Favorite restaurants...by June

  For those that know me, there is no surprise here, I love Crackerbarrel Restaurants.  Not gourmet quality, and probably what us Northerners think is country cooking..but not really Southern!  But I don't care, anyplace that gives me hot biscuits and honey for breakfast is A-OK in my book.  Never mind a choice of cornbread (that isn't as sweet as cake) and biscuits... butter, honey and a hot cup of tea (which is virtually endless)...ahhh Nirvana!!

And actually, making this stuff at home is not as wonderful as sitting in the antique- esc ambiance.. lots of kitchy stuff everywhere, having a way too friendly waiter/waitress serve you the deliciousness...and buying crap on the way out..I think the store is awesome...I love to buy stuff there!  Here, in Massachusetts, the closest one is in Wrentham..next to an outlet mall..which increases it's wonderfulness to the nth degree.  And when I go on vacation to Daytona Beach Shores, there is one down the road apiece in Daytona...sooo I eat there a few times or more, while on vacation.

 My criteria for a good restaurant is
1) the food doesn't make me sick
2) the place is CLEAN (actually these are both #1)
3) the staff is friendly
4) I can afford to eat there
5) I don't need to eat at Mc Donald's after

That's it!  Nothing much more sophisticated than that... and my favorite restaurants usually are mom and pop places, where the staff generally recognizes you, if not actually KNOW you!

 

So, my favorite restaurants in no particular order...are as follows..

1) Alexanders, Brockton Ma. { a small family owned restaurant with the most amazing breakfasts (my fav- a Greecian Omlette, homes fries and rye toast)..and lunch/dinner specials (my fav- Sophie's Stuffed Peppers or/and Homemade Chicken Pot Pie) and don't forget the home made baklava..the waitresses are awesome...and have become my friends}

2) Good Days, Bridgewater, Ma. {a friendly small town restaurant that serves a terrific breakfast (my fav- mmm..anything on the menu (sans pancakes..I don't like pancakes)..as well as a wonderful lunch/ dinner... awesome meatloaf, yummy clam chowder, and fresh, delicious fish and chips, and for my more carnivorous days...patty melt (a burger with sauteed onions and cheese on dark rye bread..and grilled....like a grilled cheese sandwich with a burger and sauteed onions), sweet potato fries.  Oh and don't forget home made ice cream in a million flavors..OK not maybe a million, but too many to choose from.. This place has great ambiance..all the memorabilia is late 50's/ early 60's as well the music and the staff is friendly and efficient.

3) D'Ann's, Abington, Ma. {a sports-type bar/ restaurant with a plentiful menu (my fav- delicious clam chowder, fish and chips, and as usual in sports bars, the pizza is awesome and the appetizers are just delish.. a great family place..I ask to go here for my birthday every year for fish and chips and chowder..) We went there once for dinner and my 20-something son ordered the Outrageous Burger (Two ½ lb. Flame-broiled Sirloin patties or all white meat chicken burger surrounded by layers of cheese, smoked bacon, onion rings, dripping with BBQ sauce and topped with lettuce, tomato & onion on a soft roll) this was served with a mountain of french fries. As sandwiches go, I prefer the Patriot (grilled chicken breast, mesculin lettuce, sliced tomato and fresh mozzarella cheese drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette, served on grilled Focaccia bread) The Outrageous Burger lived up to it's name, was obscenely HUGE..albeit delicious looking...and proved too much to eat, even for my meat loving son.  Wait staff is great and the decor is sports themed..autographed hockey jerseys, etc, football helmets, etc, baseball stuff, boxing stuff, and basketball stuff.. all pretty nice.. and as in all sports bars worth their muster..you can gamble while you eat..Keno is on monitors all over the place.}

4) LaStoria, Stoughton, Ma. {Not your regular "red sauce" Italian restaurant..the food is exceptional...a regional Italian Restaurant, specializing in dishes from Sicily to Napoli, Rome to Calabria, and Firenze to Venice.We use authentic recipes from the old country. All dishes are cooked "To order" in the Italian tradition… using only the freshest Produce, Fish, and Meats. We out source imported Olive oils, Truffle oil, Balsamic Vinegar and other various Italian Pantry items..Excellent unique dishes, large portions, reasonable prices, nice ambiance, comfortable and distinctly not a retail chain...my fav is the macaroni and cheese..very cheesey with REAL cheeses... great salads and appetizers.... not expensive but foodie quality!!}

So, if you come to Massachusetts, look me up and we will go on an eating excursion!!