North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, North Hero VT

About four hours north of Boston sits the quiet lakeside village of North Hero. We found ourselves there because my aunt and uncle recently bought a cottage on Lake Champlain in Ahlberg, the next town over. Blink and you might miss downtown North Hero, but don’t try telling that to the host at the North Hero House, where on a Saturday night at 8 pm, the 26-room inn had no vacancies and the restaurant overlooking the water had a 40 minute wait for a table on the enclosed porch.

The restaurant has a cozy feel, with the main entrance leading into a comfortable living room area. Walk through that space and you’re in a large dining room with dimmed lighting, white tablecloths and pretty corner hutches adorned with antique pottery. The dining room is on the formal side, but the overall feel is resort casual – don’t be surprised to see khaki shorts, golf shirts and sandals.

Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and willing to make menu and wine recommendations. And when our salads were still “cooking” 30 minutes after we ordered them, he was very apologetic (after the hiccup with the salads, our entrees came out in a timely manner).

The food at the North Hero House was very good. I had the shrimp fettuccine with scallops, which was served with jumbo shrimp, huge scallops, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and goat cheese in a garlic white wine sauce. The combination was delicious, although there was more goat cheese than I needed, which turned a light wine sauce into a heavier, alfredo-like sauce. Other dishes at the table included Great Lakes walleye (a mild white fish) with spinach, artichoke hearts and a mushroom cream sauce; sesame seed encrusted ahi tuna; and, you guessed it, a NY strip steak for Scott. Portions were all very generous, so – after cleaning our plates – we all agreed to skip the dessert menu.

Whether you’re on the patio, the porch, in the formal dining room or the enclosed green house (check out their website for more photos), the North Hero House offers outstanding views, a friendly atmosphere and very tasty food for a big night out in North Hero village.

The tab:

Atmosphere – 8

Service – 7.5

Food Quality – 7.5

Presentation - 8

Average Entree Price - $18-$22

Kid factor – 6 (pretty quiet atmosphere, not conducive to a toddler meltdown)
Extra perk – Killer views if you’re able to score a table on the patio or enclosed porch at sunset.
Website: http://www.northherohouse.com/

Cambridge Common Cambridge MA

Whether it’s taking in the charm of an historic college town, or watching the regatta in October, Cambridge is one of my favorite spots in Boston. So when a co-worker suggested going to Cambridge Common, I got excited about the prospect of not only going out on a weeknight (a rarity these days), but trying out a new place in the area.

The restaurant sits on Mass Ave. and it’s hard to miss the big, gold lettering adorning the outside. Inside, it’s a comfy bar scene. There are plenty of tables for diners, bar seating for folks who want to be near the 30-plus brews on tap, and high tops for those who want the best of both worlds.

If you missed it, I said THIRTY beers on tap. So, if you’re a beer drinker, you’re sure to find something you like here; and at $4 a glass, the price is right. The food menu was just as extensive as the beer menu. With my “meat and potatoes” husband home with the baby, and a party of eight for dinner, I got a glimpse at a lot of what the menu offered.

From smothered fried chicken to mac and cheese, if you’re looking for comfort food, they’ve got you covered. But you also have the option of something lighter, like a southwestern roll-up or tomato mozzarella sandwich. Around the table, the reviews were mixed: the mac and cheese was less than spectacular; burgers and chicken sandwiches were good; fried chicken hit the spot; and tomato mozz was yummy, but wasn’t served on the thick ciabatta I expected.

Regardless of what you’re in the mood for, though, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t at least try a couple of the appetizers Cambridge Common offers. A couple of the group’s favorites were fried pickles, sweet potato fries and mac and cheese bites.

Service was good. Our waiter was eager to please, and with a large group, did a good job of keeping track of when someone needed another drink. Our appetizer order got mixed up, and didn’t come out until our meals arrived, but the waitstaff was apologetic and didn’t charge us for one of the apps we got.

One of the perks of Cambridge Common... downstairs is Lizard Lounge – a cozy, small venue that features live music nightly. On the particular night we were there we were treated to Jim’s Big Ego and the Oracle ($10 cover). The place was packed and stayed that way until we left around 11:00.

All in all, it was a fun night out with good food, some great entertainment, and another reason to love Cambridge.



The tab:

Atmosphere – 7

Service – 7.5

Food Quality - 7

Presentation - 7

Average Entree Price - $9-$14

Kid factor - 7 (seemed casual enough for kids, but didn't see any on a weeknight)

Extra perk – Free parking out back if you get there early enough to snag one of the 20 spots.



Restaurant Website: http://www.cambridgecommonrestaurant.com/

Incontro, Franklin MA

I love going out to lunch. Especially when it means I can go to a restaurant that would typically be a splurge for dinner, and get an equally delicious meal for about half the price. That’s exactly what I was treated to last week when Scott and I found ourselves sans baby for an afternoon – the perfect excuse for an impromptu lunch date.

A spot that’s been around since 2004, Incontro is a bit of a hidden gem tucked away on a side street off of Route 140. Housed in a renovated mill, charm hits you from the start as you walk in the two-story stone clad entrance. Inside, you walk past freshly baked breads and an open-style kitchen to dark mahogany wooden tables and big, comfy, circular booths. The dining room welcomes you with a sort of North End meets upscale steakhouse feel. And that’s just the main dining room. Upstairs is an expansive lounge, complete with a dining room for private parties, sitting areas adorned with leather chairs, and a wrap around bar with huge LCD televisions. Oh, and did I mention the entire side of the second floor that’s dedicated to the avid pool player? As if that’s not enough, head back downstairs and you can take advantage of the outdoor patio which seats about 50, and according to our waiter, is a hot commodity (pardon the pun) on a nice summer day.

We’ve been to Incontro before. Pizza and drinks in the lounge (roasted pepper, sausage and ricotta pizza is my favorite) to appetizers on the patio (the site of our first “date” after Matthew was born), so we knew the food was good. But we hadn’t been for lunch in a while. Word to the wise – don’t be misled by the extensive lunch menu posted on Incontro’s website. The current lunch menu is much shorter, complimented by a few daily specials and the full dinner menu.

Unexpected menu changes aside, our meal proved to be delightful. Scott had an herb grilled chicken panini with fresh mozzarella and marinara, served with toasty French fries dusted with parmesan and rosemary (T3 - Taste Tested by Tatum!). As for me, I took a chance on one of the daily specials, the lobster roll.

I say “took a chance” because I’m always cautious about a lobster roll. I often get my hopes up and then end up disappointed when I get an uncooked hotdog bun with lots of mayo and bits of previously frozen lobster here and there. But not at Incontro. The bun was buttery and grilled just right. And there was so much fresh lobster (with little room for mayonnaise) that I actually took half of it home with me.

We’ve been there frequently enough that I can say with confidence service at Incontro is hit or miss. Especially in the lounge upstairs, service tends to be…um… sparse. Same goes for the restaurant’s lunch crowd – at noon, we were among only a handful of tables. But our lunchtime server was very attentive and friendly, and promised that if I didn’t like my lobster roll he would eat it for me J.

The tab:

Atmosphere – 7 (great setting, but no real lunch crowd)
Service – 7
Food Quality - 8
Presentation - 8
Average Entree Price - $10 - $15 (lunch)
Kid factor – 5 (they may be welcome, but I've been there often, and have never seen children)
Restaurant Website: http://www.incontrorestaurant.com/

Cottonwood Café Berkeley St. Boston, MA

Visit Cottonwood Café’s website, and the first thing you read is this:

The American Southwest
Founded on Indian Legend.
Cultivated Through Spanish Tradition.
Captured by the American pioneer,
and brought to life byCottonwood Restaurant & Café

What?

The description of the restaurant, much like its name, leaves you wondering what the place is really all about. So, here’s my take on it. Cottonwood is an above-average Mexican (they call it Southwestern, but I can’t tell the difference) restaurant with prime, downtown Boston real estate.

Within blocks of eateries such as Skipjack’s, Grille 23 and Smith & Wollensky – where it’s not unusual to find a $50 entrée on the menu – Cottonwood’s menu is a little more recession-friendly. Entrees are in the $20 range. Their signature drinks – a wide variety of margaritas – come by the glass or the pitcher and range from $7 - $10 a glass (think standard wine glass, not Cancun spring break margarita glass).

Enough about the money, though, let’s talk about the food. My painfully predictable (but just as painfully handsome J) husband ordered the mixed grill, a fancier version of your standard fajitas, complete with chicken, pork loin and steak. I went for the enchiladas verdes – a flour tortilla chock full of chicken, cheese, all smothered in fresh pico de gallo. Both dishes came with rice, beans and guacamole. Portions are big, and the food is good. Not great, but good.

With a big outdoor seating area, Cottonwood is great for a spring or summer evening. Inside, warm colors and a subtle southwestern touch makes the place inviting and comfortable. A lively bar is separated from the more intimate dining room, offering a good spot for friends to gather or couples to reconnect. And based on the number of students and their families who were there kicking off Tufts’ graduation weekend, it does a good job catering to large groups, and even the occasional youngster.

Overall, you get what you pay for in terms of food at Cottonwood. The service is efficient, but certainly not something to shout about. What sells the place is the location… complete with people watching potential and free validated parking nearby.

The tab:

Atmosphere – 7.5
Service – 7
Food Quality - 7
Presentation - 7
Average Entree Price - $12-$26
Kid factor - 6 (didn’t see a kid menu, only a couple teenagers in sight on a Friday)
Extra perk – Free validated parking on weeknights after 5 and anytime on weekends
Restaurant Website: http://www.cottonwoodboston.com/

Alicante Mediterranean Grille, Mendon MA

Located on Nipmuc Pond in Mendon, Alicante is one of the few waterfront restaurants in the area - and that's what initially drew us to the place. We've been there a few times, so we knew it was a safe bet for a long overdue date night.

Saturday at 7pm, though, presents a unique challenge for diners. The restaurant - with it's great location and elegant, yet lively, atmosphere is a prime destination for couples in the area. Unless you have a party of six or more, though, you can't make a reservation. So, after handing the keys over to the complimentary valet (if you see the parking situation, you'll understand why they have free valet), we were told we would have a 30-45 minute wait.

No problem! Trying to ignore the babysitter time clock ticking in my head, we hit the bar for a drink. As luck would have it, we scored two seats at the bar, and decided to eat there instead of waiting for a table. After all, we'd eaten in the dining room before, so we were up for a change of scenery.

In a nutshell, everything we had experienced in our last few visits to Alicante carried over to the bar: delicious food, great views, and a good mix of people dressed to impress. The only difference? The service. In the dining room, service is impeccable, with a minimum of two servers taking care of every table. In the bar, it took us a full five minutes (which when you're sitting at a bar, without a drink, feels more like 25) to get the attention of one of the three not-so-busy bartenders. And once we finally did get our drink order in, it took another five to get the dinner menus we had requested. Ugh - this could be painful.

But it's our date night, and I'm not going to let this get in the way of us having a nice dinner out. So, onto the food. The menu at Alicante is very extensive, and there are always three or four specials that consistently sound great. Decisions, decisions.

I started with a bowl of the lobster bisque. Great flavor, with good chunks of lobster throughout, and a few garlicky croutons on top to add some crunch. Scott opted to nosh on the popular bar snacks- freshly baked potato "chips". Imagine Cape Cod chips, slightly warm and still a bit chewy. Addictive.

For entrees, Scott chose one of the specials, a 16 oz. NY Strip (yes, I said 16), served with kicked up steak fries and fresh sauteed veggies (zucchini, carrots, summer squash). Presentation was impressive and the steak, while a tad overcooked, was full of flavor. And for me, the paella. Mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops and lobster, all served over saffron rice. Presentation brought a major wow factor - topped off by the server dishing out the mixture table (or bar)side. My only complaint? The saffron rice lacked the toasty bottom authentic paella's known for, and the lobster is deceiving. It comes out looking like a half lobster, but you quickly realize that it's just a small, half tail among a lot of shell.

A couple of glasses of the house pinot noir, a very good meal, and we're a pretty happy couple that's all but forgotten about the less than desirable bar service. Chances are we'll be back again for more.

The tab:
Atmosphere - 7.5
Service - 8 in dining room. 6 in the bar. On average, 7
Food Quality - 7.5
Presentation - 8
Average Entree Price - $21-$25
Kid factor - 6 (no kid menu, and no kids in sight on a Saturday)

Restaurant Website: http://www.alicantema.com/