Many of these reviews were based on visits to restaurants by Jennifer and me. I would be happy to include accounts from other diners. If you had a memorable meal, please write something down about it, send it to me, and let other readers know about it. Please send reviews or comments to Scott at sshurr@gmail.com.
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On October 28th, I took my Mom for lunch at Grassfields. The large lunch crowd there (we had to wait for a table) is mostly made up of senior citizens, many of whom seem to know the servers on a first name basis. The food is consistent, and reasonably priced. The service is reasonable. Dinner entrees include a salad and fresh bread, lunch menu items generally only include bread. Mom had the stuffed scallops and steak tips, and she said the stuffing was rather dry, but the scallops were quite good. I had, yet again, a burger. Very good, cooked to my request, and the fries were okay. Not spectacular, but this place can be relied upon for a decent meal out.
The Grille is a spacious restaurant, with abundant natural lighting through windows and a skylight. The seating includes curved booths, and tables, tastefully accented by plants. We had a 1998 Tommasi Pinot Grigio ($4.75) with our meal. Jennifer ordered the 20 oz Porterhouse steak ($25) with rosemary onion potatoes and broiled balsamic mushrooms. I tried, from the chef's signature entrees, the Mixed Ocean Grill ($20), with grilled scallops, shrimp, salmon and swordfish with sauteed peppers, asparagus over lemon vermicelli, and a chardonney cream sauce. The caesar salad ($2.50) featured crisp croutons and a nice creamy dressing. The steak was competently prepared, but the mushrooms and potatoes were more noteable. The grilled vegetables with the fish entree were just right. The shrimp and scallops were the best part of the dish, served over pasta with an unusual sauce. For desert we had the chocolate cheesecake, served on a large plate with cherry and chocolate dots. Jennifer rated the service as polite, but unhurried. All in all I would recommend this restaurant.
This restaurant is amazing. I've been about 5 times in the past 3 months and will continue to go because it's the best little American restaurant in Waltham. My boyfriend is a huge breakfast fan and we stopped by while looking for a diner one morning. EVERYTHING was delicious, the fresh squeezed orange juice, the toast, the omelet, the hash browns, the chocolate-chip pancakes are especially amazing. I went back for dinner another time and got a cup of clam chowder, some pasta and a cannoli for dessert for under 8 dollars. A great deal and delicious food, the only thing that tops it off is the great service by your typical New England 60+ waitress. Everything is quick, hot, fresh and delicious! Enjoy!
KFC is a fast-food restaurant. Let's consider that a minute: its role as a restaurant is to provide you with food, and do it quickly. That's it. If the food turns out to be more edible than a typical McDonald's (generally agreed to be the benchmark by which all other fast-food restaurants are judged), that's a bonus.
In this regard, then, the Main Street KFC succeeds admirably. The cash register is the first place you stop at upon entering the restaurant. Your order is taken quickly and efficiently, and you move on down the counter to receive your food. If you purchased a drink, your order is usually ready by the time you've filled your cup at the self-service soda fountain. Fast? You betcha.
The service is always cordial and usually downright friendly. Though they work quickly, the employees give off none of the harried, hurried, here' s-your-food-get-out vibe that you often see in a fast-food chain. It's not unusual for the manager to be taking or filling orders, or both, and on a slow day he might shoot the breeze with you for a minute or two before you leave. It's enough to make you wish they were a little slower with your order, so you could hang out longer and enjoy the ambience. OK, probably not, but I can't think of another fast-food restaurant that I've visited with any regularity that doesn't bring to mind at least one bad service experience. KFC still has a clean page in my diary of fast-food horror stories.
If there is one Achilles' heel to the place, it's the parking lot. The tiny little square of pavement that they've got is woefully inadequate for the amount of traffic they receive, particularly during peak hours, and the flow is somewhat difficult to manage, particularly when you factor in the usual jam on Main Street near mealtimes. It's worth the extra effort to park on Lyman Street and simply walk over. In the end, it's probably quicker.
Oh, and the food? Well, c'mon, it's a KFC. If you're looking for a burger, you've come to the wrong place. But if it's chicken you want, well, belly up to the bucket, boys. I usually go for the crispy strips, myself, and I' ve found that they've very conscientious about making sure you always get roughly the same amount of chicken-if I order the three strips meal, for instance, and one of the strips is a deformed, misshapen lump of a strip whose growth was horribly stunted (probably by drinking too much coffee when it was growing up), I usually find a bonus strip of similar proportions in there just to make sure that I get the same amount of meat as I would with three normal, robust, juicy, finger-lickin' good crispy strips.
Actually, if I do have a real problem with Kentucky Fried, that's where it lies. The crispy strip meals come in two sizes: three strips or six, along with two sides (all of which are good-the potato wedges, mac 'n' cheez, and mashed potatoes are all especially popular 'round here) and a biscuit. Now, these are healthy portions, and when you throw in some honey-mustard sauce (easily the best combination of sweet and spicy since Mary Ann and Ginger), you're almost guaranteed to be satisfied. Almost. You see, three strips leaves you feeling exactly satisfied, while six strips makes you look for a nice quiet place to explode. I don't want either of those feelings; I want happiness. Pure, unadulterated, Kentucky Fried bliss. And I think the only way to get that would be with a four (or, really, four and a half, but I'll make some concession here) crispy strip meal. Until that appears on the menu, KFC will remain, in my opinion, just a crispy strip short of Nirvana.
A new franchise of the KnowFat Lifestyle Grill opened in Waltham on April 7, with an official grand opening slated for early May. A former printing shop at the end of the strip mall at 411 Waverly Oaks Road was gutted and transformed into this spacious restaurant. The original KnowFat in Watertown was based on the idea of providing healthy, low-fat meals. New outlets are being opened, mainly in Massachusetts, but as far away as Minnesota, Dallas, and south Florida. The front part of the space is devoted to the sale of nutritional supplements and fitness products, while the remaining portion contains tables and a counter fronting the kitchen. Orders are placed, and payment made at the counter, and the food is brought to your table when it is ready. The menu includes nutritional information for all items. For lunch I ordered the fajita burrito with steak (Cal 804 Pro 53 Crb 91 Fib 13 Gfat 17 Sfat 6) and my partner ordered Smart Meal #2, including a chicken meatball burro (Cal 716 Pro 61 Crb 71 Fib 3 Gfat 12 Sfat 7) and KnowFat! AirFries (Cal 275 Pro 4 Crb 40 Fib 4 Gfat 9 Sfat 2). The entire order, including 2 bottled waters, came to 16.87. The items were delivered to our table quickly, no more than 5 minutes after we ordered. The chicken meatball burro (5.99 if ordered a la carte) is described in the menu as chicken meatballs, marinara and reduced fat parmarella blend in a tomato basil tortilla. It was warm and just spicy enough, and I could not tell from the taste that it was a low fat item. The fajita burrito (6.49) is made of chili-lime peppers & onions, brown rice, seasoned black beans, reduced fat cheddar and KnowFat! jalapeno salsa in a cilantro tortilla. Like the other item, this was very good and did not taste low fat. The fries, cooked with a special technique that does not use oil, were every bit as good as the high fat item you would get with typical fast food. The concept of good food that is good for you, at a reasonable price, is a winner.
Hi, I noticed that SoCal had closed (it wasn't very good in the first place) but KnowFat! has opened a location in Waltham! It's really very delicious. I love their wraps especially the Chicken Buffalo Wrap. Their burgers are amazing with a ridic low calorie count. I would recommend the Turkey Burger. Amazing. The absolute best thing about my visits to KnowFat! are the chocolate peanut butter brownies which are sugar free but taste so good. Their very moist and rich. I usually get a side of broccoli which may not sound delicious but the way they make it with just a pinch of salt and pepper is great. Another recommendation is the grilled cheese on the kid's menu. I'm in college and definitely miss a good grilled cheese sandwich. KnowFat's is low fat cheese on yummy whole wheat bread with the cheese perfectly melted and gooey on the inside. It's perfection. I highly recommend this place especially since they have a Free 3% Cash Back program.
The Mad Raven on Main Street is a welcome change to the typical Waltham bar scene. I moved here about 2 years ago and have found it a very comfortable place to relax after work, watch the game on the big screen, or stay late-night with friends and music. They are open 7 days a week. The Mad Raven offers a welcoming, casual pub atmosphere with a friendly staff and an ever-changing collection of eclectic art and trinkets. There is always something new to look at. And for sports fans, the big screen almost always has a game on. There is a good mix of college kids, locals, and young professionals occupying bar stools and tables alike.
They serve dinner nightly, between 5 and 9 usually. It's basic pub fare, but always cooked fresh and delicious! The menu changes quite a bit, but there are a few staple items: Buffalo wings, quesadillas, Pizza, burgers, steak tips and fish and chips. I highly recommend the pizza. It's definitely one of the best pizzas in Waltham! The 25-cent buffalo wings are great for a group watching the games. Grilled sandwiches are always a treat, served with a hearty serving of fries or onion rings, depending on the week. It's definitely not a dieter's delight, but the food is excellent! I've never had a bad meal there and most meals are under 10 bucks. You can't beat it!
The later crowd can enjoy good drinks from some really good bartenders. Music is always on and always pretty good. Something for everyone. Darts and even chess are available for the game players.
The only negatives of the place are that there is not enough parking around and there is almost always a wait for the bathrooms!
In my humble opinion, I'd say this is the best bar in Waltham!
The atmosphere at the Mad Raven was its best feature. I went with my family in the early evening and it was quiet and relaxing. We ordered two pizzas, one tomato and cheese and one with a lot of toppings. The tomato and cheese came loaded with more cheese than tomato if that is what you like. The other pizza came eventually but missing several toppings. I learned later the kitchen had run out of the toppings. The wait for food was long as they had a "small kitchen". My husband had a burger and fries and said it was good. The other good dish was a salad & cheese appetizer. We both ordered mixed drinks which were several $ more than most places in Waltham, more like the prices charged in hotels. Perhaps the beer is more reasonable. There are no refills if you order sodas. Service was C- but the reason could be that there was one waitperson who also served at the bar. Overall, there are better dining experiences in Waltham.
I give The Naked Fish two thumbs up! It provides a more upscale night out than the usual Main or Moody Street Waltham restaurants. It is a pleasant 10 minute drive from campus (your own transportation is necessary) and is worth the extra distance. There is a large array of seafood options, delicious vegetarian sides to go with the main courses, hearty soups, fresh salads and a few meat options. The food is slightly on the salty side (ofcourse not as salty as the food in the dining halls), but still quite tasty. The portions are large and filling... definitely worth the money. The wine and fancy Cuban cocktail selection is quite extensive. And the desserts looked yummy, as well. The music and atmosphere are fun and up-beat. The Naked Fish is a good decision for a nice night out with friends or even parents coming to visit.
On Nov. 11th, we had lunch at the Naked Fish. I have been there before for supper, but never at lunch time and expected it to be crowded from all the folks employed on the other side of 128. It was pretty much empty when we arrived, and only half full when we left at 12:30. At suppertime it's much harder to get a table. The lunch menu is different as well. Shelley had the crab cake sandwich and I had a cheeseburger, and we both had soft drinks. The total bill was $25 (sorry, didn't note the individual prices). The burger was a weird freeform shape that was overly large for the bun and undercooked in spots. The crab cake kept falling apart and out of the bun, but was good. The wait staff was friendly and attentive.
I just thought I would put my two-cents worth in about the Naked Fish on Totten Pond that we visited based on your review. We were expecting better. What really put us off was the fast-food restaurant style seating (benches with tables in front of them). We were squeezed in so close to the tables on either side of us that you really couldn't carry on any kind of a private conversation. The woodwork and fabric looks like it really needs a good scrubbing-down, too. Food was ok, but not special enough to put up with the seating arrangement. Not a place we'll be returning to even though we have a son starting at Bentley this fall.
The 99 is a large restaurant featuring reasonably priced food. We were prompty served
the complementary free crackers and soft cheese appetizer. A garden salad ($1.99)
was big, crisp and fresh. Alternatives include the Caesar salad ($3.99, $6.79 with chicken).
I had the 8 oz. baked schrod ($7.99), which was tender, with herb seasoned bread crumbs.
It came with a choice of potato; I chose the garlic mashed, which was very good, and a
garden medley of vegetables. Jennifer had the chicken Teriyaki ($7.99). This came
with 2 tasty, good sized chicken breasts, carrots, squash, zucchini, and onion, and
rice pilaf which was rated as ok but not great. A fresh brewed iced tea was $3.18.
The service was prompt and friendly throughout our meal. All in all, we recommend the
99 for the consistent quality of food and service at a reasonable price.
What a pleasure and a huge surprise it was to have my palette tantalized with the taste of the American & Italian cuisine by the new Chef Mike at the Rendezvous Restaurant on Moody St. in Waltham. In the past month I've eaten stuffed lobster, steamers, old fashioned meatloaf & real mashed potatoes like what mom used to make and steak tips to die for and fresh zucchini & squash vegetables. The food has the quality and taste of fine dining with a home-cooked style. It's really nice to have a cocktail, listen to a band perform, sit with some friends and nibble on an appetizer or even have a full meal that is delicious.
The Rendezvous certainly isn't the fanciest place in town to visit but the awesome musical talent performing every weekend along with Chef Mike's wicked-tasty meals, more than makes up for the lack of stylish decor. I highly recommend ordering something from Chef Mike's menu because the food is awesome!
Driving up Moody Street we realized we had never visited this popular restaurant and sports bar, before or after the fire. Smokers lined up along the entrance did not make for a pleasant approach. The bar spans the right side of the large room, and several tv's populate each of the walls. To the left of a seating area are some booths on the other side of an open dance floor. We were surprised to see so many people there at quarter to 7 on a Saturday. Maybe because both the Celtics and Red Sox were playing? First impression was how loud it was in the room, both from patrons and the PA blasting country music. We were greeted promptly and served an imported beer on tap and a diet cola. Jennifer ordered a chicken breast sandwich, with optional sweet potato fries (7.50 with upgrade) and I got the fish and chips (9.95). The order arrived before too long; wait service was prompt and attentive. A large slab of fish came with lemon, tartar sauce, cole slaw, and some frozen fries. The sweet potato fries with the sandwich seemed to be home made. Both entrees were cooked as expected, and were quite satisfying. As we finished our meals and drinks, the country music dance instructor greeted the crowd, and the lessons began. The abundance of older patrons and cowboy hats had become clear. So this is where the C&W fans hang out on Saturday nights. I'd like to visit again on a slower, and hopefully quieter night.
The So Cal Restaurant opened in March of 2004 at the long-time site of Hanlon's Men's Shoes, which closed in 2003. On March 16 Greg sent this review:
I had a chance to check out the new restaurant called "So Cal" on Moody. What was most memorable about the experience is that it is an identical replica of one of my favorite restaurants in the Boston area, "Lo Fat Know Fat" (there is one in Watertown on Arsenal St. and one in Shrewsbury. I guess the third one is opening in Woburn next month), although the food was not even in the same ballpark in terms of taste. The steak tips and turkey tips were terrible (dry, no taste, overcooked) and their version of Lo Fat Know Fat's air fries tasted like Ore Ida's frozen fries. The chicken meatball wrap was OK.
Anyway, I travel around Boston a lot so I was psyched to see this new restaurant called So Cal. I was so disappointed with the food and that all this guy did was try and steal Lo Fat Know Fat's concept, and he couldn't even to that right. Bummer. I really thought I had found another hidden gem of a healthy restaurant but that was not the case.
Oh well, back to Lo Fat Know Fat.
It's about time! Finally a restaurant with healthy food, a great atmosphere, and all at a good price. My wife and I ate there last night for the first time and were truly impressed. At the recommendation of the counter girl I had the Turkey Gyro wrap with fries and my wife had the Tex-Mex Burrito with a salad. The food was fresh, and tasty. I loved the fries - crinkle cut and low in fat! I was told that the turkey and chicken are ground on the premises which is probably why my turkey meatballs tasted so good. Perfect! We're going back tonight!
I had to try it out and see for myself. The restaurant is in a corner storefront, and is uncluttered, with just a few tables along the side. I ordered a small Tex-Mex Burrito (33g pro, 1g sat fat, 8g good fat, 54g carb, 448 cal, 3g fiber) $5.49 plus the $1.00 Side Salad option. Most of the items on the menu are available in Sm or Lg size. Entrees, with mixed veggies, rice potato ziti or fries, range from $5.99 to $10.49. Also available are Gourmet Wraps, Hot Sandwiches, Salads, Sides, Hi-Pro Shakes and Fruit Smoothies. After a 10 minute or so wait, the order was delivered. The salad, with no fat blue cheese dressing, was good. The spinach wrap (plain, whole wheat and tomato basil are also available) was nicely spiced, but the steak tips were chewy. Good value for $6.81 including tax, but I'm going to try a turkey or chicken based meal next time I visit the So Cal.
I have eaten at So Cal now three times. I have to say that the Chicken Parm wrap is absolutely delicious and the low fat fries are in fact "low fat". I read a review on how this restaurant is simply a rip off from Low Fat Know Fat. While the concept may be the same which is true of any restaurants set up to compete with each other - this is like the McDonalds vs Burger King of todays era. The thing I liked best about So Cal are the additional perks - the free wireless internet connectivity for people who want to work through lunch be it an i-meeting or checking email while they eat. The location is great and I never had trouble getting parking. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for delicious food that is healthy, quick and a very clean and open environment to eat in. I look forward to checking out some of the breakfast wraps and enjoying a Starbucks coffee one morning soon now that they have breakfast.
We decided to try the So Cal again, and try out some of the sandwiches recommended by other reviewers. Jennifer had the turkey gyro in a wheat wrap with the fries, and I had a spicy buffalo chicken meatball wrap with the tomato/basil wrap. The chicken wrap had an interesting flavor as of the first bite. The texture of the meatballs was unpleasant, as if the meat had been spun in a blender before being made into meatballs. The odd steamed vegetables and sauce flavor that quickly turned cloying made it difficult to finish the first half of the sandwich. The turkey gyro was similarly unimpressive, with turkey that had the consistency of egg salad. The fries were acceptable, but nothing special. This food may be healthy, but consuming it was not a pleasure. 2 bottled waters and 2 lunches came to $15.85. Jennifer says the water was the best part of the meal. Maybe we'd return for some Starbucks coffee and wi-fi time, but we won't be having lunch here again.
Less than a week after it's opening, this new restaurant on Moody Street was bustling at 6:30 on a Wednesday night. The dark wood tables and leather seating reminded us of the steakhouse decor at the former C.P. Nuttings. Wait staff were friendly and plentiful at our booth next to the kitchen. A wine list of several pages includes bottles ranging from $24 to $170, and glasses from $6 to $12. The menu itself was a single page, with appetizers, salads, and entrees. We ordered a Baby Spinach Salad ($7) to share, the Panko Encrusted Chicken Breast ($16), and Crispy-Skinned Wild Salmon ($22). The Spinach Salad was a large portion, with a novel mix of carmelized onions, dried tomatoes, and Great Hill blue cheese. Both entrees were artfully presented, and well prepared. 2 chicken breasts came with pears, almonds, and plain mashed potatoes that might have had more spice. A generous piece of salmon was served over a polenta cake and some nicely spiced mixed greens. The meal was pleasant, but the seats in the booth are a tight fit. We didn't get a chance to try one of the 5 desserts priced from $6 to $8. Tempo is promising, but we'd like to see a larger menu to complement the impressive wine list.
A friend and I decided to check out Tempo, 3 weeks after they had been open on a Thursday night. The place was fairly full and we were told that there would be a 15 minute wait for a table. But there was room in the bar area, and they serve the full menu at the bar, so we decided to eat there. We started out with drinks, a Cosmo for me and a Vodka tonic with just a splash of cranberry for my friend. She is picky that it only be a splash, and the drink came out "the perfect color", so far so good. For dinner my friend ordered the crab cakes and the spinach salad (caramelized onion, gorgonzola, oven dried tomatoes with a vinaigrette), I ordered the Kobe beef burger with apple smoked bacon, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, and I also remember mushrooms being there as well. The burger came with a side of fries that were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft in the inside. They were also served with a side of homemade ketchup which was wonderful (you can get Heinz 57 on request if you prefer). My burger was done perfectly well all the way through, the tomato was red (the right color for a tomato) and the lettuce was fresh and crisp (no evidence of sitting under a heat lamp for a prolonged period of time) My friend said her crab cakes were excellent and the salad was perfect, not too heavy on the dressing. For dessert I had ordered a decaf coffee and the frozen chocolate mouse with coconut macaroon and passion fruit sorbet. The mousse set atop a little brownie like crust and was placed in a pool of coconut creme. Even though I was full from the burger, I ate every last bite of this wonderful dessert. In summary, the service was excellent, the food was very good, and the atmosphere was trendy and fun. A great addition to Moody Street. Bon Appetite!
This place is more like $$$. Upscale atmosphere, but noisy. Great kobe burgers ($14) served with their own ketchup and very crispy fries. Unless you stick with the burger, the check can add up pretty quickly. Also good for after dinner for their creative desserts, especially on the weekends when there is live music.
The Brewing Company is on the corner of Moody and Pine Street, near to the Embassy Theater and parking lot, and shopping on Moody Street. The brewery can be seen behind glass walls on the left of the entry to the restaurant, which features a large bar right in the center surrounded by tables and booths. We found it to be quieter in the smaller front section opposite from the brewery.
This brew pub features several beers brewed on the premises all year round, and a selection of seasonal offerings. I had a pint of Wheatweisser ($3.50) which I found to be a refreshing example of German style wheat beer. The food offerings have evolved in the several years since the establishment opened.
Jennifer had the chicken burger with ham and swiss cheese ($7.95) which she rated as "much improved" with a nice smoky flavor. I had the grilled salmon with summer squash and zucchini over rice ($12.95). I thought this salmon garnished with orange and lemon slices and grilled red pepper was great.
A fast food restaurant is judged differently than a place where you are expected to take your time with a meal. A good fast food joint will deliver consistent food quickly, be it to eat in or to take to go. This Wendy's opened a week ago, at a site formerly occupied by a usually empty Arbys. This night the food was consistent, but the wait was not what you'd expect at Wendy's. A single entrance for both parking and drive-thru, located right at the traffic light at Bacon Street, was a severe bottleneck for both types of diners. There are 2 exits on the other side of the building, one for the drive-thru, and another for the parkers. Maybe zoning restrictions had something to do with this, but this would have worked a lot better with 2 entrances, and a single exit for everybody. Once we got in, there was a line almost to the door, waiting for the 2 struggling cashiers. There's lots of seating (maybe too much, making it more crowded than necessary), and a busy carpet pattern. No salad bar in this one. The twenty minute wait (6:30 pm on a holiday) could be explained by staff still learning how to run a fast food restaurant. Hopefully this operation will become more streamlined as it goes along. Our single burger and double burger were hot, with the usual Wendy's flavor. The fries were good, but they mixed up our drink orders. All in all, this would be better if they addressed the traffic flow, and worked on their efficiency.
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Updated: 24 May 2014