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."

Bristol Bagel Works

420 Hope St.
Bristol, RI 02809
(401) 254-1390

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This morning was actually my second trip to Bristol Bagel Works; the first one being yesterday afternoon. I arrived at BBW around 1 p.m. on Thursday after unsuccessfully locating the place because of some bogus directions found on the Internet. For anyone who thinks this place is right near a Dunkin Donuts - you're wrong! The Dunkin is a little farther down the street. This place is on the next block down and across from Leo's Ristorante. When I finally got inside, the place was nearly vacant. There were a few people sitting both outside and in, but the baskets of bagels were almost completely empty and they had no muffins left. The muffins came highly recommended, so I was really disappointed. I bought three bagels - cranberry walnut, blueberry, and cinnamon sugar - and it only cost me $1.94. That's pretty cheap compared to places like New York Bagel and Dunkin Donuts. Because I was so sad, I didn't even bother taking pictures. I chalked the empty bagel baskets and lack of muffins up to the fact that I arrived at 1 p.m., when the place closes at 2:30. If I were to get the full effect of this establishment, I needed to go in the morning. Early morning. I had a funny feeling it fills up pretty quickly during the morning rush.

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NOTE: I ended up eating the cranberry walnut bagel while I was stuck in traffic coming home over the Mount Hope Bridge. Delicious!

Round two began this morning at 8 a.m. I woke up, quickly dressed, headed down the road and over the Sakonnet and Mount Hope Bridges, and parked right in front of Bristol Bagel Works at a little after 8:30 a.m.

As you can see from the picture below, I was at the back of the line as soon as I walked in the door. Apparently everyone in Bristol comes here to have a quick nosh before dashing off to work. While waiting in line, I noticed the large menu board above the ordering counter. It displayed many morning favorites like coffee and muffins, along with their specialty bagels, spreads, and other pastry delights. I noticed an olive spread which I'm dying to go back and try, but I was really only here with one thing in mind - the mocha raspberry muffin. This muffin is legendary on the Internet, and I just had to have one.

The interior is very plain, but extremely clean. It is decorated with local brochures, photos, books, and magazines, all set up around the edges of the dining area. There are tables and chairs both inside and out, and food transport is easy in the provided red baskets (which are to be returned inside once you're done eating). There is also a juice cooler over to the left of the restaurant with various fruit drinks and bottled water. Everyone that was there, both the workers and patrons, seemed to know each other. This is definitely where you want to go to get the "local flavor" of Bristol at breakfast time.
The girl who waited on me yesterday was working this morning, along with another young girl and two older women. They were all very polite and had been striking up small talk with almost all of the customers. The woman I had when I finally got to the front counter (which didn't take that long since everyone seemed to be very organized) wished me good morning and asked me what I would like. There was a long tray of muffins sitting atop the bagel display case, and I asked her to name them all. She not only did what I asked, but she went into detail explaining the ones that I wasn't familiar with, like their "Morning Glory" muffin which is basically carrot cake shaped into a muffin, and the other oat and fruit varieties. She then came across one mocha raspberry muffin. Just one! I can't believe all the others had been purchased. I took the last mocha raspberry and a morning glory. I also asked for a cheddar and broccoli bagel, which is something I'd seen the sign for yesterday, but unfortunately there were none left at that time. She put the three items in a bag and rang me up. Only $3.46 for these delicious and unusual treats. I could not wait to bring these home to Mom.

When I got them home, I announced to Mom that I was only able to score one mocha raspberry muffin. It was then decided that we split both muffins in half so that we could try a piece of each one. Before I did that, I took the above picture of the two muffins and the blueberry, cinnamon sugar, and cheddar broccoli bagels (remember, the cranberry walnut one from yesterday never made it home, ha, ha).
I sliced the up the muffins and put them on plates. Then, we dug in. Exquisite!! We tried the morning glory muffin first. It was like a delicious carrot cake without that sometimes overpowering cream cheese frosting. It had pieces of carrot, walnuts, and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg that was out of this world. I didn't think it could get any better - until I tasted the mocha raspberry. By far one of the two most delicious muffins I'd ever tasted - the second being the already devoured morning glory. The muffin was moist and was filled with mocha chips with a delicate hint of raspberry. Mom, who is not a fan of both mocha chips and raspberries, was bowled over by the taste. She agreed that both muffins were supreme, and you could definitely tell that they weren't store bought. These were true homemade delicacies.
Considering how good everything was, I was quite surprised that everything was so inexpensive. Although you really have to get there early (they open at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays), it is worth it if you're in the area and are looking for a great morning treat. Bristol Bagel Works is open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Leo's Ristorante

365 Hope St.

Bristol, RI 02809

(401) 253-9300
www.leosristoranteri.com

Mom and I love to drive through Bristol and Warren, RI. On our trips, Mom often spots Leo's Ristorante and exclaims, "One day I'd like to visit that restaurant, sit on the sidewalk, and have a delicious lunch." Well today, she finally got her wish.

We headed over the Mount Hope Bridge and into Bristol. It was a gorgeous day - just perfect for an outdoor feast. Hope Street is a very busy main street, and I was quite pleased to find a parking space right across from the restaurant at around 2:20 p.m. There is no metered parking, but there is a two hour limit. However, we were quite certain that we would not be needing the full two hours to eat lunch.

Mom and I crossed the street and walked past several of the cloth-covered tables and into the restaurant. A sign outside read that if you wanted to be seated outdoors, you must go inside first and tell your server. As we stepped inside, we found that Leo's was a lot bigger than we thought it was. They have a large dining area off to the left, and a few scattered tables and chairs throughout the front room and even up a few stairs near the main entrance. A waitress came over and we asked to sit outdoors. She promptly grabbed two hearty-looking menus and walked us back outside, but not before I snapped this picture of the interior:

It looks like there is a huge sandwich board just above where the cashier stands. It's quite adorable. However, Mom and I had our minds made up on eating surrounded by the fresh afternoon air. The waitress first brought us to a table right by the main entrance, but I asked to be seated at the last table to the far left of the restaurant. It was quiet and cozy; I didn't want to be bothered with people going in and out of the restaurant. The waitress left the two thick green menus on the table while Mom and I took our seats. Both the tables and chairs were made of dark green plastic, and the cloth table covers were a dark cranberry. There was salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes sitting on the table, along with some sugar packets. A second waitress came over and asked us what we would like to drink. We both ordered Diet Cokes, and they promptly arrived in two sealed 20 oz. bottles along with glasses of ice topped with a lemon. Since Mom and I had already reviewed the on-line menu before visiting Leo's, we were able to give our order right away. Mom ordered the Tortellini Caesar Salad ($7.25) which is freshly made cheese-filled pasta served over romaine lettuce and crunchy croutons topped with parmesan cheese and Leo's own special Caesar dressing. She ordered it with chicken which made it $8.50. I ordered the Mediterranean Salad ($7.25) which consisted of mixed greens, olives, tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, walnuts, and feta cheese. Although I did not get it topped with chicken, you could for $8.50. Mom and I also split a personal classic (cheese) pizza for $4.50. We are both huge pizza fans and were looking forward to seeing how well Leo's can make a plain one. The waitress took our menus away, and only now as I write this did I notice that the menu online does not have the updated prices. Everything seemed to be 25 cents to $1 more in person than what is listed on the Internet.

Leo's has a lot of delicious meal choices. Appetizers range from a $3 small garlic bread to a $10.95 dish of littlenecks in garlic and oil. They have pizzas, soups, salads, wraps, paninis, sandwiches, entrees, pastas, and house specialties which include your choice of soup or salad. They have a dinner special for two which includes two entrees with a choice of soup or salad and a bottle of wine for $29.95. Catering services are also available, and I was surprised to read that Leo's Ristorante has been around since 1948. Who knew? All pastas are cooked to order, and although there is alcohol served indoors, it is prohibited to be served outside. Parties of eight or more will have an 18% gratuity fee added to their bill.

Our food came fairly quickly and everything looked amazing. We dug into the pizza first. Delicious!! The crust was thick and puffy with a crispy rim. The tomato sauce wasn't actually a sauce, it was crushed tomatoes, which made the pizza sweet versus acidic. The hot melted cheese did not overpower each individual slice. The taste was fresh and flavorful, and Mom noted that it was one of the nicer pizzas that she's had in a while.

Mom's salad was a hit. It was a great portion with lovely thin pieces of white meat chicken sitting atop of bed of Caesar salad and tossed with nice assortment of tri-colored tortellini. The chicken was tender and well done, the tortellinis added a extra flavor to the salad, and the dressing was nicely spiced and went well with the fresh greens. Mom said she would definitely order this again. Even the croutons were delicious!

My salad was also outstanding. I love nuts, and every time I order a salad that includes them, there are usually only about five or six scattered throughout the greens. Not this time. My salad was chock full of walnuts; I had one in every forkful. The greens and feta cheese were very fresh, and the olive assortment was fun and flavorful (black, green, and Greek). It was a great portion size, and the dressing that topped it was cool and tangy. A great summer mix of veggies on a wonderful summer day.

I finished my meal first, but Mom was still working on hers when the waitress came over to clear away my plate. She had come over once during the meal to ask how everything was, and we had only good things to report. Although my mother thought that she stared at us too much, it may have just been that she was having trouble seeing our eyes through our sunglasses, ha, ha. She took my plate away at around 2:50 p.m., but she didn't return until 3:11 p.m. to take my mother's plate and ask us if we wanted dessert. It wasn't too bad of a wait because it gave Mom and I plenty of time to decide where we wanted to see the new Harry Potter film. We declined dessert, and at 3:15 p.m. the waitress brought the bill:

Mediterranean - $7.25

Tortellini w/chicken - 8.50

Personal pizza - 4.50

2 Coke - 3.00

Subtotal - $23.25

RI7 - 1.63

RI1 - .23

TOTAL = $25.11

*I think the RI7 is Rhode Island 7% tax, but I don't know what the RI1 is.

I took the bill inside while Mom waited for me at the table. I left our waitress $30 (including 20% tip) and decided to use their restroom. They only have one unit, and the little sign on the outside green door informs users that it is a unisex bathroom. I knocked on the door and, since it was empty, I went inside. It is a very skinny room with a toilet at one end and a sink at the other. It was very clean. I quickly rejoined Mom and we noted that this was a great find and we look forward to coming back again. Although eating outdoors isn't for everyone, there was something about sitting on a main street surrounded by tourists, dog-walkers, and historic buildings that made our lunch at Leo's extra special.

***NOTE: I should mention that a friend of mine had a bad experience here involving a hair in his panini sandwich. Although he has not been back since, I look forward to my next visit. However, I'll keep my eye out if I ever order a sandwich.***

Barlow's Clam Shack

856 Scenic Highway

Bournedale, MA 02532

(508) 272-8749

www.barlowsclamshack.com

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After an unsuccessful trip to Dottie's Frozen Custard in Hyannis, which no longer existed, Mom and I were in the mood for something cold. Although there were plenty of ice cream places to visit along busy Main Street, parking was a mess, so we decided to head back to Route 6 West to visit one of the clam shacks overlooking the Cape Cod Canal. Surely one of them sold ice cream.

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Success!! As we were heading back toward Fall River, we came upon Barlow's Clam Shack at around 5:30 p.m. We saw an "ice cream" sign in front of the building and quickly turned right into the small parking lot. We spotted the outdoor order window on the side of the building and walked up to the front.

The girl who greeted us was very polite. She informed us of the various ice cream flavors they had, one of them being "lobster tracks." It is just like the familiar Moose Tracks ice cream, only instead of chocolate moose, there were red lobsters folded into vanilla ice cream. Barlow's also has things like banana splits, chocolate malts, peanut butter sundaes, frappes, and soft-serve vanilla, chocolate, and twist cones. Nothing was over $5, and Mom and I had a tough time deciding what we wanted. We finally settled on a small blueberry ice cream cup for me, and a small cup of coffee for Mom. The server served them up with lightening speed, and the price was only $5 (each scoop being $2.50).

We decided to sit in their picnic bench area, which was fenced off from the parking spots and extraordinarily clean. There were several white tables with big sun umbrellas to shade the patrons. The ice cream was delicious and was just what we were looking for on this warm New England afternoon.

We saw a few more cars pull into the parking lot. Some people were getting ice cream and some were going inside for a meal. Barlow's has a Website that lists their menu, and we look forward to going back to try some of the delicious seafood they offer. They also have a gift shop inside the restaurant. You can tell that this place has been around for many years and is a favorite among both the locals and the tourists. We loved it.

Trader Joe's

www.traderjoes.com

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Trader Joe's Grocery Store is one of our favorite stops when visiting Hyannis, MA. Although they have several locations, Mom and I have only visited this location nestled inside the Christmas Tree Shop plaza. It is always crowded with busy shoppers and tourists looking to find some eclectic and unusual organic and imported foods.

<When we first walked in at around 4 p.m., we were greeted with a large assortment of beautiful flowers and plants, some which we had never seen before. They all looked healthy and fresh. We then found ourselves in Trader Joe's large produce section. Everything was clean and bright, and all the colors of the produce stood out against the wood shelving.

Trader Joe's has a wide assortment of organic and imported items that you don't see in your everyday grocery store. The prices are very reasonable for these sort of foods, and one could really take advantage and do their weekly grocery shopping here. The store itself is not very big, but it does have a small selection of everything including meats, dairy, seafood, produce, frozen foods, and other grocery items. They have a large selection of bottled waters and a vitamin section with a lot of supplements and energy bars. Their frozen section has a lot of Asian entrees as well as some gourmet pizzas that Mom read were delicious. Our particular favorites have always been the chocolate croissants, and the white corn tortilla chips with the roasted garlic salsa. Free samples of various items are given away at a back counter. We often see people walking around the store with tiny cups of coffee or small snacks.

The checkout system here is different. You roll your cart up to where the cashier stands. He empties your items onto the checkout platform while ringing them up, and then takes your cart and pushes it to the end of the counter. Then he/she bags your order in these pretty paper reusable bags with very hearty handles. Mom loves these! We always end up coming out with a bag full. Here is a rundown of what we purchased yesterday:

Pirate's Booty - $1.69

Restaurant-style white chips - 1.69

Shortbread chocolate filled butter cookies - 3.99

Roasted garlic salsa - 1.99

TJ's chocolate croissants 3 pk - 2.99

TJ's chocolate croissants 3 pk - 2.99

Peanuts, raw/unsalted - 1.89

TOTAL = $17.23

You won't find prices like this at Stop & Shop. It was a great visit, as always, and we can't wait to go back. Nothing beats those chocolate croissants!

Sam Diego's Mexican Cookery

950 Iyanough Road
Route 132
Hyannis, MA 02601
(508) 771-8816

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51 Main St.
Plymouth, MA 02360
(508) 747-0048
www.samdiegos.com

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This is my favorite restaurant. Although I love Italian food, I adore Mexican and there is something about this place that makes me all giddy inside. It's right up there on Mom's list as well, and we always enjoy our trips here. We have visited both locations, but today we were in Hyannis and decided to stop in for a bite at about 3 p.m.

We walked up the large entrance ramp under the awning and went inside. The friendly hostess greeted us and took us to the main area and up two stairs to a table overlooking the sunken dining room. She left two pleather-covered menus on the table, along with a laminated list of Sam Diego's lunch specials. Since Mom and I had been here several times before, and had gazed at the on-line menu before we left the house, we already knew what we wanted.

A waitress, Kayleen, came over and asked what we wanted to drink. Mom and I have had several alcoholic delicacies here, but today we just wanted two Diet Pepsis. She quickly returned with the two drinks in plastics glasses and an order of their signature tortilla chips and salsa. She then asked us if we had decided on our order, and we had. Mom ordered the Chicken Caesar Se-Wrappe' ($6.99) which is sliced marinated grilled chicken breast tossed with Sam's Caesar salad, then rolled into a large spinach flavored tortilla. It is served with Sam's fries. I ordered the Pollo Pineapple Quesadilla ($7.50), which is sliced marinated grilled chicken breast, golden pineapple, and diced sweet red pepper baked together in a folded flour tortilla with pepper jack cheese and served with sour cream. As Kayleen took our menus away, I stuffed my face with chips and started checking out the interior.

There is color EVERYWHERE. From the plastic tablecloths to the chandeliers, everything here is in a Southwestern theme. There is an outside dining area in the back, and several different dining rooms housed inside. Large sculptures of a sun, a lizard, and a fish overlook the main dining area and are found hanging against terra cotta colored walls. Mexican movie posters and strings of white lights hang over the tables, which are oddly too low for the chairs they have. Mom and I often feel like we've grown several inches when we eat here. It's not uncomfortable, it just feels ... off. We've never sat in a booth before, but there is a large mix of both booths and tables. I also like how the waitresses are allowed to wear tank-tops and shorts as their uniforms. It probably gets pretty warm for them with all the running around, and it must be a nice change for them to wear something a little cooler, all bearing the Sam Diego's logo. There are a few huge Tiki Bars toward the back of the restaurant which are probably packed on weekends. I was disappointed that my picture came out as blurry as it did.

We did not wait long for our food to arrive. Kayleen brought the dishes over on ceramic plates with wicker chargers underneath so that we could easily move the plates around the table. I was so focused on chowing down that I almost forgot to take pictures!

Just imagine this picture with all the sour cream, tomatoes, and lettuce pushed over to the side. Then you'll know how my plate really looked before I started digging in. The quesadilla was just a little bit crispy and housed the juicy chicken, pineapples, and cheese. The pineapples were extremely hot, but the sour cream that I topped it with cooled them right down. I think I literally ate this in about ten minutes. It was that delicious.

Mom had never had a spinach wrap before, and she was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The wrap was fresh and soft, the chicken was very well done, and the greens were fresh and crisp. Mom mentioned that the fries were very good, and I can also vouch for this because I stole a few. Getting something like this was a big step for Mom because she is generally not a very adventurous eater. She loved every bit and said that she would definitely get it again.

We usually get an appetizer, but we wanted to keep it light today so we did without. However, if you're looking for a delicious beginner, we highly recommend the Poppin In Buffalo Combo ($7.85) which features two of my favorites - boneless buffalo chicken tenders and red jalapeno poppers served with bleu cheese dressing and chipotle sour cream. For entrees, Mom has had just about every version of the barbecued pulled pork there is on the menu (quesadilla - $10.89; burrito - $11.25; sandwich - $7.79). I love the Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla ($9.65) with fresh mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, mild green chilies, monterey jack and cheddar cheeses. I always add the jalapeno cream cheese which makes it $9.99. Everything here is so delicious, you really can't go wrong.

The waitress brought our bill and cleared our plates. Not bad at all!

2 sodas - $3.98

1 Caesar wrap - 6.99

1 Chx pine quesadilla - $7.50

Food - $14.49

Non-alcoholic beverage total - 3.98

Tax - .92

TOTAL = $19.39

We left $24 (including 20% tip) and Kayleen wished us well. We stopped by the ladies' room on our way out, which has always been very clean and did not let us down this time around. Even the bathroom is adorably decorated. I just love this place!

As we left (and passed a huge parrot statue), I noticed that the sign outside mentioned the Sam Diego's taco bar. They have a buffet-style setup where you can make your tacos, have some chili and soup, and the best part is - it's all-you-can-eat. I didn't catch the price, but I did notice that the buffet is only served on weekdays before dinnertime. This place just keeps getting better. Also, we were in and out in just under an hour (we left around 3:55 p.m.). I'm highly looking forward to my next visit, and so is Mom. I think she's going to walk on the wild side and order some chicken fajitas. Stay tuned!

Assonet Inn

16 Water St.

Assonet, MA 02702
(508) 644-2777

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This place was recommended by my cousin, who spoke of the big portions she gets and the low prices she pays when she dines here. After hearing this, of course, Mom and I had to try it.

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After Mom came out of a confusing meeting at her job, we headed up to Assonet. We had printed out directions from MapQuest, and lo and behold, they were actually accurate. Sometimes you really can't trust MapQuest, but this place was very easy to find. It is located off the main road in Assonet in a deeply wooded, very beautiful, area. When we first pulled up upon the place, we thought it was an old Victorian home. We then spotted the wooden "Assonet Inn" sign and quickly pulled into a side parking lot. The door for the restaurant is located back here, along with a medium-sized parking lot. We parked against the wall and proceeded to go inside via the three-step stone staircase at around 6:45 p.m.

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side

entrance

When we walked in, we found that we were standing in the bar area. An older gentleman spotted us looking confused and asked if he could help us. Mom requested a table for two, and the gentleman led us into a beautiful dining room. We were seated across from an old fireplace and a huge jukebox in what seemed like wooden church pews with padded seats. The tables were floating so that we could move them any way we wanted to as we snuck into our booth. A blonde waitress, who was very polite - yet very busy, took our drink orders and placed two laminated paper menus on our table. Mom and I both ordered Diet Pepsi ($1.50 per bottomless glass).

We looked over the menu. I honestly don't remember seeing one item over $10. They did have some specials handwritten on a board toward the front of the dining room that could have exceeded that amount, but I really didn't check them out. The Assonet Inn has appetizers ranging from a stuffed quahog ($2.50) to a plate of steamed little necks ($7.50). For entrees they have a selection of pizzas, barbecued pork, chicken, fish and chips, sandwiches, and a list of specials that include a meat pie for $4.75, and boneless fried chicken for $8.50. Liquor is also served here, and their list is both on the back of the menu and on a stand on the table itself. On the opposite side of the stand is a list of the appetizers and their prices (which I thought was a nice touch). They also have quite a few desserts listed on the menu in case you are looking for a sweet treat after dinner. It is also clearly stated on the menu that credit cards are NOT accepted, so please make sure to bring cash, even though you won't need much of it.

When the waitress arrived with our drinks, Mom and I placed our order. She decided on the spaghetti and meatballs ($6.50), and I chose the broiled scrod ($7.50) with carrots and French fries. The waitress left our table, but quickly returned with two warm snowflake rolls and two pats of butter on a small paper plate. They were quite delicious! It may have been at this point that we noticed our Diet Pepsis had a bit of an aftertaste. It could have been that they were just flat, but nonetheless, it tasted a little off. As we nibbled on our rolls, we gazed around the dining room. Everything was made of wood. The tables, the benches, the floor, the walls, the fireplace - it was very rustic. Although the place isn't fancy, it is very dark, quiet, and peaceful - all the makings of a pleasant dining experience. There are no tablecloths on the table, but they do have the paper place mats that feature local area businesses. Ketchup and malt vinegar are also found on the table. The dining room was decorated with ceiling fans, floral drapes, and hanging plants, all to make it seem like you're dining in a family home rather than in a restaurant. Mom and I would have loved to get a peek at the rooms of the Inn.

Our food did not take that long to arrive. It was brought to us by the gentleman from the bar that led us into the dining room. Apparently our waitress was the only one on staff that night, and the restaurant was quite busy. Everything looked great. I could see the steam rising from Mom's spaghetti and meatballs as he was setting the plate down in front of her. The portion was just right. The sauce was thick and hearty, and the meatballs were very meaty (not breaded) and delicious.

My scrod was outstanding. It seemed to have a lemon pepper topping to it, but that made it all the more tasty. My fries were extremely hot and needed time to cool, but my carrots were just hot enough to eat right away. The scrod was flaky, buttery, and perfectly cooked. It was also an excellent portion.

As Mom and I were finishing up our meals, I remembered the pecan pie from the dessert menu. We don't usually have dessert with our meals, but since everything was priced so well, we decided to splurge. The waitress returned and asked if we wanted dessert and we asked her to list what was offered. Along with the pecan pie, there were a few different types of cheesecakes, and other delicacies. I chose the pecan pie with a scoop of ice cream ($2.75) and Mom chose the plain cheesecake ($2.75). The desserts quickly arrived, and both looked amazing. Mom's cheesecake was cool and creamy with a nice graham cracker crust, while my pecan pie was warm, sweet, and chock full of pecans. The ice cream scoop gave an extra burst of flavor with each bite.

When the bill arrived, we were both pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive everything was. The bill totaled $23.30. Here is a quick rundown:

Spaghetti - $6.50

Scrod - $7.50

Pecan pie - $2.75

Cheesecake - $2.75

Sodas - $3.00

Subtotal - $22.20

Tax - $1.10

TOTAL = $23.30

Mom left $28 for the waitress (including 20% tip) as she thanked us for stopping in. Before we left, Mom and I decided to visit the ladies' room. It is found in the Inn's second dining room, which I didn't even know existed! We walked through a large wooden door and into a separate room.
This dining room looked just like the one we had, only a little larger. We spotted the ladies' room and went inside. It was very clean, and very colonial. The stall was behind a wooden wall. There was a large curtained window inside with a long mirrored shelf for primping and storing items while you used the facilities. Adorable. All in all, we were definitely very pleased with everything the Assonet Inn had to offer. As we walked back to my car at around 7:30 p.m., we vowed to return again to try some of their pizzas and boneless fried chicken.

Roger's Spa & Restaurant

1229 Wilbur Ave.

Somerset, MA 02725

(508) 678-0201

www.rogersspa.com

Roger's is one of those restaurants that Mom and I always said we were going to go to, but never did. However, after some arguing in the car about where we wanted to go for dinner, Mom mentioned Roger's and thus decided our fate. We had just come from seeing the movie Sicko, and were in the mood for some Italian (I don't know how the two connect, but the movie was fantastic, and so is Italian food).

Now, I know Roger's as Roger's Food & Spirits, but my parents, and the phone book, say that the name of this place is actually Roger's Spa & Restaurant. Nonetheless, we located it right on Route 103 in Somerset (if you're going toward Somerset from Fall River, take Exit 4B off I-195W). I pulled into the tight parking lot just under the huge green Roger's sign at just around 6:30 p.m.

The parking lot I pulled in to was their side lot, because when we got out of the car, the door that we thought was the front actually directed us around to the other side of the building.

We walked in and took a right into the dining room. A nearby waitress told us to seat ourselves, which my mother absolutely loves. We chose a table overlooking Route 103 and my Kia. The same waitress brought over two pleather-encased plastic menus with a copied list of handwritten specials for the day. We were only there for about a minute when a different waitress, an older woman, came over to ask us what we wanted to drink. Mom and I both chose Diet Cokes, and they quickly arrived to our table in cans, accompanied by plastic glasses with ice. Mom loves this because you can refill your soda on your own without having to flag someone down. We filled our ice glasses with Coke and starting devouring the menu. Everything had a delicious description, and there is quite a selection here. They serve Portuguese, chicken, beef, seafood, pasta, and, would you believe, Chinese dishes. You can get a small salad or cup of soup for an extra $1.95. Their appetizer list ranges from garlic bread ($1.95) to an appetizer sampler ($8.95). They have a selection of sandwiches on the back of the menu, but I was undecided between the chicken, broccoli & ziti alfredo ($9.95), or their baked stuffed scrod ($12.95), which also happens to be their house special. The scrod is lightly breaded and stuffed with lobster meat and a creamy seafood stuffing. Mom was undecided between the Fall River style chow mein ($8.95) served with a side of fish or chicken, or the Italian style meatloaf ($9.95). It is very unusual to find a regular restaurant that serves the enigma that is Fall River style chow mein. A lot of people that I know from different towns have no idea what Fall River style chow mein is (chow mein noodles and brown sauce). It baffles my mind, but alas, I'm still friends with these people.

Our waitress came back and we gave our order. Mom chose the Italian style meatloaf and I went with the chicken, broccoli & ziti alfredo. She took the menus away and soon after brought us a bread basket with two small pieces of Italian bread with butter packets. While we buttered our bread, I decided to make some quick notes about the interior of Roger's.

The color scheme is a dark green with a light wood trim all around, kind of like an Irish pub. There are three booths in the dining room, but several areas with tables and chairs. Big glass windows surround two complete walls of the dining room, and this gives the restaurant a friendly glow, especially on a beautiful day like today. It's not a fancy restaurant. There are no tablecloths on the tables, and there were ketchup and vinegar bottles already on the tables when we arrived. The place mats are the paper kind that feature local area businesses, and the curtains atop the windows are set off by a string of white lights that must look adorable when the sun goes down. Keno is shown on a big TV in the dining room, which hangs above a wooden cabinet topped with a huge swan statue. It definitely adds to the local charm of this place. Mom and I loved it.

When our food arrived, we realized that we hadn't been waiting that long. There was steam rising from both of the delicious-looking presentations:

Mom's meatloaf was served with a piece of garlic bread. Her meatloaf was served as a long, flat patty, rather than a big chunk of meat. Mom said that it definitely made a difference because sometimes a thick piece of meatloaf gets crispier on the ends than it does in the middle. Doing it as a flat patty allowed all the pieces to be cooked uniformly, and each bite was perfectly spiced and well-done. Mom selected ziti for her pasta (she had a choice between ziti and linguine) and it was served al dente. The meatloaf was topped with a layer of melted mozzarella cheese, and both the meatloaf and the ziti were topped with a marinara sauce. Mom said it was not too spicy, and really delicious. Mom noted that the piece of meatloaf was rather large (she compared it to a 3x5" picture frame), and her portion was quite a value for the money.

My chicken, broccoli & ziti alfredo was superb. The ziti was a good texture (not too firm; not too limp) and the alfredo sauce was creamy and tangy. The chicken was extremely well cooked, and the broccoli florets were chopped and baked in the sauce. I hate when the broccoli pieces are just thrown on at the end. Everything was just so hot and fresh. My meal was also served with a piece of garlic bread, and I also found the portion very substantial and was sad to leave some of my ziti behind. I was just too stuffed! The waitress, during our meal, had come over and asked how we were doing. We both exclaimed, "Delicious!" I hope she knows that we were talking about the food.

After our meal, the waitress reappeared to take away our dishes. She asked if we wanted dessert, but our stomachs were rejecting that offer. She left the bill, and here is a quick rundown:

Dinner - 9.95

Dinner - 9.95

Sodas - 3.00

Tax - 1.15

TOTAL - $24.05

I left $28.85 (with 20% tip), but not before I took a trip to the ladies' room. When I got to the ladies' room door, I noticed that - surprise - there was a huge bar off to the side! I knew there was a bar in there somewhere, but I hadn't figured out where it might have been. It looked pretty nice in there, and from the outside sign, I learned that the bar has the full menu available, and it even has karaoke on Saturday nights after 9 p.m. After my initial, "Wow, there's another room back there," shock wore off, I entered the ladies' room. It's your basic toilet and sink, but I have to mention that it was very clean. It looked like a bathroom at a friend's house, rather than a dinky restaurant stall. I washed my hands, and went back to the restaurant table to get Mom. She informed me that she thought we have to pay at the cashier on the way out. We often just leave the bill with the cash on the table. I brought over our bill and money and told her that it was "all set." I noticed a candy counter under the cash register, which was odd to me. We could see the kitchen in the back, and it seems that they do a lot of business. Although we did not score a take-out menu (I don't think they have one), we did leave feeling very happy and satisfied, and it was only 7:30 p.m. We can't wait to go back for that chow mein and baked scrod.