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Lori Lee

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Jun 30, 2006, 9:42:52 AM6/30/06
to
I am a NYC lurker looking for suggestions. We will be spending a
Thurs. nite in Andover, a Fri. nite in Cambridge, and a Sat. nite in
New Haven, all in August. Seeking wonderful & memorable, anything
from clam shack (Clam Box, Ipswich?) or pizza (New Haven pizza) up to
fancy or sushi or ethnic. Basically the best in these 3 areas.
TIA, Lori

Remove "No Spam" from e-mail address before replying

Dick Margulis

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Jun 30, 2006, 10:20:47 AM6/30/06
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Others will have suggestions for Andover and Cambridge. I'll stick to
New Haven.

Lots of great choices. Really. Numerous superb restaurants in New Haven
and surrounding area for any taste or budget. If you REALLY want to
stand in line on a hot sidewalk in August for pizza, be my guest. Yes,
there is great pizza in New Haven, but in the end it's still pizza. And
you stood in line for it. And don't you do enough standing in line in NYC?

On a pizza budget, but indoors and more interesting, is Pot Au Pho, a
Vietnamese noodle house. Great decor and ambiance. Excellent food. Cheap.

The same owners have an upscale Vietnamese place in Branford, Auberge
d'Asie, a little pricier (not bad, though), with both traditional and
nouvelle dishes. Reservations needed on weekends.

The single best restaurant in New Haven, many people agree, is Café
Ibiza. Expensive. Tapas and more. A spectacular space that somehow
induces everyone to smile all the time (I'm talking about the
customers), almost preternaturally. Great food and drink. Reservation
suggested.

In the same price and quality class, Rhoomba, Caribbean seafood. Another
happy space, but much smaller and more intimate. Reservation absolutely
required.

Also in that group, Zinc ("new American cuisine"). Tiny (reservation
needed). Spectacularly good food.

Bentara is a Malaysian restaurant, as severely modern as Zinc in terms
of decor, half a step down in price and creativity from the above three.

Caffe Adulis is Ethiopian/Eritrean fusion (very interesting and creative
combinations of injeri with more Eurocentric ingredients, and some
traditional stuff, too), always crowded. Not sure if they take
reservations (as opposed to waiting list).

There are good sushi places, but since learning that the Moonies control
the sushi trade, I don't recommend any.

This barely skims the surface.

If you want to make your own choice, pick up a copy of The Menu, a book
that is updated annually and has good descriptions of many restaurants
of all types. You can get it at any bookstore in New Haven, but I'd
suggest getting it at Atticus, on Chapel Street, when you stop there for
coffee and a snack. Atticus is the retail restaurant/bookstore of the
best bakery in Connecticut, Chabaso.

Dick
http://ampersandvirgule.blogspot.com/

Uri Guttman

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Jun 30, 2006, 10:47:28 AM6/30/06
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>>>>> "DM" == Dick Margulis <marg...@comcast.net> writes:

DM> The single best restaurant in New Haven, many people agree, is Café
DM> Ibiza. Expensive. Tapas and more. A spectacular space that somehow
DM> induces everyone to smile all the time (I'm talking about the
DM> customers), almost preternaturally. Great food and drink. Reservation
DM> suggested.

DM> If you want to make your own choice, pick up a copy of The Menu, a
DM> book that is updated annually and has good descriptions of many
DM> restaurants of all types. You can get it at any bookstore in New
DM> Haven, but I'd suggest getting it at Atticus, on Chapel Street, when
DM> you stop there for coffee and a snack. Atticus is the retail
DM> restaurant/bookstore of the best bakery in Connecticut, Chabaso.

there is an amazingly good chinese (hong kong style) place in new haven
in the center. it is called royal palace and it is well known there. it
even got a very good review from the ny times. they have many soups
(always a good sign for me!) including a seafood hot & sour. google for
reviews and location.

uri

--
Uri Guttman ------ u...@stemsystems.com -------- http://www.stemsystems.com
--Perl Consulting, Stem Development, Systems Architecture, Design and Coding-
Search or Offer Perl Jobs ---------------------------- http://jobs.perl.org

Dan Logcher

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Jun 30, 2006, 11:23:00 AM6/30/06
to
Lori Lee wrote:
> I am a NYC lurker looking for suggestions. We will be spending a
> Thurs. nite in Andover, a Fri. nite in Cambridge, and a Sat. nite in
> New Haven, all in August. Seeking wonderful & memorable, anything
> from clam shack (Clam Box, Ipswich?) or pizza (New Haven pizza) up to
> fancy or sushi or ethnic. Basically the best in these 3 areas.
> TIA, Lori

The Andover Inn is a very nice, fancy place. I've had one very good
meal there, but they only offer it on Sundays.. Indonesian Rijstaffel.
I don't know if they still offer that, as I don't see it on their site.

http://www.andoverinn.com/dining.html

--
Dan

Uri Guttman

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Jun 30, 2006, 11:35:08 AM6/30/06
to
>>>>> "DL" == Dan Logcher <dlogcher*xspam*@comcast.net> writes:

DL> The Andover Inn is a very nice, fancy place. I've had one very good
DL> meal there, but they only offer it on Sundays.. Indonesian Rijstaffel.
DL> I don't know if they still offer that, as I don't see it on their site.

DL> http://www.andoverinn.com/dining.html

we did the rijstafflel once and it was great. i even tried to organize a
ne.food trip for it but it never happened. sad to see it go but they
must have not had the demand. any place else in boston that does it?

Dan Logcher

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Jun 30, 2006, 2:02:39 PM6/30/06
to
Uri Guttman wrote:
>>>>>>"DL" == Dan Logcher <dlogcher*xspam*@comcast.net> writes:
>
>
> DL> The Andover Inn is a very nice, fancy place. I've had one very good
> DL> meal there, but they only offer it on Sundays.. Indonesian Rijstaffel.
> DL> I don't know if they still offer that, as I don't see it on their site.
>
> DL> http://www.andoverinn.com/dining.html
>
> we did the rijstafflel once and it was great. i even tried to organize a
> ne.food trip for it but it never happened. sad to see it go but they
> must have not had the demand. any place else in boston that does it?

There is very little in the way of Indonesian.. though, the Super 88 in
Allston has a new Indonesian stall. I had Beef Rengdang from them on Monday.
They just opened, and they need to work out the kinks and get organized as
they were a bit on the slow side.

Otherwise, I don't know of any other place.

--
Dan

guy klose

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Jun 30, 2006, 2:49:27 PM6/30/06
to
I live in the Andover area, and honestly I can't think of anything in
particular that would be all that memorable...although the Andover Inn
would probably be a good choice (I tried the rijstafel years ago, too,
and it was great).

Locals have particular favorites: Palmers (maybe I'm strange but I'm
put off by the idea that it used to be a funeral home), Glory, Cassis
(a nice, small bistro)...just up the road, in North Andover, there is
the Mango Grill, Cafe Orzo, Joe Fish. A little farther up, Joseph's,
and a relatively new place, Evenfall (I forget where the chef came from,
but it was someplace high end).

It may be a more New England-y choice to try one of the clam places
like Clam Box or Woodman's.

I took out-of-town visitors to Jasper White's Summer Shack (in
Cambridge) and that was the perfect choice, for them. I know it's
not everyone's cup o' tea.

Guy

Dan Logcher

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Jul 1, 2006, 9:12:30 AM7/1/06
to
guy klose wrote:
> Locals have particular favorites: Palmers (maybe I'm strange but I'm
> put off by the idea that it used to be a funeral home), Glory, Cassis
> (a nice, small bistro)...just up the road, in North Andover, there is
> the Mango Grill, Cafe Orzo, Joe Fish. A little farther up, Joseph's,
> and a relatively new place, Evenfall (I forget where the chef came from,
> but it was someplace high end).

Ah yes, Cafe Orzo. I had several very good lunches there, adn right nextdoor
to ButcherBoy Market. Tried the Chinese food place just down the road from
there as well. Meh.

--
Dan

Stephen Stein

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Jul 2, 2006, 12:07:36 PM7/2/06
to
Lori Lee wrote:
> I am a NYC lurker looking for suggestions. We will be spending a
> Thurs. nite in Andover, a Fri. nite in Cambridge, and a Sat. nite in
> New Haven, all in August. Seeking wonderful & memorable, anything
> from clam shack (Clam Box, Ipswich?) or pizza (New Haven pizza) up to
> fancy or sushi or ethnic. Basically the best in these 3 areas.

I might choose:

Andover area: Southeast Asian restaurant in Lowell (inexpensive and
spicy asian dishes); Silks at the Stonehedge Inn in Tyngsboro (very
expensive fine dining - great wine list)

Cambridge: Mary Chung's (Szechuan Chinese) in Central Square; Dali
(Spanish tapas) in Somerville near Harvard Square; No Name restaurant
(seafood) on Fish Pier in Boston - all fairly inexpensive places

I'd get Pepe's Pizza in New Haven, but I'd look to the others in this
thread for real NH suggestions.

- Steve Stein

guy klose

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Jul 2, 2006, 12:31:56 PM7/2/06
to
Dan Logcher <dlogcher*xspam*@comcast.net> writes:
>Ah yes, Cafe Orzo. I had several very good lunches there, adn right nextdoor
>to ButcherBoy Market. Tried the Chinese food place just down the road from
>there as well. Meh.

The "Chinese food place just down the road" is one of two places: either Beijing or China Blossom. Locals have their
preferences. Both are now featuring the giant buffet type of eating. Years ago, when I first moved to town, China
Blossom was the kind of place that put stale rolls on the table when you sat down, so I've always been kind of
biased against it. Beijing has always been my preference, although the buffet food is really lacking compared to
the food on the menu, freshly cooked. Depending upon a particular choice, "meh" would aptly describe either place.

My fear (and don't be alarmed, I don't know any place that does this yet) is that these places with buffets will
one day turn into this: one orders something off of the menu, and while you're not looking, someone scoops it off
of the buffet table onto a serving platter.

Butcher Boy: I have another whole set of pet peeves about that place, not the least of which are the prices. THey have
a nice trick...they might have a stack of nice-looking sirlions in their case, marked "8.95" or something like that.
So, you're thinking that they are 8.95 a pound. But they aren't...they might be 12 oz steaks, at 8.95 each.
They're not a true butcher either...you can get what they show. They don't ccarry anything else, and will not order
it.

Don't get me wrong...it's a nice store, and I still shop there. In fact, the first time I bought a whole tenderloin (for
a holiday dinner as I recall), the butcher made me swear that I would cook it right, and then step-by-step went through
how to prepare the meat. That was nice. I can only guess that he's had a few complaints come back to him.

Cafe Orzo: I used to hit it for lunch every now and then too. My favorite was their chicken caesar, which is one of
the best I've ever run into.

Guy

Dan Logcher

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Jul 2, 2006, 12:39:05 PM7/2/06
to
Stephen Stein wrote:
> Lori Lee wrote:
>
>> I am a NYC lurker looking for suggestions. We will be spending a
>> Thurs. nite in Andover, a Fri. nite in Cambridge, and a Sat. nite in
>> New Haven, all in August. Seeking wonderful & memorable, anything
>> from clam shack (Clam Box, Ipswich?) or pizza (New Haven pizza) up to
>> fancy or sushi or ethnic. Basically the best in these 3 areas.
>
>
> I might choose:
>
> Andover area: Southeast Asian restaurant in Lowell (inexpensive and
> spicy asian dishes); Silks at the Stonehedge Inn in Tyngsboro (very
> expensive fine dining - great wine list)
>
> Cambridge: Mary Chung's (Szechuan Chinese) in Central Square; Dali
> (Spanish tapas) in Somerville near Harvard Square; No Name restaurant
> (seafood) on Fish Pier in Boston - all fairly inexpensive places

Mary's is a must for anyone visiting Cambridge and likes spicy Chinese.
Same with the South East Asian, I just wish I lived closer to them.

--
Dan

Message has been deleted

Jean B.

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Jul 2, 2006, 1:21:17 PM7/2/06
to
Dan Logcher wrote:

> There is very little in the way of Indonesian.. though, the Super 88 in
> Allston has a new Indonesian stall. I had Beef Rengdang from them on
> Monday.
> They just opened, and they need to work out the kinks and get organized as
> they were a bit on the slow side.
>
> Otherwise, I don't know of any other place.
>

I'll have to go there immediately (or this week, anyway).
That's exciting--if they are any good!

--
Jean B.

Jean B.

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Jul 2, 2006, 1:22:24 PM7/2/06
to
Uri Guttman wrote:

>>>>>>"DL" == Dan Logcher <dlogcher*xspam*@comcast.net> writes:
>
>
> DL> The Andover Inn is a very nice, fancy place. I've had one very good
> DL> meal there, but they only offer it on Sundays.. Indonesian Rijstaffel.
> DL> I don't know if they still offer that, as I don't see it on their site.
>
> DL> http://www.andoverinn.com/dining.html
>
> we did the rijstafflel once and it was great. i even tried to organize a
> ne.food trip for it but it never happened. sad to see it go but they
> must have not had the demand. any place else in boston that does it?
>
> uri
>

I only have been to that once, and it was years ago, I found
it VERY disappointing--but then I had cooked a lot of
Indonesian food by then, so my expectations were probably
somewhat different. And I have NO idea what it is like now.

--
Jean B.

edspresso

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Jul 2, 2006, 2:43:07 PM7/2/06
to
I called the Andover Inn the other day and they no longer have the rijstafel
because "the old chef was dutch and the new one is French". I have not yet
tried the Super 88 even though my daughter lives a few hundred yards from
there. Oh well, when she gets back to Boston>
So, the important question is, does anyone know of any Indonesian restaurant
on the East coast besides Bali Nusi in Manhattan?
I have seen the demise of many.................
Ed


"Jean B." <jb...@rcn.com> wrote in message
news:4gqdmjF...@individual.net...

Stephen Stein

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Jul 2, 2006, 2:51:47 PM7/2/06
to
Ronnie Marks wrote:
> Sometime near Fri, 30 Jun 2006 13:42:52 GMT, Lori Lee <lrlwn...@earthlink.net>
> may have written:

>
>>I am a NYC lurker looking for suggestions.

> In Andover, you can find pizza at any of the "Sal's Just Pizza". It is a chain,
> and has a number of places in the area.

Oy.

I would not presume to suggest local pizza to a NewYorker. :-)

But I am stuck here in the pizza hinterlands and I have never tried
Sal's. Sounds like I should - thanks for the tip.

- Steve Stein

Dan Logcher

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Jul 2, 2006, 6:47:48 PM7/2/06
to

They need to work out the kinks, they were a bit slow. Only open two
weeks now.

--
Dan

Dan Logcher

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Jul 2, 2006, 6:49:35 PM7/2/06
to
edspresso wrote:

> I called the Andover Inn the other day and they no longer have the rijstafel
> because "the old chef was dutch and the new one is French". I have not yet
> tried the Super 88 even though my daughter lives a few hundred yards from
> there. Oh well, when she gets back to Boston>
> So, the important question is, does anyone know of any Indonesian restaurant
> on the East coast besides Bali Nusi in Manhattan?
> I have seen the demise of many.................

That's ashame about the Andover Inn, as it was very good.
I know of no other Indonesian restaurant in New England.

--
Dan

AllstonPar...@hotmail.com

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Jul 2, 2006, 7:05:25 PM7/2/06
to
Dan Logcher wrote:
> Mary[ Chung]'s is a must for anyone visiting Cambridge and likes spicy Chinese.

And be warned: it's really spicy. We ordered the seaweed salad and
asked for it to be not too spicy, and it was still difficult to eat
because of the spice. And when we ordered the orange chicken, the
waittress warned us that it was stir-fried and not crispy (which was
true), but didn't mention how unbelievably spicy it was going to be. I
don't remember if the menu said the chicken was spicy, but it wouldn't
have mattered, since it's always marked in red on Chinese menus but at
other places it only has a little spice.

-Apr

Dan Logcher

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Jul 2, 2006, 7:16:02 PM7/2/06
to
AllstonPar...@hotmail.com wrote:

Yeah, its a bit spicy. I always have the Suan La Chow Show, Dun Dun Noodles,
Ravs, and maybe one other item. That's enough for two. The Suan and Dun Dun
are two signature items, and very spicy.

I always describe Suan's as wontons on a bed of bean sprouts with an acid
sauce poured over the top.

--
Dan

Message has been deleted

Jean B.

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Jul 2, 2006, 9:24:28 PM7/2/06
to
Dan Logcher wrote:

That's still exciting. There hasn't been an Indonesian
restaurant in this area for a LONG time--and the one I did go
to some decades ago was pretty bad. I REALLY hope this one is
good and gets enough business to stay alive.

How was the beef rendang?

--
Jean B., who has informed her daughter that they are going to
Super 88

Dan Logcher

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Jul 2, 2006, 10:29:10 PM7/2/06
to
Jean B. wrote:

> Dan Logcher wrote:
>
>> Jean B. wrote:
>>
>>> Dan Logcher wrote:
>>>
>>>> There is very little in the way of Indonesian.. though, the Super 88 in
>>>> Allston has a new Indonesian stall. I had Beef Rengdang from them
>>>> on Monday.
>>>> They just opened, and they need to work out the kinks and get
>>>> organized as
>>>> they were a bit on the slow side.
>>>>
>>>> Otherwise, I don't know of any other place.
>>>>
>>> I'll have to go there immediately (or this week, anyway). That's
>>> exciting--if they are any good!
>>
>>
>>
>> They need to work out the kinks, they were a bit slow. Only open two
>> weeks now.
>>
> That's still exciting. There hasn't been an Indonesian restaurant in
> this area for a LONG time--and the one I did go to some decades ago was
> pretty bad. I REALLY hope this one is good and gets enough business to
> stay alive.
>
> How was the beef rendang?

The Rendang was ok, not as spicy as I hoped. I think they just need
to work on it for a little while.

--
Dan

Greg and Joan

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Jul 3, 2006, 2:04:44 AM7/3/06
to
If in Andover --

You might try =

Sal's Restaurant in Lawrence -- they do have pizza but their "flagship" is a
full restaurant. Finally, a good Italian restaurant returns to the area.

For fried seafood - Lena's , I think it's in Salisbury (not Salisbury
Beach).. on route 1.


"Lori Lee" <lrlwn...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:g8aaa2hukvmvn8bif...@4ax.com...

Cheryl Isaak

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Jul 3, 2006, 8:38:14 AM7/3/06
to
On 7/2/06 2:51 PM, in article oZ6dnTpMmvBaiDXZ...@comcast.com,
"Stephen Stein" <szs.forw...@comcast.net> wrote:

My NY'r husband likes Sals. I like it because slices are reasonably priced
and there is no arguments over toppings. I can only eat one slice, DS will
eat 3 if allowed. (Teenaged boys have it so good)

Cheyrl

David Chesler

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Jul 3, 2006, 9:00:02 AM7/3/06
to
I am from the Bronx. I find Sal's significantly more acceptable than
most of what passes for pizza, even what passes for Italian pizza,
around here. (Papa Geno's is the cardboard fastfood version of that
ideal, Mario's in Reading comes close. Hi-Fi in Central Square used to
be close, but a very recent trip found them not so good, with much more
bitterness in the cheese. Market Basket sells an over-size heat-at-home
thin-crust labeled Abbondanza which is also acceptable.)

I don't ask for much: sweet sauce with garlic notes, sauce and cheese
mixed together rather than in distinct layers, a thin, stretched crust
which comes out so flexible that one must fold the tip over to eat it, a
risen doughy outer crust, 18 inches. (If it is just sauce and cheese it
is "plain" -- to call that "cheese" would imply that other popular
toppings should be called "pepperoni and cheese" or that the cheese is
optional. The tomato sauce can be omitted on request for a "white" pizza.)

A Sal's "slice" is one quarter of an 18" pie.

--
- David Chesler <che...@post.harvard.edu>
Iacta alea est

Dan Logcher

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Jul 3, 2006, 9:19:26 AM7/3/06
to
Greg and Joan wrote:
> If in Andover --
>
> You might try =
>
> Sal's Restaurant in Lawrence -- they do have pizza but their "flagship" is a
> full restaurant. Finally, a good Italian restaurant returns to the area.

Sal's is very good Italian pizza.. 1 slice is 1/4 pie. HUGE!
Across from Sal's is the Mango Grill, which is good. I've had a few
meals there as well (though almost 4 years ago).

--
Dan

Marc Dashevsky

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Jul 3, 2006, 9:56:51 AM7/3/06
to
In article <0s2qg.2211$PE1....@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
gg...@sprynet.com says...

> If in Andover --
>
> You might try =
>
> Sal's Restaurant in Lawrence -- they do have pizza but their "flagship" is a
> full restaurant. Finally, a good Italian restaurant returns to the area.
>
> For fried seafood - Lena's, I think it's in Salisbury (not Salisbury
> Beach).. on route 1.

Actually, it's on Rabbit Rd, near the intersection of Rt. 286 (which
is near the exit/entrance ramps for I-95). There is another Lena's on
Rt. 1 in Hampton, NH, and I don't know if they're related.

In the nine years I've been up here, I've not stopped by there once.
Are they really a reasonable place to get fried seafood?

--
Go to http://MarcDashevsky.com to send me e-mail.

Rob Gross

unread,
Jul 3, 2006, 5:18:26 PM7/3/06
to Lori Lee
Lori Lee wrote:

> I am a NYC lurker looking for suggestions. We will be spending a
> Thurs. nite in Andover, a Fri. nite in Cambridge, and a Sat. nite in
> New Haven, all in August. Seeking wonderful & memorable, anything
> from clam shack (Clam Box, Ipswich?) or pizza (New Haven pizza) up to
> fancy or sushi or ethnic. Basically the best in these 3 areas.

I suggest that you try Farnham's in Essex rather than Woodman's (the
most famous place for clams, because they claim to have invented fried
clams) for clams and lobster rolls. Then, you can drive down the road
to Ipswich, and compare to the Clam Box if you still have any
appetite. But it's more important to save room for desser at a dairy
shack up route 133 in Ipswich called White Farms, which is not as
famous as Kimball's, but worth a visit.--Rob

--
Rob Gross (617) 552-3758
Department of Mathematics http://fmwww.bc.edu/gross/
Boston College gr...@bc.edu
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3806

Cape Cod Bob

unread,
Jul 4, 2006, 12:10:28 AM7/4/06
to
On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 09:00:02 -0400, David Chesler
<che...@post.harvard.edu> wrote:

>I am from the Bronx.

There is more bad pizza and Italian food in general in the Bronx than
I ever suspected possible. It is greatly overrated probably a factor
of reminiscing about the old days more than accepting reality.
------------
There are no atheists in foxholes
or in Fenway Park in an extra inning
game.
____

Cape Cod Bob

Delete the two "spam"s for email

Robert La Ferla

unread,
Jul 4, 2006, 1:37:17 AM7/4/06
to
guy klose wrote:

> It may be a more New England-y choice to try one of the clam places
> like Clam Box or Woodman's.

I was in that area recently and tried JT Farnham's in Essex. It was
much better than Woodman's (greasy and long lines). It wasn't the
slightest bit greasy. The restaurant overlooks a marsh. There are a
few outside picnic tables as well as indoor seating.

http://www.roadfood.com/photos/mini_1098.jpg

Christopher C. Stacy

unread,
Jul 4, 2006, 10:00:28 PM7/4/06
to

> guy klose wrote:
>
>> It may be a more New England-y choice to try one of the clam places
>> like Clam Box or Woodman's.
>
> I was in that area recently and tried JT Farnham's in Essex.
> It was much better than Woodman's (greasy and long lines).

The Clam Box was good on Saturday.
Had a strip sandwich and popped a few whole clams.
Long lines, though.

I like to get fried scallops only at Woodman's, though.
Most other places (including the Clam Box) make them too way doughy,
which seems to be how it's usually done in Massachusetts.
I grew up in Virginia, where they are lightly dusted with cornmeal,
not "breaded" (and generally more encased) like they are here.

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