill MA) -- Chinese
  Rt. 125, Bradford (Haverhill), 508 521-3399
  This is owned by the same people as Royal East in Cambridge, and has
the same menu; it is certainly the best Chinese outside in the area.
Best dishes: any of the daily specials (including whole fish), Cantonese
fried chicken, veal ribs, rock crab, pork and pickle soup, pork with
pickles, the chow foons, swan la chow show, chow meins (believe it or
not), the list goes on ...  You can never get a bad dish there.  Prices
are moderate (about $50-60 after tip for a family of three, but that
includes leftovers to take home with you).  The ambience is typical for
a small suburban Chinese place, but here you go for the food.

Lawrence
--------

Bishop's ($$) (Lawrence MA) -- Lebanese / American
  99 Hampshire St (at Lowell), (508) 683-7143
  Bishop's has two types of food: American steaks, chops, and seafood,
and Middle Eastern (Lebonese) specialties.  Both are very good to
excellent.  The American food comes in huge portions -- lobsters start
at perhaps 3 pounds, for example.  Prices are expensive, but you really
do get your money's worth.  The french fries (served family style) are
not to be missed, as well as the Syrian dressing on the salad.  Even
though the prices are on the high side and the atmosphere and service
are very nice, dress is informal.

Lowell
------

Khemara (Lowell MA) -- Cambodian 
  It's nothing fancy, but it's run by a very pleasant Cambodian family,
and they serve wonderful House Special Sizzling Rice Soup and
Cambodian-style fried fish, for those who like spicy dishes, at very low
prices.  The smoke can get bad here at times.

La Boniche (Lowell MA) -- French
  110 Gorham St
  Intimate atmosphere, the courses are perfectly cooked & seasoned,
and the desserts are to die for.

Southeastern Asian Restaraunt (Lowell MA) -- Asian Eclectic
  Possibly the best food of it's type in the Boston area - really!  They
have Laotian, Viet, Thai, Cambodian and Burmese food - and are *NOT*
afraid of the heat!  Try the Nom Prik Ong or Pad Prik Bai Grapow.  Both
are hot and good.  Sticky rice is excellent (when they remember to wash
it well enough so it doesn't have a film of gooey starch) -- one order
is plenty for two people.  Gyoza is ok, but ask them to try not to make
it soggy.  They now have buffets at lunch and dinner, incl. weekends,
where you can eat quite reasonably.
  The worst part of the Southeast Asian is it's downtown location.
Don't forget to lock your car and arm the laser turrets :-)
  The owners are an Italian Database Consultant named Joe and his Thai
wife.  If the food isn't up to snuff, let Joe know.  He's
techmar!joe@wang.com

Malden
------

Ferrari's/Profennos ($$-) (Malden MA) -- Italian Casual
  Ferrari's -- Rt 60
  Profenno's -- Malden Sq
  Prices: Entrees $6-13 Basic italian food done well and
inexpensively.  Variety of pastas, meat, chix, fish done in typical N.
End style. (10/94)

Reading
-------

Caffe Amore ($$+) (N Reading MA) -- Italian
  Rt 28, near Kittys, across st, 1/4 mi south, (508) 664-6260
  Prices: Dinner entrees ~$10 (w unlimited salad & bread)
  Hours: Tu-Su 11am-10pm; DineAccess: ok;
  Food: Delicious fresh food, excellent quality, generous portions.
moderatley heavy use of garlic.  Excellent bread.
  GoodDishes: Chicken Rachel; ANY of the homemade desserts (tiramisu -
yum!)
  Beverages: Italian beers; above-avg house wines; expresso etc.
  Service: helpful, friendly, not rushed but not slow either
  Ambience: SMALL (~15 tables); 1 of several places in small 'mall';
had live music at dinner (guitar); hole in the wall; can wait outside
in chairs eating bread/wine
  Other: Not very conveniently located, but seems to have a devoted
clientele (9/94)

Stoneham
--------

Three Amigos Taco Shop ($) (Stoneham MA) -- Mexican
  Pretty good.  Very small, *great* chili verde, a bit of bite for a
change!  Other food's just ok, but they deliver and are cheap and give
large portions. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Wakefield
---------

Ristorante Molise ($$$-) (Wakefield MA) -- Contemporary Italian
  Main St (just S of town center), 245-9169; Hours: Daily til 9 or 10
  Prices: Meal $25-$30 (app, entree, drink, dessert, coffee)
  NonSmoking: inadequate; Accessible: yes; ChildFriendly: no
  This is a pleasant, low-key restaurant with very good food, almost
as good as the best Italian restaurants in Boston.  The food is very
well prepared, though could sometimes use more seasoning.  Very good
Seafood Puttanesca Fettuccine Gustose (prosciutto and peas in a creamy
pesto sauce), and chicken & pasta dishes.  OK wine list, not fancy.
  Service is pleasant, low-key, as is the ambiance.  As one would
expect for a suburban restaurant, most patrons are middle aged:
couples and families.  There is adequate spacing between tables, and a
pleasant din of conversation -- just enough to produce a feeling of
warm conviviality.  Overall not quite as good as Caffe Amore; recently
prices have increased while portions have decreased. [=> review ]

Szechuan Restaurant ($+) (Wakefield Center MA) -- Chinese
  across from the police station on Centre St
  Very good food, reasonable prices.  The shrimp & veggie dish is fine,
and a dish called Patriarch Chicken (small sauteed pieces of chicken
over broccoli, sweetish, spicy sauce) is really good!  Hot & Sour,
wonton soups are very good.  Friendly, pleasant staff.  The seafood is
pretty much limited to shrimp.

Winchester
----------

Ristorante Lucia ($$+) (Winchester MA) -- Italian
  553 Mt Vernon St (betw Main & Washington), 729-4585
  Downstairs you can get good pizza (and many, many toppings) for
reasonable prices in a non-pizza-parlor atmosphere.

Saxo Bistro ($$$) (Winchester MA) -- French / Mediterranean
  27 Converse Place (Winchester Center), 721-1941
  Off main street (behind Yankee Yogurt)
  Hours: Di Mo-Th 6-10, Fr-Sa 6-11, Lu Mo-Fr 12-2, Su Br 12-3
  Superb food -- impressive tatse and quality.  The menu is not too
long but very interesting, with an emphasis on seafood.
  GoodDishes: Moroccan lamb stew in puff pastry.  Nice spices, well
cooked lamb and veggies, flakey pastry - yum.  And accompanied by bits
of lightly cooked vegetables, a bit of stuffed zucchini and couscous.
Delicious crepe with almond paste.
  BadDishes:  Beware of some desserts.  The creme brulee is watery
and way too sweet.  
  Prices: entrees ~$14-21, appetizers & soups ~$4-8
  Beverages: The wine list is again not extensive but is reasonably
varied and interesting, bottles from about $15 on up. (11/94)
  [=> reviews ]

Woburn
------

Bertucci's ($+) (Woburn MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  933-1440

Great Mandarin (Woburn MA) -- Chinese
  2nd floor minimall in Four Corners
  DineAccess: ok
  Very good chinese food; each dish has a unique flavor.  Super lunch
buffet for $5.95.  Very contemporary amosphere.  Prices in the $9-13
dollar range. (11/94)

Restaurants West of Boston
**************************
(as far as Worcester)
*********************

Acton
-----

David's Bistro ($$$) (Acton MA) -- Eclectic
  Rt 2A, (508) 263-6161
  A relatively new, and wonderful restaurant, serving very well
prepared and delicious food, and the portions are large, which is
unusual for this type of restaurant.  Many of the dishes are complex
and somewhat spicy; if you want fairly simple food, this place may not
be for you.  Entries worth trying include Roasted Lamb Loin and
Grilled Venison Sausage with a barley and wild rice timbale with
natural drippings ($16), Roasted Rainbow Trout stuffed with smoked
shrimp and scallops with a brown butter, caper sauce and lemon
couscous ($15), & Grilled Semi-Boneless Duckling, soy-marinated, with
lo mein noodles, and spicy peanut sauce ($14).  The menu includes
vegetarian dishes as well.  For the price, quality, and portion size,
this restaurant is a very good deal. [=> cautionary review ]

Golden Bull ($$-) (Acton MA) -- Chinese
  36 Great Road (Rt 2A/119), (508) 371-2828
    short distance west of Concord Rotary
  Hours: Sun-Thurs: 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat:11:30am-11pm
  Reservations: accepted;   Dress: casual
  DineAccess: ok; ToiletAccess: ok
  VegOptions: some; LowFat: pretty good
  Rating: great
  Food: A definite cut above the other Chinese restaurants in the area.
Well prepared, good-sized portions, tasty.  Well-rounded, extensive
menu.  Some steamed and soup-noodle dishes availabe for low-fat
  GoodDishes: Hot & Sour soup is exemplary: good flavor, rich with
solid ingredients Chicken with Chinese Eggplant Shrimp with Garlic
Sauce but all dishese we've tried are good
  Service: Service has always been fine. We are regulars at lunch.
  Ambience: Pleasant, not tacky, subdued. Decor is left over from an
Italian restaurant in the same location. (7/94)

Le Lyonnaise ($$$+) (Acton MA) -- French Country
  416 Great Road (Rt 2A & 27), (508) 263-9068
  T: Commuter Rail in S. Acton -- needs taxi; too far to walk
  Parking: Sufficient parking on property for "full house"
  DineAccess: one step; ToiletAccess: ok
  Hours: Mon - Sat 6:30 to 10:00
  CreditCards: yes; OutdoorDine: no; NonSmoking: ok
  Reservations: accepted; ChildFriendly: ok
  Dress: dressy; VegOptions: some; LowFat: no
  Rating: very-good
  Food: The meals here are French "haute cuisine" with portions that
are ample.  Vegetables are fresh -- purchased daily from local
supermarkets.  Seasoning is delicate, though some of the sauces are
heavier (and rich).  The food in general is delicious, though not
necessarily remarkable, though the presentations are rather nice.
Complete Table d'Hote dinners available.
  GoodDishes: Good Escargot appetizer.  Trout, when on the menu is
excellent.  Wonderful duck w plum sauce and Coq au Vin
  Beverages: Full liquor license, reasonable selection of wines, few
outstanding ones, most are good & reasonably priced (for a restaurant)
  Service: Pleasant and somewhat formal.  The chef/owner will
occasionally come out to the dining areas to check on the customers'
satisfaction with the meal.  The dining area is run by the chef's wife
(and co-owner)
  Ambience: A comfortable, relaxed, intimate atmosphere.  The
restaurant is in a converted house, with three separate dining areas.
It can get somewhat noisy in the "back" room (which is an addition and
has large windows overlooking a small pond.  Tables are spaced well
enough apart that you won't be in someone else's lap (unless you want
to be ...) (11/94) [=> reviews ]

Bedford
-------

Cafe Luigi ($$-) (Bedford MA) -- Italian
  on 4/225 in front of Marshall's in the Purity shopping ctr
  Very good, though not very adventurous, Italian food, fairly cheap.
Well worth seeking out.  The don't take reservations, but the wait is
typically under one-half hour and well worth it.  GoodDishes: The
Northern Italian dishes are best.  Try the Chicken Broccoli Tornelli,
Chicken fra Diablo, Chicken Marsala, or the nice selection of black
pasta dishes.  Their cream sauses are wonderful too.  Lightly spiced
and just the right consistency.
  Prices: Entrees $7-14, most around $10. (11/94)

Great Wall ($$-) (Bedford MA) -- Chinese
  309B Great Road, 275-7007
  in shopping center on west side of 4/225 before Bedford Ctr
  Not stupendous, but extremely good standard suburban Chinese food,
probably the best in the area, in a pleasant atmosphere.  Serves good
Suan La Sho Chow.  Good veggie dishes.  Lunch buffet includes a very
tasty hot & sour soup and peking Dumplings.  It does quite a brisk
business during weekday lunches.  Mixed reviews on the buffet (other
than the soup), but the consensus is that it is fairly good, though
not their strongest point. They also serve Dim Sum -- no carts like in
Chinatown, but you can order individual items. (10/94)

Chelmsford
----------

Panda Wok ($$-) (Chelmsford MA) -- Chinese
  313 Littleton Road (Rte 110, across from ex-drive-in),
  (508) 250-1888, wheelchair accessible, lots of veggie options.
  Entrees $6-15.
  One of the best Chinese restaurants in the area w excellent food,
esp the sauces.  All the dishes are superb, even things like chicken
fingers.  Nuts are still crisp for those dishes that include them; the
vegetables appear to be fresh and of good quality; the meat dishes are
cooked yet tender.  Highly recommended dishes include Schezuan chicken
and the prawn dishes, Peking ravioli (don't miss the ginger sauce),
Amazing chicken, Kung-Pao Three Delights, and the various seasonal
specialties.
  The decor is modern, well lut, with lots of natural wood.  Seats
60-80 people in boothes that are close but do not lose their privacy.
The restaurant is rarely full, being situated somewhat out of the way.
There is a bar with a big screen T.V. off of the lobby, far enough
away from the eating area so as not to be noisy or smoky for diners.
While service is good, there is something lacking in the atmosphere --
it seems to lack that comfortable feel that makes a restaurant totally
great.

Szechuan Chef ($$-) (N Chelmsford MA) -- Chinese
  6 Vinal Square on Rt 3A,  (508) 251-9888
  take exit 33 from the south, exit 34 from the north
  Good Chinese restaurants in the area are in very short supply,
and this is the best.  Good lunch buffet with about 6 items,
including peking ravioli.

Tai Shiang Garden ($+) (Chelmsford Center MA) -- Taiwan Chinese
  7 Summer Street, Market Place, (508) 256-8584
  One of the the most "authentic" (no compromise for Western taste)
Chinese restaurants around.  The food is very good and pretty
inexpensive as well.  Check out all the noodle dishes especially the
rice vermicelli and the spicy beef noodle soup.  Their special fried
rice is also very authentic.  On their menu, the last page is their
Taiwanese dishes.  This is the stuff that they excel in.  The daily
specials are not bad, but not as good as their authentic menu items.  It
is a typical small strip-mall type place so has very little atmosphere.
Not something you go for a romantic dinner, but if you want good
Taiwanese food, this is the place to go.

Concord
-------

Aigo Bistro ($$$) (Concord Center MA) -- Mediterranean / Basque
  84 Thoreau St (adj to commuter train station), 371-1333
  Reservations: essential, call a few days in advance; Dress: dressy
  Very good food, eclectic, but not fancy -- some call it overpriced
though.  Part owned by the owners of L'Espalier in Boston.  A bit
stuffy.  Not a place to come in jeans, unless you want to be treated
like 3rd class citizens.
  GoodDishes: Try the brandade, the seafood entrees, any North African
food, and the honey-lavender-thyme flan. (10/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Chang An ($$) (Concord MA) -- Chinese
  at the Concord Train Station on Sudbury Rd, across from Stop & Shop
  Very good restaurant aiming for high quality ingredients and
excellent preparation, but with overly bland seasonings, even when
asking for spicy food.  Very tender, perfectly cooked poultry, and
perfectly cooked, juicy tender duckling.  Nice decor, but prices are
on the high side, $4 to $6 for appetizers, and $10 to $15 for entrees.

Framingham
----------

Bertucci's ($+) (Framingham MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  150 Worcester Rd, 879-9161

Oh! Calcutta ($+) (Framingham MA) -- Indian
  16 Irving St (Rt 126) at Grove St (Rt 135), (508) 875-6212
  Excellent Indian restaurant -- better than most in Cambridge or
Boston.  Especially good Channa Baji -- chick peas steamed with
tomatoes, ginger, garlic, onions & spices.  For lunch at $3.95 it is a
very good deal.  And don't forget the onion relish.

Shogun 9 (Framingham MA) -- Japanese
  Shogun 9 is consistently good; surprisingly good considering they're
not in the city.  The sushi bar has mostly standard fare (i.e. tuna,
salmon, mackerel, octopus, squid, also geoduck and clam, but rarely
uni) and is always fresh.  Their cooked food is also excellent. (9/94)

Thai Orchid ($+) (Framingham MA) -- Thai
  Rt 9
  Good food, freshly prepared w fresh ingredients.  Basil Beef a good
choice for those who prefer western tastes; Masuman Curry is a good
choice for those who like the unusual.  The "Golden Bags" appetizers
are wonderful, and the grilled seafood skewers with a sweet and sour
sauce are also good.
  This is a really nice Thai restaurant.  The atmosphere is among the
most pleasant seen locally, with a central seating area under a wooden
platform; in this area you sit on the floor.  Around that area are
standard tables and booths.  Prompt pleasant service.  $10-15/person.
Seats about 60.  Mixed drinks available.  Wheelchair accessible.
Smoke can be a problem.

Uncle Cheung's (Framingham MA) -- Chinese
  on Rt 9
  Food: Mixed reviews, though the prevaling opinion is that it is a
very good place, with some of the best Chinese food outside of
Chinatown, very reasonably priced, quite tasty, and decidely not
greasy.  They don't load up with MSG, and you can taste the individual
ingredients.  The meat is fairly good, tender, juicy, a little fatty.
The sauces are generous, not just your typical "Chinese restaurant
sauce", but not always memorable.  Occasional problems with food
preparation (underdone or soggy food), and one report of possible food
poisoning.
  GoodDishes: Try the Crispy Whole Fish, and the Crispy Shrimp.  The
chicken fingers and sweet&sour chicken are very good as well, esp for
kids.
  Service & Ambience: Typical Chinese Suburban, fast service (11/94)
  [=> review ]

Yen's Wok ($+) (Framingham MA) -- Chinese
  Rt 9, western edge of Framingham
  Great lunch and dinner buffet Sunday through Thursday.  Very good
Chinese food, worth a drive.  Excellent fried squid -- really tasty
and not spicy-hot (7/94)

Holliston
---------

Bertucci's ($+) (Holliston MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  (508) 429-4571

Lexington
---------

Cafe Bellecour ($$$-) (Lexington Center MA) -- Mediterranean
  10 Muzzey St, 861-9400
  Good but not knock-your-socks off food.  Moving to 20 North
St, Bedford, and changing its name to Dalya.  Roka will open at this
location. (10/94)
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Hartwell House ($$+) (Lexington MA) -- American Traditional
  Hartwell Ave (first left with a light N or 128 on 4/225)
  Excellent food, nice atmosphere, but pricy.  Good steaks, burgers,
and simple seafood dishes.  Entrees in the $15-20 range.  Good early
bird special before 6:30, w prime rib on Friday's.  Beatiful beaucolic
setting on Hartwell Ave. (11/94)
  Directions: Take exit 31B from rt. 128 (the 4/225 North exit) and
bear right at the jug-handle just after the Armory and the Lexington
Club, making the 'left turn' onto Hartwell Ave.

Lemon Grass ($$-) (Lexington Center MA) -- Thai
  On the main drag of town, east of Waltham St.
  DineAccess: ok
  Wildly mixed reviews, varying from great to good to awful.  Highly
regarded dishes include the Cocnut Chicken soup (w a bit of lime in
it), the Siam rools, and the wild-boar basil (just a little spicy).
OK Pad Thai.  I had a horrible dinner -- they used too much fish sauce
in everything, and others have complained that everything tatses the
same! (11/94)

New Asia ($$-) (Lexington MA) -- Chinese
  211 Mass Ave, 863-5533
  Pretty good; very quick-cooked Szechuan-style food, try the Yu
Hsiang [savory green beans].  Also in Somerville.)

Peking Garden ($$-) (Lexington Center MA) -- Chinese Dim Sum
  27 Waltham St, 862-1051
  Well established, excellent, very good Hot & Sour soup, Dim Sum on
the weekends; try the Chicken with Pine Nuts.

Sweet Peppers ($$) (Lexington Center MA) -- Italian
  20 Waltham St (off of Main), 862-1880
  ChildFriendly: yes, w balloons & inexpensive children's menu
  Reservations: accepts
  Mixed reviews.  While food preparation can be uneven, especially on
busy nights, and there are definitely dishes to avoid, Sweet Peppers,
in general, serves good portions of reasonably good somewhat nouvelle
Italian food, including very good pizza, good baked ravioli, good
antipasto (but small portion), and excellent Boston cream pie.  Avoid
the bland fettucini primavera and extremely ambitious dishes like the
duck.  Not a place to go for that romantic evening out, but a fun,
crowded, trattoria atmosphere.  Reasonably priced.  Also has a very
nice bakery w their own Italian pastries. (11/94) [=> reviews ]

Yangtse River ($$-) (Lexington MA) -- Chinese
  21 Depot Square, 861-6030
  Peking Garden's longtime competitors, very, very good, though not
quite great -- try Hacked Chicken, Yangtse River Beef, Ma La Shrimp,
Twice Cooked Pork.

Littleton
---------

Yangtse River ($$) (Littleton MA) -- Chinese
  584 King Street, (508) 486-0500
  DineAccess: ok; ToiletAccess: ok
  ChildFriendly: ok; Hours: Daily til 9:30
  Reservations: not accepted; Dress: casual; VegOptions: some
  Wildly mixed reviews -- from excellent to very disappointing.  A
nice comfortable place w very good service -- pleasant and quick.
Those who like it think it is the only good Chinese place in the
immediate vicinity, and that the food is well prepared and plentiful,
with delectable flavors.  Recommended dishes include the KungPao
shrimp, chicken, or beef, the Spicy jumbo shrimp w/tomato & onion, the
crispy beef dish, the veggie lo mein, and the Crab Rangoon.  Those who
don't, find it very dissapointing, w lousy food & service, much
inferior to the Lexington branch. (7/94)

Marlborough
-----------

American Lobster ($$-) (Marlborough MA) -- Lobster & Fried Seafood
  Rt 20, 1/2 mi from 495
  Twin baked stuffed 1.25 lb. lobsters, including soup or salad,
vegetable, and dessert for about $14.  It is definitely not a fancy
place, but one of the best deals of this kind around.  Also good for
lightly fried fish and better than Tom's Seabreeze.  The combo plate,
while three dollars more, has a lot more fish, scallops, and fired
clams.  They are lightly breaded, and do not have a lot of excess
greese from the frying. (11/94)

Bertucci's ($+) (Marlborough MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  (508) 460-0911

Escargot ($$) (Marlborough MA) -- Thai / Japanese / French
  On Main St (at the end of a row of stores at the west end, next to the
little park)
  CreditCards: yes; Beverages: no liquor license yet
  VegOptions: limited; Lowfat: no
  Food: Escargot has something to fulfill your every craving.  A great
place for a group that can't settle in on a single cuisine -- Thai
dishes are very good, mixed reviews on the Japanese dishes, though
sushi & sashimi are well presented.  In general, food is very fresh,
presentation is above average (the crispy duck is boned & especially
nicely presented), and servings are generous.  Not so good for
vegetarians although they can make a veggie with basil dish on request
(I think there was only one veggie dish on the menu), and not good for
lowfat (the one steamed dish is served with peanut sauce).
  GoodDishes: the crispy duck, veggies with basil (very spicy as
requested), house fried rice (though some might like the rice
crispier) the curried chicken dish (ordered to spec: hot enough to
burn chrome off bumpers), tempura shrimp and vegtables is light and
sweet, and a French shrimp dish is praiseworthy as well.  Good
chocolate souffle & ginger ice cream.
  Ambience: Fairly nice atmosphere with above average table settings.
  Service: Very good, and friendly owners.
  ChildFriendly: No high chairs but otherwise child friendly,
especially the big bowl of candy presented with the check. (9/94)
  [=> reviews ]

Tom's Seabreeze ($+) (Marlborough MA) -- Fried Seafood
  on Rt 20
  Not a fancy place, but the fried clams and scallops are impeccably
fresh, the breading light and not greasy.  You order at the counter
and they bring the food out to you.  Highly recommended for fried
seafood, though the combo plate is largely fries. (10/94)

Maynard
-------

Grappa ($$-) (Maynard MA) -- Italian
  on Rt 62
  An unassuming place that serves unique inspired Italian dishes at
moderate prices -- a very enjoyable place to eat.  Try Eggplant
Napolean, Spit-roasted chicken, and Veal scallopine in vanilla infused
lobster sauce.  Reservations recommended, especially on weekends.

Little Pusan ($+) (Maynard MA) -- Korean
  83 Main St, (508) 897-5107
  Closed Sundays.  Restrooms not wheelchair-accessible.
  Small family place -- she's Korean and cooks, he's American and
serves.  Food is quite good (a lot of it is spicy), with 4 or 5
different marinated vegatables served with every meal.  Portions are
fairly generous too, especially for excellent appetizers such as the
the Korean-style futomaki, the Kimchee pancake, and the noodle
appetizer.  Entrees are very good as well, esp a steamed layered big
bowl of meat and vegetables that seemed to be a specialty, as well as
the spicy stir fry of squid or pork.  No liquor license but you can
bring your own.  Only seats 25, so you might want to avoid on weekends
(they really can't handle a crowd); weekdays usually uncrowded.  When
not crowded, the owner is very good w special requests also.  Very
reasonable prices for the amount of food -- $30 feeds 2 adults and 1
child very well.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Quarterdeck ($$-) (Maynard MA) -- Seafood
  177 Main St (Rt 62), (508) 897-9165; Hours Mo-Th til 9, Fr-Sa til 10
  Resevations: large parties only; NonSmoking: completely
  Excellent, and known for its very fresh seafood, reasonably priced
(and also sold in the adjacent retail shop).  A variety of types of
fish are available, though preparation are not particularly
interesting -- just mostly basic broiled.  Small & casual.
Reservations recommended, especially on weekends. (7/94)
  [=> Middlesex News Review ]

Thai Chili ($$-) (Maynard MA) -- Thai
  Really good food, and best Thai in the area.  The spicy dishes are
authentic -- really spicy and flavorful.  Chicken w Basil is
particularly good. (7/94)

Natick
------

California Pizza Kitchen ($$-) (Natick MA) -- Italian Pizza/Pasta
  on the Filene's end (West end) of the Natick Mall, lower level
  Hours: normal mall hours
  Resevations: not needed (pocket pagers handed out when there is a
wait)
  [=> reviews ]

Chef Chen ($+) (Natick MA) -- Chinese
  61 Worcester Road (Route 9 westbound, next to Boston Chicken)
  (508) 650-1533
  The location (recently moved here from Framingham) and lack of
waiting lines could lead you to believe this is the typical mediocre
suburban Chinese restaurant, but you'd be wrong.  This is a nice
place, especially if you like to eat off linen at paper prices.  The
owner and staff are genuinely friendly and make eating there a
pleasure.  Weekdays they have an excellent special for two of
appetizer plate, choice of soup and two dishes for $17!  Very good
beef and scallop dish, lo mein is a little pasty.  The spicy dish vary
enormously from day to day in spiciness -- sometimes very mild,
sometimes fiery -- so be specific about how spicy you want it.
Overall good food, good service, kid-friendly. (8/94)

Dolphin Seafood Too ($+) (Natick Centre MA) -- Seafood
  on South St, opposite the train station
  Hours: Closed Sunday
  Fancier version of the Cambridge restaurant.  More spacious, full bar,
fish market, similar low prices.  Great food, atmosphere and service.
The swordfish special dinner for $10.75, is very reasonable and tasty.
Excellent seafood pasta w 8 large shrimp & linguine in a garlicky sauce.
Unusual rasberry low cal salad dressing -- a big change from the usual
gummy diet dressings you usually see.  The children's menu offers "fish
sticks" which are actually haddock pieces.  Also on the children's menu
are shrimp, and other choices all for $3.95.
  The atmosphere is very pleasant and perfect for a business lunch.  The
only problem is that they do not take reservations and the waiting area
is quite small.  There can be a long (~1 hour) wait on weekend nights.
Only for seafood-lovers -- only one non-seafood dish on the menu.

Legal Seafoods ($$+) (Natick MA) -- Seafood
  Rt 9 eastbound, (508) 820-1115; Hours: Mo-Th til 10, Fr-Sun til 10:30
  Excellent fish chowder.  Overpriced fish and lobster.  Long waits on
weekend nights.
  [=> Middlesex News Review ]

Sherborn
--------

Sherborn Inn ($$$) (Sherborn MA) -- Traditional
  33 Main St (Rt 27 nr Rt 16), (508) 655-9521
  Hours: Lunch Tu-Su, Dinner til 9:30 daily (Mo-Tu tavern only)
  Reservations: accepted
  Very upscale, elegant, pricey.  Superb menu and wine list.  Many
dishes are quite good, including the veal chops, crab cakes &
shepherd's pie, but others fall short of the mark, incl the salad w
roasted mushrooms, and the cheese tortolini with grilled chicken and
pesto.  Service is spectacular, though for the price, more attention
should be given to the details of presentation.  Also does a good job
with small group functions.
  [=> Middlesex News Review ]

Southborough
------------

Ipanema ($$-) (Southborough MA) -- Brazillian
  106 Southville Rd (At Rt 85 S of Rt 9), (508) 460-6144
  Very authentic Brazilian food, casual atmosphere.  Reasonably
priced, enormous portions.  Offers all you can eat marinated/ grilled
meats, served right off the skewers by the chef who wanders through
the dining area.  Servers are helpful with suggestions if you are
unfamiliar with the food - will also tell you if they think you have
ordered too much !!  Offers live Brazilian music and dancing on
weekend.  Definitely worth the trip.

Sudbury
-------

Lotus Blossom ($$-) (Sudbury MA) -- Chinese
  Rt 20
  Run by the same people that run the Lotus Flower in Framingham, but
the interior and atmosphere are much nicer -- very tasteful
(un-chinese-restaurant-like) decor.  Somewhat formal.  Excellent
service.  Always jam packed on Saturday nights - wall to wall people
waiting to be seated.  They also do impressive special banquets w VERY
good food and service.
  Food: The food is both prepared and presented well, with some of the
best Chinese food outside of Chinatown.  Portions smaller than e.g.
Uncle Cheung's.
  GoodDishes: Good mu-shi, vegetarian dumplings, with some steamed
entrees and brown rice available for healthier choices.  Good
shang-hai panfried noodles and their peking duck is ok too (but not
served with pancakes unless you ask for them).  Sometimes they have
unusual specials like chicken w/champagne sauce, which are good.
Prices are moderate to a bit high, but worth it. (11/94)

Sierras ($+) (Sudbury MA) -- Southwestern
  470 North Road (Rt. 117), (508) 443-0820
  nr Maynard line, E of 27, W of 126, westbound side
  A suburban variant of the Border Cafe for the 20's-30's crowd, with
wildly mixed reviews.  Those who like it say the food is good, comes
in large portions and is reasonably priced.  Recommendations include
posole, the "heavenly" black bean, chili fettucine, shrimp diablo, and
chicken nachos, as well as any specials made with chipotles. Those who
don't like find the service can be pushy, the beans weird, and the
mole poblano abominably bad.) [=> reviews]

Wayside Inn ($$+) (Sudbury MA) -- American Classic
  Wayside Inn Rd, (508) 443-1776, Fax (508) 443-2312
  Hours: Mo-Fr 5-9, Sa ?, Su 12-8; Resevations: recommended
  General: A restaurant/attraction that is worth seeking out.  It is
America's oldest operating inn, and was made famous by Longfellow who
wrote "The Tales of the Wayside Inn" in 1863.  In addition to the in
the inn the historic socity which operates the inn has a working Grist
mill, a chapel, and a school which can be examined if you show up
during daylight hours.
  Food & Prices: Complete Dinners $14-20. The inn's menu has around 8
entrees, each comes with crackers and cheese, relish tray, appetizer,
salad, coffee/tea & dessert, with a number of selections for each,
plus additional selections that cost $1-2 more.
  The food is solid if not spectacular.  It is basic Yankee fare that
must be intended to represent what might have been available in a
wayside restaurant: roasts, chicken pot pie, homemade pies -- very
good & very enjoyable.  Good cornbread.  The price is reasonable for
what you get, and it is just a wonderful dining experience.
  Service: Excellent; the waitstaff does not hover around you but
keeps in the shadows and are available to quickly clean your table or
get whatever you requested.
  Ambience: The atmosphere and surroundings contribute to the
experience at least as much as the food does.  The inn has two rooms,
one is brightly light the other is light by candles both on the walls
and on the tables so you may want to make reservations based on the
situation you want.  You don't have to travel to Vermont or New
Hampshire to get that "Country Inn" style of food - you just come
here. Especially festive at Christmas.
  Directions: From Boston, take Rte 90 West to 128 North Exit. Take
first exit (#26) Route 20 West for 11 miles.  The Wayside Inn is on
the right. (10/94)

Wellesley
---------

Amarin II ($$) (Wellesley MA) -- Thai
  27 Grove St (at Spring St), Wellesley, 239-1350
  Very pretty restaurant, and excellent food, almost as good as
Erawan.  Great Pad Thai & Tom Kar Gai; the noodles and beef at lunch
are good and not served elsewhere.  Service is generally good, but
there can be exceptions.  They have a pretty good tolerance for noisy
kids.

Bertucci's ($+) (Wellesley MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  380 Washington St, 239-0990

Captain Marden's Takeaway ($) (Wellesley MA) -- Seafood
  Linden St
  Good seafood, cheap prices.  Avoid the broiled food; get the fried
stuff.  Get the seafood rather than the clam chowder.

PapaRazzi ($$) (Wellesley MA) -- Italian
  14 Washington St, 235-4747

Westborough
-----------

Willy's ($+) (Westborough MA) -- Tex/Mex
  Rt 9, next to Sams Discount Club, (508) 366-1881
  Hours: Daily till 10pm; ChildFriendly: very
  If you like cajun and mexican food, this is the place.  Not fancy, but
a very good and diverse menu.  Heaps of food (in fact, an appetizer can
serve as a meal), so bring an appetite.  Good dishes include Tequila
shrimp, Fajitas, Giant Burrito, and Chicken dishes.  However, The ribs
are kinda greasy and the coconut beer shrimp have a lot of batter on
them.  Margheritas are the specialty...and each one seems to have its
own personality...
  Service/Ambience: Service is fast, food is served pipin hot, and with
a smile.  Very casual, laid back ambience.  Interesting Texas decor,
rustic.

Weston
------

Cafe 456 ($$)(Weston MA) -- Eclectic
  456 Boston Post Rd (Rt 20), 891-9161
  By day, it is a sub shop / pizza joint featuring very good
sandwiches (good roast beef w boursin cheese, and chicken salad w
fresh tarragon & grapes).  In the evenings (they used to do this every
night, but they scaled back recently to just Friday and Saturday
nights), they transform into a gourmet restaurant w excellent food
creatively prepared from fresh ingredients and elegantly presented.
The place has a certain charm to it with the combination of fine food
in a (very) casual setting (you won't likely ever see any two pieces
of silverware at a table that match).  The place is decorated with
artwork which changes every few weeks.  Very good beef tenderloin and
chicken risotto, wonderful hearty lentil/tomato soup; desserts were
fantastic.  A very pleasent dining experience. Not a cheap one, mind
you, but satisfying.

Worcester
---------

Chopsticks ($+) (Worcester MA) -- Chinese
  On the west side
  Known for its excellent lunch buffet -- $5.99, all you can eat,
until 3 pm.  Chopsticks has better decor than Ping's (by the same
owner) and a more varied menu including hot pot dishes and chow foon.
(7/94)

Peking Wok ($+) (Worcester MA) -- Chinese
  Grove (Rt 122A) and West Boylston Streets (across from Perce's)
  The food is good, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the service is
excellent, with a very pleasant waitstaff.  Really cool dinnerware
too, and neat wall hangings in the smoking section.  Their buffet is
good, too; it even has more than one vegetarian dish, although it is a
little more expensive than most.  They also have a cool non-alchoholic
drink called Strawberry Pops. (7/94)

Thai Orchid ($$-) (Worcester MA) -- Thai
  Across from the Centrum
  Moderate prices, pretty good lunch & dinner buffets, though better
choices off the regular menu.  The sesame beef appetizer w coriander
and fried crispy is really excellent.  Nice decor.  Service is good,
as long as you don't go on a night with a popular Centrum event; on
busy nights, service can be pleasant and earnest but uncomfortably
slow. (11/94)

Restaurants South of Boston
***************************
(east of Rt 1A)
***************

Abington
--------

Vin & Eddie's ($$$) (Abington MA) -- Northern Italian
  1400 Bedford St (Rt 18 betw Rts 58 & 139), 871-1469
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Braintree
---------

Bertucci's ($+) (Braintree MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  412 Franklin, 849-3066

El Serape (Braintree MA) -- Mexican
  5 Commercial St, Weymouth Landing, 843-8005

Brockton
--------

Bertucci's ($+) (Brockton MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  (508) 584-3080

Dartmouth
---------

La Rivage ($$$) (Dartmouth MA) -- Classic French
  7 Water St, (508) 999-4505

Hingham
-------

Bertucci's ($+) (Hingham MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  90 Derby, 740-4405

Navona ($$$) (Hingham MA) -- Italian-French-American
  415 Whiting St (Rt 53 nr Rt 3), 337-0757
  [=> Boston Globe Review 10/94 ]

Hull
----

Saporito ($$$) (Hull MA) -- Northern Nouvelle Country Italian
  11 Rockland Circle (nr Nantucket Ave), 925-3023
  Inventive delicious food in a homey trattoria atmosphere.  Terrific
food; everything is superb.  Well worth the drive.

Mansfield
---------

LaDonna (Mansfield MA) -- Italian
  on Copeland Drive (left at 1st traffic light going west on 106 from
  140...no more than a mile from 95) 
  A fairly nice, pricey Italian place in a restaurant-sparse area of
Mass, owned by the same people as Carla's in Norwood. (8/94)

Norwood
-------

Bertucci's ($+) (Norwood MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  1405 Providence Highway, 762-4155

Quincy
------

La Paloma ($$-) (Wollaston, Quincy MA) -- Tex/Mex
  195 Newport Street, 773-0512, T: Red Line @ Wollaston (4 blocks)
  DineAccess: ok
  Very good Tex/Mex food.  The fajitas are particularly good --
veggies fresh, salsa good and spicy.  Also try the chili, shedded beef
burritos, sopa seca, carne asada, and Mexican paella.  Complementary
homemade nachos with excellent salsa.  Competent and friendly service,
comfortable booths, informal but pleasant decor, pleasant bar to wait
in if you have to (esp oin weekends).  Sometimes live music on
weekends.  Plenty of parking. Good value for money.  $4 for a
margarita. (7/94)

Randolph
--------

Caffe Bella ($$$-) (Randolph MA) -- Northern Italian
  19 Warren St (Rt 139 E), 961-7729
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Seekonk
-------

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse (Seekonk MA) -- Steakhouse

Stoughton
---------

Iguana Cantina ($$-) (Stoughton MA) -- Tex/Mex
  Washington St

Taunton
-------

Bertucci's ($+) (Taunton MA) -- Pizza / Italian
  (508) 880-0222

Weymouth
--------

La Paloma ($$-) (S Weymouth MA) -- Tex/Mex
  1037 Main St (Rt 18)

Cape Cod & the Islands Restaurants
**********************************

Barnstable
----------

Matakeese Wharf ($$) (Barnstable Harbor MA) -- Seafood
  271 Mill Way (off 6A), (508) 362-4511
   A very enjoyable place for dinner, with the quality of the seafood
the star attraction.  Good cioppino.  Pleasant, attentive service.  A
wonderful place to sit on the deck facing Barnstable harbor and watch
the boats. [=> review ]

Brewster
--------

Chillingsworth ($$$$$-) (Brewster MA) -- Nouvelle French / Continental
  2449 Main St (on Rt 6A), (508) 896-3640
  Very expensive, but worth it for a special occasion.  Generally
considered to be the best restuarant on the cape.  The food is
thoroughly excellent; never a bad meal.  An excellent bet is the prix
fixe 5 or 7 course meal.  The fruit souffle for dessert is
particularly recommended but needs to be ordered at the beginning of
the meal.  Formal yet friendly service; graceful, efficient, and
tactful.  Get reservations well in advance.  They also have a cafe,
which is less espensive.) [=> review ]
  [=> Boston Globe Review 6/94 ]

High Brewster ($$$$) (Brewster MA) -- Eclectic New England
  924 Satucket Rd (betw Airline & Stonybrook), (508) 896-3636

Bourne
------

Chart Room ($+) (Cataumet, Bourne MA) -- Traditional
  On the harbor at Kingman Marina, (508) 563-5350
  Food is traditional American family-style - broiled swordfish
w/anchovy butter, baked stuffed lobster, steaks, lamb chops, etc.  but
it's very good and is very inexpensive for the location.  Typical
entree is ~$10, including salad, veggies, potato.  Limited inexpensive
wine list and full bar.  Indoor & porch dining w beautiful sunset
views of harbor, Bassett's Island, out to Buzzard's Bay.  As you might
expect, the place is PACKED in the summer time, esp. on weekends, and
can be very noisy.  Entertainment on some nights (usually piano player
w/bass - show tunes, traditional jazz, etc.).  Hard to get
reservations, and they're definitely advised. Open Thurs-Sat May, all
days June - Sept, Thurs-Sat October.

Chatham
-------

Vining's Bistro (Chatham MA) -- Southwestern Grill
  595 Main St, Upstairs at the Gallery at Chatham, (508) 945-5033
  Fresh ingredients, interesting menus, friendly service, and a nice
atmosphere; not inexpensive but delicious and interestingly different
dishes. (7/94)

Cotuit
------

Regatta of Cotuit ($$$$-) (Cotuit MA) -- Eclectic
  4631 Falmouth Rd (Rt 28, nr Rt 130), (508) 428-5715
  Very elegant, somewhat traditional food.  Very fresh, wonderfully
prepared seafood.

Dennis
------

Swan River Restaurant and Fish Market (Dennisport MA) -- Seafood
  5 Lower County Road, (508) 394-4466
  Very fresh and well-prepared seafood, terrific chowder, with plenty
of non-fried items on the menu.  Friendly service, and even a view if
you get the right table.  Portions not the largest (not really small,
just not huge), but quality high.  Never a bad meal, and often really
good ones.  Informal atmosphere.

Eastham
-------

Lobster Pool (Eastham MA) -- Seafood
  Rt 6
  A good place for simple seafood.  Lots of options -- they will prepare
whatever fish they've got fresh as either poached, broiled, baked, or
fried.  They do a splendid job w poached fish, especially swordfish, and
and they also do a great job on lobsters, which come in several sizes.
Clambakes too.  Atmosphere is very casual and informal.  You won't get
anything fancy here but it'll be very good.  Better than the Lobster
Hutt. (7/94)

Falmouth
--------

Regatta of Falmouth ($$$$-) (Falmouth MA) -- Eclectic
  217 Clinton Ave (nr Scranton), (508) 548-5400
  Very good food -- you can't order a bad meal; everything is
exquisite.  Especially good mushroom strudel appetizer and chocolate
decadence dessert.  Reservations recommended.  Off-season, the service
can be slow.

Mashpee
-------

Cefalo's ($+) (Mashpee MA) -- American Casual
  Mashpee Commons (Rts 151 & 28), 477-8100
  Prices: Most entrees $8-14, include vegs+salad
  ChildFriendly: yes, incl crayons; Accessible: yes
  A low-key unpretentious restaurant with a relatively small menu of
standard entrees, all prepared reasonably well.  Unexpectedly good
clam chowder, shrimp scampi, and scrod. (6/94)

Flume ($$) (Mashpee MA) -- Seafood / Portuguese
  Lake Avenue (off Rt 130, nr turnoff to Mashpee Rotary), (508) 477-1456
  A popular place with good seafood, though a bit overpriced.  Go for
the Portuguese items on the menu, which are both cheaper and more
interesting.  Open year round, need reservations weekends in summer.

Gone Tomatoes (Mashpee MA) -- Northern Italian
  Mashpee Commons (Rts 151 & 28), (508) 477-8100
  Hours: Su-Th 11:45-10, Fr-Sa 11:45-10:30
  OutdoorDine; yes, but from a restricted menu
  Food: Very good food; much improved in the past few years.  Pizzas
are excellent, though marred by the difficulty of getting the toppings
one wants; the menu describes a number of predesigned pizza combos,
and the manager's intercession may be needed to get variations.
Reasonable wiine selection.
  Good Dishes: Pizza, Cozze alla Salsiccia (mussels and sausages over
linguini), Veal Piccatta.
  Ambience: The restaurant is very pleasant, dark wood and glass, one
step up from Bennigan's-style decor, without being overly formal.
  Very busy during the summer, with long waits on weekends; probably
the best restaurant in its class in the area. (9/94) [=> review ]

Nantucket
---------

Brotherhood of Thieves (Nantucket MA) -- Pub
  Excellent quaint atmosphere, about a minute from where you get off
of the ferry.  Staggering array of drinks.  Good pub food and
inexpensive.  Large portions.  Presumably this location was a home of
the underground railroad prior to the civil war.  They typically have
a perfomer, acoustic, at night. (9/94)

Cap'n Tobey's Chowder House (Nantucket MA) -- Seafood
  Straight Wharf, (508) 228-0836
  Perhaps the best clam chowder in New England.

Pocasset
--------


Stir Crazy (Pocasset MA) -- Vietnamese & Cambodian
  626 MacArthur Blvd, (508) 564-6464
  If you like stir-fried food, Stir Crazy is a savory change from the
standard fare found in the many chinese restaurants found around the
Cape.  A small place where the owner coooks and comes out to greet her
customers.  A good place for those allergic to wheat and dairy
products, because they can eat just about everything on the menu!  The
food is great, the price is right.
  GoodDishes: the Beef Lock Lack (sirloin tips on a bed of watercress
with other yummy flavors) and the Nhem shross (veggies and shrimp in a
rice shell appetizer) (10/94) [=> review ]

Provincetown
------------

Ciro & Sal's (Provincetown MA) -- Northern Italian
  4 Kiley Ct (behind 430 Commercial St), (508) 487-0049
  Very good Italian, many dishes with fresh seafood in them.  It's
crowded, it's noisy, and it's always good.  Note this is not Sal's
place, which is good, but this is better.

Lobster Pot (Provincetown MA) -- Seafood
  321 Commercial St, (508) 487-0842
  P-town restaurants come and go, but the Lobster Pot is always there
and always good.  Still casual, and a bit busy and hectic, but
somewhat fancier than other places.  Basic fresh seafood in rather
plain surroundings, with some particularly good dishes.  The
Portuguese kale soup is a must as is the wonderful clam chowder.
Other good bets are soft-shell crabs, seafood skewers, and the cold
smoked appetizer plate.  They also usually have a pretty impressive
dessert menu.

Napi's (Provincetown MA) -- Eclectic
  7 Freeman St, (508) 487-1145
  Interesting and innovative cuisine -- a wide variety of fresh
seafoods and some Portuguese specialties.  They have such a large menu
that pretty much everyone can find something that they'll like....
there's even a page of vegetarian things.

Wellfleet
---------

Aesop's Tables ($$$) (Wellfleet Center MA) -- Traditional
  Main St (next to Town Hall), (508) 349-6450
  Hours: May to October
  For a fancy dinner, there is Aesop's Tables in Wellfleet Center.  It's
food is excellent, but very pricey.  Good appetizers include Logan's
Littlenecks (w black beans and sausage) and monet's salad (incl edible
flowers).  Mixed reviews on the entrees, which seem to vary from
excellent to uninspiring.  (7/94) [=> review ]

Lobster Hutt (Wellfleet Center MA) -- Seafood
  91 Commercial St
  Good fresh fish, lobsters in various sizes (1 1/8, 1 1/4, 1 1/2),
clam bakes (lobsters, clams [1 1/8 lb each, and excellent] and very
fresh corn), various fried and grilled fish.  They have soda, but if
you want any alcoholic beverage, you had to BYO.  Order your food
outside then go inside and ask to be seated.  They look for enough
empty spots at either the loooong picnic table running down the center
or the perpendicular tables along the sides; you may end up sitting
between strangers and it can be pretty noisy.  There may be more
comfortable places to get good fresh seafood (notably the Eastham
Lobster Pool), but this place is still quite good. (8/94)

Serena's ($$-) (S Wellfleet MA) -- Italian / Seafood
  Rt 6, (508) 349-9370
  Italian family-style dining, emphasis on seafood.  Good basic stuff
-- their menu has changed little over the years.  Excellent scampi,
seafood/lobster fra diavolo, great garlic bread.  Preparations are not
fancy but the food quality is superb.  They're used to kids, too.
Very friendly folks.  Casual. Entrees $10-$12.

Yarmouth
--------

Abbicci ($$$) (Yarmouthport MA) -- Italian
  43 Main St (on Rt 6A), (508) 362-3501
  [=> Boston Globe Review 6/94 ]

Southeastern New Hampshire Restaurants
**************************************
(bounded by Nashua, Manchester, Dover)
**************************************

Statewide
---------

Foodies Restaurant (NH Chain) -- Italian Casual
  Bedford, Hampton, Nashua, Portsmouth NH, 9 others outside the area
  Danial Webster Highway (near Shaws Grocery Store), Nashua
  DineAccess: ok; ChildFriendly: very; NonSmoking: Completely
  VegOptions: lots; LowFatOptions: pretty good;
  Eclectic pizzas, very good pasta choices, good large salads.  Wide
variety of creative pizza combinations.  Particularly veg-friendly:
the Mediterranean (feta cheese, broccoli, tomatoes, garlic), spinach,
and eggplant combos are good choices; carnivores should try the
sizzler (hot sausage and jalapenos), chicken fajita, or reuben (corned
beef, sauerkraut, mustard, pickle).  Heart-healthy choices highlighted
on menu.  Choice of about 6 crusts, from an excellent traditional thin
to sourdough, to a chewy whole wheat.  During lunch they have an all
you can eat menu of their various pizza slices, which is a good value,
but the pizza sometimes suffers from holding.  Also, a very good beer
selection.  Comparable to Bertucci, but a bit kinder on ther wallet.
  Service & Ambience: Recently converted to table service at dinner.
Ample seating; not crowded; clean enviroment.  Newer locations (all of
these) are bright and cheery; original Hillsborough location a bit
funkier. (7/94)

Newicks ($) (NH Chain) -- Seafood
  Delicious seafood.  Gigantic nightly specials.  Giant fried seafood
platters, and the broiled stuff's ok too.  They all have *slightly*
different names, but all the names contain "Newick's."  Ambience?  Open,
casual, friendly -- like a big, indoor picnic.  Cheap. Good. Fun.  Avoid
the fast food versions in malls though!

Shorty's Mexican Roadhouse ($+) (NH Chain) -- Tex/Mex
  Much better than passable, even to those who have sampled what
California and Texas have to offer.  Good mexican food with a good
atmosphere and good beer selection.  Always crowded. (11/94)

Bedford
-------

Weather Vane ($+) (Bedford NH) -- Seafood

Hampton
-------

Los Burros (North Hampton Beach NH) -- Mexican
  Excellent food, with all items home-made.  Excellent guacamole dip
(large portion, fresh taste, lots of cilantro), fajitas burrito (both
chicken and beef are very good), and rice (interesting flavor, cooked
with chicken broth? and herbs?). The homemade salsa is also
consistently fresh.  Also very good chili (red or green) and
enchiladas, and there are also specials sometimes like tamales and
stuffed jalapenos).
  Other info about the new location:  Still minimal seating (3 or 4
small tables and a couple of picnic tables), but the restaurant is
about 100 yards from the beach.  No liquor/beer sales.  Credit cards OK.
(8/94)

Nashua
------

Bertucci's ($+) (Nashua NH) -- Pizza / Italian
  Amherst St, (603) 595-7244

Cafe Mardi Gras (Nashua NH) -- Cajun/Creole
  Nice cafe style restaurant w inexpensive tasty food, though small
portions (at least for lunch).  Lots of alligator on the menu.

Chili's ($+) (Nashua NH) -- Southwestern
  DW Highway, across from Pheasant Lane Mall
  Noisy, friendly, busy place w southwestern decor, and well- prepared
southwestern style food.  Good chicken fajitas.  The best appetizer is
the awesome blossom (fried onion with horseradish sauce) although the
quesadillas are good also.  They also have good salads and burgers.  Sam
Adams and lots of soft drinks available w free refills.  Short wait,
very good service.  Most things on the menu are between $6-10.  Very
child-friendly; the waiting area has children's books!

Coyote Cafe ($$$-) (Nashua NH) -- Southwestern
  Main St, (603) 883-1610
  Recently opened, so the waitstaff is still undertrained, but the food
is excellent.  A bit less creative than Cottonwood Cafe, but still very
tasty and a better value.
  GoodDishes: To start, try the Hopi Pan Bread appetizer, the
rattlesnake bites (deep fried mozzarella stuff jalopenios) and their
award winning 5 chile chili (beat out Shorty's and Hacienda's among
others - no beans, shredded beef and pork served with tortilla chips).
Then try the Grilled Scallops (with pumpkinseed pesto), the Seafood
Diablo, the Smokehouse Saute (smoked chicken w/ linguini) or the
fajitas (though served w too few tortillas; hint: when asking for more
tortillas you only get charged for 3 or more).  For dessert, try the
almond flan.
  Drinks: Coyote makes their margaritas with Tequilla, Lime Juice, and
Triple Sec.  NO MIX, a real Margarita!!  The make them right and they
taste great.  Decent beer selection on tap (Anchor Steam, Sam Adams,
etc..) as well as in bottles, though Mexican beers are lacking.
  Service: The Coyote opened early this year and still has new
waitstaff.  The server Dave has worked there since the opening and he
is the only original server/bartender still there; he has been known
to send back a drink or dish if the presentation is not what he
expects for his customers.  The rest of the staff is friendly and
courteous but presentations may vary from one server to the next.
  Atmosphere: Relaxed - not noisy but not dead either.  Small bar with
no TV.  Usually Jazz or Mexican music.  They will be expanding soon
for a larger dining area.  Occasionally live local jazz/blues band in
the evening, sometimes w a a free buffet to accompany the music,
though then there will be a line at the door to get in.
  Price: Average Lunch with appetizers and Drinks will be around $22
pp.  Dinner around $26.  Entres around $8-13 (8/94)

Giant of Siam ($$-) (Nashua NH) -- Thai
  Parking: on-street parking readily available
  CreditCards: yes; OutdoorDine: no; NonSmoking: ok
  Dress: casual; VegOptions: lots; LowFat: pretty good
  Great food, good service, classy presentation/surroundings,
reasonable prices.  Still others think it has gone downhill since it
first opened.
  Food: In general the food is good, but some dishes are better than
others.  All hotness of any dish can be specified - the normal
preparation is hot & spicy enough to provide good flavor but not burn
the mouth of milder palates.
  GoodDishes: Massaman Curry w/Chicken Soy Sauce
  BadDishes: Any duck dishes - the duck seemed especially fatty and the
lack of a knife meant that you couldn't cut it off
  Beverages: They have a limited selection of beer and wine
  Service: Service is very friendly, but can be somewhat slow and the
servers are not all fluent in english
  Ambience: Small quiet restaurant with plenty of seating - I've never
seen it fully crowded. Surroundings are very pleasant.
(dsm@cadence.com 11/94)

Indian Village ($+) (Nashua NH) -- Indian
  295 Daniel Webster Hwy, (603) 891-1140; Hours: Closed Sun
  Still the best Indian food in the area, and an excellent lunch buffet,
authentically prepared and spiced.  Lunch ~$6; 100% Non-smoking.

Osaka Tea Garden ($$-) (Nashua NH) -- Japanese
  Very good sushi along with other Japanese food.

Ya Mamma's ($$-) (Nashua NH) -- Northern Italian
  Canal St
  Very good to excellent Northern Italian food; especially good seafood,
and the fra diavolo, sun-dried tomato butter, and pesto sauces.  A bit
on the expensive side; entrees are $12-15.  Ugly neighborhood.

Portsmouth
----------

Blue Strawbery ($$$$-) (Portsmouth NH) -- Nouvelle American
  39 Ceres St (off Bow St), (603) 431-6420
  Wonderful prix fixe dinners using unusual combinations of ingredients.

Strawberry Court: Restaurant Francais ($$$) (Portsmouth NH) -- French
  20 Atkinson St (betw State & Court), (603) 431-7722
  Owners are Fritz and Lester.  Food's quite tasty.  Fritz is a
Swiss-trained pastery chef.  Well worth the stop. (11/94)

Salem
-----

Bertucci's ($+) (Salem NH) -- Pizza / Italian
  (603) 890-3434

Metastasis (Salem NH) -- Eclectic
  (603) 890-3362.  Take I-93 to NH Exit 2.  Head east.  It's on the
     right side of the road about 1/4 mile after you cross Rt. 28.  
  Cuisine is an unsual combination of Portuguese, Italian, French,
Californian.  Double Diamond & Sam Adams on tap.  A wonderful place &
well worth a trip.  If you're thinking of a Friday or Saturday night,
better call for reservations.

Southwestern Coastal Maine Restaurants
**************************************

Cape Neddick
------------

Cape Neddick Inn ($$$) (Cape Neddick ME) -- Nouvelle American
  At Rts 1 & 1A, (207) 363-2899

Freeport
--------

Maine Dining Room ($$$+) (Freeport ME) -- Nouvelle American
  Harasackett Inn, 162 Main St, (207) 865-9377/1085
  Excellent lunch & Sunday brunch buffets.  It is American/Continental
food, with very good deserts.  The Sunday brunch was $15 for adults $9
for kids over 8.  The right number of dishes.  Not so many that you
stuff yourself trying everything, but a lot of variations.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Kittery
-------

Weather Vane ($+) (Kittery ME) -- Seafood
  DineAccess: ok
  The Weather Vane is a good spot for lunch or dinner while shopping
the outlet malls of Rt. 1 in Kittery.  In keeping with the retail
surroundings, it's quite casual with paper plates, and in the
inexpensive-to-moderate category.  Luncheon plates offer excellent
value.  Don't be scared by apparently long lines at peak hours.  This
restaurant is BIG, and the line moves fast.  Mediocre rice may be
substituted for french fries.  Full liquor license.
  GoodDishes: Delicious seafood.  Try the fried native shrimp.  The
fried haddock is equally tasty and well prepared.  
  ChildFriendly: very.  "Mini-Mariner" menu provides
good value.  Rainbow sherbet is an excellent dessert. (9/94)

Ogunquit
--------

Arrows ($$$$) (Ogunquit ME) -- Nouvelle American
  Berwick St, (207) 361-1100
  ChildFriendly: no
  Probably the top restaurant in the area.  It is extremely expensive,
even desserts are $8 or so, and the portions aren't very large.
  [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Portland
--------

Alberta's Cafe ($$+) (Portland ME) -- Eclectic
  21 Pleasant St (betw Danforth & Foke), (207) 774-0016

Newicks ($) (Portland ME) -- Seafood
     (see NH Chain writeup)

Walter's (Portland ME) -- Eclectic
  in the Old Port District
  A bit yuppy, but always a good meal.  In addition, they serve some
interesting non-meat dishes.
  Prices $7-13 entree.
  [=> Boston Globe Review 10/94 ]

Rhode Island Restaurants
************************

Cranston
--------

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse (Cranston RI) -- Steakhouse
  off of Rt. 95 (you can see it from the highway)

Newport
-------

Le Petit Auberge ($$$$) (Newport RI) -- Country French
  19 Charles St (betw Washington Sq & Marlboro), (401) 849-6669

Puerini's (Newport RI) -- Italian
  24 Memorial St, (401) 847-5506
  Reservations: not accepted
  A little Italian restaurant on Memorial Blvd around the corner from
the Tennis Hall of Fame.  They are famous for their fresh pasta.

White Horse Tavern ($$$$-) (Newport RI) -- Eclectic New England
  Marlborough & Farewell Sts, (401) 849-3600
  Beautifully maintained/restored Colonial setting, friendly but very
professional service, excellent food, good (and not overly
price-inflated) wine list.

Providence
----------

(also see Brown University Graduate Student Handbook Reviews) 

Adesso ($$$-) (Providence RI) -- Nouvelle Italian
  161 Cushing St (betw Thayer & Hope), 521-0770
  Excellent restaurant, slightly expensive w nouvelle Italian food as
well as as well as very good grilled meats.  Pasta dishes are best, many
cooked w alcohol (vodka, cognac, wine, etc).  Always a variety of
specials usually including one pasta w seafood.  Spicing leans towards
the savory (rosemary, tarragon); sauces to complement not overwhelm.
Good salads & appetizers reflect the nouvelle style of the cuisine such
as warm duck and radicchio.  Breads are also very good, not fancy, but
with real taste.  Largish portions, so share appetizers.  Good but
overpriced wine selection.
  Professional service, very competent, moderately friendly, helpful
without being intrusive.  About 20 tables and it tends to be noisy.
Open kitchen facing into the dining area with a clay oven for breads and
pizza.  The place itself is interesting.  It looks to be the last
holdout in a failed shopping mall behind Thayer Street w solarium type
windows looking onto the alley/ parking lot.  If there are a number of
people waiting they will serve drinks. (6/94)

Al Forno ($$$+) (Providence RI) -- Nouvelle Italian
  577 S Main St (behind Corliss Landing), (401) 273-9760
  Reservations: no
  Creative Italian Like Olive's in Boston (Charlestown), but better &
more refined.  Lots of grilled items, excellent pizzas, a fine apple
tart, nice wine list, fairly expensive.  Large portions.  Attention to
small details.  Eat slowly to savor the taste.  Some might find the
atmosphere stuffy or the waits too long (occasionally 2 hrs, though
rarely); if so, try Lucky's, a more casual room in the bldg w the same
kitchen [272-7980].

Bertucci's ($+) (E Providence RI) -- Pizza / Italian
  (401) 431-1470

Blue Point Restaurant & Oyster Bar ($$$) (Providence RI) -- Seafood
  99 N Main St (at Elizabeth), (401) 272-6145
  Cozy well-worn blue-blood room.  Fantastic, and always interestingly
prepared seafood.  Wine Spectator award-winning wine list.  This serious
fish restaurant is not for the baked-stuffed- haddock crowd.  There's a
focus on regional fishes such as trout, shad, pollock, flounder, salmon
and of course, shellfish.  Try the shad with roe, spiced in earthly
realism.  The menu changes weekly with daily specials and some house
standards - such as oysters/ mussels which are recommended.  Casual, but
not inexpensive. [=> Boston Globe Review ]

Hemmenway's ($$+) (Providence RI) -- Seafood
  1 Old Stone Sq, (401) 351-8570
  Excellent food, including superb lobster casserole, seafood chowder
and bluefish pate.  Every fish is fresh and deliciously prepared.  If
you like curry, you'll love their house dressing.  They fly in a
variety of oysters for oysters on the half shell and you can order your
favorites if available or a sampler of 6 or so types. (8/94)

La Fogata ($$-) (Providence RI) -- Mexican
  East Avenue, about 3 miles from Brown University
  Has the best Mexican food in RI (perhaps the best anywhere).  The chef
spent much time in Mexico, and the food reflects that.  The chef was
also on the new cable tv food channel demonstrating her dish "Camarones
rellenos" (wood grilled shrimp dipped in chipotle sauce stuffed with
goat cheese and baked in verde sauce.)  You'll find tacos and burritos
here, but there is much more interesting fare that you won't find at the
"chain" Mexican restaurants.  Everything is wood grilled, most entrees
come with wood-grilled vegetables.  Try the chile rellenos con pollo
(fresh roasted poblano pepper stuffed with chicken that's been grilled
with chipotle orange sauce, then topped with chile con queso and baked)
and beef fajitas that are *hot*.  Prices are reasonable: $7.95 to $13.95
for an entree.  It's not high on atmosphere (very casual), but the food
is excellent.  No liquor license, but you can bring your own and they'll
supply glasses and corkscrew, opener, etc.  They don't take credit
cards, but will take a personal check if you're relatively local (and
maybe if you're not, check first).  Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday
through Saturday.  (Great salsa, too!).  It's worth the trip.

L'Epicurea ($$$) (Providence RI) -- Italian
  Federal Hill (the Atwells Ave. area) 
  The menu is limited to only about 20 things, but the food is very good
and the atmosphere and presentation are also done very nicely.  The
restaurant is sparkling new; they've renovated their older, much smaller
restaurant.  Excellent Lobster Ravioli, Pecorino Seafood (penne pasta w
shrimp & scallops), and focaccia.  The portions are about average in
size and the price is a little up there for a-la-carte meals but the
food is outstanding.

New Rivers ($$$-) (Providence RI) -- Eclectic
  7 Steeple St (extension of Angell St by the river), (401) 751-0350
  Another winner in the interesting, novel dishes category.  Fresh
ingredients, interesting herbs.  Nice atmosphere, small, reasonable
prices.

Pot Au Feu ($$$) (Providence RI) -- French
  44 Custom House St (at Weybosset), (401) 273-8953
  Great French food with great atmosphere.  Lots of rave reviews;
never had a bad dish.  Amazing creme brulee.  They have an upstairs
which is expensive and posh (jackets required), but downstairs is
casual, with both inexpensive soups/salads/quiches, etc. and more
expensive entrees ($15-20). (8/94)

Siam Square ($+) (Providence RI) -- Thai
  Thayer St, Just uphill from the Avon Cinema
  About $10/person, maybe $12 with a drink.  No non-smoking area.
  Very good food; vegetables crispy, fish fresh and light, food very
well spiced and flavored.  When they say hot, they mean it.  Three
pepper dishes are not for the faint of heart.  Good dishes include the
Tom Yum soup, Two-lovers (beef, pork and vegetables), Ginger fish with
crispy noodles, Bangkok Chicken, and Pad Thai.
  A casual collegiate ambience, w 10-15 closely set tables.  Not a
hole-in-the-wall, but even w Thai decorations on the wall, not fancy
either.  Informal but pleasant service.

Toscano's ($$$) (Providence RI) -- Italian
  265 Atwells Ave (DePasquale Plaza), (401) 274--8820

Warwick
-------

Bertucci's ($+) (Warwick RI) -- Pizza / Italian
  (401) 732-4343

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse (Warwick RI) -- Steakhouse

======================================================================
This Month's Contributors
======================================================================

A Special Thanks to those who have reviewed and recommended new
---------------------------------------------------------------
restaurants and those that needed additional reviews
----------------------------------------------------

                        dsm@cadence.com
                        gattina@worf.infonet.net
                        egoldste@bu.edu
                        fitch@pa.dec.com
                        Gregk@st0558.infonet.tufts.edu
                        hblanchett@umassd.edu
                        hechth@mit.edu
                        hwalters@bbn.com
                        jcchen@MIT.EDU
                        mmartini@nobska.er.usgs.gov
                        rali@hri.com
                        ted@ics.com

Wayne Berry             wayno@belv.com 
Penny Chase             pc@linus.mitre.org
Beth F. Cohen           beth@kurz-ai.com
Carter Cole             cartercole@aol.com 
Robert Coren            coren@spdcc.com
Will Dieterich          wdieteri@rmii.com
Gail Flowers            gail@mathworks.com
Dan Friedman
Steve Gagne             steve.gagne@analog.com
Barbara Gavin           dcigavin@delphi.com
Melissa Gladston        megladst@lynx.dac.neu.edu
Rob Gross               gross@bcuxs2.bc.edu 
Steve Gruverman         gruve@kronos.com
Phaedra A Hise          Hise@world.std.com
Katie Horne             Katie.T.Horne@med.umich.edu
Guy F Klose             gfk@world.std.com 
Ken Koellner            koellnk@elrondhmco.com
Steven Landau           slandau@world.std.com 
Rich Lenihan            rich@lenihan.iii.net
John R Levine           johnl@iecc.com
Laurie Mann             lmann@telerama.lm.com
Ms. Margo               margo@netcom.com 
David A. Martin         damartin@mtl.mit.edu 
Howard Melman           melman@osf.org
Fumiko Miura            fmiura@bu.edu 
Koti Nandipati          kotes@guntur.dfci.harvard.edu 
Michael O'Donnell       mod@osf.org
Gayton Osgood           gayton@world.std.com
Alan L. Rothschild      alr@camsci.com
Betsy Schwartz          betsys@shore.shore.net
Aaron Sherman           asherman@fmrco.com 
Bruce Smith             bsmith@osf.org
Bob Snyder              robertafsc@aol.com
Patrick Tufts           zippy@cs.brandeis.edu
Krishnan Vaidyanathan   cc70155@vantage.fmrco.com
Scott Williams          SWilliam@world.std.com 
Barbara Wolf            bsw@shore.net
Colleen Woodman         woodman@mathworks.com

And a Big Thanks to the folks below for their contributions in keeping
----------------------------------------------------------------------
reviews up-to-date 
-------------------

                        donahue@skepsis.com
                        otruba@mitre.org
                        Peter_Wender@qmlink.draper.com
                        ryba@ll.mit.edu

Beakman                 beakman@netcom.com 
Ralph Bowlin            ralph@ulab.atlanta.com
Tom Branham             tbranham@mm.wellesley.edu 
Flo Chien               floc@ksg1.harvard.edu
Karen Christians        karenc@ics.com 
Peter A. Cohen          flargh@tikkabik.com
Bob Donahue             donahue@cfassp23.harvard.edu 
Debra Deutsch           ddeutsch@bbn.com 
Bob Feigin              bfeigin@ace.com
Joseph A Francoeur      jfran@world.std.com
Steve Gruverman         gruve@kronos.com
Brian Hess              bnh@active.com
Arthur H Joe            aj24+@andrew.cmu.edu
Farzana I. Khatri       fikhatri@athena.mit.edu 
James J Kowalczyk       James_J_Kowalczyk@cup.portal.com
Louis Levasseur         llevasseur@mathworks.com
John j Macario          jmacario@world.std.com 
Dexter Medley           entrpoop@access.digex.net
Ed Moore                edmoore@MIT.EDU
Tom Moser               moser@sw.stratus.com 
Arthur Noguerola        Arthur_Noguerola@vos.stratus.com
david ozonoff           dozonoff@bu.edu
Neal Patrick            npatrick@bu.edu
David A. Pearlman       dap@portal.vpharm.com
Pete Peterson           rep@genrad.com 
Ken Pogran              pogran@BBN.COM
L. E. de Rivaud         rivaud@coyote.rain.org
Helen Trillian Rose     hrose@kei.com
Andy Shaw               shaw@hammer.lcs.mit.edu
Lawrence D. Sher        sher@bbn.com 
Peter Sultan            sultan@buast7.bu.edu
Stephanie Tai           stai@jade.tufts.edu 
James P. Taylor         jpt@telecaster.think.com 
Jean Tkacik             tkacik@mathworks.com
James Tsillas           jtsilla@ccs.neu.edu
Nancy Ka Po Yuen        nky7c@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU

======================================================================
Changes Since Last Month
======================================================================

Boston Area
===========

New Entries
-----------

  Bebop Burrito ($-) [Mexican] -- Harvard Sq
  Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse ($$-) [Steakhouse] -- Watertown
  Cafe Fiorella ($) [Italian/Pizza] -- Belmont
  Chinatown Cafe ($-) [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Choe's Cafe ($$-) [Korean] -- Allston
  Elephant Walk ($$+) [French Cambodian] -- Brookline (St Mary's)
  Four Seasons [Dessert Bar] -- Downtown
  Frogg Lane ($) -- Faneuil Hall
  Goemon ($+) [Japanese Noodle] -- Allston
  Helmand's ($$-) [Afghan] -- East Cambridge
  Il Panino ($+) [Italian Casual] -- Harvard/Central Sq
  Street Cafe ($+) [Chinese] -- Somerville (Davis Sq)
  Wild Ginger Bistro ($$+) [Asian Eclectic] -- Back Bay

Updated Reviews
---------------

  Appetito ($$) [Italian]
  Border Cafe ($$-) [Cajun/Southwestern]
  Botolph on Tremont ($$+) [Eclectic]
  Cactus Club ($$) [Southwestern]
  California Pizza Kitchen ($+) [Italian Pizza/Pasta]
  Casa Romero ($$) [Mexican]
  Changsho ($$-) [Chinese]
  China Pearl ($+) [Chinese w Dim Sum]
  East Ocean City ($$) [Chinese]
  Golden Temple ($$) [Chinese]
  Hong Kong Eatery ($$-) [Chinese]
  Iguana Cantina ($$-) [Tex/Mex]
  Jasmine Bistro ($$) [Eclectic]
  Jaspers ($$$$+) [Eclectic New England]
  Koreana ($$) [Korean]
  Ling Gardens ($+) [Chinese]
  Midwest Grill ($$-) [Brazillian/Portuguese]
  New Mother India ($$-) [Indian]
  PapaRazzi ($$) [Northern Italian]
  Phoenicia ($) [Middle Eastern]
  Portugalia ($$-) [Portuguese]
  Pu-Pu Hot Pot ($+) [Chinese w Dim Sum]
  Ristorante Toscano ($$$+) [Northern Italian]
  Salamander ($$$$) [Eclectic LUNCH]
  Steve's ($+) [Greek / Middle Eastern]
  Taqueria Mexico ($+) [Mexican]
  Union Square Bistro ($$+) [Eclectic]

Removed Entries
---------------

  Barbeque's International ($+) [Indian Barbeque]
    [Closed]
  Boston Shawarma ($) [Middle Eastern]
    [Closed]
  California Burrito Company ($) [Tex/Mex] -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
    [Closed]
  Pick-A-Chick ($) [Deli] -- Coolidge Corner
    [Now Tom & Art's Luncheonette; the previous owner just opened
     KJ's Deli next door to Enzo's]
  Tam O'Shanter ($$) [Eclectic]
    [After a hostile takeover, the food has nosedived.
     Moved to the non-recommended list]


Outside Boston Area
===================

New Entries
-----------

  American Lobster ($$-) (Marlborough MA) -- Lobster & Fried Seafood
  Andover Inn ($$$) (Andover MA) -- Sunday Rijstaffel
  Beijing Restaurant (N Andover MA) -- Chinese
  California Pizza Kitchen ($+) [Italian Pizza/Pasta]
  Ferrari's/Profennos ($$-) (Malden MA) -- Italian Casual
  Great Mandarin (Woburn MA) -- Chinese
  Ocean View (Gloucester MA) -- Portuguese
  Saxo Bistro ($$$) (Winchester MA) -- French / Mediterranean
  Stir Crazy (Pocasset MA) -- Vietnamese & Cambodian
  Walter's (Portland ME) -- Eclectic

Updated Reviews
---------------

  Aigo Bistro ($$$) (Concord Center MA) -- Mediterranean / Basque
  Border Cafe ($+) (Saugus MA) -- Tex/Mex
  Cafe Luigi ($$-) (Bedford MA) -- Italian
  Giant of Siam ($$-) (Nashua NH) -- Thai
  Hartwell House ($$+) (Lexington MA) -- American Traditional
  Le Lyonnaise ($$$+) (Acton MA) -- French Country
  Lemon Grass ($$-) (Lexington Center MA) -- Thai
  Lotus Blossom ($$-) (Sudbury MA) -- Chinese
  Shorty's Mexican Roadhouse ($+) (NH Chain) -- Tex/Mex
  Thai Orchid ($$-) (Worcester MA) -- Thai
  Tom's Seabreeze ($+) (Marlborough MA) -- Fried Seafood
  Uncle Cheung's (Framingham MA) -- Chinese
  Wayside Inn ($$+) (Sudbury MA) -- American Classic

Removed Entries
---------------

  Rosalie's ($$$-) (Sudbury MA) -- Italian-American
    [ Closed so Rosalie can pay more attention to one in Marblehead ]

======================================================================
Reviews Needed
======================================================================

The restaurants below have been recently proposed for consideration
for addition to the Boston Restaurant List, so I'd be especially
interested in getting a review of any of them:

This Month
----------

  Cafe Fiorella [Italian] -- Harvard Sq
  Cheddar's Pizzaria [Sandwich/Pizza] -- Alewife
  KJ's Deli [Deli] -- Coolidge Corner
  Kowloon Cafe [Chinese / Polynesian] -- Back Bay
  Macchu Picchu [Peruvian] -- Medford
  Mai [Vietnamese] -- Allston
  Peter's Delicatessen [Deli] -- Downtown
  Piazza [Italian] -- North End
  Santina's [Italian] -- East Boston
  Thai Dish [Thai] -- Back Bay
  Vienna Kitchen [Italian/Asian] -- Symphony Area
  Wisteria House [Chinese] -- Back Bay

Last Month
----------

  A Satluj [Indian] -- Waltham
  Ambrosia on Huntington [French / Asian] -- Symphony Area
  Angkor Wat [Vietnamese / Cambodian] -- North Brookline
  Arthur's Seafood [Seafood]  -- Allston
  Ayers Rock Australian Road House [Australian] -- Financial District
  Baldini's [Causal Italian] -- Back Bay
  Botucatu [Brazillian / Latin] -- South End
  Cafe Celador [Mediterranean] -- Harvard Sq
  Caffe Celeste [Italian] -- North End
  Chinatown Cafe [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Claddagh Grill [American Casual] -- South End
  Del Conte [Italian] -- North End
  Gourmeli's [American Casual] -- Back Bay
  Henry's [Diner] -- Allston
  India Paradise [Indian] -- Newton Centre
  Joe Tecce's [Italian] -- North End
  Kapa Taisho [Asian Eclectic] -- Back Bay
  Last Hurrah [American Casual] -- Downtown
  Malta Rotisserie & Grill -- North End
  Mercury Bar [Eclectic Tapas] -- Downtown
  Moby Dick of Boston [Persian Barbeque] -- Symphony Area
  Norumbega Park Restaurant [Eclectic] -- Newton (Auburndale)
  Pasta House [Italian Pasta] -- North End
  Peking Cuisise [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Piccolo Nido [Italian] -- North End
  Pranzare [Italian Pasta] -- Fenway
  Rialto [Southern Mediterranean] -- Harvard Sq
  Rossini's [Italian Cafe / Trattoria] -- South End
  Sage [California Italian] -- North End
  Tables of Content [Eclectic] -- Symphony Area
  Trattoria A Scalinatella [Regional Italian] -- North End
  Twenty-One Broad St [Steakhouse] -- Downtown
  Union Street Restaurant [Eclectic] -- Newton Center
  Vineyard Cafe [South American] -- Waltham
  Yoshi Japanese [Japanese] -- Back Bay
  Zipanger [French / Japanese] -- South End

Month before Last
-----------------

  Baja [Mexican] -- South End
  Barrett's Restaurant [Traditional?] -- Charlestown
  Christopher's [American Casual] -- Porter Sq
  Farragut House [Traditional] -- South Boston
  Mt Vernon Restaurant [Pub] -- Somerville (Sullivan Sq)
  Third & Charles Bar & Grill [Mexican] -- Kendall Sq
  Zuxuz [Cafe] -- Coolidge Corner

Previous Month
--------------

  Althea [Mediterranean] -- South End
  Angelo's Seafood Restaurant [Seafood] -- East Boston
  Armida's [Italian] -- North End
  Bentonwood Cafe [Cafe] -- Newton Center
  Cafe Rouge [Spa Cuisine] -- Back Bay
  Cantina Italiana [Italian] -- North End 
  Cedar's [Middle Eastern] -- South End
  Charles Restaurant [Italian/Continental] -- Beacon Hill
  Chart House [American] -- Waterfront
  El Cafetal Latin American Grill [Columbian] -- Jamaica Plain (Hyde Sq)
  El Rancho [Salvadorean] -- Inman Sq
  Frogg Lane [American Casual] -- Faneuil Hall
  Felicia's [Italian] -- North End
  Huckleberry's [Bistro] -- Newtonville
  Hunan Pagoda [Chinese] -- West Roxbury
  Jeannie's [Italian] -- Downtown
  Lil' Nest Cafe [Tunisian] -- Arlington
  Mass Bay Company [NE Regional] -- Back Bay
  Oasis Restaurant [Moroccan / Jordanian] -- Belmont
  People's Cafeteria [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Philips Old Colony House [NE Traditional] -- Savin Hill
  Pho Bolsa [Vietnamese] -- Chinatown
  Roth Fish Market & Restaurant [Seafood] -- Brookline Village
  Shay's Bar [Bar/Pub] -- Harvard Sq

========================================================================

I'd also like to get reviews for 

*** Sunday Brunch Buffet Restaurants *** 

(let me know why its good, what's on the buffet, if it includes booze
or other extras, when it's open, and how much per head)

========================================================================

There are many restaurants I'd like to get new or additional reviews
for. These restaurants are listed below by neighborhood. If you can,
please send a review for the one or two you've eaten at most recently.

Unknown Location
----------------

  Venetian Gardens [Italian] -- ?

Arlington
---------

  Cafe Barada [Lebanese] -- Arlington
  Lil' Nest Cafe [Tunisian] -- Arlington
  Tandoor [Indian] -- Arlington

Belmont
-------

  Casa D'Pasquale's [Southern Italian] -- Belmont
  Oasis Restaurant [Moroccan / Jordanian] -- Belmont

Boston (Allston)
----------------

  Arthur's Seafood [Seafood]  -- Allston
  Au Palmiste [Caribbean] -- Allston
  Carlo's Cucina Italiana [Italian] -- Allston
  Chung Wah [Chinese] -- Allston
  Henry's [Diner] -- Allston
  Ichiban [Japanese] -- Allston
  Kells [Irish] -- Allston [BRUNCH]
  Mai [Vietnamese] -- Allston
  Rama Thai [Thai] -- Allston
  Thai House [Thai] -- Allston

Boston (Back Bay)
-----------------

  Baldini's [Causal Italian] -- Back Bay
  Bello Mondo [Italian] -- Back Bay
  Cafe Eurosia [Asian Eclectic] -- Back Bay
  Cafe Louis [Traditional] -- Back Bay
  Cafe Promenade [Nouvelle American] -- Back Bay
  Cafe Rouge [Spa Cuisine] -- Back Bay
  Ciao Bella [Italian] -- Back Bay
  Davio's [Italian] -- Back Bay
  Dick's Last Resort [Bbq] -- Back Bay
  Emporio Armani Express [Italian] -- Back Bay
  Famous Atlantic Fish Company [Seafood] -- Back Bay
  Gourmeli's [American Casual] -- Back Bay
  House of Siam [Thai] -- Back Bay
  Hsin Hsin Chinese Noodle Restaurant [Chinese] -- Back Bay
  India Samraat [Indian] -- Back Bay
  Kapa Taisho [Asian Eclectic] -- Back Bay
  Kashmir [Indian] -- Back Bay
  Kowloon Cafe [Chinese / Polynesian] -- Back Bay
  L'Espalier [Nouvelle French] -- Back Bay
  Library Grill at Hampshire House [Traditional?] -- Back Bay
  Mass Bay Company [NE Regional] -- Back Bay
  Mirabelle [Eclectic] -- Back Bay
  Mister Leung's [Chinese] -- Back Bay
  Original Sports Saloon [Bbq] -- Back Bay
  Other Side Cafe [Cafe] -- Back Bay
  Parish Cafe [Eclectic] -- Back Bay
  Plaza Dining Room [Continental] -- Back Bay
  Rattlesnake Bar & Grill [Latin American] -- Back Bay
  Ritz Cafe [Traditional] -- Back Bay
  Ritz Dining Room [Traditional] -- Back Bay
  Steve's [Greek] -- Back Bay
  Thai Basil [Thai] -- Back Bay
  Thai Dish [Thai] -- Back Bay
  Upstair Grill at the Lenox Hotel [Traditional] -- Back Bay
  Whiskey's Smokehouse [American] -- Back Bay
  Wisteria House [Chinese] -- Back Bay
  Yenching Palace [Chinese] -- Back Bay
  Yoshi Japanese [Japanese] -- Back Bay

Boston (Beacon Hill / West End)
-------------------------------

  Antonio's Cucina Italiana [Italian] -- Beacon Hill
  Another Season [French-American] -- Beacon Hill
  Bangkok & Tokyo Grille [Thai] -- Beacon Hill
  Black Goose [Italian] -- Beacon Hill
  Charles Restaurant [Italian/Continental] -- Beacon Hill
  Istanbul [Turkish] -- Beacon Hill
  Ristorante Toscano [Italian] -- Beacon Hill
  Siam Cafe [Thai] -- Beacon Hill
  Tangier's Cafe [North African] -- Beacon Hill

Boston (Brighton)
-----------------

  Bangkok Bistro [Thai] -- Brighton (Cleveland Circle)
  Chez Tata [Creole] -- Brighton
  Jasmine Bistro [Eclectic] -- Brighton Center
  Yelena European Restaurant [Russian] -- Brighton

Boston (Chinatown)
------------------

  China Gate [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  China Grove [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Chinatown Cafe [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Dong Khanh [Vietnamese] -- Chinatown
  Eldo Tea House [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Food Hall [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Fortune House [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Golden Gate [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Golden Palace [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Peking Cuisise [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  People's Cafeteria [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Pho Bolsa [Vietnamese] -- Chinatown
  Vietnam Restaurant [Vietnamese] -- Chinatown

Boston (Downtown / Financial District)
--------------------------------------

  Ayers Rock Australian Road House [Australian] -- Financial District
  Cafe Fleuri [Nouvelle French / American] -- Downtown
  Cafe Marliave [Italian] -- Downtown
  Cafe Suisse [Continental] -- Downtown
  Cecil's [Latin / Caribbean]  -- Downtown
  Clarke's [American/Irish Casual] -- Downtown
  Dakota's [Eclectic] -- Downtown
  Jeannie's [Italian] -- Downtown
  Kyoto [Japanese Steakhouse] -- Downtown
  Last Hurrah [American Casual] -- Downtown
  Mercury Bar [Eclectic Tapas] -- Downtown
  Milk St Cafe [Kosher Vegetarian] -- Downtown
  Parker's [Traditional American] -- Downtown
  Peter's Delicatessen [Deli] -- Downtown
  Sally Ling's [Chinese] -- Downtown
  Schifino [Italian] -- Downtown
  Sultan's Kitchen [Turkish] -- Downtown
  Trattoria Il Panino [Italian] -- Downtown
  Twenty-One Broad St [Steakhouse] -- Downtown
  West St Grille [Eclectic] -- Downtown?

Boston (Dorchester)
-------------------

  A Chau [Vietnamese] -- Dorchester (Fields Corner)
  Beijing Garden Restaurant [Chinese] -- Dorchester
  Han Han Restaurant [Vietnamese] -- Dorchester
  Maryam's Famous Cuisine [Eclectic] -- Dorchester
  M & M Barbeque [Bbq] -- North Dorchester
  Station 11 [Nouvelle] -- Dorchester (Fields Corner)
  Thai Gourmet [Thai] -- Dorchester
  Two-Twenty-Four Boston St [Eclectic] -- Dorchester

Boston (East Boston)
--------------------

  Angelo's Seafood Restaurant [Seafood] -- East Boston
  Domenico's [Italian] -- East Boston
  Jeveli's [Italian] -- East Boston
  Nana Cora's [Italian] -- East Boston
  Sablone's Veal 'N Vintage [Italian] -- East Boston
  Santina's [Italian] -- East Boston

Boston (Hyde Park)
------------------

  Recommend a good restaurant in Hyde Park!

Boston (Jamaica Plain)
----------------------

  Acapulco Restaurant [Mexican] -- Jamaica Plain
  Bella Luna [Italian Pizza] -- Jamaica Plain
  Black Crow [Eclectic] -- Jamaica Plain (Hyde Sq)
  Center St Cafe [Cafe] -- Jamaica Plain
  Coffee Cantata [Cafe] -- Jamaica Plain
  El Cafetal Latin American Grill [Columbian] -- Jamaica Plain (Hyde Sq)
  El Embajador [Latin American] -- Jamaica Plain
  International Restaurant [Dominican] -- Jamaica Plain
  Los Andes [South American] -- Jamaica Plain
  Pupuseria Quintanilla [Salvadoran] -- Jamaica Plain
  Tacos El Charro [Mexican] -- Jamaica Plain
  Water Cafe [Cafe] -- Jamaica Plain

Boston (Kenmore Sq / Fenway)
----------------------------

  Pranzare [Italian Pasta] -- Fenway

Boston (Longwood Medical Area)
------------------------------

  A New Season [Eclectic] -- Boston (Longwood Medical Area)
  Sami's [Middle Eastern] -- Boston (Longwood Medical Area)
  Recommend a good restaurant in the Longwood Medical Area!

Boston (Mattapan)
-----------------

  Pit Stop [Bbq] -- Mattapan
  Recommend a good restaurant in Mattapan!

Boston (North End)
------------------

  Alloro [Nouvelle Italian] -- North End
  Armida's [Italian] -- North End
  Artu [Italian] -- North End
  Bernardo's [Northern Italian] -- North End
  Caffe Celeste [Italian] -- North End
  Caffe Prince Ristorante [Italian] -- North End
  Cantina Italiana [Italian] -- North End
  Da Natale [Italian] -- North End
  Del Conte [Italian] -- North End
  Dolce Vita [Italian] -- North End
  Emilio's [Italian] -- North End
  European [Italian] -- North End
  Felicia's [Italian] -- North End
  Filippo Ristorante [Italian] -- North End
  Five North Square [Italian] -- North End
  Florence Restaurant [Italian] -- North End
  Francesco's [Italian] -- North End
  Il Nido [Italian] -- North End
  Il Sole [Italian] -- North End
  Joe Tecce's [Italian] -- North End
  L'Osteria [Italian] -- North End
  La Summa [Italian] -- North End
  Malta Rotisserie & Grill -- North End
  Mama Maria [Italian] -- North End
  Mateo's [Italian] -- North End
  Maurizio's [Italian] -- North End
  Mother Anna's [Italian] -- North End
  Nicole [Italian] -- North End
  Oasis Cafe [American Casual] -- North End
  Pagliuca's [Italian] -- North End
  Pasta House [Italian Pasta] -- North End
  Piazza [Italian] -- North End
  Piccolo Nido [Italian] -- North End
  Ristorante Lucia [Italian] -- North End
  Ristorante Rosina [Italian] -- North End
  Sage [California Italian] -- North End
  Sea Sport Pescatore [Italian Seafood] -- North End
  Terramia [Italian] -- North End
  Trattoria A Scalinatella [Regional Italian] -- North End
  Trattoria Il Panino (Il Bistro) [Italian] -- North End
  Villa Francesca [Italian] -- North End

Boston (Roslindale / West Roxbury)
----------------------------------

  Hunan Pagoda [Chinese] -- West Roxbury
  Recommend a good restaurant in these areas!

Boston (Roxbury)
----------------

  Recommend a good restaurant in Roxbury!

Boston (Savin Hill)
-------------------

  Philips Old Colony House [NE Traditional] -- Savin Hill
  Recommend a good restaurant in Savin Hill!

Boston (South Boston)
---------------------

  Farragut House [Traditional] -- South Boston
  L'Street Diner and Pizzeria [Diner/Pizza] -- South Boston
  Ruth & Leo's [Deli] -- South Boston
  Recommend a good restaurant in South Boston!

Boston (South End)
------------------

  Althea [Mediterranean] -- South End
  Anchovies [Southern Italian] -- South End
  Appetito [Italian] -- South End
  Azita [Italian] -- South End
  Baja [Mexican] -- South End
  Botucatu [Brazillian / Latin] -- South End
  Butchie's [Bbq] -- South End
  Carlo Marino's [Italian] -- South End
  Cedar's [Middle Eastern] -- South End
  Claddagh Grill [American Casual] -- South End
  Claremont Cafe [Cafe] -- South End
  Club Cafe [Cafe] -- South End
  Rossini's [Italian Cafe / Trattoria] -- South End
  St Botolph [Eclectic] -- South End [DINNER REVIEW]
  Thai Village [Thai] -- South End
  Zipanger [French / Japanese] -- South End

Boston (Symphony Area)
----------------------

  Ambrosia on Huntington [French / Asian] -- Symphony Area
  Bangkok Room [Thai] -- Symphony Area
  Bombay Cafe [Indian] -- Symphony Area
  Gardner Cafe [Cafe] -- Symphony Area
  Moby Dick of Boston [Persian Barbeque] -- Symphony Area
  Tables of Content [Eclectic] -- Symphony Area
  Thai Cuisine [Thai] -- Symphony
  Vienna Kitchen [Italian/Asian] -- Symphony Area

Boston (Theater District / Park Sq)
-----------------------------------

  Fifty-Seven Restaurant [Traditional] -- Theatre District
  Galleria Italiana [Italian] -- Theater District
  Jacob Wirth [German-American] -- Theater District
  Omonia Greek [Greek] -- Theater District
  Pignoli [Nouvelle Italian] -- Park Sq
  Roberta's Show Biz Cafe [Eclectic?] -- Theater District
  Wire House Cafe [Cafe] -- Park Sq

Boston (Waterfront / Faneuil Hall)
----------------------------------

  Barking Crab [Seafood] -- Waterfront
  Bay Tower Room [Continental/French] -- Faneuil Hall Area
  Brasserie Le Halles [French] -- Faneuil Hall
  Cara Vera's Ristorante [Italian] -- Waterfront
  Chart House [American] -- Waterfront
  Davide [Italian] -- Waterfront
  Frogg Lane [American Casual] -- Faneuil Hall
  Jasper's [NE Regional] -- Waterfront
  Jimbo's Fish Shanty [Seafood] -- Waterfront
  Joseph's Aquariam [Seafood] -- Waterfront
  Michael's Waterfront [Nouvelle American] -- Waterfront
  Rowes Wharf Restaurant [Regional Eclectic] -- Waterfront
  Ye Olde Union Oyster House [Seafood] -- Faneuil Hall

Brookline (Coolidge Corner / JFK Crossing / North Brookline)
------------------------------------------------------------

  Angkor Wat [Vietnamese / Cambodian] -- North Brookline
  Beijing III [Chinese] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  Captain's Wharf [Seafood] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  Ciro's [Italian] -- Coolidge Corner
  KJ's Deli [Deli] -- Coolidge Corner
  Lucky Wah [Chinese] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  Noble House [Chinese] -- Coolidge Corner
  Rubin's Deli [Kosher Deli] -- Brookline (North Brookline)
  Takeshima [Japanese] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  Yu's [Chinese] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  Zuxuz [Cafe] -- Coolidge Corner

Brookline (St Mary's / Longwood)
--------------------------------

  Milk St Cafe [Kosher Vegetarian] -- Brookline (Longwood)
  Veronique [French] -- Brookline (Longwood)

Brookline (Village)
-------------------

  Roth Fish Market & Restaurant [Seafood] -- Brookline Village

Brookline (Washington Sq)
-------------------------

  Tam O'Shanter [Eclectic] -- Washington Sq

Cambridge (Central Sq / Cambridgeport / MIT)
--------------------------------------------

  Bisuteki [Japanese Steakhouse] -- Cambridge (Cambridgeport)
  Brookline Diner [Middle Eastern] -- Central Sq
  Cinderella's [Italian] -- Central Sq
  Fishery [Seafood] -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  Indian Globe [Indian] -- Central Sq
  Jonah's [Seafood] -- Cambridgeport
  Kabuki [Korean/Japanese] -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  Mandarin [Chinese] -- Cambridge (MIT)
  Oh Calcutta [Indian] -- Central Sq
  Taj India [Indian] -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  Tandoor House [Indian] -- Central Sq

Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
----------------------

  Acropolis [Greek] -- Harvard Sq
  Algiers [Middle Eastern] -- Harvard Sq
  Bangkok House [Thai] -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  Bennett St Cafe [Eclectic] -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq) [CLOSED?]
  Cafe Celador [Mediterranean] -- Harvard Sq
  Cafe Fiorella [Italian] -- Harvard Sq
  Cafe of India [Indian] -- Harvard Sq
  Chez Jean [French] -- Cambridge (Harvard/Porter Sq)
  Il Panino [Italian] -- Cambridge (Harvard/Central Sq)
  Pomme Frite [Cafe] -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  Rialto [Southern Mediterranean] -- Harvard Sq
  Shay's Bar [Bar/Pub] -- Harvard Sq
  Wursthaus [German] -- Harvard Sq
  Yenching Palace [Chinese] -- Back Bay

Cambridge (Inman Sqaure)
------------------------

  Cafe China [Chinese] -- Inman Sq
  El Rancho [Salvadorean] -- Inman Sq
  Midwest Grill [Brazillian] -- Inman Sq

Cambridge (Kendall Sq / East Cambridge)
---------------------------------------

  Court House Seafood Restaurant [Seafood] -- East Cambridge
  Parmizzano's [Italian] -- Kendall Sq
  Third & Charles Bar & Grill [Mexican] -- Kendall Sq

Cambridge (Porter Sq / North Cambridge)
---------------------------------------

  Averoff [Middle Eastern Greek-Lebanese] -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  Cafe Mami [Japanese] -- Porter Exchange Mall
  Christopher's [American Casual] -- Porter Sq
  Half Shell [American Casual] -- North Cambridge
  Ittyo [Japanese] -- Porter Exchange Mall
  Kotobukiya [Japanese] -- Porter Exchange Mall
  Masao's Kitchen [Vegan Macrobiotic] -- Porter Exchange Mall
  Sapporo Ramen [Japanese] -- Porter Exchange Mall
  Seki Tei [Japanese] -- Porter Exchange Mall
  Tanpopo [Japanese] -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)

Cambridge (West Cambridge / Fresh Pond / Alewife)
-------------------------------------------------

  Cheddar's Pizzaria [Sandwich/Pizza] -- Alewife

Charlestown
-----------

  Barrett's Restaurant [Traditional?] -- Charlestown
  Blossoms [Italian] -- Charlestown
  Figs [Italian] -- Charlestown
  Recommend a good restaurant in Charlestown!

Chelsea
-------

  ? [Latin American] -- Chelsea
  Rita's Place [Italian] -- Chelsea
  Tijuana's [Mexican] -- Chelsea
  Recommend a good restaurant in Chelsea!

Medford
-------

  Happy Haddock [Seafood] -- Medford
  Hungry Herbs: A Gourmet Sub Shop [Sandwich] -- Medford
  Macchu Picchu [Peruvian] -- Medford
  May's Cafe [Chinese] -- Medford
  Recommend a good restaurant in Medford!

Newton (Centre)
---------------

  Appetito [Italian] -- Newton Center
  Bentonwood Cafe [Cafe] -- Newton Center
  Chengmai [Thai] -- Newton Center
  India Paradise [Indian] -- Newton Centre
  Johnny's Luncheonette [Eclectic] -- Newton Centre
  Sabra [Israeli] -- Newton Center
  Seoul House [Korean] -- Newton Center
  Union Street Restaurant [Eclectic] -- Newton Center

Newton (Chestnut Hill)
----------------------

  Amici's [Italian] -- Newton (Chestnut Hill)
  Bernard's [Chinese] -- Chestnut Hill
  Boylston's [Traditional] -- Newton (Chestnut Hill)
  Caffe Luna [Cafe] -- Newton (Chestnut Hill)
  Marco Solo [Italian] -- Newton (Chestnut Hill) [Atrium]

Newton (Four Corners / Highlands / Upper Falls)
-----------------------------------------------

  Tang Dynasty [Chinese] -- Newton Highlands
  Recommend a good restaurant in these areas of Newton!

Newton (Lower Falls / Auburndale / West Newton)
-----------------------------------------------

  Norumbega Park Restaurant [Eclectic] -- Newton (Auburndale)
  Pillar House [Traditional] -- Newton Lower Falls
  Shogun [Japanese] -- West Newton
  Stromboli's [Southern Italian] -- West Newton
  Recommend a good restaurant in these areas of Newton!

Newton (Nonantum / Newtonville)
-------------------------------

  Huckleberry's [Bistro] -- Newtonville
  Ru Yee [Chinese] -- Newton (Nonantum)
  Yerardi's [Italian American] -- Newton (Nonantum)
  Recommend a good restaurant in these areas of Newton!

Somerville (Beacon St) 
-----------------------

  Little Bali [Indonesian] -- Somerville (Beacon St)

Somerville (Davis / Powderhouse / Teele / Ball Sq)
--------------------------------------------------

  Chieko [Korean] -- Somerville (Powderhouse Sq)
  Main Moon [Chinese] -- Somerville (Davis Sq) [HAS CHANGED NAMES!]
  Ollie's [Eclectic] -- East Somerville
  Panda [Chinese] -- Somerville (Ball Sq)

Somerville (East Somerville)
----------------------------

  Mt Vernon Restaurant [Pub] -- Somerville (Sullivan Sq)
  Recommend a good restaurant in this part of Somerville!

Somerville (Union Sq)
---------------------

  New Asia [Chinese] -- Union Sq
  Oasis Grille [Lebanese/Armenian] -- Somerville (Union Sq)
  Valdares [Brazillian] -- Somerville (Union Sq)

Waltham
-------

  A Satluj [Indian] -- Waltham
  Bombay Mahal [Indian] -- Waltham
  Erawan of Siam [Thai] -- Waltham
  Grille at Hobbs Brook [Traditional?] -- Waltham
  Il Capriccio [Italian] -- Waltham
  Little India [Indian] -- Waltham
  Sadie's [Bbq] -- Waltham
  Vineyard Cafe [South American] -- Waltham
  Waltham Seafood Restaurant [Seafood] -- Waltham

Watertown
---------

  Le Bocage [Nouvelle French] -- Watertown
  Pars Cafe [Persian] -- Watertown
  Sacco's [Italian] -- Watertown
  Taste of India [Indian] -- Watertown
  Verona [Italian] -- Watertown

========================================================================

There are many restaurants I'd like to get new or additional reviews
for. These restaurants are listed below by cuisine. If you can, please
send a review for the one or two you've eaten at most recently.

Unknown Cuisine
---------------

  Malta Rotisserie & Grill -- North End

Afghan
------


American Casual / Diner
-----------------------

  Chart House [American] -- Waterfront
  Christopher's [American Casual] -- Porter Sq
  Claddagh Grill [American Casual] -- South End
  Frogg Lane [American Casual] -- Faneuil Hall
  Gourmeli's [American Casual] -- Back Bay
  Half Shell [American Casual] -- North Cambridge
  Henry's [Diner] -- Allston
  L'Street Diner and Pizzeria [Diner/Pizza] -- South Boston
  Last Hurrah [American Casual] -- Downtown
  Oasis Cafe [American Casual] -- North End
  Whiskey's Smokehouse [American] -- Back Bay

Asian Eclectic
--------------

  Ambrosia on Huntington [French / Asian] -- Symphony Area
  Cafe Eurosia [Asian Eclectic] -- Back Bay
  Kapa Taisho [Asian Eclectic] -- Back Bay
  Zipanger [French / Japanese] -- South End
  Vienna Kitchen [Italian/Asian] -- Symphony Area

Australian
----------

  Ayers Rock Australian Road House [Australian] -- Financial District

Bar / Pub / Brew Pub
--------------------

  Mt Vernon Restaurant [Pub] -- Somerville (Sullivan Sq)
  Shay's Bar [Bar/Pub] -- Harvard Sq

Barbeque
--------

  Butchie's [Bbq] -- South End
  Dick's Last Resort [Bbq] -- Back Bay
  M & M Barbeque [Bbq] -- North Dorchester
  Original Sports Saloon [Bbq] -- Back Bay
  Pit Stop [Bbq] -- Mattapan
  Sadie's [Bbq] -- Waltham

Brazillian
----------

  Botucatu [Brazillian / Latin] -- South End
  Midwest Grill [Brazillian] -- Inman Sq
  Valdares [Brazillian] -- Somerville (Union Sq)

Caribbean / Cajun / Creole / Soul / Southern
--------------------------------------------

  Au Palmiste [Caribbean] -- Allston
  Chez Tata [Creole] -- Brighton
  International Restaurant [Dominican] -- Jamaica Plain

Chinese
-------

  Beijing III [Chinese] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  Beijing Garden Restaurant [Chinese] -- Dorchester
  Bernard's [Chinese] -- Chestnut Hill
  Cafe China [Chinese] -- Inman Sq
  China Gate [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  China Grove [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Chinatown Cafe [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Chung Wah [Chinese] -- Allston
  Eldo Tea House [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Food Hall [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Fortune House [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Golden Gate [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Golden Palace [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Hsin Hsin Chinese Noodle Restaurant [Chinese] -- Back Bay
  Hunan Pagoda [Chinese] -- West Roxbury
  Kowloon Cafe [Chinese / Polynesian] -- Back Bay
  Lucky Wah [Chinese] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  Main Moon [Chinese] -- Somerville (Davis Sq) [HAS CHANGED NAMES!]
  Mandarin [Chinese] -- Cambridge (MIT)
  May's Cafe [Chinese] -- Medford
  Mister Leung's [Chinese] -- Back Bay
  New Asia [Chinese] -- Union Sq
  Noble House [Chinese] -- Coolidge Corner
  People's Cafeteria [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Panda [Chinese] -- Somerville (Ball Sq)
  Peking Cuisise [Chinese] -- Chinatown
  Ru Yee [Chinese] -- Newton (Nonantum)
  Sally Ling's [Chinese] -- Downtown
  Tang Dynasty [Chinese] -- Newton Highlands
  Wisteria House [Chinese] -- Back Bay
  Yenching Palace [Chinese] -- Back Bay, Harvard Sq
  Yu's [Chinese] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)

Continental / Traditional / French
----------------------------------

  Another Season [French-American] -- Beacon Hill
  Barrett's Restaurant [Traditional?] -- Charlestown
  Bay Tower Room [Continental/French] -- Faneuil Hall Area
  Boylston's [Traditional] -- Newton (Chestnut Hill)
  Brasserie Le Halles [French] -- Faneuil Hall
  Cafe Fleuri [Nouvelle French / American] -- Downtown
  Cafe Louis [Traditional] -- Back Bay
  Cafe Rouge [Spa Cuisine] -- Back Bay
  Cafe Suisse [Continental] -- Downtown
  Chez Jean [French] -- Cambridge (Harvard/Porter Sq)
  Farragut House [Traditional] -- South Boston
  Fifty-Seven Restaurant [Traditional] -- Theatre District
  Grille at Hobbs Brook [Traditional?] -- Waltham
  Jacob Wirth [German-American] -- Theater District
  L'Espalier [Nouvelle French] -- Back Bay
  Le Bocage [Nouvelle French] -- Watertown
  Library Grill at Hampshire House [Traditional?] -- Back Bay
  Mass Bay Company [NE Regional] -- Back Bay
  Parker's [Traditional American] -- Downtown
  Philips Old Colony House [NE Traditional] -- Savin Hill
  Pillar House [Traditional] -- Newton Lower Falls
  Plaza Dining Room [Continental] -- Back Bay
  Ritz Cafe [Traditional] -- Back Bay
  Ritz Dining Room [Traditional] -- Back Bay
  Upstair Grill at the Lenox Hotel [Traditional] -- Back Bay
  Veronique [French] -- Brookline (Longwood)
  Wursthaus [German] -- Harvard Sq

Deli / Sandwich
---------------

  Cheddar's Pizzaria [Sandwich/Pizza] -- Alewife
  Hungry Herbs: A Gourmet Sub Shop [Sandwich] -- Medford
  KJ's Deli [Deli] -- Coolidge Corner
  Peter's Delicatessen [Deli] -- Downtown
  Ruth & Leo's [Deli] -- South Boston

Eclectic / Nouvelle American / Californian / Bistro / Cafe
----------------------------------------------------------

  A New Season [Eclectic] -- Boston (Longwood Medical Area)
  Bennett St Cafe [Eclectic] -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq) [CLOSED?]
  Bentonwood Cafe [Cafe] -- Newton Center
  Black Crow [Eclectic] -- Jamaica Plain (Hyde Sq)
  Cafe Promenade [Nouvelle American] -- Back Bay
  Caffe Luna [Cafe] -- Newton (Chestnut Hill)
  Center St Cafe [Cafe] -- Jamaica Plain
  Claremont Cafe [Cafe] -- South End
  Club Cafe [Cafe] -- South End
  Coffee Cantata [Cafe] -- Jamaica Plain
  Dakota's [Eclectic] -- Downtown
  Gardner Cafe [Cafe] -- Symphony Area
  Huckleberry's [Bistro] -- Newtonville
  Ollie's [Eclectic] -- East Somerville
  Jasmine Bistro [Eclectic] -- Brighton Center
  Jasper's [NE Regional] -- Waterfront
  Johnny's Luncheonette [Eclectic] -- Newton Centre
  Maryam's Famous Cuisine [Eclectic] -- Dorchester
  Mercury Bar [Eclectic Tapas] -- Downtown
  Michael's Waterfront [Nouvelle American] -- Waterfront
  Mirabelle [Eclectic] -- Back Bay
  Norumbega Park Restaurant [Eclectic] -- Newton (Auburndale)
  Other Side Cafe [Cafe] -- Back Bay
  Parish Cafe [Eclectic] -- Back Bay
  Pomme Frite [Cafe] -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  Roberta's Show Biz Cafe [Eclectic?] -- Theater District
  Rowes Wharf Restaurant [NE Regional] -- Waterfront
  St Botolph [Eclectic] -- South End [DINNER REVIEW]
  Station 11 [Nouvelle] -- Dorchester (Fields Corner)
  Tables of Content [Eclectic] -- Symphony Area
  Tam O'Shanter [Eclectic] -- Washington Sq
  Two-Twenty-Four Boston St [Eclectic] -- Dorchester
  Union Street Restaurant [Eclectic] -- Newton Center
  Water Cafe [Cafe] -- Jamaica Plain
  West St Grille [Eclectic] -- Downtown?
  Wire House Cafe [Cafe] -- Park Sq
  Zuxuz [Cafe] -- Coolidge Corner

Indian
------

  A Satluj [Indian] -- Waltham
  Bombay Cafe [Indian] -- Symphony Area
  Bombay Mahal [Indian] -- Waltham
  Cafe of India [Indian] -- Harvard Sq
  India Paradise [Indian] -- Newton Centre
  India Samraat [Indian] -- Back Bay
  Indian Globe [Indian] -- Central Sq
  Kashmir [Indian] -- Back Bay
  Little India [Indian] -- Waltham
  Oh Calcutta [Indian] -- Central Sq
  Taj India [Indian] -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  Tandoor [Indian] -- Arlington
  Tandoor House [Indian] -- Central Sq
  Taste of India [Indian] -- Watertown

Indonesian
----------

  Little Bali [Indonesian] -- Somerville (Beacon St)

Irish
-----

  Clarke's [American/Irish Casual] -- Downtown
  Kells [Irish] -- Allston [BRUNCH]

Italian
-------

  Alloro [Nouvelle Italian] -- North End
  Amici's [Italian] -- Newton (Chestnut Hill)
  Anchovies [Southern Italian] -- South End
  Antonio's Cucina Italiana [Italian] -- Beacon Hill
  Appetito [Italian] -- South End, Newton Center
  Armida's [Italian] -- North End
  Artu [Italian] -- North End
  Azita [Italian] -- South End
  Baldini's [Causal Italian] -- Back Bay
  Bella Luna [Italian Pizza] -- Jamaica Plain
  Bello Mondo [Italian] -- Back Bay
  Bernardo's [Northern Italian] -- North End
  Black Goose [Italian] -- Beacon Hill
  Blossoms [Italian] -- Charlestown
  Cafe Fiorella [Italian] -- Harvard Sq
  Cafe Marliave [Italian] -- Downtown
  Caffe Celeste [Italian] -- North End
  Caffe Prince Ristorante [Italian] -- North End
  Cantina Italiana [Italian] -- North End
  Cara Vera's Ristorante [Italian] -- Waterfront
  Carlo Marino's [Italian] -- South End
  Carlo's Cucina Italiana [Italian] -- Allston
  Casa D'Pasquale's [Southern Italian] -- Belmont
  Charles Restaurant [Italian/Continental] -- Beacon Hill
  Ciao Bella [Italian] -- Back Bay
  Cinderella's [Italian] -- Central Sq
  Ciro's [Italian] -- Coolidge Corner
  Da Natale [Italian] -- North End
  Davide [Italian] -- Waterfront
  Davio's [Italian] -- Back Bay
  Del Conte [Italian] -- North End
  Dolce Vita [Italian] -- North End
  Domenico's [Italian] -- East Boston
  Emilio's [Italian] -- North End
  Emporio Armani Express [Italian] -- Back Bay
  European [Italian] -- North End
  Felicia's [Italian] -- North End
  Figs [Italian] -- Charlestown
  Filippo Ristorante [Italian] -- North End
  Five North Square [Italian] -- North End
  Florence Restaurant [Italian] -- North End
  Francesco's [Italian] -- North End
  Galleria Italiana [Italian] -- Theater District
  Il Capriccio [Italian] -- Waltham
  Il Nido [Italian] -- North End
  Il Panino [Italian] -- Cambridge
  Il Sole [Italian] -- North End
  Jeannie's [Italian] -- Downtown
  Jeveli's [Italian] -- East Boston
  Joe Tecce's [Italian] -- North End
  L'Osteria [Italian] -- North End
  La Summa [Italian] -- North End
  Mama Maria [Italian] -- North End
  Marco Solo [Italian] -- Newton (Chestnut Hill) [Atrium]
  Mateo's [Italian] -- North End
  Maurizio's [Italian] -- North End
  Mother Anna's [Italian] -- North End
  Nana Cora's [Italian] -- East Boston
  Nicole [Italian] -- North End
  Pagliuca's [Italian] -- North End
  Parmizzano's [Italian] -- Kendall Sq
  Pasta House [Italian Pasta] -- North End
  Piazza [Italian] -- North End
  Piccolo Nido [Italian] -- North End
  Pignoli [Nouvelle Italian] -- Park Sq
  Pranzare [Italian Pasta] -- W Fenway
  Ristorante Lucia [Italian] -- North End
  Ristorante Rosina [Italian] -- North End
  Ristorante Toscano [Italian] -- Beacon Hill
  Rita's Place [Italian] -- Chelsea
  Rossini's [Italian Cafe / Trattoria] -- South End
  Sablone's Veal 'N Vintage [Italian] -- East Boston
  Sacco's [Italian] -- Watertown
  Sage [California Italian] -- North End
  Santina's [Italian] -- East Boston
  Schifino [Italian] -- Downtown
  Sea Sport Pescatore [Italian Seafood] -- North End
  Stromboli's [Southern Italian] -- West Newton
  Terramia [Italian] -- North End
  Trattoria A Scalinatella [Regional Italian] -- North End
  Trattoria Il Panino [Italian] -- Downtown
  Trattoria Il Panino: Il Bistro [Italian] -- North End
  Venetian Gardens [Italian] -- ?
  Verona [Italian] -- Watertown
  Vienna Kitchen [Italian/Asian] -- Symphony Area
  Villa Francesca [Italian] -- North End
  Yerardi's [Italian American] -- Newton (Nonantum)

Japanese
--------

  Bisuteki [Japanese Steakhouse] -- Cambridge (Cambridgeport)
  Cafe Mami [Japanese] -- Porter Exchange Mall
  Ichiban [Japanese] -- Allston
  Ittyo [Japanese] -- Porter Exchange Mall
  Kotobukiya [Japanese] -- Porter Exchange Mall
  Kyoto [Japanese Steakhouse] -- Downtown
  Sapporo Ramen [Japanese] -- Porter Exchange Mall
  Seki Tei [Japanese] -- Porter Exchange Mall
  Shogun [Japanese] -- Newton (West Newton)
  Tanpopo [Japanese] -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  Takeshima [Japanese] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  Yoshi Japanese [Japanese] -- Back Bay
  Zipanger [French / Japanese] -- South End

Korean
------

  Chieko [Korean] -- Somerville (Davis? Sq)
  Kabuki [Korean/Japanese] -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  Matsu-Ya [Korean/Japanese] -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  Seoul House [Korean] -- Newton Center

Kosher
------

  Milk St Cafe [Kosher Vegetarian] -- Brookline (Longwood), Downtown
  Rubin's Deli [Kosher Deli] -- Brookline (North Brookline)

Latin American
--------------

  ? [Latin American] -- Chelsea
  Cecil's [Latin / Caribbean]  -- Downtown
  El Cafetal Latin American Grill [Columbian] -- Jamaica Plain (Hyde Sq)
  El Embajador [Latin American] -- Jamaica Plain
  El Rancho [Salvadorean] -- Inman Sq
  Los Andes [South American] -- Jamaica Plain
  Macchu Picchu [Peruvian] -- Medford
  Pupuseria Quintanilla [Salvadoran] -- Jamaica Plain
  Rattlesnake Bar & Grill [Latin American] -- Back Bay
  Vineyard Cafe [South American] -- Waltham

Mediterranean
-------------

  Althea [Mediterranean] -- South End
  Cafe Celador [Mediterranean] -- Harvard Sq
  Rialto [Southern Mediterranean] -- Harvard Sq

Mexican, Tex/Mex, Southern
--------------------------

  Acapulco Restaurant [Mexican] -- Jamaica Plain
  Baja [Mexican] -- South End
  Tacos El Charro [Mexican] -- Jamaica Plain
  Third & Charles Bar & Grill [Mexican] -- Kendall Sq
  Tijuana's [Mexican] -- Chelsea

Middle Eastern / Greek / Turkish / Israeli / Persian / Armenian
---------------------------------------------------------------

  Acropolis [Greek] -- Harvard Sq
  Algiers [Middle Eastern] -- Harvard Sq
  Averoff [Middle Eastern Greek-Lebanese] -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
  Brookline Diner [Middle Eastern] -- Central Sq
  Cafe Barada [Lebanese] -- Arlington
  Cedar's [Middle Eastern] -- South End
  Istanbul [Turkish] -- Beacon Hill
  Moby Dick of Boston [Persian Barbeque] -- Symphony Area
  Oasis Grille [Lebanese/Armenian] -- Somerville (Union Sq)
  Oasis Restaurant [Moroccan / Jordanian] -- Belmont
  Omonia Greek [Greek] -- Theater District
  Pars Cafe [Persian] -- Watertown
  Sabra [Israeli] -- Newton Center
  Sami's [Middle Eastern] -- Boston (Longwood Medical Area)
  Steve's [Greek] -- Back Bay
  Sultan's Kitchen [Turkish] -- Downtown

North African
-------------

  Lil' Nest Cafe [Tunisian] -- Arlington
  Oasis Restaurant [Moroccan / Jordanian] -- Belmont
  Tangier's Cafe [North African] -- Beacon Hill

Russian
-------

  Yelena European Restaurant [Russian] -- Brighton

Seafood
-------

  Angelo's Seafood Restaurant [Seafood] -- East Boston
  Arthur's Seafood [Seafood]  -- Allston
  Barking Crab [Seafood] -- Waterfront
  Captain's Wharf [Seafood] -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
  Court House Seafood Restaurant [Seafood] -- East Cambridge
  Famous Atlantic Fish Company [Seafood] -- Back Bay
  Fishery [Seafood] -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
  Happy Haddock [Seafood] -- Medford
  Jimbo's Fish Shanty [Seafood] -- Waterfront
  Jonah's [Seafood] -- Cambridgeport
  Joseph's Aquariam [Seafood] -- Waterfront
  Roth Fish Market & Restaurant [Seafood] -- Brookline Village
  Waltham Seafood Restaurant [Seafood] -- Waltham
  Ye Olde Union Oyster House [Seafood] -- Faneuil Hall

Steak
-----

  Twenty-One Broad St [Steakhouse] -- Downtown

Thai
----

  Bangkok & Tokyo Grille [Thai] -- Beacon Hill
  Bangkok Bistro [Thai] -- Brighton (Cleveland Circle)
  Bangkok House [Thai] -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
  Bangkok Room [Thai] -- Symphony Area
  Chengmai [Thai] -- Newton Center
  Erawan of Siam [Thai] -- Waltham
  House of Siam [Thai] -- Back Bay
  Rama Thai [Thai] -- Allston
  Siam Cafe [Thai] -- Beacon Hill
  Thai Basil [Thai] -- Back Bay
  Thai Cuisine [Thai] -- Symphony
  Thai Dish [Thai] -- Back Bay
  Thai Gourmet [Thai] -- Dorchester
  Thai House [Thai] -- Allston
  Thai Village [Thai] -- South End

Vegetarian / Vegan / Macrobiotic
--------------------------------

  Masao's Kitchen [Vegan Macrobiotic] -- Porter Exchange Mall

Vietnamese & Cambodian
----------------------

  A Chau [Vietnamese] -- Dorchester (Fields Corner)
  Angkor Wat [Vietnamese / Cambodian] -- North Brookline
  Dong Khanh [Vietnamese] -- Chinatown
  Han Han Restaurant [Vietnamese] -- Dorchester
  Mai [Vietnamese] -- Allston
  Pho Bolsa [Vietnamese] -- Chinatown
  Vietnam Restaurant [Vietnamese] -- Chinatown

========================================================================

I have dated or limited information on the restaurants below which are
just outside the Boston area, and I'd love to find out anything you
might have to write about any of them, to be included in next month's
edition of the Boston Restaurant List (or if the reviews are bad, to
keep the place off the list)!

North Shore (east of US 1)
--------------------------

I'd like to get reviews of any good restaurants on the North Shore that are not on the
list, especially in Essex, Ipswich, Gloucestor, Marblehead, Newburyport, 
Rockport, Salem, and Swampscott. I'd also especially like to get reviews for the
restaurants below: 

  Blue Moon Cafe (Amesbury MA) -- American Casual (Diner)

  Chianti (Beverly MA) -- Italian
  Union Grille (Beverly MA) --  Nouvelle American Grill

  Mandarin Danvers (Danvers MA) -- Chinese
  Ponte Vecchio (Danvers MA) -- Northern Italian

  Farnham's (Essex MA) -- Seafood
  Village Restaurant (Essex MA) -- Seafood

  Au Beaugelais (Gloucester MA) -- French
  Bistro (Gloucestor MA) -- Eclectic
  Square Cafe (Gloucester MA) -- Bistro / Seafood
  White Rainbow (Gloucester MA) -- Nouvelle American

  Clam Box (Ipswich MA) -- Seafood
  Steep Hill Grill (Ipswich MA) -- Eclectic

  Capital Diner (Lynn MA) -- Diner
  Jake's Barbecue & Bar (Lynn MA) -- Barbeque

  Barnacle (Marblehead MA) -- Seafood
  Hawkes Street Cafe (Marblehead MA) -- Nouvelle American
  La Rosetta (Marblehead MA) -- Italian
  Pellino's (Marblehead MA) -- Italian
  Rosalie's (Marblehead MA) -- Italian-American
  Vesuvius Ristorante (Marblehead MA) -- Italian

  Stromboli's (Manchester-By-The-Sea MA) -- Italian

  Grog (Newburyport MA) -- Southwestern/Traditional
  Joseph's Winter St Cafe (Newburyport MA) -- Italian/Continental
  Middle St Foods (Newburyport MA) -- Eclectic
  Scandia (Newburyport MA) -- Eclectic
  Sweet Vidalia (Newburyport MA)
  Szechuan Taste (Newburyport MA) -- Chinese

  Aroma India`s Gourmet Restaurant (Peabody MA) -- Indian
  Brodie's Cafe (Peabody MA) -- American
  Capone's (Peabody MA) -- Italian
  Century House (Peabody/Danvers? MA) -- Traditional
  Hometown Buffet (Peabody MA) -- American Buffet
  O'Fado (Peabody MA) -- Portuguese
  Su Chang's (Peabody MA) -- Chinese

  Billy Tse (Revere MA) -- Asian Eclectic
  Bisuteki (Revere MA) -- Japanese Steakhouse
  Broadway Bistro (Revere MA) -- Eclectic

  Dockside (Rockport MA) -- Seafood?
  Glass Verandah (Rockport MA) -- Seafood
  Greenery (Rockport MA) -- Seafood?
  Oleana's by the Sea (Rockport MA) -- Swedish
  Oleander (Rockport MA) -- Seafood
  Peg Leg (Rockport MA) -- Seafood

  Agawam Diner (Rowley MA) -- Diner
  Seafood Village (Rowley MA) -- Seafood

  Annie's (Rockport MA) -- Seafood

  Asahi (Salem MA) -- Japanese
  Faccia Bella (Salem MA) -- Italian
  Grapevine (Salem MA) -- Italian
  In a Pig's Eye (Salem MA) -- American

  Cobblestone Restaurant & Lounge (Salisbury MA) -- American Casual

  Donatello's (Saugus MA) -- Italian
  Hilltop Steak House (Saugus MA) -- Steakhouse
  Kelly's Roast Beef (Saugus MA) -- Roast Beef / Seafood
  Kowloon (Saugus MA) -- Chinese
  Weylu's (Saugus MA) -- Chinese

  Palmer's (Swampscott MA) -- Italian
  Papa John's (Swampscott MA) -- Italian

North of Boston (but east of Rt 3, west of US 1)
------------------------------------------------

  China Blossom (N Andover MA) -- Chinese
  Grassfields (Andover MA) -- American Casual
  Jasmine (N Andover MA) -- Chinese
  Vincenzo's (Andover Center MA) -- Italian

  Amalfi (Billerica MA)

  Roma (Bradford MA) -- Casual Italian

  Dandelion Green (Burlington MA) -- American Casual
  Johnny Rocket's (Burlington MA) -- American Casual

  Jimmy's II (Dracut MA)

  Abbondanza (Everett MA) -- Italian

  Pedro Diego's (Haverhill MA) -- Tex/Mex

  China Chef (S Lawrence MA) -- Chinese
  Mounir's Restaurant (Lawrence MA) -- Lebanese

  Athenian Corner (Lowell MA) -- Greek
  Khemara (Lowell MA) -- Cambodian 
  La Boniche (Lowell MA) -- French

  Beansprouts (Malden MA) -- Chinese
  Faccia Bella (Malden MA) -- Italian
  Ferrari's (Malden MA) -- Italian Casual
  Profennos (Malden MA) -- Italian Casual
  Sunny's (Malden MA) -- Indian
  Trattoria Il Panino (Malden MA) -- Italian

  Kitty's (N Reading) -- Italian
  Le Metro Cafe (Reading MA) -- Italian?
  Lobster Claw (N Reading MA) -- Seafood
  Wes Parker's (Reading MA)

  Angelo's Ristorante (Stoneham MA) -- Italian
  Billy's Roast Beef (Stoneham MA) -- Roast Beef?
  Gloucester Sea Foods (Stoneham Center MA) -- Seafood
  J's Lighthouse (Stoneham MA) -- Seafood
  Salsa's Gourmet Mexican (Stoneham MA) -- Mexican
  Three Amigos Taco Shop (Stoneham MA) -- Mexican

  Silk's (Tyngsboro MA) -- Continental / French

  Dory's (Wakefield MA) -- Seafood

  Jasmine (Winchester MA) -- Chinese
  Narai Siam (Winchester MA) -- Thai
  Ristorante Lucia (Winchester MA) -- Italian

  Great Mandarin (Woburn MA) -- Chinese
  La Mia Cusina (Woburn MA) -- Italian
  Primo's (Woburn MA)
  Ristorante Il Fiorentino (Woburn MA) -- Italian
  Sassafras (Woburn MA) -- Eclectic?
  Stromboli's (Woburn MA) -- Italian
  Weylu's (Woburn MA) -- Chinese

West of Boston (as far as Worcestor)
------------------------------------

  Chez Claude (Acton MA) -- French
  Kourmet (Acton MA) -- Chinese

  John Stones Inn (Ashland MA) -- English Pub

  Dalya (Bedford MA) -- Mediterranean
  Great Wall (Bedford MA) -- Chinese
  Stouffers (Bedford MA) -- Traditional

  Shiro (Berlin MA) -- Japanese

  Ciro's (Chelmsford MA) -- Italian
  Szechuan Chef (N Chelmsford MA) -- Chinese
  Vincenzo's (Chelmsford MA) -- Italian

  Aigo Bistro (Concord MA) -- Mediterranean
  Colonial Inn (Concord MA) -- Regional Eclectic
  Willow Pond Kitchen (Concord MA) -- American

  Basil's (Framingham MA) -- Italian
  Bella Costa (Framingham MA) -- Italian
  Finally Michael's (Framingham MA) -- American
  Gerard's Farm B-B-Q (Framingham MA) -- Barbeque
  Lotus Flower (Framingham MA) -- Chinese
  May Garden (Framingham MA) -- Chinese
  Oh Calcutta! (Framingham MA) -- Indian
  Spring Garden (Framingham MA) -- Chinese
  Taste of China (Framingham MA) -- Chinese
  Yen's Wok (Framingham MA) -- Chinese

  Fruitlands (Harvard MA)

  DiNardo's (Leominster MA) -- Italian

  Bel Canto (Lexington MA) -- Italian
  Lemon Grass (Lexington Center MA) -- Thai
  New Asia (Lexington MA) -- Chinese
  Peking Garden (Lexington Center MA) -- Chinese
  Yangtse River (Lexington MA) -- Chinese

  American Lobster (Marlborough MA) -- Lobster
  Ciao Napoli (Marlborough MA) -- Italian
  Thai Coconut (Marlborough MA) -- Thai
  Tom's Seabreeze (Marlborough MA) -- Seafood

  Ma Maison (Maynard MA) -- French?
  Thai Chili (Maynard MA) -- Thai

  Milford Mandarin (Milford MA) -- Chinese

  Cafe Contempo (Millis MA) -- Italian
  Primavera (Millis MA) -- Italian
  Saigon Restaurant (Millis MA) -- Vietnamese

  Julianna's (Natick MA) -- Italian
  Ming Garden (Natick MA) -- Chinese
  Seafood and More (Natick Centre MA) -- Seafood

  Maximilian's Cafe (Needham MA) -- Cafe
  Oggi's (Needham Center MA) -- Italian
  Wok (Needham MA) -- Chinese

  Carla's (Norwood MA) -- Italian
  Tiffany's (Norwood MA) -- Middle Eastern / American

  Sherborn Inn (Sherborn MA) -- Traditional

  Willie's (Shrewsbury MA) -- Mexican

  Ipanema (Southboro MA) -- Brazillian

  Bullfinch's (Sudbury MA) -- American Casual
  Donacesca (Sudbury MA) -- Italian

  Amarin II (Wellesley MA) -- Thai
  Berkeley Restaurant (Wellesley Hills MA) -- Traditional
  Comella's (Wellesley MA) -- Italian
  TJ's Cantina (Wellesley/Natick MA) -- Baja Mexican

  Scoletti's (Westborough MA) -- Italian
  Tom Foolery's Victorian Eatery & Drinkery (Westborough MA) -- Casual American
  Old Vienna (Westborough MA) -- Austrian

  Agresti's (Westford MA) -- Italian

  Angela's (Worcester MA) -- Italian
  Arturo's (Worcester MA) -- Italian
  Cactus Pete's (Worcestor MA) -- American Casual
  Chopsticks (Worcester MA) -- Chinese
  El Basha (Worcester MA) -- Middle Eastern
  El Morocco (Worcester MA) -- Lebanese
  Elsa's Bistro (Worcester MA) -- Italian
  House of India (Worcester MA) -- Indian
  O'Conners (Worcester MA) -- Irish-American
  Ping's Garden (Worcester MA) -- Chinese
  Sole Proprieter (Worcester MA) -- Seafood
  Sweethart's (Worcestor MA) -- Indian
  Tiano's (Worcester MA) -- Italian

South of Boston (but east of Rt 1A)
-----------------------------------

  Vin & Eddie's (Abington MA) -- Northern Italian

  Baldini's (Avon MA) -- Italian Pizza

  El Serape (Braintree MA) -- Mexican

  Stelios (E Bridgewater MA) -- Greek

  Mediteraneo Bistro (Canton MA) -- Mediterranean

  La Rivage (Dartmouth MA) -- Classic French

  Navona (Hingham MA) -- Italian-French-American
  Tosca (Hingham MA) -- Italian

  Sapporito (Hull MA) -- Northern Nouvelle Country Italian

  Cheng-Du (Mansfield MA) -- Chinese/Mandarin
  LaDonna (Mansfield MA) -- Italian

  Mattapoisett Inn (Mattapoisett MA) -- Eclectic NE Regional

  Candleworks (New Bedford MA) -- Eclectic

  Beijing House (Norwell MA) -- Chinese
  Strawberry Fair (Norwell MA) -- Traditional

  Barnaby's (Quincy MA) -- Casual American
  Dragon Palace (W Quincy MA) -- Chinese
  Steve's Beale Street Diner (Quincy MA) -- Barbeque
  Tullios (N Quincy MA) -- Nouvelle Italian

  Caffe Bella (Randolph MA) -- Italian

  La Garlic Restorante (Raynham MA) -- Italian Casual

  Barker Tavern (Scituate MA) -- Mediterranean / American

  Phoebe's (Seekonk MA) -- Seafood

  Menasha's (Sharon MA) -- Israeli

  Moby Dick (Westport MA) -- Seafood

  Choe's Seafood Connection (Weymouth MA) -- Korean / Seafood
  Thai Restaurant (Weymouth MA) -- Thai

  Luciano's (Wrentham MA) -- Northern Italian

Cape Cod
--------

I'd like to get reviews of any good restaurants in Cape Cod that are not on the list. I'd
also especially like to get reviews for the restaurants below 

  Seafood Sam's (Cape Cod Chain) -- Seafood

  Barnstable Tavern & Grille (Barnstable Village MA) -- American Casual
  Dolphin Restaurant (Barnstable Village MA)
  Mattakeese Wharf Restaurant (Barnstable Harbor MA) -- Seafood

  Beechcroft Inn (Brewster MA) -- Continental
  Brewster Fish House (Brewster MA) -- Eclectic Seafood
  Brewster Inn & Chowder House (Brewster MA) -- Seafood
  High Brewster (Brewster MA) -- Eclectic New England
  Marsala's (Brewster MA) -- Sicilian Italian
  Mulligan's Restaurant (Brewster MA) -- Traditional
  Ocean Edge Resort, (508) 896-8251
  Reef Cafe (Brewster MA) -- Seafood / Eclectic

  Champlain's (Chatham MA) -- Regional
  Chatham Squire (Chatham MA) -- American
  Christian's Restaurant Downstairs (Chatham MA) -- Continental
  Fleming's Chatham Seafood House (Chatham MA) -- Seafood
  Impudent Oyster (Chatham MA) -- Seafood
  Northport Seafood House (Chatham MA) -- Seafood
  Pate's Restaurant (Chatham MA)
  Sea in the Rough (Chatham MA) -- Seafood / American
  Vining's Bistro (Chatham MA) -- Southwestern Grill
  Wequassett Inn (Chatham MA) -- NE Regional

  Regatta of Cotuit (Cotuit MA) -- Eclectic

  Anthony's (W Dennis MA) -- Italian-American
  BZ's (Dennisport MA) -- American Casual
  Captain Frosty's (Dennis MA) -- Seafood
  Captain Williams House (Dennisport MA)
  Clancy's (Dennisport MA)
  Dennis Inn Restaurant (Dennis MA) -- Continental
  Ebb Tide Restaurant (Dennisport MA)
  Lighthouse Inn (W Dennis MA) -- American
  Margarite's (Dennis Village MA) -- American Casual
  Marshside Restaurant (E Dennis MA) -- Seafood
  Red Pheasant (Dennis MA) -- Creative American
  Rose's (Dennis MA) -- Italian-American

  Arnold's (Eastham MA) -- Fried Seafood
  Warner B's (N Eastham MA) -- Italian

  Domingo's Olde Restaurant (W Falmouth)
  Food For Thought (Falmouth MA) -- American
  Lawrence's Restaurant (Falmouth Heights MA) -- American
  Pushcart (E Falmouth, MA)
  Quarterdeck Restaurant (Falmouth MA) -- American, Seafood

  Augustus Snow House (Harwich MA) -- Nouvelle American
  Bishop's Terrace (W Harwich MA) -- American
  Brax Landing (Harwichport MA)
  Cape Sea Grille (Harwichport MA) -- Contemporary Regional
  Chicken in the Garden (E Harwich MA)
  Country Inn (Harwich MA)
  Great Wall (W Harwich MA) -- Chinese
  HarborWatch Room (Harwichport MA) -- Regional
  L'alouette Restaurant (Harwichport MA) -- French

  Alberto's Ristorante (Hyannis MA) -- Northern Italian
  Baxter's Fish 'n Chips (Hyannis MA) -- Fried Seafood
  Black Cat (Hyannis MA)
  Guido Murphy's (Hyannis MA)
  Harry's (Hyannis MA) -- Cajun
  Mooring on the Waterfront (Hyannis MA) -- Seafood
  Paddock (Hyannis MA)
  Pavilion Indian Cuisine (Hyannis MA) -- Indian
  Penguins Sea Grill (Hyannis MA) -- Eclectic Seafood
  Reach (Hyannis MA) -- Caribbean Grill
  Ristorante Barolo (Hyannis MA) -- Italian
  Roadhouse Cafe (Hyannis MA) -- Italian / Seafood
  Steamers (Hyannis MA)
  Sweet Waters Grille (Hyannis MA) -- Southwestern

  Atlantic Seafood Restaurant (Mashpee MA)  -- Seafood
  Cefalo's (Mashpee MA) -- American Casual
  Cherrystone's (Mashpee MA) -- Seafood
  China Garden (Mashpee MA) -- Chinese
  Davy's Locker (Mashpee MA) -- American Casual
  Flume (Mashpee MA) -- Seafood / Portuguese
  Gone Tomatoes (Mashpee MA) -- Italian
  Seafarer Restaurant (Mashpee MA) -- Seafood

  Atlantic Seafood Cafe (New Seabury MA) -- Seafood
  Marketplace Raw Bar (New Seabury MA) -- Seafood
  Popponesset Inn (New Seabury MA) -- Traditional

  Arbor Restaurant (Orleans MA) -- Creative Continental
  Captain Cass (Orleans MA) -- Seafood
  Captain Elmer's Seafood Restaurant (Orleans MA) -- Seafood
  Captain Linnell House (Orleans MA) -- Traditional
  Cooke's (Orleans MA) -- Seafood
  Jailhouse Tavern (Orleans MA) -- American
  Lo Cicero's (Orleans MA) -- Italian
  Lobster Claw (Orleans MA) -- Seafood
  Lobster Pound (Orleans MA) -- Seafood
  Nauset Beach Club (E Orleans MA) -- Mediterranean Seafood
  Off the Bay Cafe (Orleans MA) -- American
  Orleans Inn (Orleans MA)
  Philbrick's Fish & Chowder House (Orleans MA) -- Seafood
  Wheel Haus Cafe (Orleans MA) -- German
  Yardarm (Orleans MA) 

  East Bay Lodge (Osterville MA) -- Continental

  Basil's (Provincetown MA)
  Cafe Blase (Provincetown MA)
  Ciro & Sal's (Provincetown MA) -- Italian
  Fat Jack's (Provincetown MA) -- Italian / Seafood
  Flagship (Provincetown MA)
  Franco's (Provincetown MA) -- Eclectic Continental
  Front Street Restaurant (Provincetown MA) -- Continental / Italian
  Landmark Inn Restaurant (Provincetown MA)
  Mews Waterfront Dining (Provincetown MA)
  Moors Restaurant (Provincetown MA)
  Napi's (Provincetown MA) -- Eclectic
  Pepe's Wharf (Provincetown MA)
  Pucci's Harborside (Provincetown MA)
  Red Inn Restaurant (Provincetown MA)
  Sal's Place (Provincetown MA) -- Italian / Seafood
  Stormy Harbor Restaurant (Provincetown MA) -- Italian / Portuguese

  Dan'l Webster Inn (Sandwich MA) -- Traditional
  Horizons on Cape Cod Bay (Sandwich MA) -- Seafood
  Sandy Neck Restaurant (E Sandwich MA) -- Eclectic / American

  Adrian's (N Truro MA) -- Italian
  Paparazzi (N Truro MA)

  Aesop's Tables (Wellfleet Center MA) -- Traditional
  Buenos Nachos (Wellfleet MA) -- Mexican
  Captain Higgins (Wellfleet MA) -- Seafood
  Duck Creek Tavern Room (Wellfleet MA)
  JP's (S Wellfleet MA)
  Lighthouse (Wellfleet Center MA) -- Eclectic
  Norma Jeans (S Wellfleet MA) -- Traditional
  PJ's Restaurant (Wellfleet MA)
  Sweet Seasons (Wellfleet MA)
  Van Rensselaer's (S Wellfleet MA)
  Wellfleet Oyster House (Wellfleet MA)

  Captain Kidd (Woods Hole MA) -- American

  Abbicci (Yarmouthport MA) -- Italian
  Anthony's Cummaquid Inn (Yarmouthport MA)
  Bass River Seafood Restaurant (S Yarmouth MA) -- Seafood
  Dixon's Fish & Chips (Yarmouthport MA) -- Seafood
  Frontier (S Yarmouth MA) -- Steak / Seafood
  Gangsta Guccionni's (W Yarmouth MA) -- Italian
  Harbor Point Restaurant (Yarmouthport MA) -- Traditional
  Inaho (Yarmouthport MA) -- Japanese
  Lobster Boat (W Yarmouth MA) -- Seafood
  Riverway Lobster House (Yarmouth MA)
  Skippy's Pier 1 Restaurant (S Yarmouth)

Martha's Vineyard
-----------------

  Among the Flowers (Edgartown MA)
  Andrea's Restaurant (Edgartown MA) -- Continental
  Beeftender (Edgartown MA)
  David Ryan's Restaurant (Edgartown MA)
  L'Etoile (Edgartown MA) -- Contemporary French
  Savoir Fare (Edgartown MA) -- Nouvelle Italian
  Seafood Shanty (Edgartown MA) -- Seafood
  Starbuck's Restaurant (Edgartown MA) -- Traditional

  Aquinnah (Gay Head MA) -- Traditional

  Beach Plum Inn & Restaurant (Menemsha MA) -- Traditional
  Homeport (Menemsha MA) -- Seafood

  David's Island House (Oak Bluffs MA)
  Ocean View Restaurant (Oak Bluffs MA)
  Oyster Bar (Oak Bluffs MA) -- Bistro / Raw Bar
  Zapotec (Oak Bluffs MA)

  Black Dog Tavern (Vineyard Haven MA) -- Eclectic
  Le Grenier (Vineyard Haven MA) -- French
  Sandy's Fish & Chips (Vineyard Haven MA) -- Fried Seafood

  Lambert's Cove Country Inn (West Tisbury MA) -- Seafood

Nantucket
---------

  21 Federal (Nantucket MA) -- Eclectic
  1845 Jared Coffin House (Nantucket MA) -- NE Regional
  American Seasons (Nantucket MA) -- Eclectic
  Atlantic Cafe (Nantucket MA) 
  Boarding House (Nantucket MA) -- Eclectic
  Brotherhood of Thieves (Nantucket MA) -- Traditional
  Cap'n Tobey's Chowder House (Nantucket MA) -- Seafood
  Chanticleer (Siasconset MA) -- French
  Club Car (Nantucket MA)
  Company of the Cauldron (Nantucket MA) -- Eclectic
  De Marco (Nantucket MA) -- Northern Italian
  Galley on Cliffside Beach (Nantucket MA)
  India House (Nantucket MA)
  Jared's (Nantucket MA)
  Languedoc Inn & Restaurant (Nantucket MA) -- Traditional
  Regatta at the White Elephant (Nantucket MA)
  Second Story (Nantucket MA) -- Eclectic
  Straight Wharf Restaurant (Nantucket MA)
  Summer House (Siasconset MA) -- Traditional
  Taproom (Nantucket MA)
  Topper's at the Wauwinet (Nantucket MA) -- Traditional
  Woodbox (Nantucket MA)

Southeastern New Hampshire
--------------------------
(bounded by Nashua, Manchester, Dover)
--------------------------------------

  Shorty's Mexican Roadhouse (NH Chain) -- Tex/Mex

  Greenhouse Cafe (Amherst NH) -- Continental

  Chen Yang Li (Bedford NH) -- Chinese
  Weather Vane (Bedford NH) -- Seafood

  Kohinoor (Dover NH) -- Indian
  Ron's Place (Dover NH) -- Casual American / Breakfast

  Freemont Pizzeria & Restaurant (Fremont NH) -- Italian

  Ashworth by the Sea (Hampton Beach NH) -- Traditional
  Brandano's La Trattoria (Hampton NH) -- Italian
  Ron's Beach House (Hampton NH) -- Seafood

  Kingston 1676 House (Kingston NH) -- American/Continental

  D'Artagnan (Lyme NH) -- Nouvelle French

  Green Barn Restaurant (Methuen NH) -- German

  Cafe Mardi Gras (Nashua NH) -- Cajun/Creole
  Hilltop Steak House (Nashua NH) -- Steak
  Indian Village [was Food & Flavors] (Nashua NH) -- Indian
  Osaka Tea Garden (Nashua NH) -- Japanese
  The Little Mexico Restaurant (Nashua NH)
  Ya Mamma's (Nashua NH) -- Italian

  Ponte Vecchia (New Castle NH) -- Italian

  A.D.'s Barbeque House (Portsmouth NH) -- BBq
  Blue Strawbery (Portsmouth NH) -- Nouvelle American
  Cafe Mirabelle (Portsmouth NH) -- French
  Library (Portsmouth NH) -- Seafood / American
  Portsmouth Brewery (Portsmouth NH) -- Brew Pub
  State Street Saloon (Portsmouth NH) -- American / Italian
  Strawberry Court: Restaurant Francais (Portsmouth NH) -- French

  Colosseum (Salem NH) -- Italian
  Little Mexico (Salem NH) -- Mexico

Southwestern Coastal Maine
--------------------------

  Taste of Maine (Bath ME) -- Seafood

  Cape Neddick Inn (Cape Neddick ME) -- Nouvelle American

  Beal Street (Freeport ME) -- Bbq
  Harrasacket Inn (Freeport ME) -- American/Continental
  Maine Dining Room (Freeport ME) -- Nouvelle American

  1821 House (Kennebunk ME)
  Kennbunkport Inn (Kennebunkport ME)
  ME-LEI-WAH (Kennebunk ME) -- Chinese
  Topher's (Kennebunk ME)
  White Barn Inn (Kennebunkport ME) -- Traditional

  Chauncy Creek Lobster Pound (Kittery ME) -- Seafood (Lobster Pound)

  Arrows (Ogunquit ME) -- Nouvelle American
  Ogunquit Lobster House (Ogunquit ME) -- Seafood

  Alberta's Cafe (Portland ME) -- Eclectic
  Esposito's (Portland ME) -- Italian / Seafood
  Great Lost Bear (Portland ME)
  Katahdin (Portland ME) -- Eclectic
  Street & Co (Portland ME) -- Seafood
  Walter's (Portland ME)

  Henry's (Wells ME) -- Seafood
  Litchfield's (Wells ME)

  York Harbor Inn (York Harbor ME)

Rhode Island
------------

  Il Picolo (Johnston RI) -- Italian

  Olga's (Little Compton RI) -- American

  American Grill (Newport RI)
  Cafe Zelda (Newport RI) -- Nouveau American
  Chart House (Newport RI)
  Flo's Shack (Portsmouth RI) -- Seafood (Clam Shack)
  Le Petit Auberge (Newport RI) -- Country French
  Pezzulli's (Newport RI) -- Northern Italian
  Pronto (Newport RI) -- Italian
  Puerini's (Newport RI) -- Italian
  Scales & Shells (Newport RI) -- Seafood
  White Horse Tavern (Newport RI) -- Eclectic New England

  Flo's Shack (Portsmouth RI) -- Seafood (Clam Shack)

  Angel's (Providence RI) -- Eclectic
  Aspara (Providence RI) -- Asian
  Blue Grotto (Providence RI)
  Camille's (Providence RI) -- Italian
  Capital Grille (Providence RI) -- Steak
  Faye's Place (Providence RI) -- Soul Food
  Fellini's (Providence RI) -- Italian / Pizza
  Florentine Grill (N Providence RI) -- American Grill
  Franklin (Providence RI) -- Dominican
  L'Epicurea (Providence RI) -- Italian
  La Fogata (Providence RI) -- Mexican
  Leon's (Providence RI)
  Marriot (Providence RI) -- Traditional
  New Rivers (Providence RI) -- Eclectic
  Old Canteen (Providence RI)
  Pizzico (Providence RI) -- Italian
  Pot Au Feu (Providence RI) -- French
  Rue de L'Espoir (Providence RI) -- Cafe
  Shooters (Providence RI)
  Siam Garden (Providence RI) -- Thai
  Taste of India (Providence RI) -- Indian
  Toscano's (Providence RI) -- Italian
  Trattoria Antuono (Providence RI) -- Italian
  Union Station Brewery (Providence RI) -- Brew Pub

  Provender (Tiverton RI) -- American



From: ellis@osf.org (Ellis S. Cohen)
Subject: Recent Interesting Restaurant Reviews
Date: Wed Nov 23 09:54:05 EST 1994
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Lines: 342
Distribution: world


The entries in the Boston Restaurant List are distilled
are distilled from reviews and contributions sent in by
many people, and there isn't space to include many of the
truly interesting, entertaining and occasionally
bizarre details people send.

Web surfers can access all these long reviews at

  http://www.osf.org:8001/boston-food/interesting.html

In the meantime, here are this past month's crop of
interesting contributions:

Appetito ($$) [Italian]
  Last evening, a Thursday, I went to dine at Appetito, 1 Appleton St.
in the South End.  A friend and I had reservations for non-smoking at
6:15 PM and were seated promptly in the mostly-empty dining area.
Smokers were not well isolated, and my friend and I both gagged
immediately.  I asked the maitre d' to move us further away from the
smokers and pointed out several acceptable, unoccupied tables.  He
refused to move us, and we left saying we were sorry he could not
accommodate people who had reservations.  Summary: poor smoke
isolation, way too much attitude, and an unpleasant experience.
(Peter_Wender@qmlink.draper.com 10/94)

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse [Steakhouse] 
  There is also a Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse in the parking lot of the
North Shore Mall - it just opened a month or so ago.
  Overall, I was pleased with it, but it depends what you are looking
for.  It is definitely a "kid friendly" type of restaurant - however
it was not the "adult hell" type of place that some restaurants are
(i.e. Chuck E Cheeze). Some aspects of it reminded me of the Disney
World Country Bear Jamboree - there is a talking Moose head that tells
the story of how the restaurant got its name - it goes into action
every 20 minutes or so (not so much that it drives you crazy). Also,
in the waiting area there is a Christmas tree that (every 10 minutes
or so) lights up, opens its "eyes", starts swaying back and forth (I
thought for sure my kid was in the process of pulling the tree over
before I realized that it was mechanized), and talks. It helps to keep
the kids entertained while you are waiting for a table.
  The decor is a Canadian hunting lodge with a big stone fireplace in
the middle, exposed beams, lots of fake animal heads, etc. It is
rather noisy. I guess you would call the food "hearty fare" and they
serve Flintstone sized portions (massive) - definitely not the place
for a vegetarian. We had Buffalo wings for an appetizer which were
pretty good - very spicy but not the best that I have had. I got the
rib plate which was massive - they were darn good ribs too (again, not
the best I have ever had but pretty respectable). For $12.95 I got a
massive rack of ribs, side order of baked beans (these were very
good), choice of mashed potatoes, curly fries, or baked potato, choice
of a regular salad or Caesar salad (it was huge too), and two loaves
of homemade bread. There are free refills on drinks too. Most of the
adult meals range between $7.95 and $15.95. The steaks looked pretty
decent for the money.
  The kids meals are $2.95 to $3.95 (shoot, a happy meal at McDonald
costs $2.50 or so) and comes with a bottomless drink and a large
dessert sundae (which contained Ben & Jerry's ice cream).
  At 5:30 PM on Saturday there was a 50 minute wait - however, you can
put in your name and then go walk around the mall. They give you a
pager to carry with you. They also have a "trading post" in the
restaurant that sells Coonskin caps and other essential Frontierware.
  Overall, I liked the place (and, needless to say, my kids loved it).
It certainly is not the place to go for an intimate dining experience
or if you just want a small bite. I thought it was pretty reasonably
priced, especially if you figure in that you will have tons to take
home in a doggy bag (or suitcase).  (SWilliam@world.std.com Scott
Williams 10/94)

California Pizza Kitchen ($+) [Italian Pizza/Pasta]
  We were there on Saturday for lunch.  Great looking menu, friendly
staff, and a LONG WAIT between ordering and arrival of food.
  They've brought in experienced servers from their other restaurants
from around the country --- our waitress was from their Fort
Lauderdale store --- to help get this one off the ground.  Apparently
they didn't do the same with the kitchen staff, who quickly got backed
up.  Only about 1/3 of the tables were filled when we arrived at
11:45, hoping to beat the lunchtime rush.  We ordered at 11:55.  How
long can it take to make sandwiches and pasta?  At 12:25 we made our
first inquiry about our order.  At 12:35 we asked again.  To their
credit, the wait staff knew how to escalate a problem --- within one
minute of our second inquiry, one of the (also experienced) managers
was at our table, apologizing for the delay and offering to pick up
our tab.  Five minutes later our food arrived.  Unfortunately, by that
time the kids were pretty restless, so we gulped it down and dashed
out.
  The people at the table next to us weren't so lucky.  They left,
furious, after waiting one hour for a pizza that never did arrive.
  CPK will probably do very well after they've worked out the kinks,
but I'm going to wait several months before giving them another try
(with the please-come-back gift certificates they gave us!).
(gail@mathworks.com Gail Flowers 10/94)
  % Food quality was excellent.  Flavorful, well presented,
appropriately cooked.  We had a salad, quesidillas with an Asian
mushroom filling and a Southwestern filling, a chicken in tomato sauce
pasta dish, and a ginger/black bean chicken over pasta.  We had
tiramasu and key lime pie for desert.  All were excellent.
  Service started out prompt but failed totally after that.  Drinks
were delivered quickly and our order was taken at that time.  My
wife's salad was brought in a few minutes with the promise that my
CPK-esdillas would be right out.  Ten minutes later, a manager stopped
by to see how things were.  We noted that the appetizer had not come
"right up" and he said he'd go off and check on it.  He may have, but
he never came back to let us know.  For the next ten minutes, no
servers came near our table.  Then the appetizer arrived.  I told the
server that I'd skip it if the main dishes were nearly ready.  She
said she'd check and get right back.  Another ten minutes passed with
no return, so I started my appetizer.  Of course two minutes later,
the main dishes arrived, delivered by yet another manager.  We
explained what happened, asked that my dish be kept warm, and brought
back in a few minutes.  That request was actually honored, and the
manager offered to buy us dessert.  The remainder of the meal's
service was only marginally better.  CPK clearly needs to work out
some serious service flaws ... they use the team serving approach, and
it seemed to us that there enough people working to do a better job.
  The ambience is casual.  The walls are lined with mirrors, the floor
is hard tiled, lending to a noisy, frenetic feel.  CPK is not
intended, despite our experience, to be a restaurant in which a
lingering meal is enjoyed.
  The floor was sticky and dirty.  My wife said her trip to the
restroom was out of a Seinfeld episode ... she had to borrow toilet
paper from the woman in the next stall.
  In all, we'll go back because the menu was filled with interesting
and eclectic offerings, but we'll wait another few months to let the
service issues get resolved. (10/94)

Casa Romero ($$) [Mexican] -- Back Bay
  I went to Casa Romero, on Gloucester Street near Newbury Street this
weekend. It has returned to its previous high level of quality after a
dip when someone attempted to turn into a yuppie nouvelle-Mexican
restaurant. The mole enchiladas and the chile rellanos were delicious.
You don't get as much as at Casa Mexico, but the food tastes better.
  One thing marred the experience, however. They charged a dollar per
person to hang our coats up in a small closet. I don't mind being
nickel-and-dimed at cheap places that operate on low profit margins,
but at an expensive restaurant, I prefer the little extras to be
included for free and just made part of the overall cost of the food.
I also like to know about these charges before I give them the coat,
not when I am leaving.  (damartin@mtl.mit.edu David A. Martin 11/94)

Elephant Walk ($$) [French Cambodian]
  I was there (at the Brookline location) tonight.  It has been at
least two years since I made my way to Somerville to eat at the
original, but my impression is that the prices are higher at the new
place.  (Of course, by now the prices are probably higher at the old
place than they were two years ago.)  The restaurant is quite airy and
yet also romantic, because the lighting is dim.  However, because the
floors and walls are bare, the noise level is quite high, which hurts
the atmosphere quite a bit.
  The waitress told us that the menu is different from the one in
Somerville, particularly on the French side (which my friend and I
didn't try).  We started with a bowl of the soup "Phnom-Penh," which
could easily pass for a large lunch, and the rouleaux (which I recall
from Somerville).  Then my friend had a dish of chicken and green
beans, while I had a very rich beef stew flavored with coconut milk,
peanuts, and various other spices.
  All of the food was very good.  I must admit that I was a bit
surprised by the mildness of the spicing; I think that Brookline
diners are a bit more adventuresome than the chef expects.  I ordered
my stew "moderate," but it in fact had very little pepper.  The
portions were quite large, but including tip, the bill came to
forty-nine dollars.
  There is now a liquor license, and the waitress told us that the
liquor was in the process of being ordered.  We tried to get a whiskey
sour, but the raw ingredients were not yet available.  I suspect that
this will all be worked out by Thanksgiving.
(gross@bcuxs2.bc.edu Rob Gross 11/94)
  % Had a major problem with Elephant Walk last week.
  Knowing that there's usually a wait, we called ahead to find out how
crowded things were.  We expected to hear that there'd be a 30-60
minute wait, but the told us that there were fairly dead that night
and there was no wait if we hurried over. So we did.
  We get there and there's 45 minute wait.  When we asked why they
told us otherwise, one person said that all these people had arrived
in the last 10 minutes, and another person said that it'd been like
that all night and that no one called to ask what the wait was (in
other words, they were claiming we had lied about calling).
  I like this restaurant.  But I'm not going back.  I don't like being
lied to, and I don't like people implying I'm lying.  When we called,
we even asked if we should get a reservation, and they said it wasn't
necessary...  So, I can't understand why they deliberately told us
something that wasn't true.  The wait wouldn't have been so bad if
they had been up front about it.  The only thing I can think is that
they figured if they said there was a wait we might not show up, but
if they said there wasn't we'd show up and still wait.  Well, they
were wrong.
  (The worst part is, a very good friend of mine works there.  I
almost feel like a traitor, but the experience really torqued me, and
I think these sorts of issues are also important to a resturant's
reputation...)  (donahue@cfassp23.harvard.edu Bob Donahue 11/94)

Jasmine Bistro ($$) [Eclectic]
  Perhaps eight or nine months ago, I first wrote about Jasmine
Bistro, in Brighton Center (not the spot where one would expect to
find the finest cuisine).  I think that the restaurant was popular for
a while, judging from the crowds on Friday and Saturday evenings, and
I believe that others echoed my favorable posts.
  I returned for the first time in a long while the other evening with
a friend, and liked the food enough to return again tonight.  Both
times, we had excellent meals in a mostly empty restaurant (busier on
Friday evening than on Wednesday, but with plenty of empty seats each
night).
  On Wednesday evening, my friend and I both tried the pinto bean
soup, in which the beans were pureed and the spices were similar to
mulligatawny soup.  The flavorings were piquant.  Next was a small
salad, in which mediocre tomatoes (shame, shame! it's still close
enough to summer to get good tomatoes) were rendered irrelevant by the
fine home-made pickled cucumbers.
  My friend and I both had grilled salmon, with two sauces: a
Hungarian one with peppers, and one with more of a curry flavor.  This
came with a large mound of rice, but no vegetables.  The fish was
clearly very fresh, and a large portion.
  Finally, for dessert, my companion had a chocolate mousse cake, and
I had a rice pudding unlike any I've ever had: it was made by cooking
rice and milk slowly for around four hours, with spicing of cardamom
and a sprinkling of almonds on top.
  Friday night, the soup had changed to a potato-leek soup which was
entirely unlike the vichyssoise that I was expecting.  Instead, we
were served a potato-leek soup in a tomato-chicken broth, with plenty
of hot pepper oil.  After that, my friend had a weekend special of a
veal chop in a traditional Hungarian pepper sauce.  The chop was
perhaps an inch and a half thick, which made the price of twenty-two
dollars (far and away the most expensive entree on the menu; prices
average around thirteen) not unreasonable.  I had an off-the-menu
special of a vegetable curry which the chef offered to cook for me
when I expressed an interest in a light meal.
  The bill came to around thirty dollars apiece each night, which
makes this perhaps the most expensive restaurant in Brighton Center as
well as the best.  But do give it a try if you're in the neighborhood;
it would be a pity to see a place as nice as this vanish.
(rgross@math.bu.edu Rob Gross 10/94)
  % I'd like to second this post. I recently went again to the Jasmine
Bistro; my first visit was based solely upon this newsgroup. I was
impressed with the quality of food, the care with which it was
prepared, and the intimate setting.
  I went again recently, and while it is less crowded, the food is
still excellent. We went on a weeknight, and the restaurant was
eventually filled. (I think one set of customers was turned away due
to lack of reservations, but that's it)
  The family is very friendly and helpful, and it appears that the
clientele is extremely loyal. It is worth checking out!
(npatrick@bu.edu Neal Patrick 10/94)

Ristorante Toscano ($$$+) [Northern Italian]
  We just returned from Boston, and once again had dinner two of our
five evenings at Toscano. Frankly, I can't understand the mixed
reviews. I discovered Toscano just strolling along Charles St. about
four years ago, and we've never yet had a meal there that wasn't
*outstanding*. The quality hasn't diminished since their expansion and
redecorating, either. One fabulous dish this last trip was butternut
squash tortellini with young rabbit in cream sauce. Can you say
*delicious*? The food is anything but boring - particularly the 4-6
daily special dishes - and the menu selection is appropriately sized
for a good restaurant preparing everything from fresh ingredients. I
would not want it to be any more extensive; it _could not be_, without
creating suspicions about the preparation.
  On the one hand, I feel this restaurant should be more highly
recommended in your list; on the other hand, they've got plenty of
business, and I'd like to be able to get in next time I'm in Beantown!
(Dexter Medley entrpoop@access.digex.net 10/94)

Saxo Bistro ($$$) (Winchester MA) -- French / Mediterranean
  I had heard a rumor that a good French restaraunt had opened in
Winchester.  The location (Winchester, in general, and, specifically,
the former location of Maximilian's and later Rick's which were at
times reasonably good but also pretty typical of somewhat
over-ambitious, somewhat over-priced places) made me skeptical.  But
since its only a five minute walk from my apartment I had to check it
out.
  Its called Saxo (as in saxophone) Bistro and its just off of Main St
in Winchester center (behind Yankee Yogurt).
  I thought it was superb! (Disclaimer: I seldom eat at fancy
restaraunts so once the quality gets above a certain level, I'm
probably not too discerning).  The menu is not too long but very
interesting (a good sign) with entrees from about $14 - $21 (I think)
and appetizers, soups from $4 - $8. There seems to be an emphasis on
seafood.
  Not realizing that the entree I wanted would be quite sufficient and
varied, I splurged and orderd an appetizer (which itself, with a salad
would have made a fine meal). I don't remember what it was called
("Terrine d'Artichaud et ..."  or something like that) but it was a
cross between a coarse pate and a small antipasto plate.  At any rate
there were lots of tasty things in it on a nice sauce (some nice rolls
on hand to soak this up with).
  The entree was a Moroccan lamb stew in puff pastry. Nice spices,
well cooked lamb and veggies, flakey pastry - yum. And accompanied by
bits of lightly cooked vegetables, a bit of stuffed zucchini and
couscous (I think that's what it was).
  The wine list is again not extensive but seemed reasonably varied
and interesting, bottles from about $15 on up. In an attempt to keep
this meal from being too expensive I stuck to the house wines ($3.50 a
glass, a few others available by the glass), a white and a red
Bordeaux. (The red was fine; I thought the white was excellent).
  Its a lot more that I usually spend on a meal but I thought it was
well worth it.  I'd recommend giving a try and I'll certainly go back
(when my dining out budget recovers).  I'd be very interested to hear
what others who have tried it think.  (Steve Gruverman
gruve@kronos.com 11/94)
  % I agree - it is a fine addition to Winchester.  My wife & I have
been there twice.  Both times impressed with the quality and taste of
the food, But beware of some desserts.  The creme brulee was watery
and way too sweet.  The crepe with almond paste was delicious.
(slandau@world.std.com steven landau 11/94)

Stir Crazy (Pocasset MA) -- Vietnamese & Cambodian
  Stir Crazy used to be over the bridge in Buzzards Bay, in a tiny
shack with only four or five tables and a booming take-out business.
About a year ago, Bopha moved her business to just this side of the
Bourne bridge in Pocasset, on the southbound side of Rte 28.  They
still do take out.
  I almost hesitate to broadcast this because I'd hate to see Stir
Crazy's quality deteriorate trying to keep up with too many customers
;).  If you like stir-fried food, Stir Crazy is a savory change from
the standard fare found in the many chinese restaurants found around
the Cape.  I like the Beef Lock Lack (sirloin tips on a bed of
watercress with other yummy flavors) and the Nhem shross (veggies and
shrimp in a rice shell appetizer) so much that I haven't explored much
else personally, although everyone I know who has been there has raved
about all the food.  Stir Crazy is a particular favorite of a
co-worker of mine who is allergic to wheat and dairy products, because
she can eat just about everything on the menu!  The food is great, the
price is right.  Check it out! (mmartini@nobska.er.usgs.gov 10/94)

Uncle Cheung's (Framingham MA) -- Chinese
  Well, my wife and I dropped by Uncle Cheung's in Framingham for the
first time last night, based on recommendations for this group, and
thought I would share our impressions.  It was nice and quiet when we
stopped by, early evening, so service was quite zippy, and the food
preparation times were short.  Good for the most part, but the
otherwise excellent Fried Peking Ravioli's could have been cooked just
a litttle bit longer (one or two of the wrappers was just a bit
undercooked....)  Otherwise they were very UN greasy (nice :-) Our
meals when they arrived, she ordered the Orange chicken, I the General
Gao's, seemed just a bit soggy to me (amazing, considering how Rapidly
it arrived after we ordered).  The meat was fairly good, tender juicy,
a littttle fatty.  The sauces were generous, but seemingly unmemorable
(just a bit bland.....  How you can get a bland bland sauce with those
little red peppers in them seems quite a puzzle to me.... :-) The
steamed rice was nicely done, not overdone, and maintained a good
useable state throughout the meal.  All in all, I would say that we
would go back sometime for lunch specials, but I seriously doubt we
will go back for dinner again.  (tbranham@mm.wellesley.edu Tom Branham
11/94)

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