Spumoni's

1537 Newport Ave.

Pawtucket, RI 02861

(401) 726-4449
www.spumonisrestaurant.com

Two fantastic things happened in October of 1978. I was born, and so was Spumoni's, one of our favorite Italian restaurants. Located in Pawtucket, RI, Spumoni's has been a local favorite for nearly 30 years. Since Mom and I were in the area, and we had been yearning for a really good meal, Spumoni's was the obvious choice. We'd been missing it.

Mom and I arrived at Spumoni's at around 4:15 p.m. They have a very large parking lot, and thankfully we had arrived just before the dinner rush. After grabbing a few take-out menus at the front counter, we were greeted by a polite young man who quickly ushered us to a table at the far end of the restaurant and left us with two large, colorful, plastic menus. Soon after, Angelica, our waitress, arrived to take our drink order. Both Mom and I ordered Diet Pepsis that arrived in large plastic glasses. Angelica also brought us a basket of their delicious Italian bread, served with butter packets. Although we already knew what we wanted, both Mom and I had quickly glanced through the new menu. We noticed some changes, but were glad to see that all our old favorites were still available. Angelica then took our order - an appetizer of fried ravioli ($5.25), and a regular four cheese pizza ($11.50). As our waitress walked away, Mom and I started devouring the bread. It is one of the tastiest Italian breads we've ever had. Mom has always wondered if they make the bread on the premises, or have it sent over from a local bakery. Either way, she always wants to take home a loaf.

Spumoni's has a very family-style feel. With dark wood walls and booths, colorful paintings of Italian foods, and the hanging plants and strings of lighted ivy, coming into Spumoni's is like visiting an old friend. Italian music, both upbeat and romantic, is piped in through overhead speakers, and the individual lighted wall lamps and colorful menu-place mats allows Spumoni's to be both elegant and practical at the same time. The dining rooms (there are a few) are always spotless, the red and yellow checkered rug is always neatly vacuumed, and the mixture of booths and tables are set up in way where customers can access them easily. Spumoni's fills up fast, and we saw first hand how a quiet dining room can be turned into seating for a incoming party of 25. About four of five servers were setting up extra chairs and tables against a large bench at the corner of the room we were in. Although we left before the party arrived, the staff setup seemed quite effortless and very well organized. You can tell that they are used to serving large parties. A group party menu is also available.

Spumoni's has a very large menu, and one thing I love is that their take-out menu is actually the entire menu. Everything is listed! They also have a Web site, and what I love about it is that they actually list the prices! This is quite a rarity with some of these Internet pages, and I was glad to see that Spumoni's has nothing to hide from its customers. From Italian favorites to a variety of seafood options, Spumoni's has it all. Appetizers range from a $2 shrimp cocktail, to a platter of clams ala Zuppa for $11.50, which are little necks steamed in red or white clam sauce. Fresh salads and soups are available, such as Papa's Antipasto ($7.99) topped with selected Italian meats, cheeses, olives, a hard boiled egg, and Spumoni's special antipasto dressing, and the baked onion soup ($3.99) served in a crock and topped with a layer of melted cheese. There are several chicken dishes available such as the chicken parmigiana ($12.50), chicken and ravioli ($12.50), and chicken calabrese ($13.99), which is a breaded, boneless breast of chicken covered with sauteed mushrooms and oven roasted peppers, topped off with Spumoni's own sherried cream sauce and selected blend of cheeses. The Italian favorites range from a $7.99 stuffed manicotti, to an Italian Pu Pu Platter for $13.99, featuring veal, meatballs, sausage, peppers, manicotti, and ravioli topped with tomato meat sauce. With pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and pasta by the pound, there is certainly a lot to choose from at Spumoni's. They even have something called A Tour of Italy for $11.50, where you can choose from six different Italian combo meals appropriately named The Tuscany, Roman, Palermo, Napoli, Sicilian, and The Pisa. Each "location" features three different Italian dishes all served on the same platter with your choice of soup or salad. The menu also suggests specific wines with certain dishes like the fettuccine Alfredo (Maso Canali Pinot Grigio) and any Tour of Italy combo (Beringer White Zinfandel). Spumoni's is also famous for their twin lobster special, and other lobster dishes such the steamed or baked New England style lobster, and the lobster/scallop casserole ($14.99). They have a children's menu and a dessert menu featuring a variety of liquored Italian coffees. Also served at Spumoni's is a wide selection of veal and steak choices, along with a special lunch menu that is served from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Spumoni's also has an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $6.50 from 11:30 am. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursday. Mom and I have visited this buffet once, and although on the small side, it had baked scrod, meatballs, Italian sausage, lasagna, and other Italian favorites. Everything was hot and delicious. Spumoni's even offers frequent diners a reward for their patronage - a dinner club card. Visit the Web site for detailed information.

Almost immediately, Angelica brought over our basket of fried raviolis. Accompanied by a dish of Spumoni's homemade tomato sauce, these raviolis are a hit with customers. I often hear people ordering them, and they never take long to arrive. The raviolis are packed with cheese (no watery middles) and nicely fried so that they are crunchy, but not rock hard. Always served steaming hot, the dipping sauce adds a light sweetness to the thickly breaded raviolis. There were about eight of them on our plate, which means that we certainly got our money's worth. Each ravioli is a good size, and extremely tasty. It's our favorite appetizer.

Our four cheese pizza arrived looking as delicious as ever. This pizza comes in three sizes - individual ($7.99), regular ($11.50), and large ($16.50). This is by far my favorite dish at Spumoni's. Mixed with garlic, olive oil, and diced tomatoes, the blend of cheeses that is used is out of this world. It gives the pizza a tangy, cheesy flavor, without being too overwhelming. The crust is outstanding. It is both crispy and soft, and supports the pizza and all its toppings. I usually get the individual size for myself, and although Mom doesn't like diced tomatoes, she loves the flavor of this pizza. It is definitely one of the best pizzas I've ever had.

We finished all but two pieces of the delicious pie before our stomachs gave up. Angelica came over to ask us if we would like anything else, but that seemed impossible. She returned with the bill and a Styrofoam box for our last two slices:

Soda (2 @ $1.99) - 3.98

Fried ravioli - 5.25

Regular 4 cheese - 11.48
Subtotal - $20.71

Tax - 1.45

Local tax - .21

TOTAL = $22.35

We needed change, which rarely happens, but Angelica quickly cashed us out and we left her a 20% tip. She was an excellent waitress, and that is another thing we love about Spumoni's - we've never had anything but excellent service. From the hostess to the busboys, everyone is always pleasant, their uniforms (with ties) are always neat and clean, and they never forget to come around and ask how the meal is.

Although we didn't use the restroom on this occasion, we have in the past and it has always been very neat and tidy. With full stomachs and the Styrofoam box in hand, we left Spumoni's extremely satisfied and already longing to revisit. We love the atmosphere, the prices are fabulous, and we've never had a bad meal at Spumoni's. As we were leaving at around 5:15 p.m., we saw customers start to pile in. The food is definitely the reason why this place is so popular, and I would definitely recommend Spumoni's to anyone looking for a delicious Italian meal. Mangi!

Spumoni's is open on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Jamms Restaurant

Jamms Restaurant

8 Coogan Blvd.

Mystic, CT 06355

(860) 536-2683

www.visitconnecticut.com/jamms

After visiting Clyde's, I drove back to the Mystic Village area to start our next adventure - finding a place to have lunch. Since Mom is a smarty pants, she had previously done some research on a local Connecticut favorite - Jamms Restaurant. The menu looked really good, so all we had to do is find the place. Thankfully, it is located right behind Mystic Village and right up the street from the Steak Loft.

I pulled into the large parking lot of Jamms at around 4:30 p.m. There were only a few cars in the parking lot, but the restaurant seemed quite large so I was sure that the establishment did some serious business. Mom and I walked up the few stairs past the outside dining area and into the lobby. We were greeted by a young hostess, who later turned out to be our waitress. She asked us if we would like a table or booth, and we chose a booth by a large window. The waitress placed two pleather-covered menus on the table and left us to choose what we wanted.

The menu at Jamms is small, but the options are varied. Appetizers range from a shrimp cocktail for $2.50 to a platter of oysters on the half shell for $10.95. Their children's menu features dishes like Jamms Boboli pizza, Kidfish (baked or fried), and a Kidsteak for $12.95, which is a six ounce charbroiled top sirloin. Jamms has soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, seafood, steaks, poultry, and desserts, with featured items such as the duckling, the native New England lobster, the steak and shrimp combo, and the seafood stew. Also, Jamms advertises a large Sunday brunch which includes dishes like the breakfast burrito stuffed with scrambled eggs, jalapeno bacon, cheddar and Jack cheeses, green peppers, and onions, topped with salsa and sour cream, and served with home fries or fresh fruit; the quiche; and the California omelet with spicy jalapeno bacon, Jack cheese, peppers, onions, tomatoes, and salsa. The omelet is topped with guacamole, sour cream, and sliced jalapenos on request. Liquor is also served at Jamms and spirited Jamaican, Mexican, Spanish, Kioki, and Irish coffees flavored with alcohol are available. All sandwiches are served with half-sour pickle and chips, and you can substitute the chips for fries for only $1. Jamms also has daily specials, and the sign outside boasts that all food and beverages are served from 11:30 a.m. to midnight everyday. The Sunday brunch is available from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The waitress returned to take our drink order. Mom and I both chose Diet Cokes. When she returned with our beverages, which arrived in glasses, we were ready to order. Mom ordered the fish and chips ($10.95), while I ordered the Cajun chicken and Jack cheese quesadilla ($8.95). I almost added a baked onion soup to my order, but opted not to in case the quesadilla was on the large side. As the polite waitress took away our menus, Mom and I started to scope out the interior.

The interior of Jamms is quite cozy. It definitely has the feel of an older family restaurant as opposed to the craziness of a chain like TGI Friday's or Applebee's. When you first walk in, you will notice a carpeted staircase. I'm assuming this leads to the large banquet area, where groups of 20 or more are given a special rate. The place is ensconced in dark woods, maroon booths, and framed posters of various works of art. Small curtain toppers on the large windows allow patrons to overlook the picturesque Mystic Village. The silverware was wrapped in cloth napkins resting on white plates at each wooden table. There is a small bar area to the right of the entrance, and all the waitstaff were wearing white collared shirts with the Jamms logo in red - a nice touch. All in all, the restaurant was very clean, and the low lights and dark decor gave it a pub-like feel.

The view from the window overlooking the back of Mystic Village and Aquarium.

We hadn't been waiting long when the waitress brought out our dishes. Mom's fish and chips was a good sized portion and served nice and hot. The fish was very well done and the fries were tasty. The only downfall was that it was a bit on the greasy side. However, Mom said the taste of the white, flaky fish was quite delicious.

My Cajun chicken and Jack cheese quesadilla was quite tasty. Consisting of tender chicken, tangy cheese, and fresh tomato and scallion, this dish was accompanied by three small cups of salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. Although the quesadilla shell was a bit crispy, this type of meal is one of my favorites and the Jamms version did not disappoint. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

Our waitress returned to clear our plates and to bring the bill. We told her that our meals were delicious, and she let us know that she would inform the kitchen staff. Our bill came to:

2 Diet Cokes - $3.90

Fish & chips - 10.95

Quesadilla - 8.95

Subtotal - $23.80

Tax - 1.43

TOTAL = $25.23

We left $30.50 on the table, including 20% tip, and headed for the ladies' room. Both sets of restrooms (men's and women's) were set behind a frosted glass door. The bathroom was clean and organized, although the sink seemed to be built incorrectly as the faucet was set quite a bit back from the rest of the sink.

It was nice to get away from the busy Mystic Village area, and Jamms provided us with both comfort and a delicious meal. Finding this restaurant was a pleasant surprise, and both Mom and I are looking forward to our next visit to Connecticut and to Jamms.

B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill

129 North Stonington Road
Mystic, CT 06355

(860) 536-3354

Visiting Clyde's is the perfect way to kick off the start of the fall season, even though Mom and I made the trip a day early. At only an hour and 15 minutes away from Fall River, and only a few miles up the road from Mystic Village, driving to Clyde's was a breeze. We pulled into the gravel covered parking area at around 3:15 p.m.

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There are three separate buildings at Clyde's. One building is a knickknack shop that sells Clyde's T-shirts and assorted country crafts. The second building is a general store type market that sells all of the homemade goodies that Clyde's is known for. The third, and most interesting building, is the apple mill. Inside the small white barn is a working apple press, and the best time to catch the press in action would be to visit in the October and November months. With free admission, curious customers can watch firsthand how Clyde's famous apple cider is made, along with their apple jams, jellies, and butters.

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Since Clyde's was not pressing on this day, Mom and I got a chance to check out the inside of the mill without the stress of a large crowd. We saw all the old fashioned jugs hanging on hooks across the ceiling, an old cashier's desk complete with an telephone from the early 20th century, and the various tools and mechanisms used to keep the press running. The dark wood of the mill made it extra authentic, and the smell of previously pressed apples was pleasantly intoxicating.

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As Mom and I made our way to the store, we saw a wine tasting seminar that was taking place on the porch. We also stopped and checked out the large crates of apples waiting to be purchased, along with several rows of brightly colored floral arrangements and pumpkins. Inside the store, although we had to push our way through the crowd, we checked out all of the homemade jams, jellies, preserves, butters, spreads, and other condiments. Clyde's also has homemade infused oils, wines, and sweet and hard ciders, along with a appetizing list of freshly baked goodies such as pumpkin bread, apple cider cinnamon sugar donuts, cookies, and apple turnovers and tarts. Free samples of the different spreads and biscotti were available for people to try. Clyde's also carries pies from Connecticut's famous Stott Brothers. The pies were $16 each, but each pie was humongous and seemed to be well worth the price. We purchased:

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Quart of sweet cider - $2.50

2 apple turnovers - 3.00

6 apple cider cinnamon sugar donuts - 2.50

pumpkin bread - 4.00

sweet Vidalia onion relish - 3.98

pumpkin butter - 3.98

TOTAL = $19.96

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Although there was a slight mishap with our bag of donuts (the girl forgot to put them in our bag), it was quickly corrected. Mom and I also took a quick peek around the knickknack shop. Here we spotted the adorable T-shirts that read "I got my apples at Clyde's." They also sell custom shot glasses and a variety of New England specialty crafts. On our way out, we caught a glimpse of some customers eating their delicious baked goods at tables on the porch of the general store.

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This was the second time that Mom and I had visited Clyde's, and on both occasions the apple press was not running. If you definitely want to check that out, make sure you call ahead to see if they are pressing. Either way, everyone should definitely stop by Clyde's and get a sample of their tasty treats. It is places like these that make New England a special place to visit, and to live.

Bella Roma

239 Broadway

Taunton, MA 02780

(508) 823-5558

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


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

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


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

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



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

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


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


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

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

Stuffed shells - $11.95

Angel hair bolognese - 9.95

Beverages - 4.00

Subtotal - $25.90

Tax - 1.30

TOTAL = $27.20

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

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

Tony's Fish & Chips

1393 Rodman St.

Fall River, MA 02721

(508) 678-8935

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Located at The Regatta

392 Davol St.

Fall River, MA 02720

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When thinking of New England, especially Maine, most people have lobster on the brain. Lobster is something that I've only had once while on an adventurous trip to D'Angelo's. I ordered the lobster bisque, and although it wasn't terrible, it wasn't that good, either. However, I figured that eating lobster from a fast food restaurant wasn't really giving it my all. I wanted to fully experience what fresh lobster tasted like without tearing apart that creepy outer shell. I wanted a lobster roll, and I thought that Tony's was just the place where I could get one.

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Continuing our "tour of Fall River," and after seeing many advertisements for this place in our local newspaper, Mom and I decided to visit Tony's Fish & Chips on Brayton Avenue at around 3 p.m. There weren't many cars in their small parking lot, but I was just glad that a parking lot actually existed as Brayton Avenue is a very busy street with parking on both sides. We went through the side door (which is the main entrance) and were greeted by a very friendly gentleman at the front counter who told us that we could sit anywhere in the dining room. As we walked around the corner into the dining room, we were followed by a young waitress who greeted us and put two large menus down on the corner table that we had chosen.

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The dining room was much bigger than we expected. From the outside, the restaurant looks small. I always pictured two tiny plastic tables placed right up against a busy take-out counter. However, both Mom and I were very surprised and pleased at the interior. With mauve paint, place mats, and tablecloths, and a dark blue back wall for contrast, I felt very cozy and comfortable at Tony's. The low lights and ceiling fans gave off a very homey feel, and I loved the colorful flower placed on each table. The swinging wooden doors that lead to and from the kitchen were a nice touch, and the wood chair rail around the room carried that touch throughout the dining area.

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Our waitress took our drink order - two Diet Cokes - as Mom and I perused the menu. Tony's has quite a large selection of seafood and other dishes like steak, Portuguese, and Italian choices. While we were still deciding what to order, the waitress brought out two Portuguese buns with butter. She asked us if we were ready to order and we were. We ordered an appetizer of a half dozen clam cakes ($2.95). For our main course, Mom ordered the regular fish and chips ($9.95) while I chose the baked stuffed scrod which was filled with their own seafood stuffing. However, after the waitress informed us that my dish would take 30 minutes to prepare, I decided to choose something else. After looking over the menu again, I just could not take my mind off the baked stuffed scrod. When the waitress came back over, I told her that I would just suck it up and wait the 30 minutes for the scrod. Just as she started walking away, the friendly gentleman that we had seen before informed us that they had LOBSTER ROLLS. Apparently he had just gotten the lobsters in from Tiverton, RI. What a coincidence! Since I had not seen lobster on the menu, I had forgotten about my yearning to try it. I asked for one right away and was surprised that it was going to cost $15.95. I guess this is the price you pay when you order the fancier foods. I also had a freak-out moment when I was told that the claws and tail would be part of the roll. For some reason I started picturing the actual claws and tail in the shell, and stupidly asked if that was going to be on the plate. After some laughter from the gentleman and waitress, he informed me that the shell would stay in the kitchen. I don't know why, but there's something about seeing bit parts of a lobster sitting on a plate that makes me nervous. I don't mind the actual meat, but the shell? No thank you.

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As we munched on the delicious Portuguese buns, Mom and I looked over a little sign that was on our table. The sign boasted that Tony's was the "Home of the Shipwreck." What is the Shipwreck? The Shipwreck, which serves three to four people, consists of fish, clams, scallops, shrimp, clam cakes, onion rings, and fries - all for $40.95. If you're brave enough to try to finish the entire Wreck on your own, and succeed, there is recognition to be had! The Shipwreck isn't the only seafood platter that Tony's makes. You could get smaller versions of this feast such as the Dinghy ($17.95), the Seafood Platter ($23.95), and the Baby Wreck ($29.95). Be careful - while the Dinghy and Seafood Platter are just for one, the Baby Wreck is for two. Tony's also has different size dinner orders of fried clams, scallops, shrimp, calamari, smelts, and clam strips ($7.95-19.95). These dinners come with fries, coleslaw, rice, and two sauces. Also on the menu are fish and chips ($3.95 for one piece to $12.95 for the large), and combination plates of various seafood choices ($11.95-19.95) that also come with sides. Portuguese dishes like the shrimp Mozambique ($12.95) and Portuguese fish ($10.95) sounded appetizing, as did their Italian dishes like the Seafood Pasta ($13.95) which consists of scallops, shrimp, crab meat, and littlenecks served over pasta. Tony's also has sandwiches, soups, and salads, along with a large list of appetizers ranging from a $2.50 stuffed quahog to a large platter of fried clams for $17.95. This establishment also serves alcohol.

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Our appetizer did not take long to arrive at all. Mom and I each had three of these piping hot clam cakes, which were a good size. The filling was soft and doughy, but it lacked the clam flavor. Also, both Mom and I thought that it was a bit hard cutting into the clam cakes. Perhaps they were left in the oil a little longer than they should have been, or maybe it was the batter that was used. The outside crust was just a bit too crunchy and hard. I found that I really had to soak mine with malt vinegar to alleviate some of the crisp texture, but despite this, they were very tasty.

While we were having our appetizer, the gentleman, who we presumed to be the owner, asked us if we were from the area. We told him that we were, and he told us that we should come back in the evening for karaoke night. Although we are not the karaoke sort, it was nice for him to come over and make small talk with us as most owners are too busy or not interested in dealing with their customers. We later heard him (I believe his first name was Manny) speaking politely with a few other customers who had inquired where he had purchased the delicious Portuguese buns.

Before we knew it, our dishes were being brought out from the kitchen. The gentleman placed the dishes in front of us and they both looked amazing. Mom's order of fish and chips was quite substantial. It consisted of two large pieces of fried fish over a mound of fries. The fish was nicely done on the inside - all white and flaky. However, the outside crust suffered the same problems as the clam cakes. It was too well done; too hard and crispy. This beautiful, flaky fish would have done better with a lighter crust. Although the fish itself was delicious, the heavy batter made it a little bit greasy. The fries, however, were hot, hand cut, and delicious.

I couldn't wait to dive into my lobster roll. It came with fries and a little dish of mayonnaise. The hot dog bun was toasted and buttered, and stuffed with lettuce and the delicious lobster meat. I was informed that it was the entire lobster. I took one bite of it and ... well ... I'm not even sure what to say. It was very fresh, but ... I just didn't care for it. As I started eating more of it, I found that I really started to dislike the taste. I ate about three quarters of my sandwich before I finally had to stop. The results were in - I do not like lobster. The meat was tougher than I expected, but from what I've heard of lobster, that is the consistency. I'm used to flaky white fish, and this experience to me was like eating steak when all you're used to is chicken. The textures were different, and I just didn't enjoy the taste. I was so disappointed - not in the lobster, but because I really hoped that I would enjoy this meal. I would definitely recommend the lobster roll to any lobster fan because it was everything that it promised to be. However, it was my personal preference that was my downfall.

Mom was stuffed after only one piece of her fish and a few fries, so we asked for a take-out container for the other piece so that we could bring it home to Dad. The waitress brought over a Styrofoam dish and the bill:

1/2 doz. clam cakes - $2.95

Regular fish & chips - 9.95

Lobster roll - 15.95

Sodas - 2.50

Subtotal - $31.35

Tax - 1.57

TOTAL = $32.92

I left $39 on the table (including 20% tip), grabbed the rest of Mom's meal, and headed for the door. Mom was able to get a take-out menu on the way out, and she was glad because she likes to collect them. I would definitely recommend Tony's to any seafood lover, and would also like to go back myself and try the baked stuffed scrod and the Portuguese fish. Tony's is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 12-8 p.m. They also have a second location that has just recently relocated to 392 Davol St. in Fall River (The Regatta).

Lusitano Restaurant

822 King Philip St.

Fall River, MA 02724

(508) 672-9104
www.lusitanorestaurant.com

My mother is not a very adventurous eater. This fact is clearly noticeable in our reviews as she tends to order the same types of dishes on a lot of our adventures. My friend, Scott, even jokes that she only eats spaghetti and coffee ice cream. However, today was going to be different. Since we were continuing our "Tour of Fall River," we decided to have lunch at Lusitano because 1) we heard a lot of good things about their food, and 2) Mom had a coupon. As we chatted about what we would get on the ride to the restaurant, Mom vowed that she was going to walk on the wild side and maybe get the steak. I've gotta see this!

This was going to be my first visit to Lusitano, but it was Mom's second. She came here for a birthday party for my cousin, and when she came back home, told me about how good everything tasted despite her picky ways. We arrived around 3 p.m., and I pulled into the huge lot they have across the street from the restaurant. I think there were only about four other cars in the lot, so I was sure that the place wasn't going to be packed.

When we got inside the dining room entrance, we were facing a mirror. To the right of the mirror was the main door, and we quickly went inside. A polite waitress came over to us, grabbed two very heavy, pleather-bound menus, and brought us over to table 9. Aside from one couple seated just behind the mirror, Mom and I were the only other people in the dining room. We opened our menus and began to examine the possibilities. Although the menu is not large, it does boast every typical Portuguese dish that you can think of. Bacalhau ($11.95-14.95), scrod ($11.95), broiled salmon ($12.95), shrimp kabob ($13.95), shrimp Mozambique ($11.95), and a variety of beef, pork, and poultry dishes that sounded amazing. Everything was listed in Portuguese, but thankfully the descriptions of each dish were written in English. Their appetizer list consists of chicken wings, soups, salads, kabobs, shrimp, fish cakes, and something called Chouriço á Bombeiro, which is Chourico Fireman Style ($5.95).

When the waitress came back over (we had asked for a few extra minutes), Mom and I had finally made our decision. She broke from the norm and ordered the Bife a Regional, which is marinated Azorean style steak topped with a fried egg and red pepper ($11.95). I chose the Filetes a Lusitano ($11.95), which is scrod smothered in spicy tomato sauce and topped with peppers and onions. The waitress left a basket of two Portuguese rolls and some butter on the table and went back to the kitchen, but not before taking our order for drinks, soup, and salad. We both ordered Diet Pepsis, and Mom chose the salad while I chose the Portuguese kale soup. When the waitress came back to the table, she brought with her a contraption with three little bowls attached to it. In the bowls were French, Italian, and we believe Thousand Island dressing. After Mom scooped a couple of teaspoons of French onto her greens, the waitress took the dressings back to the kitchen. I found my soup to be delicious. Piping hot, the broth was spicy and the potatoes, beans, and kale were fresh. The slivers of chourico and beef were tender and melted in my mouth. Mom's salad was crisp and fresh and the French dressing was cool and tangy. As we waited for the food to arrive, we scoped out the interior.


It is quite elegant in the dining room, and even more so in their large banquet room (which we could see through a sliding door). Mom and I were seated next to the dining room dance floor, and every table was covered with a white tablecloth, cloth napkins, and attractive tableware. By the dance floor there was quite a large stereo system that was playing Portuguese music quietly in the background, a disco ball, and a few microphones that were probably used on those drunken karaoke filled nights. Their banquet facility is called Royal Gardens, and on their Web site you can find a variety of information about the different packages they offer. While we were there, we saw a couple examining and later signing up for their wedding reception, and we also saw a few customers go back there to peer at the beautiful setup.

When our food arrived, we were very pleased with the presentations. Mom's steak was hidden under a fried egg and centered on a plate flanked with homemade fries and yellow rice. She said that her steak was very tender and did not have any pieces of fat. She also raved about how good the steak tasted topped with the egg. I was so proud of her! She enjoyed her fries very much and said the rice was quite appetizing. All in all, she had a very delicious, and adventurous, lunch. A far cry from spaghetti!


My meal was fantastic. My fillet arrived with white potatoes (which I didn't expect) and yellow rice. The potatoes were delicious because they had soaked up some of the spicy Portuguese sauce that my fish was topped with. The fish was extremely flaky, white, and tasty. It also absorbed the flavor of the sauce and of the peppers that sat on top. The veggies were fresh and the rice was tasty. The only complaint I have was that the waitress did not come over once during our meal to see how it was. If she did, I would have asked her for water because my dish was spicy!

After I managed to track down our waitress to ask for some water, she brought me a pitcher of it, but neglected to give me a separate glass. At this point, my mouth was on fire so I didn't care if there were Pepsi remnants in the glass or not - I just wanted to cool down! This was literally the last time we saw this woman for a good 15 minutes (or maybe even more). She seemed to disappear into oblivion, and I was confused as to why because we were the only ones in there. It's not like she was busy serving other people. I don't know what was going on, but I was starting to get a little antsy. Finally, she appeared and cleared our plates. My mother then informed her that we had a coupon, but the waitress told us that we could save it to use for another time (at first we didn't think she was going to take the discount off our bill, but we figured out that she meant for us to keep the coupon to use again). Another five or ten minutes went by before she brought the check:

1 beef - $11.95
1 fillet - 11.95
Total = 23.90
Discount - $9.95
Total = $13.95
Sodas - $4.00
Total = $17.95
Tax = $.90
Total = $18.85
*$23.90 = Gratuity?

*Figure it out? Yeah, I can't either, ha, ha. The total is off, but I could see that she did take off the $9.95 from the coupon (the coupon read "free dinner," but the value was only up to $9.95, and conveniently all the dinners started at $10.95). The total is exactly what it should be for two meals without sodas and tax. Whatever. I was just glad that we finally got the check and could pay. The slow service was really putting a damper on my delicious experience. I do like that they added in the 15 percent gratuity, but I usually leave 20, so in this case the rule kind of screwed our waitress. As we left the restaurant stuffed, both Mom and I remarked that we would love to come here again to try the Chouriço á Bombeiro, and I would like to get a steak for myself as Mom's looked so good. Although the service could be a little faster, we enjoyed ourselves and would definitely visit again. I'm glad Mom's walk on the wild side resulted in a very satisfied customer.

Lusitano is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3-9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 12-9 p.m., and Sundays from 12-9 p.m. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and they have a Sunday Lunch Buffet from 12-4 p.m. There is live music on Saturday nights, and the restaurant was featured on Emeril Live in 2003! This is really a great place to get some of Fall River's delicious Portuguese food, or to host a fabulous wedding reception.