Uncle Ed's Front Porch Ice Cream

116 Winthrop St.

Rehoboth, MA 02769

(508) 252-4100

Date visited: 8/23/08

Anyone who has taken a drive through this area will tell you that we New Englanders love our ice cream. Whether you're traveling down a main street or cruising through a heavily wooded area, you're never more than 20 miles from an ice cream stand. Some of these places are only open during the summer months. However, there are a few that stay open year round for those freaks (like us) who enjoy eating ice cream in frigid weather. Uncle Ed's Front Porch is one of those places. After reading rave reviews about Ed's delicious homemade ice cream on the Internet, we decided to take a ride to Rehoboth to check it out. We pulled into the parking area at 5 p.m.


The first thing Mom and I noticed was how cute the place was. It didn't even look like a stand; it looked more like someone's home. Although the parking lot and building are small, there are a few picnic tables located on the side of the building so that customers can enjoy their treats outside. Stepping up into the ice cream parlor, Mom and I figured out how Uncle Ed's Front Porch got its name. One complete side of the dining area was set up to look exactly like someone's porch with two round tables on each side. The walls were covered in vinyl siding, and there was even a door and "porch" lights. All this was set behind a trellis with a lace curtain running across the top. On the other side of the room - set against a pretty red and white striped wall - were two large picnic tables covered in gingham tablecloths. The interior was immaculate and we both thought that the design was absolutely adorable.



When we got to the counter, we were greeted by a friendly woman who informed us that "he" (perhaps she meant Uncle Ed) had just made a fresh batch of their gingersnap molasses ice cream. Neither Mom nor I had ever heard of that flavor before, so after a few minutes of deciding, Mom chose to try a small cup of it ($3). I needed a minute to narrow down my choices before going with a small cup of peanut butter fantasy ($3), which the woman behind the counter said was delicious. Our total came to:

1 small cup gingersnap molasses - $3

1 small cup peanut butter fantasy - 3

TOTAL = $6

We took our cups outside and decided to eat in the car. Mom's gingersnap molasses ice cream was very unique. She said that she'd never tasted anything like it before. It was deliciously smooth and creamy, except for the crumbled pieces of gingersnaps set inside the deep molasses base. It was so different and delicious that she would definitely recommend it and can't wait to have it again. My peanut butter fantasy was surprisingly creamy as well. The ice cream was peanut butter flavored and had a fudge swirl with several broken up pieces of peanut butter cups mixed in. It was full of flavor and not overly sweet. I really enjoyed it.

(L) peanut butter fantasy; (R) gingersnap molasses

When I got home and uploaded the photo I had taken of the menu, I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't that legible. Uncle Ed's Front Porch has some really unique flavors including frozen pudding, Baileys Irish Cream, Grapenut, ginger, cashew caramel turtle, cookie dough, Oreo, blue dino, Almond Joy, cotton candy, mocha mud pie, cherry chip, pistachio, maple walnut, and the requisite vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and strawberry. The prices are pretty good, ranging from a $3 small cup or cone to a $7.95 quart of ice cream. Uncle Ed's also offers several different types of sundaes and drinks with plenty of add-ons to make each treat as unique as you like. Mom had read somewhere online that the owner even takes suggestions for ice cream flavors, and if you're lucky, he will make a batch of your crazy concoction.


Because of the great service, adorable building, and fantastic ice cream, Mom and I were ready to give Uncle Ed's a score of excellent (a.k.a., five hearts). Instead, we decided to give it a score of very good (four hearts) because we've only been once. I'm pretty positive that Mom and I will be heading back in the very near future, and we're dying to try several more delicious flavors. Uncle Ed's Front Porch just may have become our new favorite.

Uncle Ed's Front Porch is open daily from 1-9:30 p.m. year round.

Liberal Club

20 Star St.

Fall River, MA 02724

(508) 679-2460

Mom and I usually go out of town for lunch, forgetting that our own hometown has quite a list of restaurants that we have yet to review. With the addition of Fall River Eats, a new food blog that features the city's best dining establishments, Mom and I felt that we needed to step up our game. She started thinking of places that had been recommended to her by family members. One name that she came up with was the Liberal Club, a large banquet hall/bar/restaurant that supposedly has great Portuguese food. I had been there once before, but since it was quite a long time ago and somewhat of a blur, we decided that this would be a perfect opportunity for us to do an official review of the place. Located in the center of a residential area, the restaurant is hard to find if you do not know the city. Luckily for us, I knew just where it was and we pulled into the large parking area at just around 2:15 p.m.

front of the building

dining room entrance

Since there is no entrance to the dining room at the front of the brick building, you have to park at the far left side - almost behind the restaurant - where you will see an arrow pointing toward the correct door. Once inside the small lobby, which had a list of specials hanging in the waiting area, we walked down the ramp and into the dining room. Paying attention to the "please wait to be seated" sign, we patiently waited until a friendly waitress - who we later learned was named Kris - came over and showed us to a table/banquette. She placed two plastic-covered menus in front of us and gave us a few minutes to look them over. Since there were so many things on the menu, I had trouble deciding what to get. When Kris returned, I had to ask her for a few more minutes so that I could make up my mind. Both Mom and I wanted to get a Portuguese dish, so when Kris returned, I chose the cacoula sandwich with red pepper ($6.95), and Mom chose the chourico and chip dinner ($7.95). Mom suggested that - if they offered it - I try a small cup of their kale soup. Luckily for me, they did ($2.95). After Kris retreated back to the kitchen, an older woman appeared and asked us what we would like to drink. We ordered two Diet Cokes, which were brought to us in cans along with two plastic cups of ice. We were asked to pay for the drinks right away ($2.50 for the two), which is something that I remembered from my previous visit. After I paid the woman and she went off to another table, I asked Mom if I should have tipped her. Neither of us knew! Oops. We need to brush up on our tipping etiquette.

Both Mom and I were very impressed with the size of the menu at the Liberal Club. Mom was expecting a bar menu with a couple of options, but this was a fully operating restaurant complete with everything from appetizers to desserts. Appetizer choices include boneless buffalo wings and mozzarella sticks; soups ($2.95-4.95) include New England and Manhattan clam chowders, seafood bisque, and baked French onion; and salads include Caesar, garden, and chicken Caesar. There was also a long list of specials and a list of various chicken, steak, and seafood dishes like the Bourbon steak tips, baked scrod, scrod casino, fish and chips, fried sole, and a fried clam plate. Other choices include the cacoula plate, chourico meat plate, shrimp Mozambique, chicken parmigiana, and spaghetti with marinara sauce. The prices were about average for a nice restaurant, although the seafood dishes ran a bit high (the clam plate was $20.95). This is probably because the market value of seafood is very high right now. However, where indicated, some dinners come with soup or salad, your choice of potato and vegetable, and rolls. You do get a lot for your money.

Although we've never been in any of the fancy banquet rooms or the bar of the Liberal Club, Mom was quite pleased with the attractiveness of the dining room. In her mind, she was picturing a little dive with a couple of dinky looking tables. This was actually quite the opposite. The beige dining room was decorated with several local photos and Red Sox memorabilia. Portuguese music played in the background while diners relaxed in very large, wooden booths. From afar, it almost looked like an area filled with cubicles. There were no table cloths, but there were place mats featuring local businesses on each table. Everything was very neat and clean, and the waitresses all seemed very attentive and friendly. I had a hard time getting a clear picture because of the overwhelming booths, but I was surprised at how many people could actually be seated comfortably in the small space.

In a matter of seconds, my cup of kale soup arrived along with four fresh Portuguese rolls and butter in a basket. Not only were the rolls outstanding, but the kale soup was extremely tasty. It was served very hot and was filled with fresh kale, kidney beans, potatoes, roast meat, and chourico. I kept dunking my roll into the soup to ensure that I soaked up every drop. So what if I looked like a pig? I was enjoying myself. Mom also couldn't get enough of the rolls, which most likely come from one of the many Portuguese bakeries in the area.

Boy, the service here is fast. I hadn't even finished my soup when I spotted Kris walking over with our plates of food. Both dishes looked and smelled amazing. She asked us if we would like a bottle of ketchup for our fries, and I said yes (Mom doesn't do ketchup). It seemed like there was about a pound of cubed chourico sitting on top of an equal amount of crispy fries on Mom's plate. She was very surprised and impressed by the portion size, especially since it was only $7.95. The dish was accompanied by some sliced banana peppers, which she quickly handed over to me since she's not a fan. Once she tasted the dish, she found that the chourico was lean, nicely spiced, and very well done. She even enjoyed the fries, which were served very hot - just like she likes them. There was so much food on the plate that Mom ended up taking half of it home to Dad, who thoroughly enjoyed it as well.

Portuguese cacoula (spelled several different ways) is nothing more than marinated, shredded pork. Stuffed into a large torpedo roll, my sandwich was fabulous. I threw Mom's banana peppers into my sub along with the large red pepper that was already laying across the top. The pork was tender, deliciously spiced, and surprisingly not messy to eat. There was so much meat that I thought the bread would eventually get soaked and I'd be wearing half of it. This never happened. Everything stayed together and, with the peppers, had a very spicy, terrific taste. The handful of fries that came with it was also very good and for $6.95, this large sandwich was definitely a steal.

After I swiped some cubes of tasty chourico off of Mom's plate, Kris returned to the table to clear away the dishes and pack up the rest of Mom's dinner. She offered us coffee or dessert, but we were too full to accept. Kris then brought the bill, which came to:

Chourico and chip dinner - $7.95

Cacoula sandwich - 6.95

Kale soup - 2.95

Subtotal - $17.85

Tax - .89

*TOTAL = $18.74

*Remember, we already paid for our drinks.

We left $22.50 on the table for Kris, which included a 20% tip. Before leaving, Mom decided to check out the ladies' room, which was located right next to the dining room entrance. She said that the single unit was simple, but immaculate.

As we carried Mom's Styrofoam back to the car, we laughed at the fact that it had taken us years to visit a restaurant that the rest of the city is very familiar with. I'm almost positive that every Portuguese family in Fall River has had at least one wedding or birthday party in the banquet rooms, and it's no surprise because the food is outstanding. Mom has been full of great ideas lately, and I'm really glad that she suggested the Liberal Club. Her expectations were exceeded, and we will definitely be coming back again.

The Liberal Club is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday.

Somerset Creamery

1931 G.A.R. Highway

Route 6

Somerset, MA 02726

(508) 672-5510

1268 North Falmouth Highway

Route 28A

Cataumet, MA 02534

(508) 563-3430

www.somersetcreamery.com

If you live in Fall River, Somerset, or the surrounding area, chances are you've been visiting Somerset Creamery since you were a child. With their many flavors of fresh ice cream made the old fashioned way since 1937, anybody who's anybody gets their cones at this Somerset institution. Mom and I often drive by on weekends - or any other summer day for that matter - and the place is always packed. Mom compared it to a 1950's car hop because of all the socializing and eating that goes on in the parking lot. We had only visited Somerset Creamery one time and found the ice cream to be a bit overpriced. Since that was many years ago (pre-New England Bites), we decided to give this place another shot. Mom kept dropping hints about how Somerset Creamery packs pints of their fresh ice cream, so naturally, I had to stop by and check it out. I pulled into the parking lot at around 5:20 p.m.

Since I had just gotten out of work, I figured that now was a good time to visit because many local residents are too busy eating dinner to think about dessert. I was right. The parking lot only had a few cars when I pulled in, which gave me plenty of opportunity to take pictures without being seen by everyone. When I stepped inside, I noticed two things: the overwhelming smell of the freshly baked waffle cones, and how clean everything was. You cannot eat inside Somerset Creamery because there are no tables, which is probably why the customers usually hang out in the parking lot. There is, however, a rope to keep the line of hungry people at bay while the scoopers make the ice cream treats. Luckily, when I entered, there was no one in line. I walked right up to the counter and ordered two pints - black raspberry for me, and frozen pudding for Mom. The total came to:

2 pints @ $4.45 each

Tax - .45

TOTAL = $9.35

I paid in cash, which is the only acceptable form of payment at Somerset Creamery. As I waited for the young girl to finish scooping my pints, I took some pictures of the inside.

Along with their large list of flavors, there are a bunch of little hanging signs that showcase each of their specialities. Everything seemed to be under $7 (with the exception of a quart of ice cream - $7.15), and each novelty seemed more delicious than the next. Of course they offer the typical sundaes, cones, banana splits, and milkshakes, but they also have the black cow, root beer floats, and Creamsicle frappes. Ice cream flavors include banana, black raspberry, blueberry pie, butter crunch, butter pecan, cherry chocolate chunk, chocolate, chocolate chip, chocolate chip cookie dough, chocolate coconut, chocolate mint, chocolate walnut, coconut, coconut Almond Joy, coffee, coffee chip, coffee Oreo, cranberry bog, French vanilla, frozen pudding, fudge ripple, ginger, Grape Nut, maple walnut, mint chip, mocha almond, mocha peanut butter, orange pineapple, Oreo, pistachio, rum raisin, strawberry, vanilla. They also offer sugar free coffee and maple walnut ice cream; orange, raspberry, and watermelon sherbet; and black raspberry chip, chocolate almond, coffee Heath, strawberry cheesecake, and cranberry frozen yogurt (although cranberry is only available at the Cape Cod store).

Speaking of the black raspberry chip yogurt, a co-worker of mine had complained to me that she did not get enough chips in her yogurt, while her husband ordered the pistachio ice cream which had plenty of nuts mixed in. "What's up with that," she asked me. I told her that I would have to check it out for myself, but when I got to Somerset Creamery, I found myself overwhelmed by all the ice cream flavors and shouted "black raspberry" without remembering to order the yogurt with chips. Oh well, maybe next time.

Once the girl had finished packing my ice cream, she put a sheet of wax paper over each pint before putting the covers on. Then she marked each cover with the correct flavor, put them in a brown bag, and sent me on my way. I was glad that she took the time to make sure that I was not handed a sloppy pint because I've had this happen at a few ice cream shops. God knows I hate ice cream on my hand (see: Sea Swirl). I drove the pints home in our handy freezer bag complete with ice sheets. When I got home, I put them in the freezer for an after dinner treat while Mom and I watched Project Runway later in the evening.

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(L) frozen pudding; (R) black raspberry

At 9 p.m., just as Project Runway began, Mom headed for the freezer. Before we devoured our pints, we made sure to take a spoonful of each other's flavor so that we could have a taste. I thought Mom's frozen pudding was delicious, and so did she! She said that the ice cream was better than that last time we had it, but to be fair, we had our ice cream in sundaes and the flavor was kind of lost in all of the toppings. However, she found this pint to have a deep buttery rum flavor with just enough pieces of candied fruit. She said that it was very tasty, and she can't wait to try another one of Somerset Creamery's flavors.

My black raspberry pint was fantastic. The flavor was not tart, but creamy and had a strong raspberry taste. I also did not remember the taste of Somerset Creamery's ice cream being this delicious, and I was pleasantly surprised and excited to try more.

Now that we're back on track with the rest of Southeastern Massachusetts, Mom and I will definitely be making many more stops to Somerset Creamery. The taste of the ice cream is fantastic, the price is average, and who knows who you are going to run into there? It could very well be New England Bites.

Somerset Creamery is open from 12-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 12-10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. They also have a second location in Cataumet, MA, which is on scenic Cape Cod.

Kent's Restaurant

1675 G A R Highway
Swansea, MA 02777
(508) 672-9293

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Date visited: 7/19/08
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Kent's is one of those restaurants that Mom and I had only visited once, but really enjoyed. Since we hadn't done an "official" review of this place yet, and we were heading toward Seekonk to see the movie Mamma Mia!, Mom decided that we should check out Kent's for a second time. Plus, one of our favorite fans - Liz - couldn't say enough great things about eating here. Since it was early, Mom and I figured that if we were going to visit Kent's - now was the time. This place gets seriously busy during the dinner rush. We were glad to see that, once we pulled into the parking area at 3 p.m., there were only a few cars in the lot.

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Once inside, there are two doors. The one on the left leads to the bar, and the one on the right leads to the dining area. After Mom and I had figured this out (it had been a while since our first visit), we spotted a list of specials and began checking them out. A waitress spotted us and asked how many were in our party. We said two, and she led us to a table by the windows. The dining room was empty except for one family which had a gentleman that was eating a clam boil very enthusiastically. His sleeves were rolled up and he was practically inside the aluminum tin that it came in. Mom and I were very glad to see that he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

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The waitress, who we later found out was named Amy, was extremely friendly. She came over to our table to bring the plastic-covered menus and list of specials. She also took our drink order - two Diet Cokes - which she quickly brought over in real glasses. When I had walked in, something on the board had caught my eye. Seeing it again on the specials' list, I was pretty sure that I was going to order that particular dish. Mom was busy reading the menu over and over, trying to decide from about 100 things that appealed to her. When Amy returned to the table, Mom and I were ready to order. I chose the Florentine ravioli ($8.95), while Mom chose the five cheese ravioli ($8.95). I was surprised that we both ended up choosing things off of the specials' list. Since both of our meals came with soup or salad, Mom chose the minestrone soup while I chose the soup of the day - cream of spinach. I was pretty excited because I love spinach, and now I was about to have it in my meal and in my soup. Yum! Mom and I also ordered an appetizer of boneless buffalo wings ($7.90). Voted the best buffalo wings around by The Herald News a few years ago, these wings were out of this world. We had them on our first visit and have been dying for them ever since. After asking us if we would like any ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce (we declined), Amy took away our menus as Mom and I took a look around the dining room.

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Although it looks like a steakhouse from the outside (and Mom thinks that it was originally billed as such), Kent's Restaurant has a pretty elegant dining area. Set up like a banquet hall with matching off-white tablecloths, chairs, and wall color, Kent's really goes out of its way to make sure that they can seat as many customers as comfortably as possible. There are no booths here, but the tables and chairs were quite comfortable. Although we couldn't really see the bar, I did notice that it seemed very large and had a flat screen TV hanging above. Back in the dining room, on each table there were paper place mats that featured local area businesses. In the center of the place mat was the Kent's tag line: "Where Friends Meet." After a few visits to Kent's, you will understand what they mean. It seems that everyone knows each other here. A lone man came in to sit at the bar, but not before stopping by to say hello to the guy who was all over his clam boil. Later on, another family came in, knew each waitress by name, and gave them all a hug before sitting down and ordering their meals. On our first visit, Mom and I noticed the same thing. Filled with "regulars," Mom and I got the impression that Kent's has a very loyal customer base. No wonder you can't get near the place on Friday and Saturday evenings!

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Before we knew it, Amy had arrived with our soups. Mom said that her minestrone was very good. It had a tasty broth, was chock full of vegetables, and was served piping hot - just like she likes it. My cream of spinach soup was just as delicious. I'd never had cream of spinach before, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much spinach was actually in the soup. There were other minced vegetables in there as well, and it all blended together beautifully. This soup should really be on the permanent menu! Amy had also brought over a small loaf of bread (the butter packets were already on the table), which was soft, warm, and very tasty.

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As we finished with the soups, our boneless buffalo wings were making their way to our table. I made a comment that my nose was already running because of the heat, and Amy laughed. I have a love/hate relationship with buffalo wings. I adore the taste, but they beat the crap out of me. My face turns red, I start sweating, my nose runs, and I definitely need to have a drink or two nearby so that I can cool down. What a prize, huh? Remind me never to order these on a date. What Mom and I like about these particular wings is that there is a good amount on the plate. Lately we've been finding that restaurants will only give you four or five wings, but this plate had at least 10 good-sized pieces of chicken, accompanied by some celery and carrot sticks. Now, Mom says that these wings are very sneaky - and she's absolutely right. When you first bite into one, the flavor of the sauce seems very sweet and tangy. However, after a few seconds, the heat starts to creep up on you and turns the wings from sweet into spicy. Mom recommended Kent's to my aunt, who tried the wings and said that they were a little too spicy for her. However, she really enjoyed the taste. As we started to dig in, we found that each piece of chicken was cooked perfectly, was very tender, and had a great amount of that tricky sauce. By the time we had finished the wings, Mom was perfectly fine, but I was a mess. Dabbing my face with a napkin, I had to eat a couple of veggie sticks and drink about half my Diet Coke to try and cool down, but that's nothing new for me. This always happens, but for these yummy wings, the pain was worth it. They are our favorite by far.

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Kent's has a very extensive menu. Unfortunately, when I asked Amy if we could get a take-out menu to go, they had run out. Kent's does a lot of take-out business, which is why they came up with the take-out window. Located on the left side of the restaurant (where the bar is), we often spot people standing in line to pick up their food. What a novel idea! You wouldn't think that a full service restaurant would offer something like this - but they do! Because we didn't have a menu to reference, Mom and I had to go by what we spotted on the menu while we were choosing our meals. We noticed that although some of the large seafood platters are in the low $20s, the rest of the menu is in the $8-15 range. There is quite a lot of comfort food here, which is probably why this restaurant is so popular. Mom was having trouble deciding between the ground sirloin platter and the boneless fried chicken. I was looking at the baked stuff sole and the filet Mignon. Other menu items include various appetizers, pastas, seafood, steaks, salads, burgers, and sandwiches. On our last visit, I had the French onion soup with broiled scrod, while Mom had the spaghetti and meatballs. Both meals were excellent, but the one thing I do remember was that I had a side of fries with my scrod, and they weren't very good. The fries were just big slabs of potatoes that seemed to be boiled. Perhaps that was just an off night.

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Finally it was time for the main event. When Amy brought over our plates of ravioli, we were shocked. There were only three on each plate. Does that sound like a ripoff? Well, let me explain. They were the biggest ravioli that we had ever seen. This stuffed pasta had to be homemade, because we've never seen anything like that in a store. Covered with a nice layer of sweet sauce, each one of Mom's ravioli were stuffed with the delicious ricotta cheese blend. She was impressed because - for once - the ravioli actually had more filling than pasta. Lately we've been getting screwed when it comes to fillings, but these were filled to the brim and held their shape as Mom cut into each one. There is nothing worse than cutting into a ravioli only to find air and some leftover water from when the frozen pieces had been thawed out. Luckily, there was none of that with this meal. Everything was great, and Mom loved the taste.

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I should mention that before I began eating my ravioli, Amy noticed that my soda was getting low (probably from all the drinking after the wings) and refilled it for me. I, like Mom, thoroughly enjoyed my ravioli. Each one was filled with ricotta and spinach and had a nice, fresh taste. The sauce was nicely spiced and was not overwhelming. I could not get over the size of each piece - just humongous!

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Feeling just as stuffed as our pasta was, Amy came over to clear away our plates and brought the bill with her. The total came to:

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Ravioli five cheese - $8.95

Ravioli Florentine - 8.95

Boneless Buffalo wings - 7.95

Lg. soda - 2.50

Lg. soda - 2.50

Taxable - $30.85

Tax - 1.54

TOTAL = $32.39

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We left $39 for Amy, which included a 20% tip. She was an excellent waitress. Although we did not use the restroom on this visit, we did on the last and we both agreed that it had been very clean, despite the large amount of customers that were there that night. Amy wished us well as we rolled our full selves out to the parking lot. Just as we were leaving, we noticed that more customers were starting to come in. I could tell that it was going to be another busy night.

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Mom and I really enjoyed our time at Kent's. The service was great, the dining room was clean, the menu was extensive, the portions were huge, the prices were average, and the food was absolutely delicious. We can definitely see why this restaurant is so popular with Swansea residents and other locals. Just make sure to get there early if you don't want to wait, but even if you have to, eating at Kent's Restaurant is definitely worth it.

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Kent's Restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Pa Raffa's Restaurant

2857 Acushnet Ave.

New Bedford, MA 02745

(508) 995-7711

Date visited: 7/14/08

I know that Fall Riverites and New Bedford residents aren’t supposed to get along, but Mom and I just adore some of the restaurants that are offered in The Whaling City. After taking a quick visit to Can King Redemption on Tarkiln Hill Road (love that place), Mom and I were trying to narrow down somewhere to have lunch. Since I just started learning where certain New Bedford roads connect to each other, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that we were very close to Pa Raffa’s – one of our favorite Italian restaurants. Once I clued Mom in, we soon found ourselves pulling into a parking space at just around 3 p.m.

One of the things that Mom loves about Pa Raffa’s is that they let you seat yourself. Since it wasn’t really a busy time for the restaurant, Mom and I pretty much had our choice of seating. We chose a table on the top level (there is a sunken area with booths) right in between two windows. We were soon greeted by a waitress, who left us with two plastic covered menus and took our drink order – two Diet Cokes. They soon arrived in plastic glasses. I was really in the mood for pizza, but Mom decided to get one of the Italian dishes instead. This worked out well because I could choose any pizza topping I wanted! When I share with Mom, I always make sure that the topping is to her liking. What a martyr I am. She’s not a fan of green peppers, olives, or any kind of veggie on her pizza. When the waitress returned to take our order, I ordered a spinach pizza ($7.95) while Mom chose the chicken parmagiana ($11.75), which came with soup or salad. She chose the minestrone soup, which arrived along with a basket of warm bread and butter. Mom said that the soup was piping hot, full of vegetables, and had a really tasty broth. The bread was also very good - served warm with little packets of butter to spread on the slices.

As we waited for our food to arrive, we took a look around the dining room. It may not look like much from the outside, but Pa Raffa's is actually a really cozy restaurant. With lots of dark wood paneling, faux plants, and dim overhead lighting, the atmosphere really makes you feel right at home. I often see large parties and families with children visit Pa Raffa's for their terrific food and large portions. They offer several specials daily (written on a chalkboard) and do an extremely large take-out business. They actually have an entrance just to retrieve food to go, which is what we did when we ordered a large antipasto for a holiday one year. Let me just stop for a second to talk about this antipasto. It is amazing. Just the individual size alone would feed at least two to three people. Covered in shredded mozzarella, Pa Raffa's antipasto consists of only the freshest vegetables and the finest Italian meats. It is accompanied by a bottle of oil and water, and several empty plates for sharing. People visit Pa Raffa's just for this salad. It's unbelievable. Other delicious items on the menu include several varieties of pizzas ($6.95-9.90), hot grinders and sandwiches ($5.55-6.80), salads ($5.58-12.24), lasagna or ravioli ($7.55-11.70), spaghetti or macaroni ($5.10-9.20), and various side orders like meatballs or garlic bread ($1.10-12). If you're looking for something a little heartier, there is a long list of dinners such as homemade manicotti ($9.50), baked ziti ($6.50), and eggplant parmagiana ($11). Pa Raffa's also sells their tomato and meat sauces and their minestrone soup in pints and quarts ($3.80-6.90). Since everyone is being really frugal these days, Pa Raffa's has cleverly come up with two "money savers" - a dozen meatballs for $12, and a bucket of spaghetti (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday only) for $6. Also, for people who don't have time to sit in the dining room, they offer their own speciality pizzas in "take and bake" form. That's right! They make it, you bake it (at home). The only complaint we have is that Pa Raffa's seems to be very "generous" with their sauce, i.e., sometimes the food is drowning. Mom and I ordered an appetizer of fried meat ravioli a few visits ago, and they were swimming in sauce. I was hoping that the chef eased up on today's meal.

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When our food arrived, I could tell right away that Mom's plate was too saucy. However, she thought that everything was great. The chicken was in a dish by itself, which was unusual. The bottom of the oval crock was covered with chicken pieces, then covered with a layer of thick sauce and gooey cheese. There was so much topping that Mom had trouble finding the chicken, but when she did track it down, she thought that it was fantastic. The chicken was very tender, moist, and cut into little chunks so that each piece was perfectly done. It was worth digging through the sauce to find. The other plate had the spaghetti, which was served piping hot like the chicken pieces were. Although very tasty, the star of this meal was definitely the chicken. Mom said it was one of the best chicken parms that she's ever had.

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I loved my spinach pizza. It really had a lot of flavor and you could tell that all the ingredients were very fresh. I ate the entire thing, and I know that sounds piggish, but the pizza has a very thin, crispy crust and just goes down very easily - and quickly. Believe me, I didn't want to move after eating this, but it was worth every mouthful.

It was at this point that Mom and I began to discuss whether or not we should bring something home for Dad's dinner. She was originally going to make him something at home, but since we were at Pa Raffa's, and he enjoys Italian food as much as the next person, we figured that we'd just grab him one of their delicious hot subs to go. When I raised my head to try and spot our waitress, who had been very friendly during our visit, I noticed her walk by with her purse, as if she were heading out the door. Once she spotted me spotting her, she slowly walked back to the kitchen area, put her purse down, and trudged over to our table. Still being very polite, she asked us if we would like anything else. I saw her face fall when we told her that we would like to order a meatball torpedo with cheese and peppers to go ($5.55). Since she had already brought over the bill (in hopes that we wouldn't want anything else), and wrapped up the rest of Mom's chicken parm to go, she slowly walked back to the kitchen to put in our order. Now, we're not saying that she wasn't friendly because she was. It was just a little uncomfortable to know that she was in such a rush to leave. I felt bad about holding her up, but couldn't someone else fill in for her? It was only one meatball sub.

While the food was still being prepared, I decided to use the ladies' room. It was very clean and organized, as was the entire dining area. When Dad's food was ready, our waitress brought over the sub in a box and started rewriting the bill. She was very frenzied, as if she were now very late for something, and asked to borrow my pen. Good thing I had one! I let her figure out the bill, and when she was done she returned the pen and sprinted back toward the kitchen. The total came to:

2 Diet Coke - $3.90

Spinach - 7.95

Chicken parm - 11.75

Subtotal - $23.60

Tax - 1.18

TOTAL BEFORE MEATBALL SUB = $24.78

Meatball sub - $5.55

Tax - .28

TOTAL OF JUST MEATBALL SUB = $5.83

1st total - $24.78

2nd total - 5.83

GRAND TOTAL = $30.61

I was starting to pull out my wallet to make change with Mom for the $36+ I was going to leave her. I laid some money on the table, but it wasn't the correct amount yet. Before we knew it, the waitress was flying over to our table and almost walked off with half the payment! We had to stop her and tell her that we weren't ready. "OK," she said hurriedly. Mom and I raced through our wallets to find the correct amount plus the 20% tip we were leaving, despite her frantic state. Once we had all our ducks in a row, she appeared again (she had to have been standing nearby) to take the money right out of Mom's hand and rush off, wishing us a good night.

As Mom and I left the restaurant with the rest of her chicken parm and Dad's sub, we commented on how rushed the waitress was. We hadn't even arrived at our car yet when we heard footsteps very close behind us. We turned around - and there was our waitress! She smiled at us and hurried to her car, jumped in, put it in drive, and sped out of the parking lot. Mom and I hadn't even buckled ourselves in yet. I really hope that she wasn't late picking up a kid, or anything, but seriously - I think someone could have covered for her. The place wasn't that busy.

Before I got my license, my friend Tammy used to rave about how good Pa Raffa's was and how I should go one day to try their fantastic food. Now that I've been several times over, and I've never been disappointed, it's funny to think back to the days when I couldn't just get in my car and drive to Pa Raffa's. Like I said before, I know Fall River and New Bedford are rival cities, but this is one place that everyone - no matter what town they're from - should try at least once. Can't we all just get along?

Pa Raffa's Restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

PS - Dad loved the meatball sub (where else can you get a sub that big for $5.55), and he also enjoyed the rest of Mom's chicken parm. He did, however, agree that there was a bit too much sauce over everything. Good sauce, but too much of it.

Sea Swirl

30 Williams Ave.

Mystic, CT 06355

(860) 536-3452

www.seaswirlofmystic.com

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Date: 7/12/08
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Personally, I think our Web site is fantastic. I really try to give our readers everything from color photos to the nitty gritty of the restaurant bathrooms. However, there is another Web site that my mother frequents that has sent us on many an eating adventure - Roadfood. Together, writers Michael and Jane Stern have traveled the nation in search of the best out-of-the-way spots to grab a meal. With rave reviews about Sea Swirl's delicious seafood, Mom and I just had to take the drive to Connecticut to see what all the fuss was about. Besides, I can't think of a better way to spend a hot summer day than to sit outside on a picnic bench eating at a clam shack. Although it was over an hour away, Mom and I pulled into the parking lot at just around 3:45 p.m.

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Mom had read online that Sea Swirl was housed in an old Carvel Ice Cream stand, which gave the place a very old fashioned feel. Luckily for us, it wasn't too busy. Perhaps everyone was still shopping at Mystic Village or perusing the nearby Seaport or Aquarium. Nevertheless, Mom and I got in line and waited to order. We had already discussed what we were going to get before we arrived (a fish and chip dinner, a side of clam strips, a side of clam fritters, and drinks), so ordering should have been a breeze. Unfortunately, when I got to the window, I realized that I was going to have a little difficulty in relaying my selection. Apparently, the family who owns Sea Swirl is from another country and all the employees have very thick accents. I'm not sure if it was Russian or not, but it sounded very similar. Anyway, as I began to tell the girl my order, we started to have a "what did you say" contest. I didn't know what she was saying, she didn't know what I was saying, etc. Eventually, we were on the same page, although I may have screwed her up when I referred to the clam fritters as "clam cakes." That must be a Massachusetts/Rhode Island thing. Oops. Once the ordering was complete, she quoted me a price:

1 clam fritters - $4.95

1 fish & chip dnr - 12.95

1 s/o strips - 9.80

1 bottle water - 1.25

Subtotal - $28.95

Tax - 1.74

TOTAL = $30.69

Yikes! I wasn't expecting the bill to be so high, but apparently the price of seafood has gone up along with everything else in the world. I paid the cashier and she handed me a receipt and told me that my number was 206. Mom and I found an awesome table that was at the end of a row and right on the main road. We hadn't been waiting long before our number was called. Since Mom already had both legs under the picnic table, I sacrificed myself and went up to the window to retrieve our food. I noticed that there was only one bottle of water on the tray, but when I told the girl that I had ordered two, she found the restaurant's copy of my receipt and told me that I had only paid for one. Annoyed, I brought the food over to my table, plopped it down, grabbed my wallet, and headed back to the ordering window to get my water. After spending another $1.33, I was finally able to sit down and eat - or was I? They had only given us one fork, so I had to wait in the for the third time to get another fork. When I got back to the table, Mom had found the second fork in the bag of clam strips. Now there were three forks. OK, deep breath. "Hey Mom, can you pass me a napkin?" "Hey Laura, where are they?" Uh oh. Getting up a forth time, I trudged over to the window to get some napkins. I was really starting to annoy myself. All I wanted to do was eat!

After we were finally assembled, and all of our utensils were firmly in place, we dug in. The first thing I ate was the cole slaw that came with the fish and chip platter. It was excellent! It had just the right amount of vinegar and mayonnaise, and was very light and tangy. Next, Mom and I split the large piece of fish in half so that we could both try some. It was a good-sized piece of fish, but we both felt that - for the price - there should have been a second piece in that order. However, the taste was great. The fish had fried up nicely, leaving a light, crisp batter on the outside. The inside was white, flaky, and tender. The fries underneath the fish were also very good. They were a little thicker than shoestring, but had the same consistency and taste. Everything was served very hot, including our two side orders. The clam fritters (or "cakes," depending on where you're from) were excellent. The same crispy batter that was on the fish held the fritter together very well. Inside, instead of the clams playing hide and seek inside the dough, each piece was chock full of them. The fritters were nice and fluffy, but very hearty. Now, some people don't really know what a clam strip is. It is basically a strip of clam without that large, chewy belly that you see people gnawing on sometimes. Gross. Mom and I can't handle any kind of chewy bits of food in our mouths, so we figured that clam strips were the way to go. Battered and fried, these strips came highly recommended on Roadfood. Since we'd never had them before, we figured now was as good a time as any. We were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed them. They were sweet, with a meaty filling and crisp coating. As we were ending our meal, I polished off what was left at the bottom of the bag. Delicious! This is definitely something we would get again, but as a dinner plate next time (we only had a small side).

fish and chip platter

clam fritters

clam strips

The prices at Sea Swirl are a little high. I don't know if it is the price of seafood, or because it is in Connecticut, but everything was almost $10 or over. There were a lot of things that said "market value," but I noticed that almost all the dinner plates were between $10-16, and side orders were just around $10. They definitely offered a great deal of seafood including whole belly clams, oysters, extra large gulf shrimp, sea scallops, chowders, seafood salad, lobster salad, and codfish. They also have sandwiches, assorted American appetizers (jalapeno poppers, buffalo wings, etc.), and hamburgers and hot dogs. Sea Swirl also serves ice cream, which Mom read was very tasty. Of course, as full as we were, we just had to try some. This led to one of the biggest meltdowns any almost-30-year-old has ever had.

On the Sea Swirl Web site, Mom told me that they had dips for the cones. One of the dips was toasted coconut. I could picture it in my mind. A big ice cream cone with all these little brown flakes of yummy coconut all over it. I never get my cone dipped, but I figured I would splurge for some coconut. I asked Mom what she wanted. Not shockingly, she asked for a small cup of some sort of coffee flavor. Yawn. I spotted banana on the list, so when I found myself back at the ordering window, I ordered her a cup of espresso, and myself a cone of banana - with a coconut dip. The total came to $4.55, bringing my grand total for the day to $36.57. A little high, but we did have a lot of food, so it wasn't too bad. It could have been worse. I waited in line behind a pushy woman with two large, panting dogs, and a baby carriage complete with screaming baby to get these cool treats. The cashier handed me Mom's cup, and then my cone - without the coconut pieces. "I asked for a coconut dip," I said. "Um ... ok," she replied. I watched her dip my ice cream in what looked like a hot vat of oil. The cone, which had a nice swirly top to it, was now a big, mushy mess. When she handed it back to me wrapped in a paper towel, it had a glistening sheen to it. Through the shiny pieces, I saw some bits of coconut. I also saw that half of the ice cream had melted away. Why did I think that they were going to dip the cone in actual coconut? Was this a foolish thought? Nonetheless, I stepped over the screaming brat, big dogs, and pompous lady to get back to Mom. Mom had a great time with her ice cream. She said that it had a deep coffee flavor, and was very smooth and creamy. Although the serving was a bit small, it would be worth getting again.

the ice cream, or the calm before the storm

Poor me. I can't even tell this story without getting mad all over again. Are you sitting down? When I took my first lick of the cone, the coconut coating moved, and took all of the ice cream with it. I had melted ice cream ALL over my hand - and I was paralyzed. I could barely even hold the cone, and was too messy to grab my camera. I had to eat it so fast that I barely tasted any. However, what I did taste was excellent! It had a great banana flavor and the coconut dip was quite sweet. Unfortunately, the ice cream wasn't the only thing that was melting down. I was fuming because now I was sitting in the sun, on a hot day, covered in dairy. Anyone that knows me knows that dairy scares the Hell out of me. I love it, but I can't take it when people leave milk on the counter or dirty ice cream bowls in the sink. Dairy products come with an expiration date, and that really makes me nervous! All I could think of was that my hand was now expiring in the hot sun. GROSS! I started yelling about my hand, then yelling at Mom for just being there, and then finally washing my hand with various wet naps and the antibacterial hand wash that I keep in my purse. I also threw some of my bottled water over my hand to rinse off the ice cream, but to no avail. I felt filthy, and I could think of nothing more than to get the Hell out of there and wash my hand. Yes, I was overly dramatic, but GROSS! Ice cream on your hands? Eww.

After stomping back to my car in a huff and leaving Mom to clean up the messy, ice cream filled tray (sorry, Mom), we sped out of the parking lot. We were headed for Foxwoods, but all I could think about was washing my hands under some hot, soapy water. We will definitely be visiting Sea Swirl again, but I'm going to stay away from any type of ice cream cone with a dip. The seafood was excellent and well worth the trip. The service wasn't that great (they were a little on the cocky side), the tables were situated right behind the ordering window which made for a crowded space, and the prices were a bit high, but the taste of the food made up for it. I could really pig out on a bag of those yummy clam strips, and I'm sure if you visit Sea Swirl, you will not be disappointed. Just make sure you bring plenty of wet naps.

Sea Swirl is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Columbus Day.

PS - We lost at Foxwoods, but we found this awesome new progressive Wheel of Fortune slot machine (only a nickel). It is in the center of one of the rooms at the Rainmaker entrance, and it was fantastic! Lots of fun, and you actually get to sit at a giant wheel. I wish we would have spotted this earlier in the day!

... and yes, I finally got to wash my hand. Hooray!

Wood's Premium Ice Cream

Adamsville Road
Westport, MA 02790

UPDATE: Since our first visit, Mom and I have been back to Wood's many times. We've tried several different flavors, including coffee, wicked good chocolate, Maine deer tracks, and chocolate peanut butter cup yogurt. Each one has been better than the next. Mom said the coffee is the best that she's ever had, and if you know anything about Mom, you know that she adores coffee ice cream. I felt the same way when I tasted the wicked good chocolate, which came highly recommended by a fan. Speaking of fans, a lovely lady named Chandra - who found Wood's through this very Web site - has informed us that Wood's gets its ice cream from Gifford's of Maine, a supplier for many local ice cream stands and stores. We can't wait to return.

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Date: 7/5/2008

When we started New England Bites, Mom and I never expected the outpouring of love and fantastic recommendations that we would receive from our readers. Whether they've seen our signs hanging up in local restaurants or come across our site accidentally, our loyal fans have given us many a great suggestion. Take Heidi, for example. With the click of an e-mail, this fan sent Mom and I driving through the beautiful country roads of Westport to taste some of the best ice cream she has ever had - and we completely agree with her. Wood's Premium Ice Cream stand is just about a quarter mile away from the junction of Main and Adamsville Roads and situated on a beautiful farm. Mom and I excitedly pulled into the gravel parking lot at just around 6:45 p.m.

The first thing we noticed is a sign asking patrons to park their cars on a large cement patch, which unfortunately only fits about four of five cars. Apparently after the lot is filled, you can park in the dirt. After backing into a space, Mom and I got out and decided to visit the goats and chickens that were in the nearby pens. We also spotted a sign on a large fence that warned customers to beware of the donkeys - they may bite. Although we didn't see any donkeys, we did come into contact with four very friendly goats. After they posed for a few photos, I turned my attention to the large chickens who really didn't seem interested in getting their picture taken. Still taking in the beautiful country scenery, Mom and I trudged up the grassy hill to the stand's large window. We first had to take a look at their flavors, but Heidi mentioned that everything was delicious at Wood's. Since we had eaten a late lunch, I settled on a small cup of Maine maple walnut ($2.50), and Mom chose a small cup of frozen pudding ($2.50). Yes - frozen pudding. Can you believe it? I was so proud of her for being adventurous, but at the same token was a little nervous because if she didn't like it, surely it was somehow going to be my fault. The girl at the window - with the squeakiest voice I've ever heard - gave me a total of $5. Heidi was right! The ice cream was very inexpensive, and considering our shock when we saw the size of the small cups, you definitely get your money's worth.

(L) Maine maple walnut; (R) frozen pudding

Although there were a few picnic benches and chairs scattered throughout the grounds, Mom and I chose to eat our dairy delights in the car. When we took our first bite, my immediate thought was, "I have to thank Ms. Heidi for this one." My Maine maple walnut was chock full of walnuts - and chock full of flavor as well! Normally maple walnut ice cream can be a bit on the sweet side, but this ice cream had a great consistency, was cool and creamy, and had just the right amount of maple flavoring. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Mom eating her ice cream. Since I was too busy stuffing my own face, I didn't notice if she was glowing with joy, or boiling with hate. Thankfully, it was a joyous moment for Mom. She chose something different, and it turned out to be a delightful surprise. The butter rum flavored ice cream was sprinkled with bits of candied fruit, which did not overwhelm the dessert. Mom said it was rich, creamy, and not overly sweet. She also agreed that Wood's Premium Ice Cream is obviously top quality. No freezer burn or dense pieces here!

Since there is virtually nothing available on the Internet about Wood's Ice Cream, I've decided to list their entire menu. Flavors include mint chocolate chip, mocha chip, blue ribbon strawberry, old fashioned vanilla, moose tracks, cotton candy, wicked good chocolate, Maine deer tracks, bear claws, coffee, lobster tracks, orange sherbet, Almond Joy, chocolate peanut butter cup yogurt, black raspberry chocolate chip yogurt, butter pecan, black raspberry, cake batter, cookies n' cream, caramel caribou, orange pineapple, pink peppermint stick, mint chocolate chip, pistachio nut, chocolate chip, chocolate peanut butter, Maine black bear, cookie dough, Mississippi mud, and vanilla raspberry swirl with no fat and no added sugar. Ice cream treats include cones/cups ($2.50-3.25), sundaes ($3.75), malted frappes ($4.25), freezes ($3), banana splits ($4.50), floats ($3), frappes ($4), and quarts ($6.50).

After saying goodbye to the goats, and goodbye to our empty ice cream cups, Mom and I proceeded to drive out of the parking lot. As we were pulling away, we both noticed that Wood's was established in 1900. Now, I assume they mean that the farm was established 108 years ago, but it figures that Mom and I would only just be finding out about something that's been around all that time. We need to get out more, and perhaps revisiting Wood's Premium Ice Cream can be our incentive. Thanks again, Heidi!

Wood's Premium Ice Cream is open daily from 1-9 p.m.

Bravo's Restaurant

1309 Phillips Road
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 995-4480

SECOND SIGHTING: Mom and I saw it again, but we still couldn't believe our eyes. Was it Bigfoot? Loch Ness? That creepy redheaded hitchhiker that hangs out on Route 44? NOPE - it was our very own congratulatory certificate hanging proudly at the entrance of Bravo's Restaurant. We gave them four hearts (very good) and this most recent experience has not changed our minds. We had excellent service, excellent food, and an overall fantastic experience. What a great way to celebrate my college graduation. Thanks for taking me here, Mom! Also, thanks to Bravo's Restaurant for displaying our sign. I can't wait to go back.

PS - We were shocked to find out that our friend Pam over at Southcoast Dining - the site that recommended this restaurant - had a bad experience just one day earlier! There is nothing worse than having bad service at a restaurant, but Mom and I definitely had a different experience on Saturday. We were handed lunch menus that were labeled as such (Pam wasn't able to get one), we had a very attentive waitress (Pam didn't), an adequate wait (Pam was left hanging), fantastic food (Pam had some issues with hers), and great portion sizes (Pam felt screwed). The only thing I noticed was that the "Drunk N' Dirty" steak tips were now called "Mouth Watering," and perhaps my sub could have had one extra tip inside each half. That's about it. I really hope that Pam goes back to Bravo's. I'm tempted to do the same because of our completely opposite experiences. I would hate to see a great restaurant like Bravo's go downhill, and it's not just because they have our sign hanging on the wall. No one should have a lousy time when spending their hard-earned money at a restaurant.

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UPDATE: Mom and I paid a second visit to Bravo's just a week after our first. We started with the double crusted pork choplets ($7.95), which came to our table coated with walnuts and dipped in a chipotle sauce. YUM! The meat was tender with NO gristle. For her entree, Mom ordered the chicken parmigiana calzone ($6.95), and I chose the Old Granddad pulled pork sandwich ($6.95). Both arrived accompanied by delicious waffle fries. The pork sandwich was sweet and tangy, while the calzone was served surrounded by fresh bread and filled with moist chicken and fresh sauce. It was HUGE!!!!!!! The whole bill came to under $27, and for all the food that we received, the price was certainly a steal. If you haven't checked it out yet, do yourself a favor and pay Bravo's a visit. You won't be disappointed.

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Date: February 9, 2008

Taking a page from our fellow food critics over at South Coast Dining, Mom and I decided to check out Bravo's Restaurant in New Bedford. With a glowing review from Pam, especially regarding the fish and steak tips, it seemed only natural that we at New England Bites would have to taste it for ourselves. With very easy-to-follow directions, Bravo's Restaurant is literally a stone's throw away from the exit off-ramp. At 2:30 p.m., we found ourselves in the restaurant's parking lot.

After stepping inside through a very heavy barn-like door, we were greeted by a friendly, uniformed waitress who seated us in a small side room. She offered us a table closest to the doorway, but she also told us that we could sit near a large window that faced into the back parking lot/wooded area. We chose to sit near the window. The waitress left us with two thick lunch menus and a second waitress - who we later found out was named Courtney - came over and asked us what we would like to drink. We ordered two Diet Pepsis and they quickly arrived in tall, slim glasses. Because South Coast Dining made the fish and steak tips sound so mouth-watering, Mom and I decided to see what all the fuss was about. When Courtney returned, we placed our orders. Mom chose the broiled haddock ($7.95) which came with potato and vegetable. She chose mashed potatoes with corn. I decided on the Drunk 'N' Dirty steak tip sub ($7.95). I ordered my tips medium well, and my sandwich was to be accompanied by fries and a pickle. Courtney took away the menus and left Mom and I to examine the rest of the dining area.

One of the first things I remembered from Pam's review was her dislike of the booths. Apparently, they were very snug. Although Mom and I were not offered a booth on this visit, we were going to ask for a table either way. I hate being uncomfortable while dining, and so does Mom. The booths did look a little snug, but the side room we were in had a good mix of both booths and tables, which were oddly very long - especially when there are only two people at either side of the table. The restaurant itself was very cute. I almost felt like I was in a renovated barn. The side room was decorated with orange paint and brick colored curtains, a large chandelier in the center of the room, and a green plaid rug. With the large window overlooking the woods, and wooden rafters framing the space, the restaurant had a very rustic feel. Small lamps and country decorations were scattered around the room, and country music played softly in the background. We didn't see much of the other room, but on a trip to the restroom on my way out, I was able to see a beautiful bar and the rest of the restaurant space. Everything looked great.

Now, I can't complete this review without mentioning the couple that was seated on the side of us. Normally, we don't pay too much attention to the other patrons when we're dining. However, both Mom and I could not avoid this one particular couple. It was almost like we were getting an added show with our lunch. The highlights of their conversation included:

WOMAN: (after ordering a piece of carrot cake) "I think my eyes are bigger than my stomach.
MAN: "They're not as big as your a**."

***I couldn't even look at Mom on that one.***
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MAN: "Do you want to add this?" (meaning the bill)
WOMAN: "Five plus two is seven."
MAN: "You forgot to carry the one!"
WOMAN: "I guess I'm not smarter than a fourth grader."
***I'm guessing that she wanted to say fifth grader, which would reference the Fox TV show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, but what do I know? A former co-worker of mine, Dan Medeiros, has a blog called Black Fonzie. On this blog, he has a section called "Overheard A**holes. This experience would definitely fit into that category.***

We were only able to see the lunch menu, but I did see many other things that Mom and I would love to try. Appetizers include fried vegetable tempura ($7.95), shrimp bruscetta ($10.95), and stuffed bleu buffalo tenders ($6.95), which are chicken tenders stuffed with bleu cheese and drenched in a hot Guinness sauce. Salads include Caesar ($5.95), Greek ($5.95), and Bravo's Insalata Variopinti ($6.95), which is a medley of fresh vegetables grilled to greatness, topped with Parmesan and served with garlic infused oil. The "Off the Char-Broiler" menu includes blackened porterhouse chops ($7.95), which is topped with apple crisp chutney. Burgers include the all beef/no bull naked burger ($6.95) Bravo's black and bleu burger ($7.95), and the Santa Fe burger ($7.95), which is topped with spicy chili, peppers, onions, and Jack cheese. Bravo's also has a list of comfort foods such as the roast beef dinner ($6.95) and the turkey dinner ($6.95). Seafood includes the salmon Athena ($8.95), which is broiled or poached salmon topped with spinach, sun dried tomatoes, and feta cheese. Sautés include the beef or chicken stir fry ($7.95), and wraps include the grilled chicken Caesar ($7.95). Bravo's feature seems to be sandwiches, especially during lunch. From the menu, I learned that all sandwiches are served with fries and a half-sour pickle. You can also upgrade any sandwich to a calzone for $1. Sandwich varieties include the turkey Reuben ($5.95), the chicken parmigiana ($7.95), the French dip ($7.95), and the Old Granddad ($6.95), which is pulled pork that "melts like butta" and splashed with an old granddad bourbon sauce. Once Mom and I returned home from our lunch at Bravo's, we were able to take a look at their dinner menu (via a takeout copy). We saw that Bravo's adds more meat dishes and heavier foods for the nighttime course.

We hadn't been waiting long when we spotted Courtney walking over to us with our plates of food. Everything looked and smelled amazing. Mom said, "If this is the lunch portion of the broiled haddock, I'd love to see the dinner size." She certainly did have a lot on her plate. Mom said that the filet was pure white, flaky, buttery, and absolutely delicious. The crumb topping was very tasty, and the side dishes of mashed potatoes and corn were perfect. Pam was right - this is certainly a dish Mom would get again.

I absolutely adored my steak tip sub. Actually, I have been thinking about it ever since I finished it! The steak had NO fat on it - at all. This is something that scares me to death. If a piece of fatty meat gets into my mouth, the meal is over. Thankfully, that did not happen. The mushrooms, peppers, and onions that topped the sub were fresh, and the bread that surrounded the tips was not overpowering (the meat was the main attraction - not the bread). On the menu, it seems that the delicious drunk 'n' dirty marinade used on the tips is called "Phantom Gourmet Greatness." Now I'm not sure if the Phantom has ever reviewed Bravo's, but if he hasn't yet, I would definitely recommend this dish. Even the fries were fabulous.


As full as we were, Mom asked me if I wanted dessert. At first I said no, but after all the ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the table next to us over the carrot cake, Mom and I decided to share a slice. When Courtney came over to clear away our plates, she asked us if we wanted any dessert. When Mom ordered the carrot cake, Courtney's eyes lit up. Apparently this dessert is one of her favorites. When it arrived, we found that it was a huge piece! Seated atop a caramel swirl, and topped with a dollop of whipped cream, the carrot cake was fantastic. With a thick layer of cream cheese frosting surrounded by pieces of walnuts and slivers of carrots, we both found it very moist, not overly sweet, and one of the best pieces of carrot cake we ever had.


After we'd made every piece of the carrot cake disappear, Courtney brought over the check. The bill came to:

Drunk 'N' Dirty sub - $7.95
Broiled haddock - 7.95
Diet Pepsi - 1.75
Diet Pepsi - 1.75
Carrot cake - 6.95
Subtotal - $26.35
Tax - 1.32
TOTAL = $27.67

Mom left $33 on the table, which included a 20% tip for Courtney. Before leaving, I decided to use the restroom. Easily marked with the word "GALS" over the door, I found the restroom to be clean and organized. I noticed that the country theme carried over to the restroom, which had a rooster light switch cover inside. Before heading back to my car, I grabbed both a lunch and a dinner takeout menu for Mom's collection.

The best part about having a restaurant review Web site is that we get to network with others who have the same type of site. Without Pam's review of this restaurant, Mom and I would never have known how good Bravo's is, and I wouldn't be drooling over my memory of the steak tips. We can't wait to go back for more.

Bravo's Restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday; and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. They are closed on Monday.

The Daily Scoop

230 County Road

Barrington, RI 02806

(401) 245-0100

446B Thames St.

Bristol, RI 02809

(401) 254-2223

www.dailyscoopicecream.com

I was stuck at home today, playing hooky from work because of a migraine. As the migraine started to ease off, I went on the Internet and started browsing through our list of restaurants. I came across The Daily Scoop, and remembered the e-mails that were passed back and forth between the owner and I after our initial review. She was shocked that we weren't that crazy about the taste, and invited us to try the ice cream at one of their two Rhode Island locations versus getting a pint out of a freezer at a store. Since ice cream always makes a migraine feel better (tee hee), I jumped in the car and headed for Barrington. Before I left the house, Mom suggested that we sample a pint of the exact flavors we had purchased in back February - coffee and banana peanut butter cup. I agreed. I pulled into the parking lot (located behind the ice cream shop) at just about 1 p.m.

The first thing I was worried about was the parking. There are NO street spots in front of The Daily Scoop, so already they were earning points because of their large back lot. I spotted an entrance on their deck (facing the back parking lot), but I wasn't sure if that was the proper entry way. I soon spotted a ramp leading up to a second door, so I entered that way. I found myself at the bottom of a few wooden stairs, leading up to a very large ice cream counter. There was one cashier/ice cream scooper behind the counter that greeted me immediately. I was a bit concerned that they wouldn't be able to pack the pints fresh as I hadn't spotted the pint containers yet, but the young girl informed me that she could pack a pint of any flavor I wanted. I chose the coffee and the banana peanut butter cup (which is labeled peanut butter banana) and watched as she stuffed the ice cream into each pint container very quickly and neatly.

The interior is quite adorable. Right as I walked through the door I was hit in the face with what smelled like the aroma of homemade waffle cones. They have a large freezer featuring tubs of their homemade ice creams, benches to sit on inside and out, and they even feature Del's Frozen Lemonade - a Rhode Island favorite. Everything was extremely neat and clean, and the bright colors reminded me of summer.

The cashier rang me up and asked if I wanted the pints in a bag. I said yes, and my total came to $9 ($4.50 a pint - a little more than the specialty pints at the supermarket). After paying, the cashier wished me well and I proceeded to exit through the front door to get some pictures of the adorable main entrance.

When I got the pints home (which had been labeled), I automatically headed for the silverware drawer so Mom and I could dig in. When we opened the pints, they were a little soft from the 30 minute ride back to Fall River. This was fine with us because softer ice cream always has more of a taste than ice cream that is frozen solid. Mom dug in right away, but I was busy scraping the remnants off of the inside cover. The first thing I noticed was the extreme banana taste. This wasn't banana flavoring - it was actual banana. Mom was amazed at how different her coffee ice cream tasted from the first time she had it. This time the coffee tasted deep and rich, and the entire pint was full of coffee flavor. The texture was smooth, creamy, and didn't taste like it had been in a freezer for months. My banana ice cream was also smooth and creamy, and the peanut butter cups were minced so that you a) didn't choke on them, and b) could taste the peanut butter inside of the chocolate. It was so tasty and different. What a vast improvement from our last review!

(L) banana peanut butter cup; (R) coffee

A word to the wise - if you want to have delicious ice cream, please try The Daily Scoop. However, if you buy this ice cream in a freezer and for some reason it's not that great, put your spoon down and head for the shop. You will not be disappointed.

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Date: 2/11/08

Like any normal day, Mom and I were craving a pint of ice cream. Not just any ice cream - homemade, local ice cream. Mom had read about this place in Westport that makes ice cream from scratch, and sells it at Lee's Market in Westport, MA (796 Main Road). Lo and behold, we were at the Target in Dartmouth - the neighboring town. Naturally, going to Lee's had to be our next step.

When we arrived at Lee's, Mom and I headed straight for the freezer section. We spotted a lot of different homemade ice creams, but none were from Westport. Disappointed, neither of us wanted to walk away empty-handed. Mom noticed a stack of purple and white striped pints of this ice cream from a place called The Daily Scoop. Made locally in Barrington and Bristol, RI, the flavorful choices surprised both Mom and me. At $3.99 per pint, we spotted flavors like lemon custard, banana chip, black raspberry chip, kahlua fudge brownie, vanilla, pumpkin, butter pecan, coconut almond chip, and peppermint stick. I spotted something called banana peanut butter cup, which mixes two of my favorite things. I quickly grabbed that one from the freezer. My mother chose - are you sitting down?? - coffee. Yep - her favorite flavor, and the kind she always gets. She said that by eating the coffee pint from The Daily Scoop, she would be able to judge it against brands like Haagen Dazs and Ben & Jerry's. *sigh* We made our way to the register, and Mom shelled out $7.98 for the two pints. The cashier loaded them into a paper Lee's bag, and we headed back to my car. I figured that we would probably eat them when we watched American Gladiators at 8 p.m.

At around 7:30 p.m., I couldn't take it anymore. I was dying to see what the ice cream tasted like. I told Mom that I was excited to try it, and - guess what - so was she! Big surprise. I grabbed the pints from the freezer, handed Mom her flavor, and dug into mine. Now I should mention that, at the Lee's register, we both noticed that the pints felt a little light. We were hoping that this ice cream was not the airy, churned kind that you often see at the supermarket. We really don't care for those. However, after a bit of research, we found that The Daily Scoop pint and the Haagen pint weigh exactly the same. Go figure.

I kept waiting for Mom to be bowled over by the taste of her coffee ice cream, but it never really happened. She thought the ice cream had only a slight coffee taste versus the bold taste that you find with Ben & Jerry's or Haagen Dazs. She felt that a homemade ice cream should be very dense and creamy. However, this one was very light and airy with more of a texture bordering on ice milk rather than a premium ice cream. In all, she was a little disappointed with the flavor and the mouthfeel.

Doesn't the flavor "banana peanut butter cup" sound exciting? Well, it wasn't. Like Mom, I thought that the flavor wasn't totally there. Even the real Reese's Peanut Butter Cups seemed to get lost in the bland banana ice cream. It almost tasted like ice cream that had a bit of freezer burn, or the scoop of a supermarket brand that was nearing the end of its half gallon. It just tasted different. Mom checked the label and we found that both ice creams were made with nonfat milk, but we didn't want to blame the milk in case all pints are made with this same type. All in all, we were both fairly disappointed with our pints. Don't get me wrong, we ate every bit of it, but we weren't as happy as we are after eating other brands.

Before doing this review, I checked out The Daily Scoop's Web site. It is very cute. Aside from the flavors we saw in the freezer at Lee's, there are many other choices such as apple pie, chocolate almond fudge, carrot cake, cookie dough, coffee and mint Oreo, rum raisin, and wild Maine blueberry - just to name a few. There is also frozen yogurt, smoothies, ice cream cakes, low carb ice cream, sorbet, and something called "Wow Cow," which is an all natural soft-serve frozen dessert developed in Southern California that boasts all of the following characteristics:
• 100% fat free
• 100% cholesterol free
• 100% Kosher
• Very low lactose (no milk or milk solids)
• Only nine calories per ounce
• No artificial sweeteners (naturally fruit fructose sweetened)
• Ultra creamy consistency
There are also special coupons available for printing, as well as a list of supermarkets that carry The Daily Scoop pints in their freezer sections. In the history area of the Web page, I learned that owners Bob and Deb Saunders actually met and fell in love over their personal obsession with ice cream. My question to Deb is ... does Bob have a brother?

It must be very hard to make ice cream from scratch, and we certainly admire the initiative they have to create all of these interesting flavors. I can't say that we'll never eat another pint from The Daily Scoop, but we definitely want to visit their locations instead. Perhaps the ice creams will taste a bit more fresh and delicious.

The Daily Scoop in Barrington is open every day from 12-9 p.m. The Bristol location is open from 12-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and 12-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Wright's Farm Restaurant

84 Inman Road

Harrisville, RI 02830

(401) 769-2856
www.wrightsfarm.com

My friend Rick is an angel. Without Rick, I would have never found out about the Xanadu that is Wright's Farm Restaurant. This all-you-can-eat chicken, pasta, fries, salad, and rolls wonderland seems to be very popular with large groups, the disabled, and of course, the rotund. Falling into that last category, Mom and I put on our eating pants and headed for Harrisville, RI.

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Arriving at about 4 p.m. after some wrong turns (turn LEFT off the highway to Route 146A/102 and keeeeeeep driving), we pulled into the very large parking lot. We were met by a parking attendant who asked us if we were with a large party. When we told him no, he told us that we could park anywhere near the main entrance. Since Mom and I had been here once before, we already knew where to go and quickly found a spot. There were already people roaming the lot and heading for the entrance, so I knew we were going to be in for a crowded dining experience.

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Once we stepped through the main entrance, we took a right and headed over toward the restaurant area. Because this restaurant/banquet hall is extremely large, I had forgotten where to go. Luckily, there was a couple in front of us that was also headed toward the restaurant, so I just followed them. Once we arrived at the hostess station, I told one of the girls that I wanted a table for two. She then proceeded to give me a list of directions on how I could find "Brittany," who was to be our guide once we arrived to our pre-selected dining area. After following a bunch of twist and turns, going down a ramp, and passing by two large bars, we finally spotted Brittany, who directed us to a nearby table. Thank goodness! Walking to our table was almost like exercise, and God knows that we weren't ready for that. We hadn't been waiting long before we were joined by our waitress. Her name was Kerri, and she was dressed in a Wright's uniform as was the entire staff. She asked us if we were going to have the chicken, and we both shouted, "Yes!" She also asked us what we would like to drink. Mom and I asked for Diet Coke, and Kerri offered to bring the drinks in either single glasses or a pitcher. We chose a pitcher, and it quickly arrived along with our starters - a freshly made salad topped with a delicious Italian dressing, and a basket of rolls with butter. It wasn't long before our salad and rolls were joined by bowls of pasta with homemade sauce, fries, and Wright's tender, juicy chicken.

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