Starbucks

www.starbucks.com

What can I say about Starbucks? Their coffee is too strong, their prices are too high, and you need a cheat sheet just to order a beverage. However, their Frappuccinos are outstanding! Since Mom and I had recently fallen love with one of their newest items, the Blueberries & Creme Frappccino (with Blended Creme), we decided to stop by the Commerce Way location in Seekonk, MA, at around 6 p.m. to get another taste of this fruity delight.


I've been to this Starbucks a few times because it's the closest one to Fall River (I believe there might be one in the Dartmouth Mall, but I haven't been there in a while). To get the full effect for this review, I decided to skip the drive-thru and go inside. I parked in the tiny lot, and went inside the even-tinier building.

When I got inside, it was just as I remembered. The design is very modern to make the place look like the trendy coffee houses in Boston and New York, even though Starbucks is a very large chain. The interior was extraordinarily clean. To the right of the entrance is a large seating area, and down at the far end of the building is the ordering counter. Of course, this is where all the action was today. Although Starbucks is usually crammed with artsy college kids talking about the symbolism in paintings, it was pretty empty ... except for "the family."

This family consisted of a grandfather, a mother, a father, and about five small children. As I waited patiently in line to place my order, I noticed that the parents were letting each precocious child order a coffee drink (yes, coffee drink) and then correcting the order once it had left the child's lips. The oldest girl was about seven, and she ordered a large (vente) coffee Frappuccino. Once the poor waitress started making it, the father changed the order to a small (tall) decaf Frappuccino. The waitress, looking drained, stopped what she was doing and started to work on the "revised" order. This happened when each child stepped up to the counter. Parents, if you're reading this, please note the following: 1) Don't let your child drink coffee; 2) If you see people waiting in line, don't let your pompous kids place the order; 3) Perhaps you should have some sort of a game plan as to who goes to the order counter so there isn't a group of eight hogging one cash register while everyone else has to stand there like cattle waiting for the slaughter.


While I was standing there boiling with hate over this group of idiots, I started looking over the menu at Starbucks. Aside from their famous coffee blends (which I find too strong), they have lattes, frozen Frappuccinos, espressos, teas, and classic favorites like white hot chocolate and hot vanilla cremes (a winter favorite of ours). Mom and I, through a suggestion from my friend, Scott, previously tried the White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino and loved it! It was almost like a dessert rather than a drink. I've also had their Banana Frappuccino (I'm not sure if this is still available) and it was to die for. With a strong banana flavor, this drink was cool, creamy, and just what I needed after a long day of errands. As for food, Starbucks offers brownies, cookies, bars, coffee cakes, a few doughnuts and bagels, muffins, croissants, and seasonal treats like pumpkin loaf and the maple nut oat scone. I read somewhere that they started serving breakfast sandwiches, but I hadn't noticed this option while I was reading the menu inside. They also have a juice area that includes waters and tea drinks, and mostly all their coffees and Frappuccinos can be made "light," which will save on calories if you're watching your figure.

Since my figure wasn't a factor when I was eating that entire pizza at Riccardi's, I decided to order the regular blended creme Frappuccino ... that is, if I could ever get to the counter. While these arrogant people agonized over the difference between tall (small), grande (medium), and vente (large), I peered over at the helpless waitstaff as they were trapped behind the counter. Did you ever notice that every Starbucks hires an ecclectic group of people? There's almost always the tall, slim, surfer-type guy who wears hemp braclets and ties his long, blonde hair back with a bandana. There's also the heavyset, cynical girl with black hair and the Buddy Holly glasses, the metrosexual guy who weighs just over 110 lbs., and the requistie bimbo that is so busy flirting with the surfer guy that she's forgotten what you ordered ... again. Either way, I had enough of standing around and went to my car. Mom was sad when she noticed that I had not yet gotten the blueberry drinks, but I told her that I would go through the drive-thru because I thought that it would be quicker. I was right! I ordered my drinks, and got them in about three to four minutes. The total came to $9.03 for the two grande Frappuccinos ($4.30 each plus tax), and they were just as good as I remembered. The blueberry taste is not bitter at all as it's mixed with the blended creme. We ordered it without whipped cream, but you could always add that on for something extra.


I really do enjoy Starbucks, but the customers, and sometimes the waitstaff, leave a lot to be desired. I'm the "just give me my coffee and get me out of here" kind of person, and I believe that the Starbucks way of life is to hang out for hours just talking about yourself and how much the coffee reminds you of the time you went backpacking through Europe. If it weren't for the Frappuccinos, I think I'd just be heading to Dunkin Donuts.

Riccardi's Italian Restaurant

38 Sconticut Neck Road

Fairhaven, MA 02719

(508) 996-4100

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901 Hathaway Road

New Bedford, MA 02740

(508) 991-4200
www.riccardis.com

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Mom and I have been to both Riccardi's locations. The original building is located on Hathaway Road in New Bedford, and is a bit on the small side for the amount of business they do. However, the size is quickly overlooked when you get a taste of their fantastic food. Thinking that this was the only location, I was very excited when a friend of mine told me that there was an even larger Riccardi's on Sconticut Neck Road in Fairhaven. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal on our first visit to this establishment, and we were happy to be having lunch here again at around 3 p.m. today.

This Riccardi's location is in a pretty popular area of Fairhaven, yet on this visit there weren't many cars in the parking lot. I got a spot right by the entrance and proceeded to go inside. Mom and I walked through the take-out area (where the entrance door opens to) and took a left into the dining room. A friendly waitress told us that we could sit wherever we'd like. Mom and I decided to take a back booth that was up one step and against a beautiful window. Our waitress, Kerry, quickly appeared with two large, colorful menus and took our drink order. Mom and I both ordered Diet Pepsis and proceeded to browse through the delicious selections.

Riccardi's has a very large menu, and everything that Mom and I have ever ordered from here has been delicious. By far, my favorite is the antipasto. The individual size of this salad ($5.95) will definitely be enough for one person - maybe even two. It is loaded with fresh meats, greens, and topped with a load of mozzarella cheese. Accompanied by oil and vinegar, this salad really is one of the best around. Riccardi's also does a lot of business in the pizza and sub department, especially with those customers ordering take-out. Their subs range from a small meatball for $2.95 to a chicken Parmesan for $6.95. For the pizzas, Riccardi's offers a variety of toppings along with a few gourmet choices ($8.95) like the Taco Grande, Garden Alfredo, Pesto Chicken, and Southwestern Tex-Mex. They also have a guilt-free pizza featuring low fat cheese, broccoli, onions, and mushrooms ($7.95). The Italian dishes, or Pastabilities as they call them, are quite mouth-watering. From the Baked Ziti en Casserole ($6.95) to the Fettuccine Alfredo ($9.45), everything is made fresh and is served piping hot. Riccardi's also has something called Sicilian Room Specialities, which feature some of the pricier dishes like the Charbroiled Sirloin Steak ($13.95) and the Shrimp Scampi with Pasta ($10.95). They have an extensive wine list and feature a special called the Sicilian Feast for Two. This feast consists of an antipasto, followed by a generous platter of lasagna and your choice of spaghetti or ziti, smothered with meat sauce. Included is a side order of two meatballs and two Italian sausages, and a half carafe of house wine or two drafts of beer - all for $23.95. Riccardi's has a children's menu and a separate menu on the table that boasts their specialty drinks and desserts. They have a large catering business, and for the dine-in customers, lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Mom and I had quite a decision to make!

Kerry came back with our drinks and a basket of delicious bread and butter. Mom decided on the Cheese Filled Ravioli with Meat Sauce ($7.95), while I chose the Southwestern Tex-Mex Pizza ($8.95), which consists of spicy BBQ sauce, chicken, cheese, sliced red onions, and green and hot peppers. As Kerry left our table, Mom and I dove into the Vienna loaf. It was fabulous. While we were waiting, I took some notes on the pretty interior of the restaurant.

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I think the first thing that I noticed was the floral carpeting. It is everywhere - even on the small stair leading up to the raised platform where Mom and I were sitting. With both booths and chairs, there are plenty of places to sit comfortably here without being cramped like Riccardi's New Bedford location. The dining room is decorated with dark woods, hanging plants, and Italian plaques and paintings. There is a small bar at the front of the dining area with a television set, and large windows on the two walls where the booths were set up. Everything was clean and organized, and the waitresses seemed to be very attentive to the few customers that were seated.

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We didn't wait long for our food to arrive. While Kerry was bringing our plates over to the table, Mom and I could already smell the banana peppers from my pizza. When she placed the dishes down, both meals looked fantastic. Mom said that her ravioli was perfect. They were nice and plump, filled with ricotta, and the sauce had a spicy/sweet mixture. She was also glad to see that there were about a dozen raviolis (she ordered the dinner portion). She exclaimed that she would definitely order this dish again.

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My pizza was spicy! My skin was pink and shiny as it gets that way when I eat spicy food, and I scarfed down all but two pieces of this delicious pie. The cheese and veggies were fresh, the sauce was tangy, and the crust was just crispy enough to hold the heavy toppings and still be tasty. The banana peppers really gave the pizza an extra kick, and it really made this concoction extra special.

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Kerry reappeared to clear away our plates and bring the check. While I recuperated by drinking an extra soda that was brought over to me (free refills), Mom read the bill:

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2 soda - $2.90

1 ravioli - 7.95

1 Southwest tex - 8.95

Subtotal - $19.80

Tax - .99

TOTAL = $20.79

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We left $26 for Kerry on the table (with 20% tip included), and before we left, Mom and I paid a visit to the ladies' room. It was decorated in the same dark wood/Italian design, and was very clean in both the sink and stall area. On our way out, I managed to get a take home menu from one of the waitresses, and noticed that Riccardi's was voted the Southcoast's "Best Italian Restaurant" and "Best Pizza" since 2003. Both Mom and I definitely agree that Riccardi's has some of the best Italian food in our immediate area. The food is quite a step up from the supposed "authentic" tasting food at Olive Garden, and the antipasto is definitely a showstopper. With the holidays coming up, you should definitely take advantage of some of their take-out platters (as Mom and I did one holiday season). You won't be disappointed.

Billy Boy Candies

732 Mount Pleasant St.

New Bedford, MA 02745

(508) 995-4556
www.billyboycandiesinc.com

Mom and I are both in love with Billy Boy Candies. Although I had worked right next door to this place for almost two years, I only just went inside this past spring. Boy, was I surprised at their vast and unique selection of modern and nostalgic candies and treats. Mom always tells me that she feels like she's stepping into a time machine headed back to her childhood days.

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Billy's is not much to look at. Although it does have quite a large parking lot, the exterior is very average. However, once you step through the small door, you are greeted by a colorful world of lollipops, homemade chocolates, stuffed animals, and rows and rows of candy.


I'd love to come here before a movie to stock up on treats. There is just so much to choose from, and everything is quite inexpensive. You can buy candy in bulk or in smaller individual packages. I was surprised to see that there were items at Billy's that are usually hard to find like Chunky bars, Vanilla Tootsie Rolls (a personal favorite), and Airheads. Billy Boy has rows of regular candy bars and exclusive choices like the Cookies 'n' Creme Hershey Bar and the Peanut Butter Twix. They also have bags of old favorites like Mary Janes, Squirrel Nuts, Chocolate Babies, Nonpareils, Sour Patch Kids, Boston Baked Beans, Mint Juleps, Maple Nuts, Red Hot Dollars, Black Crows, and much more! There are mints, licorice sticks, rock candy, penny candy, chocolate coins, candy cigarettes, Fun Dip, Lemonheads (and other flavors of "Heads"), chocolate covered cherries, and hundreds of different types of gum. Unusual to this type of candy warehouse, Billy Boy has a large counter at the front of the store filled with homemade goods like fudge, kisses, and nut-filled turtles. On our first few visits, Mom and I ordered white chocolate kisses and a white chocolate caramel cashew turtle. Both were out of this world. The chocolate was creamy, smooth, and not overly sweet. It was heavenly!


On this visit, Mom and I decided to pick up some usual favorites along with a few things that Mom used to have as a kid, but I had never tried. We bought smooth and melty mints (a pastel nonpareil with a creamy mint taste), Ice Cubes (my father's favorite), Airheads (my sister's favorite), Mint Juleps (a mint-flavored square taffy), and Marshmallow Ice Cream Cones, which were absolutely delicious and looked just like a mini-replica of a real cone.


Billy's is kept very neat and clean, and the staff is very polite. The place is usually packed, but luckily for us there were only a few scattered customers during our visit, which was at around 2 p.m. The ready-made packages that the staff create are beautiful, and they've really taken the time to make a plain store interior into something that's quite attractive. Mom and I took our goodies up to the front counter to pay for them. While we were there, we saw these homemade "Deviled Eggs," which were actually white chocolates made into the shape of deviled eggs. They looked so real! Here is a rundown of our receipt:

$2.99 - smooth & melty mints

4.78 - Ice Cubes (2 @ 2.39 ea.)

1.30 - Ice Cream Cones (2 @ .65 ea.)

1.99 - Mint Julep

1.49 - Airheads

Subtotal - $12.55

Tax - 0.00

TOTAL = $12.55

For a big bag of candy, that wasn't much. Mom and I bid farewell to the cashier and walked to the car. During our Saturday outing, we periodically reached into our goody bag to munch on an Ice Cream cone or a Mint Julep. Everything was delicious, and we can't wait to go back for more. Billy Boy Candies is a fantastic place to stock up on all your holiday and everyday treats, and to reacquaint yourself with some of your edible childhood favorites.

Ma's Donut & Coffee Shop

1972 Acushnet Ave.

New Bedford, MA 02745

(508) 995-5521

I heard about Ma's Donuts from a friend who told me that he used to wake up early just to arrive at Ma's for 6 a.m. when the doors opened. He raved about their glazed donuts, and told me that they are bigger and better than the Krispy Kreme version. I just had to see this for myself, and let me tell you, he was right. I've been back a few times since then.

On my first visit, since I am not quite familiar with New Bedford, I brought along some directions from MapQuest. Luckily for me, the directions proved correct as I found the place right away. On today's visit, I was able to score a spot in the tight parking lot that is overshadowed by a painted sign. To say that you missed seeing this sign would mean that you need to change the prescription in your glasses, because you can't miss it:

Ma's Donuts is also a small coffee shop, hence the official title of Ma's Donuts & Coffee Shop. The parking lot is quite tiny (there is street parking as well), but it matches well with small brick building. However, once inside, you'll find that there are quite a few seats in the diner area (both booths and counter service). The bakery counter is just to your left as you walk through both sets of doors and into the restaurant.

When I arrived at around 7 a.m., there was already a line of people waiting to get at those delicious donuts. There were a few scattered diner patrons, but all the action was at the the bakery counter. There were three women working this morning, and all were extremely busy. When I finally got to the counter, I was able to place my order - six double chocolate and six plain glazed donuts. While the younger girl started packing up the circular delights, I noticed that Ma's had a variety of filled favorites like apple, blueberry, lemon, and Boston creme. There was also a variety of muffins, coffee rolls, squares, and other baked goods. I also noted that everything was pretty well stocked, as I've been here on other occasions and basically everything was gone. The reason for this was probably because on my first few visits I stopped at Ma's after the morning rush, and I do believe that Ma's is only open until around 2 p.m. By then, all the glazed donuts had long been digested.

The friendly waitress then gave me my total - $5.48 (or $5.49 - it was early, and my mind was clouded with the allure of donuts). She handed me two large boxes and wished me well. I briskly walked to my car, got in, and headed for home. The smell of the icing was just too much for me, and I ended up devouring one of the double chocolate donuts at a red light. I found it to be very good. A little crispy for my taste, but still delicious. The icing wasn't sweet at all and the donut didn't feel like it was made of lead. After a safe trip back to Fall River, I raced upstairs with the two boxes of goodies. Mom dug in and chose a plain glazed. She thought it was heavenly. Again, this donut is not sweet, yet it is covered in icing. I'm not sure how that is even possible, but the donut remains light and fluffy and has that classic glazed taste. Like I said before, my friend was right - the Ma's glazed is bigger and better than Krispy Kreme's! Ma's Donuts have been consistently good each time we were lucky enough to get some.

Although it's a little crazy for this Fall Riverite to wake up at 6 a.m., put shoes on, and drive all the way to New Bedford just for a glazed donut, there is a method to my madness. These donuts are absolutely worth it. They're inexpensive, you get a great portion for your money, and the taste is out of this world. I'd like to try breakfast at their diner someday, and I know that I'll definitely be taking a few glazed donuts home ... if they can survive the car ride.

Highland Pizza

797 Robeson St.
Fall River, MA 02720
(508) 675-0591

I had my first taste of Highland Pizza while my sister and I were on a babysitting gig for a cousin. We both fell in love with its crispy crust and the thick, but not stringy, cheese topping. Unfortunately, this place does not deliver, and since laziness runs high in my household, we usually skip over Highland when we're looking for a pizza fix. However, on this day, Mom and I were ready to familiarize ourselves with the taste of this spectacular pie.

Highland Pizza isn't much to look at. In fact, it would be easy to miss were it not for their lighted "Highland Pizza" sign. It's built into a long apartment-esque white building, and I believe they have a shared parking lot a few doors down from the entrance. However, I almost never park in the lot; I always opt for the street parking, which can get pretty cramped as Highland Pizza is on the side of a laundromat and right across the street from a small shopping plaza with a Dunkin' Donuts inside. We Fall Riverites really love our Dunkin', and we'll do just about anything, including double park, to get a sip of that coffee.

Once you step foot through the door, aside from the weird rug with those annoying grooves that make you wiggle when you walk, you will see that Highland is your typical pizza and sub shop. There are orange booths along the back wall and in the middle of the restaurant, and everything is kept very clean by the busy waitstaff. They do a huge take-out business, and when you call to place your order, they give you a pickup number. Today, I was number 98 as Mom had called in an order for a large extra cheese pizza. Although the woman on the phone thought that my mother had said "an extra-large cheese pizza," Mom corrected her and we both hoped that the order was going to be right. The woman on the phone said that the pizza would be ready in 20 minutes.

Cut to thirty minutes later (at 2:30 p.m.), and I was just arriving at Highland after having waited in line to pick up my parking permit for The Great Holy Ghost Feast, which is held right across the street from where I live. I was a bit flustered because I thought that the pizza was going to be cold, but I was happy to see that the pizza had been waiting for me on top of the oven, which kept the pie nice and hot. I gave my pickup number and the cashier told me that the total would be $9.71:

Large pizza - $7.50

Large x-cheese - $1.75

Tax total - $.46

TOTAL = $9.71

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I gave her a $10, took the change (I didn't see a tip jar), and went on my way. I also managed to score a small take-out menu from the cashier. On my way out, I noticed that there were a few people eating inside, and they looked very happy with their lunch choices. When I got the pizza home, Mom and I wasted no time in diving right in.

The pizza looked picture perfect, and tasted just as fabulous. The cheese was just baked enough where it had that crispy texture which helped in holding the extra cheese topping that we had added on. The crust was crunchy and tasty, and the slices were still piping hot, despite my picking it up late. By the consistency of pie, you could tell that this pizza was made with real cheese, and not the fake cheese that gets long and stringy when you try and separate the slices (a.k.a., Pizza Hut).

The prices here are excellent and they range from a $5 small cheese pizza to an $11 large Highland special. Toppings include onion, pepper, meatballs, chicken, pepperoni, hamburg, linguica, pineapple, extra cheese, bacon, chourico, anchovies, sausage, mushroom, ham, Hawaiian (ham and pineapple), and the two- and three-way combos (two-way $6.50-9; three-way $7-9.50). They also have individual slices that you can by for only $1.25. Aside from pizza, they have grinders, hot dogs, hamburgers, spaghetti dishes, and salads, with nothing in these categories costing over $5. Highland also has something interesting that I've never seen before - the pizza cheese salad. Perhaps that will be my next adventure when ordering take-out. Although I do wish that Highland delivered, it is nice to get out of the house once in a while and visit this hidden jewel in Fall River. You won't be sorry!

Waterstreet Cafe

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

www.waterstreetcafe.com

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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



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

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

Crab cakes - $10.99

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

Coke - 4.00

Subtotal - $29.98

Tax - 1.50

TOTAL = $31.48

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

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

Prince's Hill Deli + Catering

328 County Road

Barrington, RI 02806

(401) 245-1900
www.princeshilldeli.com

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I fell in love with Prince's Hill Deli while working a temporary job at Barrington High School in March-April of 2005. What I noticed about this place was, aside from their fabulous food, it had a certain kind of "Cheers" feeling when you walked in - everybody knew your name. They even started to know mine after just a few visits. The friendly gentleman behind the counter even made a point to get everyone in the dining room to say goodbye to me as I left with my sandwich. Although dying with embarrassment, I thought it was adorable how everyone got along so well. Oh, and they have some of the most delicious sandwiches I've ever eaten.
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After having been away for so long, I was thrilled to find myself in the Barrington area at around 3 p.m. in search of a great lunch. I figured that if I stopped at Prince's Hill, I could finally present Mom with one of these illustrious sandwiches that I spoke so highly of back in '05. When I pulled into the lot, I saw that every parking spot in front of the deli, which is located in a plaza, was taken. However, I soon found a spot in another lot that wasn't too far from Prince's entrance.

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Wow, this place hadn't changed a bit! With a large dining room to the right of the restaurant, and a large deli counter to the left, the interior brought back happy memories of delicious sandwiches and employment at Barrington High. Since it was after the lunch rush, the place only had a few scattered customers around the dining area and just two in the small wicker chairs which serve as a "waiting area" to people with deli orders. The black and white checkered floor resembles that of a 1950's style diner, but the furniture and draperies resemble a quaint French bistro. I've never seen this place in disarray, and this visit was as spotless as the last.
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As I approached the counter, I was greeted by a friendly girl who promptly took my lunch order. For Mom, I ordered a roast turkey sandwich on marble rye (they were out of wheat) with lettuce, a little bit of mayo, and Provolone cheese ($6.25). For myself, I chose a favorite of mine from the past - the Belvedere ($6.75). This is basically a Greek salad in a wrap, consisting of green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, Feta, Bermuda onion, cucumbers, hot peppers, black olives, and carrots all topped with Greek dressing. Splendid! Although $6.75 is a lot to pay for a wrap, and $6.25 is certainly a lot to pay for a turkey sandwich, I knew we were in for a tasty meal.

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Prince's Hill Deli has several speciality sandwiches, including their signature - the Prince's Hill ($7.25). This sandwich consists of roasted turkey breast, their own baked ham, melted Swiss cheese, slices of bacon, crunchy pickle slices, and honey mustard dressing all served on a bulky roll. Other yummy choices include the 8 Valentine (roast beef), Tee Jay (oven-roasted turkey breast), Katama (their take on Thanksgiving), Hot Corned Beef, Grilled Chicken, and the Popponessett, which is grilled chicken in buffalo sauce with blue cheese dressing, cucumbers, lettuce, and carrots. Prices on these specialities range from $6.25-7.25. You can also make your own sandwich from their sandwich board ($6.25 -extra toppings 30 cents) where you can pick your favorite meat, cheese, spread, bread, and two toppings from their list. All sandwiches (including specialty) come with a sliced half sour pickle and potato chips, which I turned down for both sandwiches when asked by the girl at the counter. They have a children's menu, salads, soups, a soup and sandwich combo, and breakfast is served daily from 8-11 a.m., which includes bagels, coffee cakes, homemade muffins, and fresh brewed coffee. Prince's Hill also has a large variety of ready-made pasta, potato, and chicken salads including dill potato, Greek cucumber, Chinese chicken, Mediterranean, apple and nut chicken, and their own pasta salad. A catering menu is also available with both breakfast and luncheon choices for your wedding, dinner buffet, or Bar Mitzvah! Although prices are high, you are paying for quality food.

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While reading a magazine in the wicker waiting area, my name was called. My order was ready, and the total came to $14.04. I grabbed a menu on the way out and headed for home. When I arrived, Mom and I quickly unwrapped our food.

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Mom said that they were very generous with the turkey. It was freshly cut and tasted delicious. You could also tell that the Provolone was fresh, as well as the lettuce. She was also bowled over by the delicious bread, which was extraordinarily fresh with a nice soft texture and a great chewy crust. Mom even asked me if they have loaves of this bread to take home, but unfortunately they do not. All in all, she thought this was a great sandwich.

My wrap was just as good as I remembered. Fresh veggies, tangy Feta, and the melt-in-your-mouth wrap all came together in a delicious blend. It's a shame that I waited over two years to reacquaint myself with this gem.

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Prince's Hill Deli is one of a kind, and it will always be on my list as having some of the best sandwiches I've ever tasted. Unfortunately, you would have to take out a loan to eat here on a daily basis. However, it certainly does make for a great lunch on a special occasion ... like pay day!

Mister Peepers' Ice Cream

179 G A R Highway

Swansea, MA 02777

(508) 324-0742

www.mrpeepersicecream.com

UPDATE: Due to the response I received from my good friend, Amy, I decided to visit Mister Peepers' again to try one of their famous ice cream cakes. Amy told me that she gets one every year for her birthday, and since I know that she has great taste, I decided to see what all the fuss was about. She told me that Mister Peepers' sells individual cake slices, so I was interested to see what those would be like. After bumming some money off Mom I set out to Swansea to get a few pieces of cake. When I got there, there was a gentleman behind the counter gathering up treats to put into the freezer. I spotted the cake slices right away. They come in triangular plastic containers and are made with three layers of ice cream - two vanillas and one chocolate, plus two layers of cake crunch. I grabbed two slices and a Mister Peepers' menu. The total came to $6.09 (each slice is $2.90 plus tax), and I was glad to see that the slices were quite inexpensive. I quickly drove back over the Braga Bridge and ran the slices upstairs to my apartment. As Mom and I dug in, we both remarked at how cold the slices had stayed during the ride home. We found the cakes heavenly, each bite containing an equal amount of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, and the yummy cake crunchies. The slice was just enough for one person, and both of us finished our cake in record time. It was that good! Mom and I both think that this cake tasted better than the Carvel cakes, which are very similar in the ingredients. You can tell the cake is homemade, and we were very glad to see that it was unlike Carvel because our pieces were nice and hearty - a trait that the Carvel slices seems to lack. I am officially moving Mister Peepers' out of the "so-so" range and into the "good," simply because of their delicious cake. Although their ice cream cones were average, everyone should stop by and try a slice of cake. You won't be sorry!

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Date: 7/28/2007

After Mom and I came from seeing the movie Hairspray, we were looking for a cool treat. We attempted to visit Simcock Farm in Swansea, but the lines were extremely long and we didn't feel like waiting around (Simcock is sometimes slow on the service). As we were heading up to Eskimo King, we came across Mister Peepers'. Although we'd been here before, and weren't that crazy about it, we decided that it would suit our ice cream needs for the time being.

We parked in the back and walked around to the front to go inside. Mister Peepers' is a very small home-like building on a busy street corner. Although I never see it packed, I do usually see cars parked along both sides of the tiny house. When Mom and I walked in we were facing a large freezer that housed their specialty ice cream cakes and other cool delights like sundaes and bars. Since we were just there for a soft serve cone, I asked the staffer what the flavors were. She pointed to a sign on the door that advertised about eight different soft serve flavors.

There were two girls working there, and the one that was serving us was quite polite. The other girl was busy moving boxes of stuff around the tiny work area. I ordered a medium mocha cappuccino cone, while Mom ordered a small coffee and cream cup. Both were served up extremely fast, partly because all it was was vanilla ice cream with a "flavor shot" swirled around the edges. It wasn't really coffee or cappuccino ice cream. Although I didn't notice the individual prices, the total came to $5.36 for both treats.


The ice cream was good. It was cool, smooth, creamy, and just what we were looking for on a hot day. My cone had hints of mocha cappuccino, but you could tell it was just plain vanilla ice cream with a kick. Mom's "coffee" cup tasted like a rich vanilla ice cream with a heavy coffee swirl. She said it actually tasted too much like coffee syrup. Although both were delicious, neither knocked us over with the taste. We love ice cream, and it certainly served its purpose in cooling us off. However, we've had better.

We'd been to Mister Peepers' before, and I also visited this place with my sister. On our first visit we ordered two large swirl cones. They tasted so much like frosting that Mom and I both got sick afterwards from the nauseating sweetness. My sister, who loves all things frosting, thought it was the most delicious thing she's ever tasted.

Although they have shakes, sundaes, cones, cups, and other treats, their main advertisement is their ice cream cakes. I'd like to give them a try, but I'm a little skeptical. I love ice cream as much as the next person, but there is such a thing as "too sweet," and Mister Peepers' seems to hit that nail right on the head. I wish I could have given it a higher rating, but like I said, to us it wasn't anything special.

McGovern's Family Restaurant

310 Shove St.
Fall River, MA 02724
(508) 679-5010
www.mcgovernsonthewater.com

Although Mom and I have been here for many different functions, and back in the dark ages Mom came here for dinner with Dad, I had never had an "official" meal at McGovern's, despite it being a Fall River institution. Mom decided that this place should be the first steppingstone to our "Tour of Fall River," where we plan to highlight (weekly) some of the most recommended restaurants in our beloved city. I couldn't wait to go!


We pulled into the tight parking lot and got a spot pretty close to the door (always a bonus). As we walked in around 3:45 p.m., we noticed that there were only a few couples scattered in the booth area, and only one party seated in the table section. After asking us if we'd like a table or booth, and some slight confusion about who would be walking us to the table and where we would be sitting, the hostess finally brought us over to a small table with four wooden chairs and topped with a white tablecloth. It was also topped with hard, clear plastic which was probably placed there to protect the tablecloth. The hostess left us with two thick green menus that we started browsing through almost immediately.

Our waitress soon came over to greet us. Her name was Charlene and she was extremely friendly and polite. She took our drink order (two Diet Pepsis) and informed us that the list of specials were on the table in a little plastic stand. It didn't take long for Charlene to reappear with our drinks, which came in blue plastic Pepsi glasses along with two straws. Because the menu was so vast, Mom and I needed another minute. Charlene politely walked away so Mom and I could make our decision. Believe me, there was a LOT to choose from. There were very large sections devoted to both steaks and seafood, and a long list of appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches, pasta, poultry, and desserts. McGovern's also has a list of daily specials and some area favorites like meat pies, shrimp Mozambique, chicken chow mein (Wednesday-Friday), and fish and chips. Some of the old-fashioned favorites include Yankee pot roast, pork chops, veal parmigiana, meatloaf, and both grapenut and bread puddings. Charlene timed it perfectly because as soon as she returned to the table, Mom and I were ready to order. I went with the baked stuffed fillet of sole ($9.95), while Mom chose the house special boneless fried chicken ($9.45). Charlene asked Mom if she wanted all white meat, and she did. That was $1 extra. With my meal I had cole slaw and fries for my sides, and Mom had the mashed potatoes (no gravy) and corn. Charlene asked us if we'd like some dinner rolls, and we took her up on the offer. She quickly brought them over while Mom and I checked out the interior.



This place just screams "welcome home." You really do feel like you're dining in familiar territory, even if you'd never been here before. There were tapestries hanging on the wall, a dark, cozy fireplace near the booth section, chandeliers, light woods, plants, paintings, picture frames, and dark green rugs that made everything feel very relaxing. The entire staff was wearing uniforms, which I appreciated as you really don't see that much anymore. There was also a large wedding party having their reception in the back rooms, so everyone was really on their best behavior. There were lots of busboys bringing trays of dishes back to the kitchen, and everyone seemed to be in a really good mood. It was great!

Before we knew it, our food was being carried over by a young male server who was accompanied by an older waitress. I don't even think we waited 15 minutes - perhaps not even ten. The older waitress stated that she "didn't know what happened to our waitress," but she was going to try and do her best to put our food down. She was hysterical without even knowing it. First, she took one look at my fish and said, "What is this?" I explained that it was the fillet of sole, and she plopped it down in front of me. Then she looked at my mother's chicken and said, "What is this? Pork chops?" I laughed and said that it was chicken, and she said, "OK ..." and put it down in front of my mother. Then, when it came to divvying up the side dishes, she told us that she was just going to put them all down in front of us and we could take whichever ones we had ordered. It didn't seem like she had the time to stand there and figure out who had the corn, but we loved her anyway. As she was almost done placing everything down on our table, Charlene reappeared to check to see if our food was ready. She was surprised, much like we were, to see that it had already arrived.

Mom's chicken was amazing. It had a light, crisp coating, and the chicken itself was very moist and well done. There were a half dozen pieces of chicken, and she somehow managed to score two sides of mashed potatoes. You could tell that the potatoes were definitely homemade, and she said they were delicious. The corn nibblets were also hot and fresh. Mom said that her whole meal was outstanding, and she was very impressed. She mentioned that McGovern's had certainly improved since she had last visited. The meal also came with a boat of gravy (although she didn't want any) and a side of cranberry sauce.

My dish was out of this world. Not only were there two huge fillets of beautiful white sole, it was stuffed with a tasty bread stuffing and baked in a thick cream sauce. It was also lightly breaded and served in a small casserole dish. This was a huge portion and I stuffed myself full because I didn't want to leave a single piece behind. My meal also came with large French fries and fresh cole slaw. There was already a bottle of ketchup on the table for my fries, and this was certainly a lunch to remember.

Charlene came over during the meal to ask how everything was. Of course, we said it was delicious. We also briefly talked about the wedding out back and the Shania Twain song that was being played. Charlene was one of those waitresses that you didn't mind if she came to your table to chat. She was really excellent.

After we were finished, Charlene cleared away our plates and left the bill:

Chicken - $9.45

All white - 1.00

Fillet of sole - 9.95

2 large sodas - 3.50

Subtotal - $23.90

Tax - 1.20

TOTAL = $25.10

We left $30.10 on the table for Charlene (including 20% tip). She wished us well, and then gave us directions to the ladies' room after my inquiry. When we got back there (we had to follow a lot of signs), we saw a special "Bridal Room." I'm guessing this is where the brides get ready - or go to the bathroom - before their reception. The ladies' room was beautiful - very clean and neat with many stalls and sinks.

As we left, I thanked Mom for recommending this place and starting our "Tour of Fall River" off with a bang. The lunch that we had at McGovern's definitely overrode every stale ham and tuna salad sandwich that we've ever had at one of their banquets. They also have a huge take-out window, and I can definitely see why this is needed. The food is excellent, the restaurant is popular, and you should really be ashamed of yourself if you live in the city and haven't been here yet. It's a gem!

P.S. - My friend, Melissa, just reminded me that this is one of the only places around that serves corned beef and cabbage. She loves this place!

Rita's

www.ritasice.com

I had never had a frozen custard before. Although I did try to hit up a frozen custard establishment in Hyannis, it was unsuccessful as the place had closed (thanks for nothing, Dottie's). A few days ago, Mom sent me an e-mail link for a chain called Rita's. They have locations around the country, but a local branch is in Warwick, RI. Rita's tag line is "Ice-Custard-Happiness." I thought I'd hit the custard jackpot! I was finally going to get to try one.

After a delicious lunch at Romano's Macaroni Grill, we decided to head up to Rita's, which is only six minutes away (on Post Road). We found Rita's in a tiny strip mall on a busy street corner. The place is tiny, and although there is a door, I'm not sure if patrons are allowed to go in. They have two large order windows on either side of the door, with huge signs of all their fantastic treats with their prices.

Although I already knew what I was getting, it was fun taking a look at all the different choices that Rita's offers. This is definitely not your ordinary ice cream stand. In fact, ice cream is not even served here! They're main delicacy is Italian ice, and they certain had a lot of interesting flavors available, such as raspberry lemonade, pina colada, pistachio, cherry, banana split cream, green apple, mango, root beer, tangerine, watermelon, citrus blast, and island fusion. There is a party bucket available if you wish to share your favorite flavor with friends, and bottled water is sold if you're just looking for a quick thirst quencher. Both Mom and I set our sights on the frozen custard, which came in vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and strawberry. Since we'd just eaten, we each ordered a kids' size cup (*$2.19) of strawberry for me and coffee for Mom. The girl behind the counter was very helpful in showing us how big the sizes were, and waited patiently while we decided what we wanted. In what seemed like seconds, both cups were ready for us and only cost a mere $4.73. What a deal!

*Prices do not include sales tax.


Frozen custard was not what I expected - it was better. I was expecting a cup of what looked like custard from inside the middle of a pie - only frozen. I was also expecting it to be custard-flavored, not realizing that this treat can be made into any normal ice cream flavor. My custard, although it was cold, was a little warmer once it hit your mouth. It was very smooth, whipped, and thick - yet the cup felt very light. It was like a science experiment that went horribly right! Mom said that her custard had a deep coffee flavor which she loved, and I agreed with her when she mentioned that the consistency almost felt like pudding mixed with whipped cream - very light and airy. The medium custard is $2.79 and the large is $3.39.

Rita's has other delights which are very unique and sound delicious. They have a Misto, which is a creamy, cool shake that blends their vanilla or chocolate old-fashioned custard and your favorite flavor of Italian ice or cream ice to create an incredible taste sensation (regular $3.49, large $4.39). The Gelati is made from layering Rita's vanilla or chocolate old-fashioned frozen custard and your favorite flavor of Italian ice or cream ice (regular $2.89, large $3.49). The Blendini is a combination of Rita's frozen custard, with either crushed Oreo cookie pieces or Nilla wafer pieces and Rita's famous Italian/cream ice blended together into a delicious frozen treat you eat with a spoon ($3.69). You can also add extra toppers for 79 cents, and if you want something made with a topper it is $2.98 for the small and $3.58 for the regular.

The specialty Mistos they had available were green apple pie a la mode, vanilla mango crunch, island fusion, and crazy banana split. There was also a "Misto of the Day" sign which featured caramel apple, root beer float, banana split cream, and chocolate covered cherry Mistos. Everything sounded outrageous! Gift certificates are available, and my birthday is coming up in October. I am willing to e-mail you my address so that I can receive your Rita's present in a timely fashion, ha, ha. Seriously, I thought it was fantastic, and so did Mom. I'm so glad my first custard experience was a hit.

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!