Boston Restaurant Tips by jessicadf

Restaurant Name: Sunlite Cafe

We were early in to Stow, and very hungry, so we drove through town, looking for somewhere to eat, other than a Dunkin' Donuts. Side note: WOW, I've never seen so many Dunkin' Donut shops as I saw in 26 hours in Boston!! Anyway - we found this little cafe and went on in. It was tiny and filled with locals of Stow. It was wonderful to sit there, sipping coffee and wolfing down a hearty breakfast on an early, cold Sunday morning, listening to the old timers talking about granddad who worked in the slaughter houses, or one elderly man greeting a young man that entered, "Hey, it's Peter the Painter! How are ya today?" The staff knew everyone, but us of course, by name.

Exactly the kind of place I strive to find...

Favorite Dish: It's the only thing I had, so I guess it's my favorite: Lenny's Benedict. Portuguese english style muffins with scrambled eggs, bacon and hollendaise sauce, with home fries. Now, this was a little odd tasting, but hey... ya only live once. And, besides, we were in Stow to see a man named LENNY about a Speedster. REALLY WEIRD tasting home-fries, by the way. I think I'd opt for the extra $1 surcharge and get the hashbrowns instead (which is weird that they'd charge extra for those - ah well).

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (978) 897-9330
Address: 118 Great Rd, Stow, MA 01775
Directions: Just about across the street from the post office in Stow.
Website: http://boston.citysearch.com/profile/4648993

Restaurant Name: Barking Crab

Funky, casual and a place for locals. I really enjoyed our experience here. Diver-x had recommended this spot, and when I talked with my Cambridge cousin, he wholeheartedly endorsed dinner there.

There was a band playing R&B, a fire roaring in the pot-belly stove and plenty of paper napkins and plastic utensils at each table. A bottle of pinot grigiot, some great seafood and marvelous family company... what a wonderful night!

Favorite Dish: Why, LOBSTER, of course! I mean, I'm sure their crab is just dandy. But I live in the capital for dungeoness crab, and that season started two days ago, so forget crab in Boston. I want lobster! So, so, so tasty. The clam chowder was fine, but nothing out of this world. Still -- on a very empty tummy and a cold night, it hit the spot.

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Theme: Seafood
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: (617) 426-2722
Address: 88 Sleeper Street, Boston, MA 02210-1226
Directions: Across from the new federal court building

Restaurant Name: Pho Pasteur

If you're looking for some great pho -- noodle soup -- and are near Boston Commons, this is THE place to go. Jackie (scuba_girl) suggested this as a lunch stop for our VT walk along the Freedom Trail (with rowangbr and dracko). Great choice!!

***UPDATE***
scuba_girl reports that the Pho Pasteur location we went to has since shut down. There are, however, a couple other locations still open and she assures me they're good too.

Favorite Dish: The Seafood Noodle soup was deeelicious.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 617-742-2436
Address: 123 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116
Directions: Boston Commons
Website: www.phopasteurboston.com

Restaurant Name: Porcini's

Jackie (scuba_girl) took us to dinner here on Saturday night... it's a favorite restaurant of her house-mate... until she moved in and started cooking, he would eat at this restaurant nearly every other night. One visit told us why. The food was magnificent, the cocktails and wine list delicious and the wait staff friendly and accomodating.

This restaurant is so good, we ended up going to dinner there the next night, as well, bringing along RowanGBR and Roman.

Favorite Dish: The dish I had on the first night was unbeatable: Day boat scallops and prawns with pasta. SO flavorful and the seafood so perfectly cooked. I couldn't begin to finish the pasta, but I made sure to scarf down all the fish.

Mark had the mushroom struedel appetizer the first night and it was scrumptious. I've got marching orders to figure out how to duplicate it in my kitchen. ;-)

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 617-924-2221
Address: 68 School Street, Watertown, MA 02472
Website: www.porcinis.com

Restaurant Name: Vinny's at Night

You enter the storefront of what looks like an Italian Deli and Market, but it's night... so the counters are closed. But you walk towards the back of the shop and are greeted by a hostess who takes your name and you wait in line for a table. Yes, the restaurant is in the back of the market, with tables downstairs as well.

The tables are close together and things are a little cramped and a little noisy. Downstairs there's a TV playing, showing whatever local sports are on (a Red Sox game the night we were there). The servings are enormous and the food delicous.

We met Vinny the night we were there, as he was showing a friend of his a family photo that was on the wall next to our table. In the photo is a large family with a 6 year old boy at the front of the pack, holding a cigarette. Yes, the 6 year old boy is Vinny and the photo was taken in Sicily, a year before they moved to the United States.

Favorite Dish: All non-pasta entrees come with a choice of sides: pasta or vegetables and potatoes.

I had the pan seared lobster tail and sea scallops in a white wine and tomato sauce. DELICIOUS. This came with a HUGE side serving of sauteeed vegetables and fried until crispy garlic mashed potatoes. Oh, I WISH I'd brought my camera in with us. The dish was mangificent and there's no way I could finish it all. I made sure I ate all my fish and took home the left over veggies and potato to have for the next day.

Mark's prawns diavolo on fuscilli was spicy and delicious.

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (617) 628-1921
Address: 76 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145-3320
Directions: Cross Street: Hathorn Street
Website: http://boston.citysearch.com/profile/35703478/somerville_ma/vinny_s_at_night.html