Bugaboo Creek Steak House

www.bugaboocreek.com

Date visited: August 2, 2008

Because I became violently ill on our last visit to the Bugaboo Creek in Seekonk, MA, Mom and I had decided that maybe this steak house wasn't for us. We avoided it like the plague, and even gave it the finger a few times when we drove by. When I say that I got sick, I mean sick. So sick that I wrote a complaint letter to the corporate office. Their idea of compensation? A $50 gift card so that I could return and possibly have the same thing happen twice. Not wanting to let the card go to waste, I invited two friends who I wasn't that crazy about and let them pig out while I stuck with something simple. Luckily, nothing happened to me. Since all this happened many years ago, and I was in an adventurous mood, Mom and I decided to visit this Bugaboo location again. With a steady rain pouring down on us, I dropped Mom off at the front door and pulled into a parking spot at just about 3:10 p.m.


The parking lot wasn't full, but when we got inside, we were told by the hostess that we would have to wait for a table. Wait? Anyone who knows me knows that I hate waiting to be seated. That's why Mom and I never go out to dinner during peak hours. "What are we waiting for," I said out loud, trying to get the attention of the hostess. "There's no one in here." Mom and I reluctantly took our seats on the beautiful wooden benches in Bugaboo's waiting area. We noticed that there were several people leaving, but no one had come over to bring us to a table yet. "What is going on," I said impatiently. Finally, a waitress came over and asked us if we would like a booth or a table. When Mom said table, the waitress said that she would clean one off for us, and that our wait would only be a few minutes longer. C'MON!!!!!!! Move it, already! After waiting for what seemed like forever (it was probably only 10 minutes), Mom and I were finally shown to a table - and guess what - there was NO ONE there. There were literally only a handful of people sitting in the booths and tables in the main dining area. Seeing the lack of customers only made me more mad because it seemed that we had been stuck waiting for absolutely nothing.


After we were seated and left with two colorful, plastic menus, we were greeted by John, our waiter. After rattling off the new lobster specials, he asked us what we would like to drink. We told him two Diet Pepsis. They quickly arrived in two glass mugs, but the soda was extremely watered down. Mom's cola was almost clear, and we both commented on how Bugaboo may be cutting costs. John also brought us a loaf of wheat bread with a cup of butter on a wooden cutting board. We cut into it right away, and it was very warm and tasty. We asked John for a few minutes because we were undecided as to what were going to get. When we finally narrowed it down, John returned to take our order. Mom chose the patty melt minus the grilled onions ($8.79), and I chose - at the last minute - the tilapia tacos ($7.99). After John retreated to the kitchen, I checked the time. Mom and I were on our way to see Journey to the Center of the Earth - in 3D! It started at 4:30 p.m., and since we had been left waiting earlier (for no reason), we were now playing beat the clock.

I believe John may have overheard me say, "We only have an hour," because it was soon after that he came over to our table, apologized for the wait, and told us that they were very short-staffed. Apparently Bugaboo had been very slow the past few Saturdays, so the waitstaff had been shortened. Unfortunately, business had picked up today and the team was trying to keep everything under control. I was just really hoping that this little mess wouldn't cause us to miss our movie. Mom and I decided to take our minds off the clock and take a look around at Bugaboo's adorable interior.


Bugaboo Creek is made up to look like a lodge. There is a large stone fireplace, beautiful wooden rafters, red and white checkered table cloths, stuffed animal heads on the walls, sleds, hunting equipment, jugs, fish, old photos, and various other outdoor-inspired decorations. I even commented on how I'd like to wear the snow shoes on the wall because they look like giant flip flops (my favorite). The main attraction for the kids is that some of the animal heads and fish move and flap. Unfortunately, nothing was moving or flapping today because we overheard a waitress tell another family - with two young children - that the animals had been electrocuted during the recent storm. Good thing they were already dead! Hope the kids weren't traumatized.

Bugaboo Creek really offers a lot of different things, but it is billed as a steak house. With several premium, USDA grain-fed Midwestern beef options such as the prime rib, Fireside sirloin skillet tips, lodge filet, Timber Creek t-bone steak, Bourbon flat iron steak, Portabella bleu cheese filet, black magic steak, Charlie Morgan ribeye, and the 12 oz. Mountain Man strip, meat lovers will be in heaven here. Also on the menu are smoked baby back ribs, home style BBQ meatloaf, grilled pork chops, burgers, chicken and fish dishes, soups, salads, and a long list of appetizers, specialty drinks and desserts. For those with gluten-restrictions, Bugaboo offers a menu just for you. The prices here are pretty average for a chain restaurant, and the portions are quite large. They even offer several kids' meals, all which come with an ice cream treat for dessert. I'm jealous! The only problem we have with the food is that Bugaboo seems to par-boil the chicken before they grill it, making it very soft and limp. Doesn't sound too appetizing, does it? Also, it's a toss up as to what I got sick on the last time - the smashed potato cake appetizer, or the chicken cubano sandwich. I saw neither on the menu this time around.

Before long, our food had arrived. Both dishes looked very tasty. Mom's patty melt - which was topped with Swiss cheese and horseradish sauce - was cooked medium well, which is exactly what she asked for. Accompanied by some fries, Mom said that the patty was tasty, the buttered panini bread was not greasy, and the Swiss was not overwhelming. Surprisingly, she found the horseradish sauce - which she was a bit nervous about - to be quite tangy and delicious. Mom also enjoyed the side of fries, which she said were hot and good.


My tilapia tacos were a last minute decision which I did not regret. Served on flatbread with a large wooden skewer through the three of them, the Cajun-roasted tilapia was very tasty. Each taco was stuffed with a mixture of shredded cabbage and cilantro ranch dressing, to which I added the accompanying tomato salsa. The flavors came together very well, giving the taco a fresh, clean taste. Also on the plate was a serving of fried onion strings and wild rice medley. Since I'm not a fan of rice, I only had a couple of forkfuls. It was good, but really not my thing. I did find the onion strings to be a little on the greasy side, but this is normal with this type of fried food.


At almost 4:15 p.m., Mom and I decided that we needed to get our check and go. John returned to clear away our empty plates and bring the check. The total came to:

Tilapia tacos - 7.99

Patty melt - 8.79

Subtotal - $16.78

Tax - .84

TOTAL = $17.62

Notice anything? John left off our sodas. I don't know if this was a mistake, or if this was something he did because he knew that we had been left waiting, but either way, I didn't have time to correct the error (sorry, John). We had a movie to catch! I left $21 on the table for John which included a 20% tip. Before leaving, Mom and I paid a quick visit to the ladies' room, which was most improved from our last visit. It was neat and clean, versus the gas station outhouse that we were subjected to the last time (which I also discussed in my now infamous letter).

Thankfully, Mom and I made it to the theater just in time to pick up our 3D glasses and watch the movie - which was a lot of fun. After the movie, we were talking about our meal at Bugaboo, and about our previous visits. We agreed that today's meal was good, but that - in general - Bugaboo could do a lot better. The service is not always that great, and sometimes the food isn't very inspired. We've bumped it up from two hearts to three only because a) I didn't become ill, and b) the food was tasty. However, we do feel that this adorable chain hasn't really lived up to its full potential.

The Bugaboo Creek Steak House in Seekonk is located at 1125 Fall River Avenue. For more information, visit their Web site or call (508) 336-2200.

Cracker Barrel

www.crackerbarrel.com

After a failed attempt at going to Iggy's Doughboys and Chowder House in Warwick, RI, Mom and I turned the tables and decided on comfort food instead of seafood. Last month, we had visited the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Wrentham, MA, but forgot to bring the camera. Now that the camera was safely in my pocketbook, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to drive up three more exits and visit the Cracker Barrel on New England Boulevard in Coventry, RI. We arrived at just about 4 p.m.

After walking through the row of rocking chairs that were placed out on Cracker Barrel's "front porch," we entered through the main door and arrived in the gift shop. Cracker Barrel cleverly places its restaurant behind the gift shop so that patrons are tempted to shop both before and after their dining experience. Trying not to look at anything too distracting, Mom and I passed by all the adorable chachkis and headed toward the hostess station. We told a uniformed waitress that we wanted a table for two, and she quickly showed us to one. Left with two sets of paper menus - one for breakfast and one for lunch/dinner - Mom and I started to browse through all the delicious options. We were soon greeted by our waiter, Brian, who took our drink order. Both Mom and I always go for the Diet Stewart's root beer, so we ordered two of those. They quickly arrived in glass bottles and were accompanied by two frozen mugs. After telling Brian that we still hadn't made up our minds, he left us alone so that we could narrow down our choices. Finally, we were ready. Mom ordered the meatloaf dinner ($7.99) which came with three sides. She chose applesauce, mashed potatoes (without gravy), and corn. I went with the half-pound bacon cheeseburger ($7.69) which came with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayonnaise, and a side of fries. I asked for my burger to be cooked medium well. Brian took away all of our menus while Mom and I took a look around at this chain restaurant's crazy interior.

What's not on the walls here? Seriously, if it's kitschy and old-fashioned, it's probably nailed to the wall inside Cracker Barrel. From where I was sitting I could see washboards, checker sets, lunchboxes, guitars, irons, Singer sewing machines (not hanging on a wall, obviously), old advertisements, fishing and farming equipment, horseshoes, mounted fish, jugs, pans, hunting tools, and much more. I love this place! It's like a trip back to the old days, and the large fireplace and bluegrass music playing in the background only helps with the time travel. There aren't any booths at Cracker Barrel, and all of the wooden tables are topped with old-fashioned oil lamps. There is also this little game on every table. It is a wooden triangle with several holes filled with pegs - all except one. The object of the game is to jump each peg to see how many you are left with. If you're left with just one - you're a genius! I've never been able to do it, but apparently today was my lucky day because on the last game I committed myself to, I won! I knew I was a smart cookie.

Just as Mom and I were marveling at the fact that there were actually tables available (Cracker Barrel is ALWAYS crowded), a gentleman and his wife came in and sat at the back by the windows. As he placed his order, he made sure to ask the waiter if his steak would be a good size, or if he would have to look for it on his plate. Mom and I just laughed.

I spotted Brian bringing over our dishes. Both platters looked fabulous. Mom's meatloaf plate also came with a biscuit and a corn muffin, which she said were great. As she dug in, I asked Mom how everything else was. She said that her meatloaf was thick and nicely spiced with onions and peppers. It was quite a substantial piece! The sides were great as well. Although the mashed potatoes came with gravy when she asked for none, she did not make a fuss and said that everything tasted just fine. The corn nibblets were good, and the applesauce was nicely chilled and tangy. Her whole meal was very filling and delicious.

My burger was great. I almost never order a burger when we go out to eat, but today I was just in the mood for one. The layers of Colby cheese melted nicely over the pattie, which was cooked just to my liking. The bun was soft, the veggies were fresh, and even the cole slaw was very tasty. The bacon gave the burger an extra jolt of smokey flavor, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I've had this burger once before on my first trip to Cracker Barrel, and this one was just as good.

Since we've been to Cracker Barrel a few different times, we've had the opportunity to have both breakfast and lunch here. Unfortunately, I forgot to grab a take-out menu on the way in/out, so I won't be able to list the prices. However, I will be able to recommend a few things. For breakfast I've had the biscuits and gravy and Montmorency cherry pancakes which were out of this world, while Mom's had the pecan pancakes that were heavenly as well. I've also been lucky enough to try the strawberry lemonade which was cool and tasty. For lunch, we've both tried the chicken salads which were served with a boiled egg (yuck for me, yum for Mom) and wedges of Colby cheese. It was fresh, crisp, and quite tasty for a salad. For dessert, we've tried the chocolate cobbler. It was sooo delicious. Topped with hot fudge, pecans, and whipped cream, the cobbler was served in a little mug. How quaint! Enough about us. If you're in the mood for something hearty, then Cracker Barrel is the place to be. Daily features start at 4 p.m. and include fried pork chop Mondays, butter baked chicken Tuesdays, broccoli cheddar chicken Wednesdays, turkey n' dressing Thursdays, fish fry Fridays, chicken n' rice Saturdays, and homestyle chicken Sundays. Other comfort foods include country fried steak, roast beef, farm-raised catfish, ribeye, and chicken tenderloin.

Brian, having popped in during our meal to ask how everything was, came over to clear away our plates when we had finished. After deciding against dessert (there was no room!), Brian brought us the check and reminded us that we were to pay at the gift shop. That's right! We had forgotten the last time. We just left the money on the table and took off. Since I didn't have enough change to leave Brian's tip on the table, I left Mom alone and went to the cashier area in the gift shop. The total came to:

1 Stewart's diet - $2.29

1 Stewart's diet - 2.29

1 meatloaf - 7.99

1 Bacon CB plate - 7.69

Subtotal - $20.26

Tax - 1.62

TOTAL = $21.88

After getting some change, I returned to the table to get Mom and to leave $5 on the table for Brian for his great service. Before leaving, Mom and I checked out the ladies' room. Normally filled with frantic people, the restroom was clean and quiet. Both Mom and I enjoy the fact that the bathroom always has hand lotion available. As we exited the restrooms, we took a look around the gift shop. There were several T-shirts, sweaters, knitted blankets, old-fashioned candies and chips, toys, games, DVDs, candles, and lawn decorations that were overpriced, but adorable. I'm not sure if they've had a problem with shoplifters in the past, but the two most recent visits to Cracker Barrel kept Mom and I under the watchful eyes of the gift shop staff. I hate people who steal from gift shops. That's why everything has to cost so much. Leave things alone!

We first visited a Cracker Barrel on an old-lady bus trip to Yankee Candle/Holyoke Mall some years back, and ever since then each time we visit one, we feel like we're on a trip. Maybe it's because the gift shop sells so many travel items (games, books on tape, etc.), or maybe it's because so many tourists stop here to grab a quick bite before getting back on the road. Either way, Cracker Barrel is a great place to eat and reminisce about days gone by.

Cracker Barrel in Coventry (401-827-8015) is located at 825 Centre of New England Blvd. General hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For a location nearest you, please visit www.crackerbarrel.com.

Texas Roadhouse

www.texasroadhouse.com

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My friend Scott and I have been friends for over three years, and in that time, we have never gone out for dinner together. Sure we've eaten Quizno's subs at our desks at work, and even shared a Paparoni pizza from Papa Gino's in the break room, but we've never actually gone to a restaurant, sat down, and ordered a meal together. Since we're both big fans of Texas Roadhouse, and we both magically had some cash on hand at the very same time, we decided to have dinner at the Roadhouse at 124 Westgate Drive in Brockton, MA. Although Mom likes the food here, she's not a fan of the noise (and there is a lot of noise), so today was the perfect time to do a review of the restaurant. I met Scott at his office (my old job - *sigh*) and drove to the Roadhouse. We arrived at about 6:30 p.m.
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By the fullness of the parking lot, we both knew that the restaurant was quite crowded. Luckily, Scott scored an awesome parking spot and was pretty happy with himself because of it (apparently he always has a long walk to the front door). Once inside, Scott and I had to wait in a small line that had formed around the hostess station. I noticed that there were also people sitting in the waiting area, which consists of a small TV, large barrels of peanuts, and two wall-length benches. A few minutes went by before Scott and I finally had a chance to tell the hostess that we wanted a table for two. Thinking that we were going to wait a while for a table, I was pleasantly surprised when a waiter came over, grabbed a basket of buns from the warming shelf by the kitchen, and started walking us to our table ... and walking ... and walking. He walked so damn slow that I was basically stepping on the back of Scott's sneakers. Even Scott turned around and whispered, "Are we ever going to get there?" I guess the waiter was trying to make small talk by asking, "Have you ever been here before?" When Scott said yes, the waiter turned around and said, "Welcome back." Doesn't seem like much, but apparently Texas Roadhouse teaches the wait staff to really drag this part out. This is not the first time I've encountered the slow walkers. Mom, who normally walks very slowly, was pretty much walking up the waitress's back on our last visit to the Dartmouth, MA, Roadhouse. Nonetheless, we finally arrived at our booth. He put down our basket of buns and told us that our waitress we be over in a minute. I reached over and handed Scott one of the plastic-covered menus that were already on our table. Although we already knew what we wanted, it's always fun to look at the menu.




A few minutes went by before our waitress came to the table. Her name was Tina Marie and she seemed to be in a bit of a rush. Although friendly, she talked very quickly. She may have had a lot of people to serve that night, so I don't blame her for speeding things up. I'm the same way. She took our drink order - two Diet Cokes - and since she noticed that we already knew what we wanted, she took that order as well. Scott and I were going to start with the Rattlesnake Bites ($4.99) as our appetizer, and Chicken Critter Salads ($9.29) as our entrees, both with honey mustard dressing. He ordered his with egg, and I (of course) requested that the egg not be there. Tina went away to put in our order, but quickly came back to bring us our sodas, which were served in real glasses. In the meantime, Scott and I stuffed our faces with the delicious soft buns with flavored butter and the nearby peanuts, which are placed at every table in a silver bucket (with an extra bucket for the empty shells).

Texas Roadhouse is a really well-decorated restaurant chain. As soon as you step through the door, you are transported into a world of cowboy hats, rodeos, and line dancing - and yes, there is actual line dancing. Whenever you hear the country music that is piped in through a large jukebox get turned up louder than normal, be sure to turn toward the middle of the restaurant where you will see the waitstaff busting a move. A cute touch, but not so cute if you're waiting for your food to arrive and your waitress is in the middle of the Boot Scootin' Boogie. The restaurant is also on the loud side. I often find myself screaming across the table at my dining companion even though they are only about two feet away. Also, it is always crowded, so it really doesn't matter when you visit - there is a pretty good chance you'll have to wait to be seated. Once seated at your table or booth (there is a mix of both, but the booths can be a little tight), you'll be able to check out all the crazy knickknacks scattered around the restaurant. There are several caricature drawings of country stars hung up around the top of the bar, cacti, cowboy boots, saddles, and any other stereotypical southern trinket. I'm also pretty sure that you can request your margarita to be served in a cowboy boot that you can keep as a souvenir! If you're on the shy side, I wouldn't suggest coming here on your birthday. If one of your "friends" decides to tell the staff that today is your special day, not only will a group of waiters flock to your table to embarrass you, they'll shine one of the overhead lights right on you, scream "Yee Haw" in your face and get the rest of the diners to do the same. Oh, and they'll tell everyone your age. "Doris is turning 58 today ... yeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaw!" No thank you. I'd kill myself, and take everyone with me.

Since this is a chain restaurant, the menu could vary depending on where you're located. Appetizers include the Cactus Blossom ($5.99), grilled shrimp ($6.99), and the cheese fries ($4.99). There are also several salad options that you can get served with homemade dressing. Mom especially likes the chicken Caesar salad ($9.29). Burgers and sandwiches include the pulled pork sandwich ($7.29), and the Smokehouse burger ($7.79) which is a half pound of fresh ground chuck with sauteed mushrooms, onions, BBQ sauce, and jack and cheddar cheeses. There is a kids' menu, a dessert menu (featuring a Big Ol' Brownie for $4.99), and a long list of side dishes, but the main attraction here are the steaks. Each plate is served with two sides, and you can choose to smother any steak with mushroom, onions, gravy, or cheese for $1.99 extra. Steaks include the USDA Choice Sirloin ($8.99-17.99), Ft. Worth Ribeye ($13.99-18.99), Texas T-Bone ($19.99), New York Strip ($16.29-18.99), Dallas Filet ($14.99-18.49), and the Prime Rib ($14.29-18.99). Another favorite is the Texas Roadhouse ribs ($12.99 half slab; $16.99 full slab) that are "blue ribbon" winners and slow cooked with a blend of seasonings and their signature BBQ sauce. You can also order a Texas Size Combo platter of steak, chicken, or ribs for $15.29-18.99. For those non-red meat eaters, there are a variety of chicken and fish options available. Fish dishes include the fried catfish ($10.99) and grilled salmon ($13.29), which the chicken dishes include grilled BBQ chicken ($9.99) and country fried chicken ($10.29). I need to start leaving my Chicken Critter Salad obsession behind so that I can try some of Texas Roadhouse's other delicious entrees.

It didn't take long for our appetizer to arrive. Scott had never had the Rattlesnake Bites before. We were both a fan of the Iguana Eggs that they used to serve (kind of like their version of a jalapeno popper), but of course, they took them off the menu. The Bites were served with a cup of Cajun horseradish sauce and were really tasty. The little bits of diced jalapenos and jack cheese were spicy and the batter was nice and light. Delish!

After we polished off our Bites, our salads arrived. Thankfully they remembered to keep the egg out of mine. Both salads looked and tasted amazing. The greens were fresh, the cheese was tasty, the bacon was crisp, and the chicken was juicy and well cooked. I adore this salad because you really do get a lot of flavor with every mouthful. Of course, Scott had some extra flavor going on in his because of the egg, which he really enjoys. We both finished every bite of our huge salads, and I found out something about Scott - he eats slowly!!! I was finished with my salad long before he was. Maybe I eat too fast? Could it be? Either way, we were both glad to be having one of our favorite salads together. While Scott was still eating, I decided to check out the ladies' room, which is almost always disgusting (well, the one in Dartmouth is, at least). It actually wasn't bad today. A little disheveled, but Texas Roadhouse does get a lot of bathroom traffic. Not sure if that is a good thing.

Egg

No egg

Tina returned to the table clear my plate and to see if all was well. Just before she came over, Scott and I were talking about this alcoholic drink that he likes - Malibu Rum with Diet Coke. He told me how good it was, and I was mad that I had forgotten to order one. After some pressure from Scott ("Will ya just get it already!"), I had Tina bring me one. YUM. It totally tasted like coconut soda. Scott says that mixing it with regular Coke takes out some of the coconut taste, so he uses Diet. When he had finished his salad and I had finished boozing it up, Tina returned and asked if we wanted dessert. I think we both grunted the word "no," so she quickly brought over the check. The bill came to:

Rattlesnake bites - $4.99

2 Diet Coke (@ 2.19) - 4.38

Fried chicken critter (2 @ 9.29) - 18.58

Malibu rocks - 5.25

Subtotal - $33.20

Tax - 1.66

TOTAL = $34.86

After some confusion about how we would split the bill, we decided that Scott would pay the $34.86 and I'd leave the tip. Sounded good to me! Normally, I would have left $7 (20% tip), but I wasn't paying attention when Scott told me to leave $8. Later on, when I did the math, all I could think about was that extra dollar I left on the table. WHAT A CHEAPSKATE!!! Sometimes I'm such a stickler, especially when it comes to money. It's probably because I don't have that much of it.

Stuffed, Scott and I made our way across the slippery floor to the door. Seriously, sometimes all the peanut dust and shells scattered around slicks up the floor, so be careful! The restaurant was really starting to fill up, so I was glad to be out of there before the Friday night rush. We got in his car and headed toward the Showcase Cinema in Randolph for a night of horror movie watching, but our Roadhouse meal turned out to be a lot better than the flick. Actually, I've never had a bad meal at Texas Roadhouse which is why I keep going back - even despite spontaneous dancing, rank bathrooms, and obnoxious birthday celebrations. What can I say? I just love that Chicken Critter Salad. Yee Haw!!

The Brockton Texas Roadhouse is open from 4-10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-11 p.m. on Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Visit www.texasroadhouse.com for local restaurant hours, menus, and prices.

Newport Creamery

www.newportcreamery.com

Aside from the time I almost broke my tooth on a piece of plastic that was stuck inside of a Maraschino cherry (and was only compensated with a $10 gift certificate that I basically had to beg for), Mom and I really enjoy visiting Newport Creamery. The original location in Newport, RI, will always hold a special place in our hearts, but we often visit our own hometown location on President Avenue here in Fall River. We are never disappointed (I should mention that the cherry incident happened in Newport).

On today's visit, at around 3:30 p.m., we had one thing in mind - ice cream. Since we never did get that milkshake at Red Robin, Mom and I were all about getting a big sundae with lots of toppings and the delicious Newport Creamery ice cream. We pulled into the parking lot and luckily got a space close to the door (the lot, although located in a large plaza, fills up fast). Mom and I stepped inside and read the sign that told us to wait to be seated by a member of the waitstaff. We didn't wait long before a waitress with a blue Newport Creamery shirt came over, grabbed a few plastic-covered menus, and escorted us to a booth that was just across from the grill. After she left, we were joined by a second waitress named Kayla. Mom said that Kayla must be new to waitressing because she was very pleasant. Perhaps if we catch her in a few months, it will be a different story. We hope not! She offered to bring Mom and I two waters and we gladly accepted. They quickly arrived in plastic glasses. Kayla also asked us if we would be having ice cream. We said yes, and she took away the silverware that was left on the table for us. After asking for a few moments to decide, Kayla returned to find that both Mom and I were getting the exact same thing - a Turtle Sundae made with three scoops of coffee ice cream ($5.09 each). This particular sundae is topped with hot fudge, caramel, walnuts, whipped cream, and a cherry. Kayla happily took our order to the open kitchen area, which is just part of the Newport Creamery charm.

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I always feel at home inside Newport Creamery. No matter which location you visit (either the two in Massachusetts or the 11 in Rhode Island), all of them look pretty much the same. Obviously, this happens with chain restaurants, but there's something cozy about this place. Perhaps it is the beige booths, tables, and dividers (there are are only booths and a counter at the Fall River location), or the striped wallpaper and colorful paper place mats with pictures of delicious food on them. Whatever it may be, I like Newport Creamery a lot better than I like Friendly's. Friendly's, to me, is always frantic, while Newport Creamery seems to attract a calmer crowd. There are hanging lights above each booth, and large windows all around the restaurant which are shaded by Venetian blinds when the sun's rays get a little overwhelming. Located next to the open kitchen are two coolers - one for ice cream cakes, and the other for tubs of Newport Creamery ice cream that are for sale. This area is also where you can walk in and order something to go, and on summer days, the outside window is open for ice cream and other cool treats.

Newport Creamery has it all. From breakfast to dessert, you can pretty much get anything your heart desires here, and the service is usually very good. Both Mom and I really enjoy their breakfasts, but we usually get a late start during the day and are too late to order it. We really wish the breakfast menu could be served past noon. What we really adore are the hash browns. Mom says that they resemble a little square fry more than the fried potatoes that people are used to - so delicious. Mom calls them "puffs of delight," and that's exactly what they are! I really enjoy their omelets and stuffed French toast. For people who are coming in for lunch or dinner, the options are almost endless. Starters include items like the Newport French fries ($2.59), popcorn chicken basket ($5.99), cheese quesadilla ($6.19), and buffalo chicken tenders ($6.99). You can also order soup, including Newport's famous clam chowder (cup - $2.69; bowl - $3.69; bread boule - $4.69). Sandwiches include the Newport clubs ($7.19) featuring the Big Beef cheeseburger, tuna salad, chicken salad, ham and turkey, deli sandwiches ($6.49), and Mega Melts ($7.19), which features ham and cheese, tuna and cheddar, or turkey and Swiss served with tomato on grilled New York deli rye. All sandwiches are served with your choice of fries, seasoned fries, potato salad, cole slaw, broccoli, vegetable medley, or mashed potatoes with gravy. Salads include the Executive Chef's salad ($6.89), the sesame pineapple chicken salad ($7.19), and the salad and half chicken quesadilla ($6.09). Newport Creamery has a variety of chicken sandwiches including the BBQ and cheddar ($7.39), and a steak and seafood menu that includes steak sandwiches ($6.39) and a New Englander fish sandwich ($5.99). I always hear good things about the burgers here, and it's probably because Newport Creamery uses 100% fresh Black Angus beef. Burgers range from the Big Beef ($5.69) to the Smoky Mountain BBQ Superburger ($7.79), which is a half pound burger topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, onions, and BBQ sauce, served on a bulkie roll with lettuce and tomatoes. If that doesn't satisfy your craving for meat, perhaps you can try to take on the Holy Cow burger ($8.69), featuring a whole pound of beef served club style (probably because it's easier to get it in your mouth). Newport Creamery also has a list of comfort foods such as their chicken pot pie ($6.99 - but it's seasonal), fried clam dinner ($7.29), and the fresh battered fish and chips dinner ($7.59). However, some people have never even eaten a meal here! They just come for their award-winning ice cream. You can get anything from an ice cream soda ($3.49), to their famous Awful Awful ($3.59 and up). The motto is that it's "awful big, awful good," and they're right. However, my mother thinks that it is weird that, to make an Awful Awful, you have to start with a vanilla base. Why would you when you have all the flavors right in front of you? I tried to explain that a frappe is made with flavored ice cream, but I understand what she means. She's just looking for more flavor in her drink, and who doesn't want that? Other ice cream treats include the clown sundae ($2.49), the Super Chipper ($2.79) which is a giant ice cream sandwich on a cookie, and their large list of gourmet sundaes. You can even be brave and order the Holy Cow sundae ($9.99), that is, if you're willing to eat ten scoops of ice cream, four toppings, banana wheels, and walnuts.

It did not take long for our ice cream to arrive. Both sundaes looked amazing, although mine seemed to be leaking. Mom was in heaven because she was eating her favorite treat - coffee ice cream. What she enjoys about the sundaes from Newport Creamery is the fact that the ice cream is always nice and firm. She doesn't like when the toppings overwhelm the ice cream, making it mushy. The whipped cream topping was real and delicious. Mom's only gripe was, although the toppings were fresh, they could have been a little warmer. Perhaps they would have jelled with the ice cream more instead of clumping at the bottom of her glass, making it look like there were more toppings than ice cream. Either way, she thoroughly enjoyed her sundae, and said that it is a great size for the price.

I feel the same way about the toppings. I even think that maybe they went a little too heavy with them as I couldn't even get my spoon into the ice cream without some liquid pouring down the side of my glass. By the time I had finished, I had accumulated a small puddle of goo on my paper place mat. Although the sundae was delicious, this is not the first time that I've had a messy experience with one. Nevertheless, I stuffed my face until I couldn't even move. I love ice cream.

When she realized that Mom and I were through, Kayla returned to bring the bill. The total came to:

2 Turtle Sundaes - $10.18

2 Waters - 0

Subtotal - $10.18

Tax - .51

TOTAL = $10.69

Mom left $13 in the bill holder for Kayla, which included 20% tip, as we slowly made our way toward the front door. As we got into my car, we both commented on how much we like Newport Creamery. It may not be everyone's first choice for breakfast, lunch, or a sundae, but it has always been a part of my family's eating history, and I can't wait to go back again. I'm just sorry that they removed the Swansea Mall and Silver City Galleria locations. I know how popular they were. Perhaps they could make a return?

The Newport Creamery in Fall River is located at 1670 President Avenue. The hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Breakfast is served until 11 a.m. on weekdays, 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, and 12 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (508) 678-6346.

Red Robin

www.redrobin.com

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Since our first attempt was a dud (see below), and with all the rave reviews that we've been getting from our fans (one who just went because of their catchy TV jingle), Mom and I decided to take a chance and drive all the way back to Wareham to visit Red Robin, located in the Wareham Crossing plaza on Cranberry Highway. This time, we got to go inside. It was just around 12:30 p.m.

I had noticed that there were quite a lot of cars in the parking lot. I was hoping that it wasn't going to be too frenzied in there. When Mom and I stepped through the large glass doors, we were immediately greeted by a uniformed hostess who informed us that there would be a 10-15 minute wait. However, despite all the cars in the parking lot, the place looked pretty empty. I heard her mutter something about the "St. Patrick's Day rush," but again, there weren't that many customers. Nonetheless, she took my name and gave Mom and I two large, colorful, plastic menus to browse over while we waited. I also asked for a take-out menu, which I promptly received. As we took our seats on the nearby benches, we noticed a TV built into the floor! What a crazy place. Also near the door were a few video games, and a ton of balloons. I'm sure the kiddies love this feature, but should there really be a pile of kids right at the entrance? Maybe these things should be off to the side somewhere, where people aren't waiting to be seated.

When the hostess finally called my name (although Mom earlier bolted off the bench when she heard the name "Marybeth" - I guess to hungry ears it could have sounded like "Laura"), we got up and followed her into the dining room. She asked us if we preferred a table or booth, and since Mom likes tables and I like booths, we chose a table. The hostess led us over to a banquette, so I was kind of excited since we could each have what we wanted. The hostess told us that Caitlin would be our waitress, and she would be over to greet us in a moment. That moment wasn't very long because before we knew it, Caitlin appeared ready to take our drink order. She had asked us if we had ever been to a Red Robin, and before Mom could answer, I screamed, "Yes!" The reason I did that is because - although this was our first visit - I didn't feel like listening to the history of the place, tips on how to order, and all the other tidbits that come in the learned script that the poor waitstaff has to memorize. I just wanted to eat. While we were waiting on the bench by the entrance door, Mom and I had decided to order milkshakes with our meal($3.99), which came with its own refill tin. I was going to get banana, and Mom was going to get chocolate, but Caitlin sadly informed us that the milkshake machine was broken. Distracted by the word "no," Mom and I decided on two Diet Cokes. When Caitlin went to retrieve them, we went back to choosing which gourmet burger we were going to have. After all, gourmet burgers are what Red Robin is all about. Caitlin quickly returned with the two Diet Cokes which had been poured into glass Red Robin tumblers. Meanwhile, Mom and I had finally settled on our burger choices. Mom chose the Red Robin Bacon Cheeseburger ($8.99) with no tomato and pepper-jack cheese (she had a choice of a few cheeses). I chose a burger that happened to be a Red Robin Signature Selection - the Whiskey River BBQ burger ($8.99). When Caitlin asked us if we wanted them "pink" or "no pink," we weren't surprised. On a cardboard box at each table, there is a small section that explains that "pink" means medium, and "no pink" means medium well. Caitlin took away our menus and left Mom and I to check out the interior.

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Red Robin is definitely a family friendly restaurant. With the loud music, colorful decor, and a large statue of a "Red Robin" giving a thumbs up to customers, I can't see why kids wouldn't like this place. It almost reminded me of Chuck E. Cheese's, only more adult (no ball jump, unfortunately). Not only were there TVs in the floor, but there were TVs on the wall that featured various sports games. I was seated across from a huge wall covered in framed posters of iconic people, TV shows, movies, and food. The exposed pipes across the ceiling made for a very trendy look, while the bright red and beige colors made the dining room feel very welcoming. Modern chandeliers and ceiling fans were situated above each table and booth, and I noticed that each table could be expanded by folding up the leaves. Mom had a good view of the kitchen, which housed a plethora of stainless steel cookware. On each table was a container of Red Robin seasoning, which encouraged all to sprinkle it liberally over the burgers, salads, and other dishes. Also on the table was a cardboard box that gave some hints about certain things offered (the bottomless steak fries, the refillable drinks, etc.). Both Mom and I also commented on how clean everything was, and we were surprised considering Red Robin is very "kid-friendly."

If burgers are your thing, then Red Robin is the place for you. Specializing in "gourmet" toppings rather than plain old ketchup and mustard, even picky eaters won't be able to decide which burger to order. My friend, Gregg, recommended the Royal Red Robin Burger ($9.29), which is topped with a fresh, fried egg. Other burgers include the Sauteed 'Shroom Burger ($8.99), the Pot Roast Burger ($9.49), the Banzai Burger ($8.99) topped with grilled pineapple, and the 5 Alarm Burger ($8.99) if you're feeling hot and spicy. They even have the Monster Burger ($9.99) which includes two huge beef patties. The "Knife & Forkers" list includes the Burger Parmigiana ($9.99), the Honky Tonk BBQ Pork Burger ($9.99), and the Chili Chili Cheeseburger ($9.49). All "Knife & Forkers" are served with garlic Parmesan steak fries. If you're looking for something to wet your appetite, you can choose from one of their many starters. The Towering Onion Rings ($7.99) look great because they arrived stacked into - what else - a tower. They also have Red Robin Buzzard Wings ($8.99), the Just-In-Quesadilla ($9.99), and the Cheeseburger Con Queso ($6.99), which is a spicy cheese dip with fresh ground beef, topped with salsa and fresh cilantro and served with corn tortilla chips and Red Robin's own jalapeno-cheese flour tortilla chips. For sandwiches, soups, and wraps, Red Robin offers the Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Wrap ($9.79), the French Onion Soup ($4.99 crock; $2.99 cup), and the Souper Sandwich Combo ($9.99). Salads include the Apple Harvest Chicken Salad ($10.49) and the Crispy Chicken Tender Salad ($9.99). Entrees include the Gourmet Mac & Cheese with Chicken ($11.49; vegetarian $9.49). Mom was drooling over this one, but she decided to save it for another time. Others like the Arctic Cod Fish & Chips ($10.99) and the Chicken Parmigiano Pasta ($11.79) sound very delicious as well. Red Robin also features a great dessert menu, kids menu, and a list of "Chillin' Concoctions," a.k.a., cold drinks.

We hadn't been waiting long before we spotted a waitress (not Caitlin) coming over with our burgers. After figuring out who ordered what, she left Mom and I to dig into our delicious-looking burgers, which arrived in little red baskets. Mom's bacon cheeseburger was described on the menu as the best bacon cheeseburger in the city, state, nation, and all the world. It was a very nice size - not so small that you had to look for it, but not so large that you felt like a pig if you were to eat the whole thing. The meat was cooked perfectly (no pink). She was impressed by the look of it, and enjoyed that it came in a paper holder (Mom called it a diaper - yuck). Whatever it was, it kept the burger together nicely. The bacon was very meaty and tasty, the pepper-jack cheese was nicely melted, the lettuce was shredded and crisp, and it had the perfect amount of mayonnaise. The bun was fresh and covered the whole burger evenly. It made for a really tasty meal. She would definitely order this burger again. Mom even enjoyed her fries, and she said that there was just enough of them to go with the burger.



Red Robin was never to give us a second batch of their bottomless fries, since neither Mom nor I are big fry fans. I did, however, enjoy my seasoned bunch very much. My burger also came wrapped in a "diaper" and I was glad because of the layer of BBQ sauce that topped the sandwich. Actually, I was quite impressed at how neat the burger was. You would think that since it 1) was large enough that you had to open your mouth really wide to get it all in, and 2) was covered with slippery lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and BBQ sauce, that you would be covered in burger toppings. Not at all. I quite enjoyed the not-overpowering onion straws that supported the bottom half of the patty. All the flavors blended really well together, and the meat, like Mom's, was cooked perfectly.

Stuffed, when Caitlin came over to ask us if we were ready for dessert, both Mom and I turned her down. She cleared our plates away and brought over the bill. The total came to:

Sodas (2 @ $2.39) - 4.78

Bacon chz bg - 8.99

BBQ bg - 8.99

Subtotal - $22.76

Tax - 1.14

TOTAL = $23.90

Mom left $32 in the bill holder for Caitlin, which included a 20% tip. She was a very good waitress. While we were sitting there vegging out our from our meal, a friendly older woman in a light green Red Robin shirt (the regular waitresses were wearing red) came over to our table to ask how everything was. We said it was great, and we also said the same when she asked how our service had been. I asked Mom if she was coming over to all the tables to ask how their experience was, but she had seemed to only stop at ours. She had walked by the other tables smiling, but never stopping. Odd. Maybe she saw me writing down information and/or taking pictures. Perhaps she thought we were celebrities. Either way, we were honest about our visit. We thought it was great.

Before we left, Mom and I used the restroom. Like the dining room, it was very clean and organized. As we headed back to my car, we were both glad that we had finally been able to give Red Robin a real review. Although the frantic chain atmosphere is not something we usually go for, Mom and I visited today at the perfect time. We got to sample their great burgers, had good service, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We'll definitely be back, but on an off day. No Saturday nights for us!

The Red Robin in Wareham is located at 2421 Cranberry Highway in the Target/Lowe's plaza (Wareham Crossing). The hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call (508) 273-0441.

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Date: 3/8/08

A few weeks ago, my sister and her boyfriend visited a Red Robin restaurant - the first one in the area (well, within a 25 mile radius). Mallory raved about her burger to me and Mom, so naturally we decided to take the drive to Wareham, MA, to see how good the burgers were for ourselves. Supposedly, you can get just about any type of gourmet burger. Sounded delicious!

Well, we never made it to Red Robin. Did we follow the MapQuest directions? Yes. Did they correspond with the directions my sister gave us? Yes. Could we find the place without driving up and down Cranberry Highway for about 30 minutes? No. Why, you ask? THERE WAS NO SIGN!!! Apparently, Red Robin is brand new to the area. So new - and deeply set within a large plaza - that there were no indications from the street that this restaurant even existed. I was BOILING. If there is one thing I hate, it is 1) wasted time, 2) wasted gas, and 3) not being able to go to the place we specifically drove all the way up there for. OK, so three things. Whatever.

We finally pulled into the parking lot at around 6 p.m. Guess what? So did everyone else. There were no parking spaces, there were kids all over the place, and Mom spotted about 100 backs to the wall waiting for tables to be emptied. FORGET IT. I couldn't take it. I wasn't about to wait another hour to get a damn hamburger. After all that driving around and losing it in the car, we left Wareham and headed for Bravo's Restaurant, where we had a lovely meal.

Oh, and to top it all off, it was pouring all day ... and my check engine light was on.

We'll definitely try Red Robin again (now that we know where the damn place is), but certainly not at 6 p.m. on a Saturday night. A lot of fans often comment on the time that Mom and I go out to lunch/dinner. We often visit a restaurant at around 3 p.m., and the reason for that is that I HATE CROWDS. Not regular, calm, restaurant crowds, but loud, frenzied crowds that seem to gather inside of chain restaurants on weekends. No thank you. I'd rather go through a drive-thru, believe it or not. Mom agrees. She said that she doesn't like the craziness and there is a good chance that you're not going to get the best service.

Old Country Buffet

www.oldcountrybuffet.com

Today is my 29th birthday. Although Mom and I are going to Salem next week to celebrate, we decided to stop for lunch at the Old Country Buffet in Seekonk, MA, on the way to pick up my birthday cake at the neighboring Cold Stone Creamery.

I always hear mixed things about Old Country Buffet. A friend of mine recently told me that I'm the only person he knows that eats at OCB and doesn't get sick. I've always found the food good, but some people have reserves about buffets, and thus are turned off to this type of franchise. We pulled into the parking lot at around 4:30 p.m. There weren't a lot of cars in the parking lot and that is probably because it was too early for the dinner rush. When we got inside, we were greeted by a cashier who rang us up. The cost was $10.89 per person (the dinner price), and Mom paid $22.87 total (with $1.09 tax). Attached to our receipt was a long yellow paper that had the number two written into a box at the bottom of the slip. This slip allows us to "claim" a table while we go up and check out the buffet. We chose a booth close to the door and close to the steam tables, put our yellow slip on the table, and proceeded to go and check out the food.

Old Country Buffet serves everyday favorites at both lunch and dinner, such as assorted burgers, tacos, macaroni and cheese, hand-breaded baked and fried chicken, baked fish and fried fish, mashed potatoes and gravy, and assorted vegetables, side dishes, and a potato bar. There is also an extensive "build-your-own" salad bar including a variety of freshly prepared salads. There is a separate dessert bar featuring an ice cream machine that serves chocolate, vanilla, and swirl soft serve. Both hot and cold beverages are available, and all utensils and dinnerware (plates, knives, forks, cups, etc.) are kept at the end of each table. Daily specials are available for both lunch and dinner. Today's dinner specials were carved ham, meatloaf, carved turkey, orange chicken, and fried shrimp. All food is cooked all day long, and 90 home style choices are cooked every day. The daily features change throughout the week, and vary between the franchises. New items are featured during the special menu promotions, and seasonal favorites are also available at given times. Both beverages and desserts are always included in the price. There is also a breakfast buffet on Saturdays and Sundays featuring carved ham, bacon, eggs Benedict, fresh fruit, biscuits and country gravy, waffles, corned beef hash, French toast, sausage, scrambled eggs, buttermilk pancakes, country fried steak, pastries, donuts, and quiche. At this particular location, there is a banquet room available for parties and assorted gatherings at no additional charge. Make sure to call ahead to get a reservation.





Both Mom and I made two trips to the steam tables. On Mom's visits, she chose the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, orange chicken, a cinnamon bun, meatloaf, and spaghetti with marinara sauce. On my visits, I chose the baked fish, sauteed mushrooms in garlic sauce, fried catfish, bread stuffing, a taco salad in a tortilla bowl, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes with gravy. Both Mom and I had chocolate/vanilla swirl ice cream for dessert. Because I forgot to take a picture of my adorable taco bowl, I made sure to capture Mom's meatloaf and spaghetti, and my soft serve ice cream. I know ... it's not as cute.




We've been to two Old Country Buffet locations - Seekonk and Dartmouth, MA - and both dining rooms are quite large. Made to hold a large amount of patrons, the Seekonk dining room is neatly set up with booths along the edge of the room, and tables lined up on both sides of the buffet. With the spotlight mainly over the steam tables, the low lights and dark fabrics allow the food to stand out and be the center of everyone's attention.



Both Mom and I felt that the food, for the most part, was up to par. However, some things tasted like they had been left out a little too long. My macaroni and cheese was a bit on the clumpy side, and my baked fish was tough. Mom's orange chicken was a little cold, and her cinnamon roll was cold and dried out. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Mom's fried chicken was hot and juicy, while my taco salad was fresh and tasty. Also, the mashed potatoes were quite delicious.

All in all, we had a good meal at the Old Country Buffet. Although we did notice the price increase, you can certainly get a lot for your money. Bring your appetite because there is plenty to choose from. Old Country Buffet is a food lover's dream, and all the tasty choices keep us coming back for more.

The general restaurant hours of operation for Old Country Buffet are: Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Romano's Macaroni Grill

www.macaronigrill.com

Because we were going to be in the Warwick, RI, area, we decided to hit a delicious place that we had only visited once, but vowed to return to - Romano's Macaroni Grill.

When we first heard of the Macaroni Grill, we did not realize that it was a chain since there are none in our immediate area. However, with all the positive feedback it received on the Internet, Mom and I just had to try it. We found everything delicious on our first visit, and we hoped that this visit would be just as good. I pulled up to the Bald Hill Road location and parked my Kia at around 2:50 p.m. There weren't a lot of cars in the parking lot, but there was one thing in the parking lot that we could have done without - a burping Macaroni Grill employee. What a pig!

As we stepped inside, we quickly took a gaze around the restaurant. It is beautifully decorated with a heavy emphasis on Italian decor. A tall gentleman host politely greeted us and took us to a booth at the back of the restaurant and right in front of a large wall of bottles containing Romano's signature wine. The booth was extremely comfortable and was raised off of the dining room floor, so Mom warned me to "be careful" when I stood back up as she knows how clumsy I am. Being sprawled across the dining room was not how I wanted to spend my Saturday.

What I like about this place is that they use a large sheet of white butcher paper as their tablecloths for the boothed tables (there is a regular white tablecloth on the regular tables with a piece of butcher paper on top). On top of the paper were three crayons, and when our waitress, Marissa, came to our table, she wrote her name on the sheet for us to remember. Marissa brought over a loaf of Italian bread which was flavored with rosemary and which we were able to dip in a concoction that Marissa made for us - Italian oil from a large bottle that was on our table, and ground pepper. She gave us two large, thick menus and took our drink order. Although Mom and I ordered two Diet Pepsis, we were sad to see that they offered Italian cream sodas, which we definitely would have gotten if we hadn't already ordered the Pepsi.

They have quite an extensive menu, but Mom and I already knew what we wanted as we had already peeked at the online menu (which also lists the prices). When Marissa came back, she took our order. I ordered the Pesto Chicken Pizza ($9.79), which is grilled chicken, pesto, sun dried tomatoes, mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan cheeses baked with garlic-olive oil. This is my second time ordering this pizza because the first time I had it, it blew me away. Mom ordered the Twice Baked Lasagna with Meatballs ($11.49), which is six layers of tender pasta stuffed with seasoned meatballs, three cheeses, and Bolognese sauce, then baked in the brick oven until bubbling. After Marissa left, Mom and I scoped out the rest of the dining room.


It really is one of the prettiest dining rooms I've ever seen for a chain restaurant. Covered with dark wood and subdued (and stringed) lighting, the walls of wine adds both design and substance to the interior. It is a rather large dining room with a couple of different seating sections, one being near a huge fireplace. There is also a small bar and, if seated in the middle of the restaurant, you are able to see right into the kitchen. Oh, and remember that burping employee? He was a chef. Splendid!

The appetizers (or "antipasti") here run from a Tomato Bruschetta for $5.79 which is toasted bread topped with extra virgin olive oil, fresh tomatoes, and basil, to the Romano's Sampler ($9.99) which includes the Tomato Bruschetta, Mozzarella Fritta, and Calamari and served with Romano's zesty pizzaiola sauce. They also have a large selection of vino (wine), bevande (drinks), brick oven pizzas, insalata (salad), signature soups, pasta di prima, over-stuffed pasta, Amore De La Grill (grill items), classico Italian (basic Italian foods), desserts, and a kids' menu. Although we were not to get dessert on this occasion, we did have the Lemon Passion ($5.29) on our first visit, and it was to die for. The cool citrus cake was soaked in a sweet cream, topped with lemon mousse, and finished off with fresh Italian whipped cream and caramel. Simply delicioso! Also on visit number one, Mom ordered the Spaghetti with Meat Sauce ($9.29) and she thought it was fantastic.

It did not take long for our food to arrive, and when it did, both plates were steaming hot. Mom's large lasagna arrived in a bowl, and was surrounded by several mini meatballs. She said that she thought it was one of the best pieces of lasagna she'd ever had, and she was glad that it was hot throughout the whole thing - which she loves. Sometimes a big hunk of pasta can get a little cool inside, but not this one. They also had the right balance of all the ingredients, and a complete blend is sometimes not always achieved throughout the entire piece. However, this one was perfect.

I actually almost forgot to take a picture of the food because I began eating about two seconds after the plate was set down on the table. My pizza was a delight, but missing the ricotta cheese! I even began to doubt that ricotta had existed on my first pizza, but when I reread the menu, I realized that yes, ricotta was a main ingredient. Although the pizza was not as spectacular as I remember (due to the missing ricotta), it was heavenly and I had to pace myself by eating crust so that the entire pizza didn't disappear in a matter of minutes. I just love pesto sauce. It really gives the cheese and tomatoes an extra kick of flavor.

Marissa came back to take our plates away, and soon returned with the bill:

2 sodas - $4.38

L-MtballLaz - 11.49

Pizza chick pest - 9.79

Subtotal - $25.66

Sales tax - 1.80

Local tax - .26

TOTAL = $27.72

We left $33 which included a 20% tip for Marissa. Both Mom and I decided to visit the ladies' room, which we hoped was still pumping the sounds of an Italian language tape like it was the last time, and we were in luck! While we were in there, I learned how to say "how much" (quanto) and "where is the bank" (dove è la banca) in Italian. What a fun idea! I can't wait to visit Romano's again. I already set my sights on a nice bowl of mushroom ravioli. Bellissimo!

Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub

www.99restaurants.com

Mom and I couldn't decide where we wanted to have lunch, so we let our wallets do the talking. We had a coupon for a free appetizer at the Ninety Nine Restaurant, so we decided to hit up our local Fall River location and chow down. This location is great because it is housed in an old mill, which Fall River is famous for, and has lots of nostalgic pictures and Fall River artifacts that makes this place very unique and homey at the same time.

We love Ninety Nine. I've been here so many times, I can't count them. I've had everything from a few drinks at the bar to a full course dinner, and everything has been great. Mom loves it too. She said that Ninety Nine is her favorite of all the "chain" restaurants, and I have to agree with her. We're big fans.

We went inside and were greeted by an array of hostesses that were analyzing their list of tables at the front of the restaurant. One of them grabbed a few laminated cardboard menus and led us all the way to a back table over near the restroom area. It was a booth/table combo, which was fine because I like booths and Mom could go either way about tables. It wasn't too busy on this day, which is rare because this location has always been the hub of the Fall River dinner crowd. I think we were too early for those patrons because it was only around 2 p.m.

It was not long before we were greeted by a very boisterous waitress named Tanya. Her Ethel Merman-esque voice left our ears ringing, yet she was extremely pleasant and asked us what we wanted to drink. Mom and I ordered two Diet Pepsis while Tanya ran down the list of specials that Ninety Nine was offering on this day. She also directed us to a new insert in the menus that included some speciality drinks such as the Tini Bikini, and seafood items like the fish tacos ($7.49). I've already had those and they were outstanding.

Tanya quickly returned with our drinks, but not before catching me writing down some of the menu prices in my notebook. She shouts, "Are you doing Weight Watchers?" As my face turned beet red, I tried to explain that I was just "writing something down." Tanya then chatted with us about some of the successes she's heard of with that plan. Nonetheless, I am not on Weight Watchers, but I started to feel the eyes of the other patrons looking for the fat chick who was writing down her food choices. Nevertheless, we laughed and gave our order. Mom ordered the fish and chips dinner portion ($8.99 - lunch is $7.49), while I ordered the lunch portion of smothered sirloin tips ($8.79). I'm not sure what the smothered sirloin dinner portion costs, but I do know that the regular broiled sirloin tips' dinner portion is $10.99, and the lunch portion is $7.79. I ordered my tips medium well with mashed cauliflower and carrots as my two sides. For our free appetizer, Mom and I chose our favorite - the Gold Fever Wings ($7.49). You can also get an extra large portion for $9.49, however, we got the smaller plate so we could keep within the confines of our coupon.

It never takes long for your food to arrive here. Everything is always served hot and the service has always been excellent each time we've visited. Mom and I certainly have our favorite menu choices. She likes both the steakburger ($6.99) and the bacon and cheese steakburger ($7.79). The meat is always very tender and juicy and tastes much better than your average hamburger. I myself have always been a big fan of the boneless buffalo wing salad ($8.99). Although I sometimes ask for it to be served without those annoying chipotle strips (they stab the inside of my mouth), I love the marriage between the spicy wings and the fresh vegetables. I have it served with Italian dressing since I don't fancy blue cheese, but a friend of mine told me to try getting it with ranch dressing. Sounds tempting! The buffalo wings here are outstanding. You can get a plate for $7.49, or an extra large plate for $9.49. Also, one of our newer favorites on the appetizer list is the toasted raviolis ($6.99). These are deliciously toasted half-moon ravioli oozing with mozzarella cheese and served with marinara sauce for dipping. How could you not love these? If you're torn between appetizers, you can always order the Boneless Wings and Skins Sampler. It includes hand-battered juicy chicken tenders dripping with Ninety Nine's own spicy buffalo sauce and traditional style potato skins with melted cheese and bacon. It is served with blue cheese dressing, celery sticks, and sour cream for only $8.99. For lighter meals, you can order a lunch portion as their lunch menu is served up until 4 p.m. daily.

As expected, it didn't take long for our food to arrive. First, a server brought over the Gold Fever Wings. They were perfect as always. The juicy chicken tenders were wrapped in a deliciously spicy honey mustard BBQ sauce. It was served with a side of celery and blue cheese dipping sauce. There were about eight on the plate, and they didn't last long at our table. These are definitely worth ordering, and Mom sometimes orders the extra large version with a side of Ninety Nine's delicious fries as her main meal. When our meals arrived, Tanya brought them over. She then offered to refill our Pepsis because they were a little on the low side, and we accepted. She also brought me a form to fill out to receive the Ninety Nine Newsletter. There was a cardboard ad on the table stating that if you signed up to receive the newsletter, you would be entered in a drawing to win a $99 gas card. Of course I was signing up for that!! She brought the new drinks and the form over to us, and then went to check on another table.

I've never been a waitress, nor would I like to be. It seems like a very hard job that doesn't pay much, and poor Tanya was stuck having to deal with a picky couple that was seated behind us. Apparently the woman at the table was allergic to gluten. The meal she ordered - gasp - had gluten in it. However, that didn't stop her from eating half of the plate. When she cornered Tanya to ask her if her meal had gluten in it, Tanya immediately went in the back to check. She came back out and informed the woman that the chef was looking for a box to read the ingredients. Tanya disappeared again, but soon came back to say that yes, there was gluten in her meal. Tanya then explained that she would take the meal off of her bill, and asked if she would like something else. The woman was skeptical at first, but then ordered a plain hamburger patty with no bun. Tanya asked how the woman was feeling, and the woman dramatically said, "Um ... I don't think I'll have a seizure, but ... I guess we'll just wait and see." Are you kidding me? She ate half of the plate! You think a person with a severe allergy would be a little more careful when choosing things off the menu. Either way, Tanya made the best of a gluten-free situation by making sure that the customers had everything they wanted, and that everyone was satisfied. I'm pleased to report that no one had a seizure.

The food was outstanding as always. My steak tips were smothered with mushrooms, peppers, and onions, and the meat was juicy and tender. My cauliflower was steaming hot, but buttery and had that mashed potato consistency that I love. The carrots were also buttery and had sweetness to them. I've never ordered steak tips at a restaurant before. I'm not a big red meat person, but if all steak tips taste as good as the ones at Ninety Nine, I'll definitely order them elsewhere.

Mom's fish and chip platter looked delicious. She said that her fish was flaky and white, and the breading was crisp and buttery. She had two large pieces of fish and a good amount of fries. The fries are always good. I think they leave the skin on when they fry them. Either way, whatever they're doing, I hope they keep doing it. Everything was fantastic. Her fish was served with a side of cole slaw, which I devoured since Mom isn't a fan.

Tanya came over to take away our dishes and leave us the bill:

Soda - $4.58 (@ 2.29 each)

Gold Fever Wings - 7.49

Fish/Chips - 8.99

Lunch Smothered Tips - 8.79

(minus) Appetizer - 7.49

Subtotal - $22.36

Tax - 1.12

TOTAL = $23.48

We left $28 for Tanya (including 20% tip) and headed to the ladies room. Although the ladies room can sometimes be a bit messy due to the high volume of people in and out, it was very clean on this visit.

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Mom and I left full, happy, and thrilled that our favorite chain delivered once again. We didn't spend a lot, had great service, and as the motto says, "We'll always come back for more."

Boston Market

www.bostonmarket.com

We've never had a Boston Market in this area, so I was excited to find out that one was moving in where my old favorite, China Royal, used to be. At first I wondered how well a restaurant like this would do in this area, with their main dishes being meatloaf, roast chicken, turkey, etc. I thought they might not do that well because that's the kind of stuff people around here make for dinner. Boy was I wrong! It seems to be doing spectacularly. The drive-thru is always mobbed, and inside seems pretty busy also. Of course, we had to try it. One night we got the Family Feast, which included two meatloafs, two large mashed potatoes, a large sweet potato casserole, cole slaw, and four corn muffins. They also had a special with the Family meal where you could get a whole roast chicken for $1.99, so we got that, too. We brought our feast home and found everything hot and delicious. We fell in love with the sweet potato casserole. Oh my God, I could have made a meal just with that. The chicken was moist and the meatloaf was nicely spiced and tasty. We actually had so much food that we ended up having meatloaf sandwiches the next day. All this food was around $30, which is fantastic for two days worth of eating. We'll definitely be ordering from here again.

Brigham's Ice Cream

www.brighams.com

It seemed that every time my friend Tim and I went to the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, MA, we found ourselves visiting Brigham's for lunch and/or ice cream. I've had delicious burgers, fries, and chicken salad sandwiches here. They always toast the bread and add the ever-wonderful pickle to your sandwich platter. Their location in the Braintree Mall looks a little outdated, and the service is quite slow for just ordering sandwiches or ice cream, but the food makes up for it. My mother used to go here when it was in the Harbour Mall in Fall River. She found the food good, but the service was slow. I remember going there with her and my sister before or after a movie, and we were always concerned about getting out in time to catch the show. We all raved about the ice cream, and I still do when I visit Brigham's. They really do know how to make a good sundae. Just speed it up!

Denny's

www.dennys.com

I haven't been to a Denny's ever since they left Fall River a few years back. I had been there a few times for both breakfast and lunch. I have to say I was very satisfied with the food. I remember getting a burger and fries for lunch, and found it to be quite tasty, but also remember thinking that it was a little expensive for a hamburger. They're lunches seemed to run a $1 or so more than most places for the same item, but still, it was good. I really liked their breakfast. I think they were a good price for what you got, because you got a really big portion, especially if you got one of their Grand Slams. I got a Grand Slam once when I went out to breakfast with my niece and it had two pancakes, two pieces of French toast, two pieces of bacon, two sausages, and two eggs for under $7. The best part was - it was delicious! Another time when I went with my niece and my two daughters, we had a good laugh about how the seats were a lot lower than the tables, so that when you sat down, you felt like a baby in a highchair. If this place were still around here, I think I'd pay them a visit. I miss that Grand Slam.

Bertucci's

www.bertuccis.com

Although the food was good, I wasn't overly impressed with Bertucci's. It reminded me of an Olive Garden, which I'm also not that impressed with (although the food is good). I've had pizzas and desserts from Bertucci's, and they've always been served hot and fresh. However, the taste is that of a heated up microwave meal. Tasty, but not super delicious. I would visit a Bertucci's again and give it another shot. Perhaps I would try one of their many pasta dishes, but as of right now, it's nothing to write home about.

Uno's

www.unos.com

I've only been to Uno's one time, but Laura has been twice. We went there after a trip to Southwick Wild Animal Park (which is a great place to visit). It was a warm day, and the A/C felt really good when we walked in, because we were hot and tired from walking around the zoo. The place was very pretty, neat, and clean. We were handed large menus, and started off with the appetizer sampler which included onion rings, buffalo wings, cheese sticks, chicken tenders, and fries. It was delicious. Then Laura and I shared a deep dish cheese pizza. We both thought it was very good. Nothing special, but still good. Since I've only visited once, and did enjoy the food, I look forward to going back there again. Laura enjoyed a cup of French onion soup on her second visit, and has heard good things from a friend of hers about their Rattlesnake Pasta. She can't wait to try it!