Ma's Donuts & More

78 W Main Road

Middletown, RI 02842

(401) 841-5750

After receiving some unhappy e-mail regarding our old review of Ma's Donuts in Middletown, RI, Mom and I promised our fans that we would give this bakery another shot. Since we were in the area, Mom thought that it would be a perfect time to go through the drive-thru and get a half dozen Ma's donuts. I pulled into the drive-thru at just around 6:30 p.m.


Since Ma's Donuts is open for 24 hours, it seems to be a big hit with the Newport Grand Casino set (since it is right down the street). I knew a few girls from my old job that always made a point to stop by Ma's after a long night of gambling. With our first review, we basically said that Ma's had "uninspired" donuts. They were good, but nothing special. This caused quite a stir with a few fans who actually go out of their way to pick up a box of these doughy delights. Since we wanted to be fair, Mom and I decided that on this visit we will order six assorted donuts. We let Ma's choose the donuts because a) we were going through the drive-thru, and b) we would never discriminate against a particular donut. We love them all!


When I arrived at the drive-thru window, I was immediately greeted over the loud speaker. The gentleman asked me what I would like, so I said, "A half dozen assorted donuts, please." He muttered something that we thought was "drive up," so I headed toward the window. When I got there, the gentleman asked me what kind of donut I wanted. I told him that I wanted six assorted. He said, "What?" I said, "Assorted." He just stared blankly, so I said, "You know ... mixed?" I even made this mixing sign with my hands which probably looked more like I was kneading dough rather than explaining what assorted meant. Then, he asked me how many I wanted. I said, "Six." OH MY GOD! Pay attention! I don't want to be discriminative, but why do stores and restaurants always put the person who knows the least amount of English either manning the phone or serving customers? I mean has no one ever come through and asked for an assorted box? Thank God we didn't order coffees or we would have been there all night. Once the gentleman and I were on the same page, he handed me my box of donuts and quoted me $4.99. Mom and I headed home with our donuts in a pretty Ma's box.


After dinner, we brought out the donuts so that her and I - and Dad - could all have one. When I opened the box, I was a bit disappointed to see that the donuts had rolled around inside of the box they were placed in. One of the donuts was frosted, and most of the frosting had rubbed off. Perhaps there isn't a need to have boxes that only hold six donuts. We shrugged it off as Mom and I were the first to dig in. She chose the chocolate cream-filled donut while I picked the blueberry cake. Mom's donut, although packed with chocolate cream, was a little on the dry side and not very flavorful. She felt that the filling actually tasted better than the donut. Mom has had this type of donut before from other places - including Dunkin' Donuts - and she said that it was much better at the other establishments. Dad's jelly donut was packed with so much filling that it was starting to split on the side. My blueberry donut was good, but I can find the same thing at Dunkin' Donuts, only theirs taste a little better. When I came home from work the next day, Mom told me that if I wanted to have another donut, I'd better act fast because they were already drying out. The remaining donuts we ate were good, but again, nothing special.

Although we didn't go inside of Ma's Donuts, we saw the interior through the large glass windows. The walls were a deep rose color and there were several seats that you can choose from. There were also a few chairs set up outside for people who wanted to enjoy the fresh air. What I didn't know is that the inside of Ma's (not just the drive-thru) also stays open for 24 hours. I had to call and verify this as most drive-thru places close down their eat-in section after hours. On the menu, Ma's offers your normal breakfast/bakery type items such as donuts, breakfast sandwiches, cookies, muffins, and assorted pastries. They also have malasadas, which is fried dough for you non-Portuguese fans. Ma's also has a long list of drinks like coffee, iced coffee, cocoa, smoothies, and fat-free fruities, which I'm assuming is a fruit drink. Lunch is also offered here with sandwiches such as chourico and peppers, roast beef, ham and cheese, and turkey. The prices are average for this type of restaurant, and Ma's offers several combo specials that may be a little easier on the wallet.

There is one thing that Mom and I always notice about Ma's Donuts - it always looks closed. The parking lot is usually empty, and it always looks pretty dark inside. I don't want to say that Ma's has a dated look, but there is something about the exterior of this restaurant that would lead me to assume that it was dingy inside. However, it's obvious that Ma's has a loyal fan base which is what has kept them thriving as a business.

We wanted to like Ma's Donuts. We really did! However, we have to stick with our original decision. These donuts are uninspired, and it's a shame because out-of-the-way places like Ma's usually has fantastically unique donuts. Perhaps they'll improve over time, but it's sad when a large chain like Dunkin' can serve up a better tasting donut.

Ma's Donuts & More is open daily for all 24 hours.

Papa John's

www.papajohns.com

Mom and I have been talking about ordering pizza from Papa John's for a few days now. The reason? We're not that crazy about it. Now I know that sounds strange, but both Mom and I like to give everything a fair shot, even if we've been let down in the past. Since we'd never officially reviewed Papa John's, we decided to be brave and order a couple of pies for dinner. She called the Broadway location at 5:35 p.m. and spoke with a very friendly, knowledgeable man. By 6 p.m., the pizzas had arrived.

<

Mom had ordered a large white ricotta cheese pizza ($14.99), and something called a Meatza pizza ($14.99), which was topped with bacon, sausage, ham, and pepperoni. Since Papa John's always runs the half price special (buy one, get one half off), her total came to:

<

Subtotal - $24.37

Delivery charge - 1.89

Sales tax - 1.22

TOTAL = $25.59

<

Now, since the subtotal comes to more than one and a half pizzas, I figured out that they must have charged us for the garlic dipping sauce ($.59) and banana peppers ($1.50) that they stuck inside each pizza box. Thanks, but we didn't ask for these and shouldn't have to pay for them. After Dad gave the delivery guy $27 in cash, he brought the pies inside. When we opened the boxes, we thought that both pizzas looked and smelled delicious. With paper plates in hand, we all sat down to dinner.

<

We tried the white ricotta pizza first, which had a blend of four cheeses and a ricotta cheese sauce. After trying it, we all came to the same conclusion - it was blah. For having so many different kinds of cheese, we expected it to have more flavor. We've had multi-cheese topped pizzas before and they were usually quite tasty. The pizza didn't taste bad, it just didn't taste as good as we'd hoped.

<

<

The Meatza pie had a lot of flavor due to the four toppings, but the sauce was a little overwhelming. It was as tangy as we remembered from the first time, which is why we didn't care for Papa John's originally. Mom found the pizza to be a little on the greasy side, but that's to be expected when it includes four extremely fatty meats. The Meatza was tastier than the white, but had a bitter aftertaste because of the sauce.

<

<

On the whole, we feel that the crust of the Papa John's pies are quite doughy. In fact, the dough makes it almost impossible to eat more than two slices - even though we tried. It is strange how Mom, Dad, and I all came to the same conclusion when we all have very different palettes. Both Mom and I agreed that Papa John's offers some pretty good deals, but you have to make sure to read the fine print. For example, they have a new promotion where you can buy one large pizza and get the second free. However, it is for pickup customers only. Also, there are some coupons circulating with great deals, but they are for a limited time (sometimes only 30 days). There is a fantastic deal that is going on through the rest of the summer called the 4-4-4 Super Value Deal. You can order three 10" one-topping pizzas; three medium subs; or one 10" one-topping pizza, cheese sticks, and garlic Parmesan bread sticks all for $4.44 each.

<

Papa John's isn't a sit down pizza place. The chain is along the same line as Domino's - strictly delivery and carryout. They offer several types of pizzas ($12.99-17.99) including chicken Alfredo, garden veggie, BBQ chicken, rustic Italian, Smokehouse bacon, spicy meatball, and many others. They also have a wheat crust option for those who are trying to stay away from carbs. Papa John's offers sandwiches staring at $4.99 such as meatball, chicken Parmesan, veggie, Italian, and chourico and peppers (local only). Appetizers include wings and chicken strips ($6.49), cheese sticks ($5.99), bread sticks ($5.49), and a few dessert choices.

<

Although we didn't hate our dinner, I think we're done with our taste test of Papa John's. We've had their pizza about four times now, and each time we keep hoping that it will be better. Mom and I definitely feel that Papa Gino's is the best delivery pizza chain in the area, with Domino's coming in second. Unfortunately, that leaves Papa John's pulling up the rear. If it weren't for the doughy crust and tart sauce, we may have felt differently. However, I think the Papa John's recipe is here to stay, and that is probably why this will be our last time ordering this pizza.

<

This particular Papa John's restaurant is located at 167 Broadway in Fall River. For more information, call (508) 674-5500 or visit the Web site at www.papajohns.com.

Taco Bell

www.tacobell.com

<
Since Sunday, I had been trying to cut junk food out of my life, so naturally by today I was looking for a greasy, carb-filled excuse to cheat on my diet. On Tuesday night, while watching Hell's Kitchen, Mom saw a commercial for the new Big Bell Box at Taco Bell. Luckily, I didn't see it or else I would have taken my keys and run for the border. I love Taco Bell, even if it doesn't always love me. Before heading to bed, Mom asked me if I had ever heard of the Taco Bell Big Bell Box. "No," I said excitedly, "but what's in the box?" Like a modern day Nancy Drew, Mom flew to the computer to investigate. Once on the Taco Bell Web site, she called me over so that I could see the components for myself. I lunged over to the screen, almost tripping over my cat on the way. I just had to know what was in that box! What we saw was one of their new Queso Crunchwraps, a bean burrito, a crunchy taco, a large drink, and a small bag of cinnamon twists. For $4.99 plus tax, it was advertised as "the meal that's made for men." A little sexist, in my opinion. I can pig out just as good as any man can. Since it was too late for my stomach to handle a big box of fast food, I went to bed with visions of Fire sauce packets dancing in my head.
<

<
When morning rolled around, I tried to put my Mexican food fantasies on the back burner. I had a diet to worry about! Although I had a lot of work to do at the office, my mind kept drifting toward the Big Bell Box. "I wonder how big it is," I said to myself. I decided to call Mom. After all, it was almost lunch time. If I was going to cheat on my diet, it was now or never. "So what about that Big Bell Box," I asked her. I was trying to get her to say, "Oh man, I could go for some Taco Bell right now." I just didn't want to be the one who voluntarily ruined the diet. I wanted to blame her for my taco consumption and possible weight gain. Since she never took the bait, I just came right out with it: "I'm going to Taco Bell for lunch. Are you with me?" Without hesitation, Mom said, "OK!" So much for the diet. Hanging up the phone, and with $10 burning a hole in my wallet, I got in the Kia and drove all the way across town to Fall River's only Taco Bell. I arrived at just around 1 p.m.
<

<
Since this was an impromptu visit, I didn't have my camera. I made a mental note to return to Taco Bell after work to snap some shots of the building and its interior (see above). I was on a time crunch since my lunch break is only 45 minutes, so I was getting a little antsy waiting in line at the drive-thru. I glanced at what I could see of the large menu, and did NOT see the Big Bell Box. WHAT?! I started to panic. Finally, as I was able to drive a little closer, I spotted it. Unfortunately, it was $5.99 - a dollar more than the commercial stated. I guess prices do vary. Anyway, it was finally my turn at the intercom. Does anyone else hate Taco Bell's new way of taking your order? Instead of saying, "Welcome to Taco Bell. May I take your order," they say, "Hi. How are you?" Yeah, I'm fine - just get my food. I never know if they're waiting for me to talk or not, so I always end up sounding impatient by shouting, "Are you ready?" After the employee was finally with me, I placed my order: a Big Bell Box with a Diet Pepsi (of course - gotta watch the calories), and two beef supreme gorditas with no tomatoes for Mom. The woman's voice on the intercom asked if I wanted a crunchy or soft taco. For some strange reason, I thought that both types of tacos were included in the box. "I don't get both," I asked. "Um ... no," she replied, probably thinking that there was enough food in there for two people. After choosing a soft taco, she quoted me $10.05 and asked me to drive forward. PROBLEM: I only had $10. I had used all my change to buy some cookies at work, and now found myself desperately searching for a nickel, five pennies, or SOMETHING. I keep my car way too clean and could not come up with anything, unless she wanted to take a box cutter, a dirty blanket, or some recyclable grocery bags instead of the cash. When it was my turn at the window, I handed her the $10 and said, "I'm so sorry, but I just don't have the five cents." She looked at me kind of weird, and so I said, "We can take something out if you need to." After I said it, I thought she'd better not take anything out for one damn nickel. Reluctantly, she said, "It's OK." Phew! That was a close one. Remind me to keep some spare change in the car in case this happens again. After asking me if I would like any sauce, which I declined, the cashier handed me the drink and bag of gorditas. Last but not least, she handed me the Big Bell Box. It was huge and very heavy! I couldn't wait to get home and tear that baby apart. She also handed me the receipt:
<

*2 C-BFSP - $3.58

1 QSOBOX - 5.99

Subtotal - $9.57

Tax - .48

TOTAL = $10.05

<
Like Mario Andretti, I raced home at top speed so that I could eat in the house. I really didn't want to drag a big box of tacos to work and gather a crowd in my cubicle to watch me eat it all. I threw the bag of gorditas to Mom who opened it and noticed that they had given her chalupas instead of gorditas. Not a big deal, but they should be more careful (*I also saw that the receipt listed chalupas instead of gorditas). I made Mom stop what she was doing so that she could watch me open my Big Bell Box, which conveniently said "BIG" on the front and even had lifting instructions in case you were too weak to move it on your own. It doesn't get any fatter than that. Once inside, all I saw were wrappers. I unwrapped each item, laid it all out, and just stopped to admire everything. Wow, there was a lot of food in that box.
<

<
I decided to eliminate the cinnamon twists, so I gave them to Mom. However, I did steal a few before handing them over and they were a little over-spiced and too crispy. First, I started on the soft taco. With only a few bites, it was already over. It was good, but there always seems to be more wrap than filling, which is a bit of a let down. Next, the bean burrito. This actually was the complete opposite of the soft taco. It was stuffed with refried beans, which I don't really care for that much, and was extremely filling. Was I even going to be able to eat the Queso Crunchwrap? I soldiered on. I picked up the giant sexagon and took a bite. At first, all I tasted was the soft wrap. It was the second bite that allowed me to taste some of the spicy queso cheese. It was flavorful, but again, there was too much wrap and not enough filling. Mom's chalupas, on the other hand, were good. Now, the only difference between a gordita and a chalupa is its exterior. The gordita has a puffier shell than a regular soft taco and served as is, while the chalupa shell is the same, but fried. Mom enjoyed this different texture and was pleasantly surprised at how fresh the lettuce and the tasty beef mixture was. The only downside - not enough filling. Apparently that was the theme with today's order. She also shared my dislike of the cinnamon twists. They were too airy and had way too much sugar. Mom ended up chucking them afterwards.
<

The Big Bell Box

<

Mom's chalupa

<
After peeking at the clock, I decided it was time to go back to work. The problem was, I couldn't move. I literally could have fallen asleep at the table because I was so full and exhausted from eating all that heavy food. Through all the drowsiness, something became quite clear to me - the Big Bell Box was nothing more than a bunch of Taco Bell's cheapest things in a giant square of cardboard. Feeling a little sick, I trudged back to work a little remorseful for abandoning the healthy eating for a big box of crap.
<
Some people call this place "Taco Hell," and I can see why. There are times where the service is horrible, and the food isn't much better. I don't know if Taco Bell is a great place to work or not, but I'm sick of the employees taking out their frustrations on my food. Although they do use fresh ingredients, sometimes the food is served very sloppily. There is sour cream all over the inside wrapper, tomatoes everywhere but in the shell, and only a few bits of cheese near the center of the taco. However, there are other times where the food is to die for. My personal favorites include the gorditas, chalupas, Crunchwraps, and the double decker taco supreme, which is a crunchy taco filled with ground beef, cheese, sour cream, and tomatoes surrounded by a soft taco coated with refried beans. The best of both worlds. I also enjoy the new Big Taste Taco for $.99. Mom likes the chicken quesadilla and the nachos and cheese. I guess what it boils down to is that when you eat at Taco Bell - at least the one in Fall River - there is a 50/50 chance that you will get a good meal.
<
I'd like to think of myself as an adventurous eater. I can "think outside the bun" with the best of 'em. However, there are times when I've regretted my decision to visit Taco Bell. Will I be back? Absolutely! There is something about the taste of hot sauce, ground beef, and sour cream that will keep me going back again and again. It's the only Mexican-ish restaurant in the area, and since I can't cook, this is my only option. Plus, where else can you get a bag of food and eat like a pig for around $5? Times are tough, my friends. I'll see you there!
<
Taco Bell is located at 195 Marianno Bishop Blvd., Fall River, MA. The hours of operation are 10-2 a.m., Monday through Thursday, 10-3 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10-2 a.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (508) 677-0929.

Evelyn's Nanaquaket Drive-In

2335 Main Road

Route 77

Tiverton, RI 02878

(401) 624-3100
www.evelynsdrivein.com

We stopped going to Evelyn's after a mosquito bit and nearly killed my sister by giving her spinal meningitis. Since that incident was over 20 years, and that mosquito has been dead for quite some time, Mom and I decided that it was safe to go back near the water and have a seafood lunch under Evelyn's large wooden pavilion. We pulled into the parking lot at just around 1 p.m.

Having taken a personal day away from the office, I was really excited to be having seafood versus the peanut butter sandwich that I would have probably eaten had I been at work. Not wanting to dine in, Mom and I opted to order at the front window. There was a lot to choose from, so we needed a minute to figure out what we were getting. Finally, after asking the cashier to show me the size difference between a cup and a bowl of chowder, I stepped up to the counter to place my order. Since the fish and chips were at market value, the price would remain a mystery until it came time to pay. Mom chose the fish and chips, while I chose a cup of clam chowder and a half dozen clam cakes to share with Mom. We also ordered two Diet Pepsis which were handed to me in bottle form. With tax, the bill came to:

1 fish & chips - $12.99

1 clam cake half dozen - 3.59

1 chowder cup - 2.99

2 Diet Pepsi - 3.98

Food total - $19.57

Non alcoholic beverage total - 3.98

Subtotal - $23.55

Tax - 1.89

*TOTAL = $25.45

*Believe it or not, this is actually one penny too much.

<

When the cashier quoted me the price, I was a bit shocked. Why was it so high? When she handed me the receipt, I saw that the fish and chips were $12.99. Around here, especially at "clam shacks," you can usually get an order of fish and chips for around $8. I showed Mom, and she was just as surprised as I was. "Maybe the portions here are really big," she said. We kept our fingers crossed until we heard our pickup number being called. In the meantime, I was trying to keep the stones and clam shells from the parking area out of my flip flops.

<

Evelyn's is adorable. From the large wooden pavilion for people who order at the window, to the umbrella-topped tables for the indoor patrons who were seated through the dining room, customers can enjoy peaceful Nanaquaket Pond. We even saw a couple of guys dock their boat and walk up the ramp to order a bag of clam cakes.

<

<

After hearing the cashier call out my number, I went up to the counter to claim our meals. We took the first table under the pavilion while carefully avoiding a large queen bee that was hovering around a bucket of flowers. It took a few minutes to set everything up so that the wind wouldn't take off with our lunch, but once we were settled, Mom and I dug in.

<

Mom's fish and chips consisted of a good sized piece of fish with a light coating. The fish was not greasy, but the fillet was on the thin side. The fries around the edges of the piece of fish were tasty, crisp, and dry, but the ones that were trapped underneath were soggy. The platter came with a side of cole slaw, which she gave to me, and a cup of tarter sauce, which was disgustingly overfilled and had spilled onto the fish and a few fries. It made for a messy presentation, especially since Mom doesn't like tarter sauce. After digging the sauce out with a couple of butter knives, Mom tried her fish, which she said was the best part. The fish was tasty, but nothing spectacular. In other words, it's nothing (portion or taste) that should have cost $12.99.

<

<

Of course, I neglected to find out if the chowder was clear or creamy. I guess it doesn't really matter, but I always prefer the creamy white. Unfortunately, Evelyn's serves the clear. Oh well, that's Rhode Island for you. I was hoping that perhaps this clear chowder would sway me to the other side, but like Mom's fish, it was nothing special. Served piping hot, the chowder was over-spiced but had a nice mixture of potatoes and clams. Since Mom had given me her cole slaw, I ate that first to give my chowder time to cool down. Unfortunately, I did not like the cole slaw because it was too dry. Did they forget to mix the veggies with mayonnaise?

<

<

Since the third time is supposedly the "charm," Mom and I opened the bag of clam cakes and hoped for the best. Sadly, we were disappointed. The cakes were so heavy and doughy that they were sticking to the roofs of our mouths. There seemed to be about two clam pieces per cake, and the coating had no crunch to it. Even after dipping my cakes in malt vinegar, which Mom had grabbed from the condiment basket on the counter, it didn't help the underdone texture. To us, the clam cakes did not have a lot of taste. What a let down!

<

<

I feel badly that we did not have a good experience at Evelyn's since the restaurant is such a favorite with local residents. People love Evelyn's so much that it was even featured on the Food Network! I really want to give Evelyn's another shot, but I do think that the fish and chips were a bit overpriced. Perhaps it was because the fish is priced at market value - but still! From the weird choices like the chow mein sandwich ($3.99) to house favorites like the clam strip plate ($10.99-12.99), Evelyn's remains a staple for New England summertime road trips. Both Mom and I hope that our next visit is much better.

<

Evelyn's Nanaquaket Drive-In is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (summer until 9 p.m.).

<

PS - Evelyn's has a fantastic Web site. Very informative and fun!

Bittersweet Farms Tavern

438 Main Road

Westport, MA 02790

(508) 636-0085

www.lafrancehospitality.com

If I hadn't already known where to find Bittersweet Farms, I may never have even come upon it. Located on Westport's Main Road, Bittersweet Farms Restaurant and Tavern is tucked away at the quiet end of a busy area. Mom has read about the restaurant several times in The Herald News, but had informed me of their rather high prices. The tavern, however, was recommended by Liz, one of our greatest fans. She raved about their delicious food and great prices, so Mom and I decided to see for ourselves what Bittersweet Farms was all about. We arrived at Bittersweet at just about 3:15 p.m.



We pulled into the large parking area and immediately spotted a sign that pointed towards the tavern. A second arrow leading to the restaurant pointed up a flight of stairs. After taking some outside shots of the building, which is beautiful, Mom and I headed down the ramp and into the depths of the tavern. A nearby waitress/hostess told us to seat ourselves, and so we did. We chose a table that faced into the dining room, across from a large fireplace. While Mom was taking off her jacket, I noticed someone walking over to our table. I brushed it off at first, but was very surprised when I heard this person say, "Is your name Laura?" Lo and behold, it was Liz! The very reason why Mom and I were dining at the Bittersweet Farms Tavern. We had never met in person before, but had chatted several times via the New England Bites MySpace page. After introductions were exchanged, Liz dashed off to her table to rejoin her husband, Dave. Seconds later, we were joined by Erin D., our waitress. Dressed in uniform, she promptly took our drink order - two Diet Pepsis. Before retrieving the drinks, she left Mom and I with two thick, pleather-bound menus. After returning with our drinks, which came in two barrel-shaped glasses, Mom and I asked Erin to give us another minute to decide on an entree. The descriptions of everything sounded quite delicious, and Liz even mentioned that the pulled pork was really good. Since I am very easily influenced, when Erin came back to take our order, I chose the pulled pork sandwich ($9), which is served with cornbread, cole slaw, fries, and a fried pickle. Mom decided to go with the tomato and cheese pizza ($9), which is a Don Pepino classic according to the menu. Erin took away our menus as Mom and I checked out the interior.

This place is dark! It was so dark in here that the pictures aren't all that great. I could have used the flash on my camera, but a nosey customer to my left apparently couldn't take her eyes off me, and I didn't want to give her something else to stare at by busting out my digital camera. I had to rely on my cell phone to photograph the place. It was very pub-like and extremely cozy. The large wooden bar had a great shine to it and was decorated with various bottles and jugs. Wooden beams were visible overhead, and the lights from the remaining Christmas garland bounced off the painted grey walls. High wooden stools accompanied the bar, while the dining room was set up with wooden tables and chairs. A large flat screen TV faced our table and was turned to a sports channel so that patrons could see if the Patriots were going to win their 16th game in a row this season (and they did). The large fireplace, which Liz and Dave were sitting in front of, was turned off, but beautiful nonetheless. The only flames that were visible were coming from the small, red candle holders sitting atop each table. Aside from the footsteps coming from the upstairs restaurant (we were seated near a long set of stairs), Bittersweet Tavern is a very clean and mellow place to hang.

We hadn't been waiting long before our bread basket arrived. Liz had mentioned that we were going to be getting a lot of "bread and love," but I had no idea that we were going to get something so delicious! There were several different types of breads in the basket, along with side dishes of chili sauce and butter. The two slices of rye, cornbread, and a type of country white did not last long at our table. The bread was very fresh and the presentation was fantastic. We were very impressed, and we hadn't even gotten to the meal yet!



I like the fact that you can still get Bittersweet food without paying the restaurant prices. The tavern menu was fairly large, and included a lot of different meal options. Appetizers included mussels marinara ($8), steamed littlenecks and chourico ($11), and the Bittersweet wings (bone-in $7/tenders $8), which come in buffalo, barbecue, honey mustard, or Jamaican jerk flavors. Salads include the classic grilled chicken ($8), the portobello mushroom salad ($9.50), and the teriyaki glazed steak tips salad ($12), which is served over mixed field greens with an oriental honey ginger dressing. Surprisingly enough, Bittersweet Tavern has a raw bar! Raw food includes chilled jumbo shrimp ($2.75 each), oysters on the half shell ($1.85 each), and chilled ocean treasures, which includes six clams, six oysters, and four chilled jumbo shrimp ($23.50). Add a chilled, cracked lobster for another $9.50. The sandwich board states that all sandwiches are served with fries, cole slaw, or a demi salad. Choices include the lump crab cake club ($9.50), fried roast beef sandwich ($11.50), and the Bourbon Street "Barnsider" ($10.50), an open-faced six ounce grilled prime rib on Texas toast topped with bourbon-glazed onions and melted Swiss cheese. A large list of comfort foods includes favorites like the shepard's pie ($9), baked chicken pie ($9.50), and the Gourmet Bistro ($15), which is an eight ounce flat iron steak with fries and slaw. Add a hearty lump crab cake for another $6. Their pizza list starts with the tomato and cheese pizza ($9), with $1 for every added topping. Listed as a specialty pizza is the seafood pesto ($11.50), which includes grilled shrimp and scallops in a pesto cream sauce. Along with Bittersweet's large list of alcoholic drinks and frozen margaritas, there is also a large list of desserts. Liz recommends the Bittersweet Kiss ($7.50), which is a house specialty. This dessert consists of a warm brownie tart with chocolate ganache over a layer of raspberry coulis and white chocolate sauce, topped with vanilla bean ice cream. Sounds good, right? There is also bread pudding ($5), creme brulee ($6), and an Italian almond cream torte ($5.50), just to name a few. Also on the menu are the Bittersweet Farms specialty coffees and cappuccinos.

After Liz and Dave had finished eating their delicious looking desserts, they came over to our table to say their goodbyes and chat about - what else - yummy food. When Liz spotted Erin bringing over our entrees, she wished us well and left us to eat. Both dishes really looked and smelled amazing, however, after a few bites Mom asked me to take a slice of her pizza and try it for myself. After I took a few bites, we both agreed that the crust definitely tasted frozen (think Ellio's). Not that there's anything wrong with this, but we were quite surprised that Bittersweet did not use fresh dough. Maybe it is too much trouble to make the crust on the premises, but it would have been nice. The sauce and cheese were good, but not remarkable. Add that to the texture of the crust and you'll get a pizza that was a little disappointing. If we had to sum it up, it tasted like a good frozen pizza.



My pulled pork sandwich was very tasty. The bun was soft, and the juicy pork was mixed in with fresh veggies. Be warned - this is not a barbecued pulled pork sandwich. Although I was expecting that barbecue flavor, it was never advertised as so. I guess I am just used to always having that little kick when I'm having a pulled pork meal. The sandwich was, however, very tasty and I am glad that I got to try it. The fried pickle was delicious! The fried coating kept the pickle hot, which surprised me when I took the first bite. The cole slaw and fries were also very good, and I was glad to see that this sandwich plate came with a lot of extras. I gave Mom a piece of my sandwich, and she thought it was very good, but was missing that barbecue taste.



Erin appeared during our meal to ask how everything was, and we had no complaints. After we were done, she returned to leave the bill. She also mentioned that Liz had told her to tell us to have a happy new year. What a gal! Erin asked Mom if she would like to wrap up the rest of her pizza and my fries, and she did. Leaving the bill behind, she took the pizza and fries to the kitchen to pack them away. The bill came to:

2 Diet Pepsi @ $1.50 each - 3

Pizza - 9

Pulled pork - 9

Food total - $18

N/A beverage - 3

Tax - .90

TOTAL = $21.90 ... or was it???

It seems that a certain "restaurant angel" had decided to use some of her own money toward our bill, which brought it down quite a lot. Hmm ... I wonder who that was ... :) Whoever it was (wink, wink) totally made our day. We left the bill and a 20% tip for Erin on the table, and inquired about getting a take-out menu. She told us that Bittersweet had been overloaded with gift card requests for the holidays and did not have any left to give out. Thankfully, the full menu is available on the Internet. Erin also brought over two chocolate-covered mint sticks for Mom and I to cleanse our palate. Yummy!

One day, when we hit the lottery, Mom and I will be brave and try the Bittersweet Farms Restaurant. For now, we'll just concentrate on trying more things at the tavern. It is definitely the kind of place you could take a date - or your mother - and Mom and I look forward to having lunch here again. Once again, Liz didn't let us down!

Barrett's Alehouse

4171 North Main St.

Fall River, MA 02720
(508) 674-3600
barrettsalehousefallriver.com

<
UPDATE: After leaving Barrett's on Saturday, Mom and I both had ... how can I put this delicately ... "stomach issues". It was nothing major, but perhaps it was our own fault for ordering all that fried food. Because of this, we decided to give Barrett's another shot. We went in at around 1 p.m., sat at a table, and were served by Kelly. Mom ordered the smokehouse burger ($7.95) while I ordered a cup of French onion soup ($4.95) and an Oriental chicken salad ($8.95). Everything was delicious. The burger was cooked exactly to Mom's preference (medium well), and my greens were fresh and crisp. Mom's burger even came with a more appropriate serving of fries. Our bill came to $27+, and we left $33 on the table for Kelly. On this occasion we did use the restroom, and it was very clean and organized. Since everything went so well on this visit, I hesitate to mention that the "stomach issues" came back for a second time.

<

**************

Date: 11/17/07

<

Taking another suggestion from our pile of reader requests, Mom and I decided to visit a new restaurant that my aunt Judy and cousin Judyanne both loved - Barrett's Alehouse. Located in Shaw's Plaza where T.K. O'Malley's used to be, we pulled into the busy parking lot at 3:30 p.m.

<

<

When we stepped through the familiar doors, we were startled to see the changes that Barrett's had made to the building since its arrival. No longer was this a gloomy Irish pub with dark woods and low lights. It was now bright, cheerful, and family friendly. Mom and I waited by the door and were soon greeted by a friendly hostess. She asked us if we would like a table or a booth, and we chose a booth. She led us into the dining room and left us with two large, colorful menus and a list of the chef's specials to browse through. Although the booth seemed to be of average size, it was a bit on the tight side. Perhaps we're just getting *cough* curvier, but it seems as if they tried to cram a lot of seating against one particular wall. We didn't have to wait long before our waitress came over and introduced herself. Her name was Amanda and she quickly took our drink order - two Diet Pepsis. Since Mom and I had already browsed through the online menu, we kind of knew what we were going to get. When Amanda returned with our Pepsis (in plastic glasses with lemons attached), we placed our order. Mom ordered the English style beer battered fish n' chips ($9.95) served with fries, cole slaw, and tartar sauce, while I chose the Italian panini sandwich ($7.95), also served with fries and a pickle spear. Amanda asked what bread I would like my sandwich on. I had a choice between white, wheat, rye, or sour dough - I chose the latter. We also ordered an appetizer of the hand battered onion rings ($5.95) which were highly recommended by both my aunt and cousin, and a loaf of Barrett's freshly baked bread ($.95). Amanda said that the bread was worth getting because it was so good. After taking the orders, she went back to work while Mom and I checked the place out.

<

There are several different dining sections at Barrett's. There is a top level that you can access via a handicapped ramp at the front door or up the two steps inside of the restaurant. In the center of that dining area is a large statue of a carousel-style horse. The middle dining area consists of a row and a half of booths, and about four or five tables in between. Toward the end of the restaurant is the large bar area, and a smaller dining area for people who want to be close to the bar, but still have something to eat. Flat screen TVs are seen throughout the restaurant, and the color scheme of wood, teal, beige, and red sat quite nicely against the black ceilings. The waitstaff are dressed in uniforms of black and beige, there is a condiment basket on every table, and Barrett's seemed very cool (ceiling fans), clean, and welcoming.

<
<
<

The bread and the onion rings did not take long to arrive at all. The bread was round and served on a small carving board. Also on the board was a small container of what tasted like maple butter. The onion rings were plentiful and came with a side of zesty horseradish sauce. Mom, who has never had onion rings in her life, decided to throw caution to the wind and dig in. It was a pleasant surprise! Since she's not a big onion fan, she liked the fact that the rings were very thin and crispy - the batter being particularly good. She was very proud to have eaten onion rings. I thought they were also very good. They seemed to have a bit more batter than other onion rings I've had, but they were tasty. I enjoyed the horseradish sauce, which Mom didn't try. She could only handle trying one new thing at a time. We both enjoyed the tasty bread. It was soft on the inside, but perhaps a bit too crunchy on the outside, as Mom found out while trying to cut it. The maple butter was an added bonus, and went great with the hot bread.

<

<

There is certainly a lot to choose from at Barrett's. Appetizers range from a plate of tri-colored tortilla chips and salsa for $4.95, to a plate of coconut shrimp or pan seared crab cakes for $9.95. Salads include the raspberry chicken ($8.95) which features grilled chicken, feta cheese, and craisins, and the Alehouse steak tip salad ($11.95) which includes grilled sirloin tips tossed with veggies and mozzarella cheese. Soups include French onion, New England clam chowder, and chili ($4.95), and the sandwich board features a lobster salad roll ($13.95), open faced prime rib sandwich ($9.95), the Smokehouse chicken sandwich ($7.95), and more. A tiny pint of beer is pictured next to items that are "Barrett's Best." Barrett's also has panini sandwiches like the Reuben ($7.95) and the French dip ($7.95), and a pizza section where you can make your own from their large list of toppings (from $5.95-7.95). Specialty pizzas include BBQ chicken ($7.95), Greek ($7.95), and many others. Barrett's also serves Black Angus Alehouse burgers. All 8 oz. burgers are served on a grilled, buttered roll with fries, red onion, a vine ripe tomato, and a pickle spear. Entrees include dishes like the New York sirloin ($15.95) and the BBQ baby back ribs ($11.95 for 1/2 rack, $15.95 for full), seafood choices like baked scallops ($13.95) and seafood casserole ($13.95), and chicken and pasta dishes like the chicken Gorgonzola ($11.95), which features sauteed chicken tenders with roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and Marsala wine, finished with Gorgonzola cheese, and served over penne. You can add a salad to your entree (dinner or Caesar) for $1.95. Sides include baked beans, rice pilaf, baked potato (after 4 p.m.), broccoli, and much more for only $1.95. Customers must ask their server about the current dessert selections, but I do know that Barrett's can accommodate large parties for meetings, luncheons, and various events. They even have Wi-Fi for those people who just can't get off their laptops. Note: To-go orders will be subject to a three percent packaging charge.

<

Before we knew it, Amanda was back with our entrees. I was surprised at how quickly the food came as there seemed to be a good sized crowd at this time. Both Mom and I pushed aside the onion rings and bread and started on our meals. Mom's fish and chips came with a generous portion of fries. Perhaps too generous, because she had to leave a lot behind. The fish was very well done. Mom said that you could really taste the beer in the batter, and the fish itself was very flaky, white, and tender. It was freshly cooked, nicely hot, and was a good sized portion. She really enjoyed it. The fries, although too plentiful, were also very good. The crust on the fries was very similar to the batter used on the onion rings.

<

<

My Italian panini was jam packed with Italian cold cuts such as salami, cappicola, mortadella, prosciutto, and provolone cheese. Also in the sandwich were roasted red peppers (which I love), vine ripe tomato slices, olive oil, and garlic. The taste was really delicious, and the sour dough bread was nicely buttered and grilled. My sandwich also came with an overzealous portion of fries, which I had to leave behind, and a pickle spear. Unfortunately, the fries wasn't the only thing I left behind. A fatty piece of one of the meats in my sandwich made me ill. There is nothing worse than having a very chewy piece of meat in your mouth. Because of this, I wasn't able to finish the rest of the last half of my sandwich. I blame the cold cuts entirely. It had nothing to do with the freshness of the meat, or the way the sandwich was made. I understand that some of those meats are usually a bit on the fatty side, and I should have been more prepared. I would still recommend this sandwich to anyone because the taste was really fantastic. I also ate Mom's cole slaw (she didn't want it), and that was very good.

<

<

<

When Amanda returned, she asked us if we would like to take anything home. Since we were going to go shopping and didn't want to lug around a box filled with onion rings and fries, we declined. She quickly returned with our bill in a shiny, silver holder. The bill came to:

<

Onion rings - $5.95

Bread - .95

Fish and chips - 9.95

Italian panini - 7.95

(2) Diet Pepsi - 4.50

Subtotal - $29.30

Tax - 1.45

TOTAL = $30.75

<

We left $36.75 on the table for Amanda (including 20% tip). She was a great waitress. During our meal, there were two women seated on the side of us at a table. They also ordered a bread, but unfortunately they had to send it back because it was frozen. I heard Amanda apologize and then quickly return with a new loaf. The women seemed to quiet down after that. Mom and I left at around 4:30 p.m. We did not use the restroom on this visit.

<

I think it is fantastic that another bar/grill type restaurant has taken up residence in Fall River. With T.K.'s gone, the only other restaurant of this genre is Ninety Nine. Barrett's is the type of restaurant where you can bring your family, friends, or just stop by for a quick beer after work. Although the prices are a bit on the high side, and we've had better meals in other restaurants, we think that Barrett's Alehouse will do just fine in its new home on North Main Street.

<

Barrett's Alehouse is open from 11:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday. **Note: I had to call for the hours because I could not find them on the take-out menu nor on their Web site. I spoke to a very confused staff member, so if these hours are wrong, don't blame me!**

Bella Roma

239 Broadway

Taunton, MA 02780

(508) 823-5558

Mom and I had mixed feelings about Bella Roma. I had been there three times prior to today's visit, and Mom had been four. On our first visit, everything was spectacular. On our second visit, we were very disappointed. On Mom's trip here with Dad, she found the food to be average. On our third visit together, we found it to be nothing out of the ordinary. However, we kept hope alive in thinking that today's trip to Bella Roma would rival our first visit. It unfortunately did not.


We pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant which is located in a plaza that is home to a Brooks Drug Store (soon to be Rite Aid), a Friendly's, and a liquor store. It is set back quite a bit from the street, so if you are on the look out for this restaurant from Broadway, just remember to pull into the plaza parking lot. You'll see the slim, white restaurant signs against the red roof of the building. After checking out the painted artwork on the outside wall, Mom and I went inside at around 2:30 p.m.

There was only one other couple in the restaurant at this time, and once we were spotted, we were told by a nearby waitress that we could sit anywhere. After gazing at the delicious choices in the spinning dessert case, we chose a booth that was close to Bella Roma's large soup and salad bar. The waitress quickly came over to us, handed us two large plastic covered menus, and took our drink order of two Diet Cokes. When she returned with our drinks, which came in large plastic cups, Mom and I were ready to order. I chose the same dish that I remembered loving on my first visit - the stuffed shells with broccoli Alfredo ($11.95 for the regular size). Mom ordered the pasta bolognese ($9.95 for the regular size), and she had her choice of linguine, ziti, or angel hair. She chose angel hair. The waitress informed us that both of our meals came with the soup and salad bar privilege, so of course, we took advantage.


I really like this salad bar. There is a lot to choose from, everything is always well stocked, and the fruits, vegetables, and ready-made potato and pasta salads always seem to be very fresh. However, Mom did point out that the bagged salad used as their lettuce base was kind of limp on top, and she had to dig around to get some leaves underneath the pile that were crispier. The available soup was chicken noodle, but Mom and I were not in a soup mood. I like their pasta salad, but the pasta is always a bit overdone and has a a sticky texture. However, I try to make it work. With black olives and crushed tomatoes mixed into the salad, and with the chick peas that I like to throw in, the salad is quite tasty. Mom threw some French dressing onto her bed of lettuce, shredded cheese, and croutons. She said everything was very good, but the homemade croutons stole the show. They were excellent.

While we were waiting for our food to arrive, I started making some notes on the interior. The beautiful artwork that is displayed on the outside of the restaurant is carried onto the walls of the interior. There is a huge wall-sized mural of various gangster movie and TV show characters, along with several other large murals toward the back of the restaurant that show various Italian landscapes and scenic displays. There are only booths here, but they are wide and roomy. Topped with glass, all the tables are covered in white tablecloths, which work well with the mauve booths and light wood walls. Each table has a framed black and white photo of local sports heroes or Hollywood stars from Goodfellas, The Godfather, and other movies of that genre. The chandeliers, mini blinds, and low lights give the restaurant a homey feel, but the temperature on every one of our visits has always been a bit chilly, which doesn't do anything for the temperature of the food. There is a small bar at the front of the restaurant with high chairs that are the same color as the booths, and two TV sets - one of them being a flat screen TV that was given to the owners as a gift for the restaurant's 15 year anniversary (Mom and I just happened to be at Bella Roma on that day).



As for the food, Bella Roma certainly has a lot of choices. From pizza (starting at $6) to Steak Mafia ($13.95), you will definitely need a few minutes deciding what to order. Their appetizer list ranges from a basket of garlic bread for $2.75, to a hot antipasto with mussels, calamari, sausage, roasted red peppers, and stuffed mushrooms for $9.95. The children's menu is budget friendly - everything is under $6. They have several pizza selections including "an old world favorite," the Margherita Pizza (large size) for $13.95. This pizza is described as being made with the finest imported olive oil, garlic, diced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and seasonings. Bella Roma also has luncheon specialities, grinders (served with fries), burgers, and pasta, chicken, seafood, steak, and veal dishes. Although none of the regular size meals are over $20, Bella Roma does serve complete dinners ranging from Prime Rib Au Jus at $13.95, to the lobster and shrimp over pasta dish for $22.95. Be careful - as noted on the menu, some of these dishes are not always available, and these complete dinners are only served on Fridays and Saturdays. Each complete dinner comes with soup, salad, and the chef's choice of pudding for dessert. Bella Roma also has family size platters of the pasta dishes. They have a huge catering menu, and by the large Bella Roma truck that I usually see out in the parking lot, they seem to be very popular. They also have quite a take-out business as I always see boxed items flying out of the restaurant. They also have half (serves 6 to 8) and full (serves 15 to 18) size trays available to order for parties and other occasions. If you wish, Bella Roma can also set up a buffet for you and a minimum of 25 people. The buffet varies in cost and food choices, but the price includes the task of having the staff set up and break down the buffet, high quality disposable plates, chafing dishes, napkins, chafing fuel, and utensils. The buffet ranges from $8.45 to $15.95 per person.

Our food did not take long to arrive, and perhaps that was the downfall for Mom's pasta. She said that although it wasn't terrible, the angel hair did not seem like it was left in the boiling water long enough. The pasta, just like the pasta in my salad earlier, was tacky and stuck together. Also, the temperature of her pasta was not as hot as she would have liked it. This is was actually a problem that we encountered on our second visit to Bella Roma, and although she could deal with the temperature, Mom seemed to have discovered something else she didn't like about her dish - the sauce. She said that it was nothing more than watery crushed tomatoes plopped onto her pasta with some ground meat (she wasn't sure what kind) mixed in. As I watched her eat, I noticed that she was having a hard time keeping the pasta on the fork, which was an obvious result of the watery sauce. It was unfortunate because Mom loves pasta, and I could tell that she was definitely having technical difficulties with this particular meal.


My dish was good, but it was not as good as the first time I ordered it. My plate looked nearly empty compared to Mom's large serving of pasta, but luckily for me I had filled up on pasta salad, so the three stuffed shells on my plate were all that I could have eaten. The shells were a bit tacky like the rest of the overcooked pasta. The cheese inside was very good, but I noticed that some of the cheese had leaked out of the pasta and had been burned to a crisp, resulting in a very crunchy bottom on each shell. The Alfredo sauce was good, but a little watery. The broccoli was green and plentiful, but a bit on the chewy side.


Also, when the waitress (who wasn't our particular server) brought over our dishes, she asked us if we would like to have bread with our meal. We said yes, and she proceeded to bring out a loaf of bread with a charred top. As Mom tried to cut into the crispy bread, and was making a sea of crumbs spread out across the table, we noticed that nicer looking loaves were being served to other tables. Again, this was very disappointing.

As we finished, our waitress, who had appeared earlier to ask us how our meal was, brought the bill:

Stuffed shells - $11.95

Angel hair bolognese - 9.95

Beverages - 4.00

Subtotal - $25.90

Tax - 1.30

TOTAL = $27.20

We left $32.60 on the table for our waitress (including 20% tip) and headed for the ladies' room. The ladies' room used to be decorated with pictures of Disney characters, but Bella Roma has since updated the bathroom with very dark fuchsia and navy paint. It was a bit dramatic, but the restroom was clean and organized.

You may ask why we didn't complain to our waitress about the food. The reason for this is because on our second visit, we did complain, but nothing really has improved. We were served ice cold meatballs, but we just pushed them to the side and chalked it up to the hour we visited the restaurant (it was almost closing time). We just figured that the servers were in a rush to go home, and luckily for them, we were already getting full before we decided to try the meatballs. Both Mom and I feel that the food at Bella Roma may not be cooked to order. Because of their large catering business, they may already have dishes made, and when someone places an order, the kitchen staff just heats it up. Unfortunately, the dish never seems to get heated entirely. Sometimes the middle of the dishes are cold, or in today's case, sometimes the pasta is left in the water too long. Either way, the food here really resembles that of Olive Garden, which is nothing but reheated food. Since Mom and I have eaten at some authentic Italian restaurants, we feel that Bella Roma is really not up to par.

Waterstreet Cafe

36 Water St.
Fall River, MA 02721
(508) 672-8748

www.waterstreetcafe.com

It's times like this that I wish Sherlock Holmes was real. Perhaps he could have helped Mom and me find the rest of our lunch.

Mom and I decided that we were going to hit up another Fall River favorite - Waterstreet Cafe. Anybody who's anybody in Fall River has been to Waterstreet for its eclectic Mediterranean food, live music, and hot spot atmosphere. Waterstreet is located inside an old mill near Battleship Cove, and there is an outside cafe where you can relax under the soothing sounds of the crumbling Braga Bridge.

It took us about two minutes to drive down to Waterstreet as we live within the same zip code as the restaurant. At first I didn't know where to park, but when I got to the front of the building I noticed a large lot off to the left which made me very happy. I scored the first parking spot and noticed that there weren't a lot of cars in the lot. We walked around to the Cafe door and went up the few stairs and inside at 2:30 p.m.

The interior is very beautiful. It has a certain antiquity to it, and that is probably because of the large wooden cabinets, bar, and hutch as the main furniture pieces. Mom and I joked that we'd like to drag the hutch, somehow, to the Antiques Roadshow. There were painted masks in lighted cutouts in the wall over the bar area, and painted brick and strings of white lights surrounding some of the tables. All the tables were covered by a floral print tablecloth with a glass top, and there were several tables throughout the dining area (no booths - although there was a long bench at the front of the restaurant). Mom and I were certain that we were about to embark on an edible journey to the Middle East.


We were asked by a young waitress if we had a preference as to where we wanted to sit. Since we did not, she showed us to a table toward the middle of the room and left us with two large menus. It wasn't long before we were greeted by a gentleman who took our drink order. He wasn't dressed as if he were a waiter, so I'm thinking that perhaps he was the manager. Mom and I both ordered the diet cola, and we joked with him about not caring if we were brought Coke or Pepsi. He returned with two sodas topped with lemons. My glass was filled to the top, but Mom's was only filled about three quarters of the way. No worries. Since we had already decided what we wanted by scoping out the online menu before we left the house, the gentleman took our order. For an appetizer, we ordered the crab cakes with garlic lemon aioli ($10.99), and for our meal (which we later found out was actually an appetizer) we decided to design a platter of three Mediterranean sensations to share. We chose the chicken shwarma (chicken marinated in yogurt and spices), kibbeh (beef, bulgar, and all spice with pine nuts, yogurt cucumber sauce, and suluta), and falafel (with suluta and tahini sauce) for $14.99. This dish is served with both toasted and soft pitas. You can also order it with your choice of four "sensations" ($17.99) or five ($21.99). It was at this time that we were informed that the last of the chicken shwarma had been sold, and we would have to pick something else. Mom suggested the baked Feta with calamata olive tapenade. As the gentleman took away our menus, Mom remarked at how "daring" she was being by ordering something other than spaghetti and meatballs. I agreed with her as we glanced over a take-out menu that I had taken on our way in.

The prices here are high. Perhaps a bit too high for the area. It seems to be the kind of restaurant that you would find in a busy metro city like Providence. Waterstreet's focus is Mediterranean cuisine, but they do have pizzas, sandwiches, steaks, soups, salads, and appetizers. They even have a kids' menu, and we saw two children nearby happily enjoying a cheeseburger and a hot dog with fries. However, when you get into the depths of the menu, you'll find that they charge $10.99 for a cheese pizza, $5.49 for a cup of clam chowder, and $13.99 for fish and chips. I will say that they do have some interesting choices that I would like to try on my next visit, such as The Big Med Salad ($13.99), which consists of mixed greens, marinated mushrooms, artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, calamata olive tapenade, roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella, and balsamic vinaigrette. I also like the sound of the chunky roasted chicken salad on grilled foccacia, served with fries ($7.49). They also have Thursday theme dinners from $9.99, special wine deals, sunset specials from $9.99 on Friday and Saturday from 4-6 p.m., and Sunday brunch favorites served from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Be careful, though. These "favorites" will take you from a $7.99 Texas style French toast to a $10.99 eggs Benedict dish. Waterstreet Cafe is also available every day for business functions, bereavement luncheons, showers, weddings, reunions, birthdays, retirement parties, and all types of catered services. They have a special room appropriately called "The Room," which is where they have the live music from Thursday through Sunday.

As we overheard another couple getting the last of the shwarma, Mom and I both commented on how long everything was taking. We hadn't gotten the crab cakes yet, so we assumed it was coming with our supposed dinner platter. Perhaps they were short on kitchen staff because we really seemed to have been waiting for a long time, and there were under ten customers in the dining room. What was going on? Also, Waterstreet didn't offer anything for us to munch on while we were waiting. We would have appreciated a scoop of hummus and some toasted pita chips, especially since we had to wait so long to get fed.

When we finally got our lunch, one statement came to my mind - is this it? My face fell as I slowly came to realize that I was about to pay $10.99 for two measly little crab cakes sitting aside a dish of sauce on a clean white plate. The platter wasn't much bigger. It held two pieces of kibbeh, about a half cup of falafel, and four tiny slabs of baked Feta. Thank goodness for the four slim pita slices on the plate that were keeping the rest of the food company, although none of the pitas were toasted as the menu stated they were supposed to be. I was just praying that everything tasted good or else I would have started bawling my eyes out. Fortunately for me, it did. The crab cakes had a crunchy outer shell with a moist interior and a delicious crab taste. The lemon aioli cooled off the hot crab meat and gave it a tangy kick. I would have loved to have another, but that would have meant that Mom wouldn't have had one, so I decided to start on our "platter," if you can call it that. I started with the falafel. Although very dense, it had that lovely chick pea taste. I spread some of it on a nearby pita, but I had to be careful to save some for Mom since there almost wasn't enough to go around. Next I tried the baked Feta. Now I'm a Feta fan, so of course I was enamoured of the taste. Lastly I had my serving of the kibbeh. It really was nothing special to me. It tasted like cool hamburg with a few scattered pine nuts around the edges. I was just thankful for a bit of protein at that point to keep my energy up so I wouldn't faint when paying the bill.



I think we ate in under 15 minutes, and that is only because Mom eats slow. She kept telling me to fill up on the greens and scattered tomatoes that were hiding under our "huge" serving of food on the platter. I did, but it wasn't enough. I asked her if she was full, and she wasn't. I was not happy. It was especially a shame as everything tasted so good. It was also a shame because we found out after we left that the "platter" wasn't a dinner option. It was actually an appetizer. I don't know if this discovery makes me happy that there is still hope for their dinner portions, or mad because I paid $14.99 for a ridiculously small appetizer.

After seeing my friend Pam and her boyfriend stop in, Mom and I realized that we had been waiting quite a while for our waiter to return. We informed Pam about the non-existent shwarma, and she seemed a bit bummed as it sounded really delicious. It was at this point that I decided I wanted to use the ladies' room. We looked around for our waiter, but he was no where to be found. As the place started to fill up a bit more, we caught glimpses of our waiter going in and out of the kitchen area with plates. He did come over to us once to see if everything was OK, and it was, but that was the last time we had actual contact with him. I think we finally caught his attention because he soon came over to clear our plates, but unfortunately it took a few more minutes before he returned with the bill - a whopping $31.48 for almost nothing.

Crab cakes - $10.99

Choice of 3 (kibbeh, falafel, baked feta) - 14.99

Coke - 4.00

Subtotal - $29.98

Tax - 1.50

TOTAL = $31.48

I don't know - maybe we're pigs. However, I don't feel that we got our money's worth here. Perhaps we didn't order enough food (we did only get two appetizers), but hey - I'm no Rockefeller. I don't even have a job yet; I'm still on unemployment. Give me a break! I got what I could afford. I was just disappointed because I had such high hopes for this place, and aside from the interior, parking, and the taste of the food, everything else was kind of a bust. Our waiter seemed to disappear again, and just before I could ask him where the ladies' room was. Since I was tired of waiting, I decided to leave $38 on the table for him (including 20% tip), say goodbye to Pam and company, and leave. As we walked out, Mom reminded me how skinny most Mediterranean people are. Now I know why - THEY DON'T EAT! You may ask why I'm rating this place a 3 (good). The reason is because the food is good, and if you live in the area, you should try it at least once. Would I go back? I would, because there are other things on the menu that I would like to try. However, if I'm really hungry and I'm looking for a quick meal that is going to give me a lot for my money, I'll hit the McDonald's Dollar Menu ... and that's just what we did afterwards.

P.S. - When we left, it was 5 p.m. That means that it took us an hour and a half to eat nothing. Oh, and their paper lunch menu boasts different prices than both the online and regular menu that we read at the restaurant. Does this mean that the lunch portions could be *gasp* even smaller than they are normally? C'mon, Waterstreet. I can get a king size appetizer of Gold Fever Wings from Pub 99 for under $12, and you certainly get your money's worth there. I'm starving ...

Sip N Dip Donuts

2175 S Main St.

Fall River, MA 02724

(508) 677-4847

68 Mink St.

Seekonk, MA 02771

(508) 336-3303

775 Hope St.

Bristol, RI 02809

(401) 253-7970

309 Market St.

Warren, RI 02885

(401) 247-4797

487 Metacom Ave.

Warren, RI 02885

(401) 247-1060

I don't really have much to say about this small chain. They have a few stores around New England, but I've never actually eaten anything from any of them. Laura and I have, however, been through their drive-thrus a couple of times to get a drink. The coffee was not outstanding, and I find Dunkin Donuts much better. For some reason, all the Sip N Dip exteriors look rundown, which is not inviting and makes me not want to go there. I guess I'd say it's my desperation stop when there's nothing else around.

Lucky Corner

Lucky Corner

995 Broadway

Raynham, MA 02767

(508) 821-9623

www.luckycornerma.com

When the girls at my office used to order Chinese, they generally ordered from Lucky Corner. Perhaps it was because Lucky Corner delivered. The girls usually liked what they got, but unfortunately I discovered that Lucky Corner does not serve "Fall River style" chow mein. It's not that it was bad, it was just my personal preference that I didn't care for it. Actually, I didn't really care for any of the food here. It was too greasy, they gave too much fried rice with their orders, and the portions were too big. There is only so much Chinese food you can eat, and I'm one of those people that doesn't think Chinese food heats up well. I'd try this place again, but I'd definitely get something small without fried rice.

White's of Westport

66 State Road

Westport, MA 02790

(508) 675-7185
www.lafrancehospitality.com

White's of Westport is a very large dining facility. It caters to weddings, bridal showers, funeral buffets, graduations, etc. They also have family dining every night. I've been here many times for many different occasions. I find the food to be average at best. I know they have to prepare a lot of food for a great many people at each function, and that's a difficult thing to do well. I always find the food adequate, and nothing special. Most of their baby showers and afternoon functions include the requisite chicken, tuna, and ham salad sandwiches which sometimes taste like they just came from the refrigerator. The bread is always cold. This place has been in business for many years and I'm sure will continue to be in business, but I never really want to just stop by for dinner.