June 21st 2016: Breakfast at Cisco Brew Pub, Boston

While waiting for our flight this morning, we headed to the Cisco Brew Pub Logan Airport for some breakfast,  getting the House Breakfast (3 egg scramble,  Crispy bacon, sausage, toast ).

Crispy home Fries, but nothing special Overall.

June 20th 2016: Dinner at Sunrise Restaurant, Boston

We had dinner at Sunrise Restaurant, a small Vietnamese restaurant in the Dorchester area of Boston.
 We got the Bun Bo Hue, the Bun Mam and the Pho. Really authentic and delicious. Definitely the best Vietnamese place in the area. Unfortunately, my ST card got formatted before I could get to the pictures.

June 19th 2016: Meals in Marlborough and Berlin

We were in the Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough today, and decided to grab a bite from the food court, getting a Loaded Curly Fried from the Arby's here

and Mini Pretzel Dogs from Auntie Anne's.

Not bad for a quick meal.

For our actual lunch, we went to the Flat Penny Bar and Grill, a dive bar in Berlin. We got the Scallops & Bacon (Fresh sea scallops wrapped in bacon)

 and the Fish & Chips (Lightly battered, golden-fried llets of Haddock Served with French fries).

The scallops were a little dry, although the fish was not bad. Overall, nothing special though.

June 18th 2016: Buffet Lunch at Ibasaw, Malden and Dinner at Bistro 5, Medford

We went to check out the newest restaurant in Malden today, Ibasaw, which has all you can eat, dimsum, sushi and hotpot.

A really broad range of food available here, from sushi, szechuan food, dimsum, and dessert as well.

Needless to say, one of the better buffet places I have been to in Massachusetts.

Dinner was at an upscale Italian restaurant in Medford, Bistro 5.

We got the Duck Duo (Foie-Gras & Focaccia Bread Pudding with Rhubarb, Duck Prosciutto, Arugula),

the Gnocchi  ( Hen-of-the-Woods Mushrooms, Panko Crumbs, Truffle Oil, Parmesan),

the Seared Pork Belly (Strawberry Red-Onion Portwine Jam, Baby Carrots, and Chive Red-Bliss Pommes Anna)

and the Strawberry Tiramisu (Prosecco braised strawberries, evoo cake, strawberry mousse, candied mint, and mint powdered sugar) for dessert.

Really excellent presentation, to start off with. The foie gras creme brulee was a really interesting and tasty concept, and the truffle oil on the gnocchi with the perfect texture, just heavenly. The pork belly was unfortunately a little too fatty for my liking. Thankfully, the dessert was a delight to savor. Overall, a really good meal, but really expensive for small portions as well.

June 17th 2016: Dinner with Family at Exchange Street Bistro, Malden

We had dinner tonight as the Exchange Street Bistro in Malden. I enjoyed my last experience here, although it was for lunch and not dinner.

We got the ESB Signature Tapas Plate, which included the Lasagna Rollatini (ricotta,portabella mushrooms, spinach, fontina, basil, pomodoro sauce),

the Summer Burrata Salad (compressed watermelon, watercress, pea tendrils, pistachios, balsamic reduction, crostini),

the Baked Haddock (summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes, kale, corn tapenade, lobster cream sauce)

and the 14 oz Ribeye (asparagus, grilled tomato, smoked mushroom sauce).

Everything on the tapas plate was delicious, especially the caramelized onions in the quesadilla and the swordfish filet. The salad came out more like a cheese plate, but all the components came together really well on the crostini. The fish was cooked just right, amazing in the lobster sauce, the chunks of lobster meat being a delightful surprise, and the steak was tender and juicy, perfected with the smoky mushroom flavor of the sauce. Yet another amazing meal here. This has got to be the best place in town, hands down.

June 16th 2016: Eating Out in Auburn

We had dinner tonight at the Bentley Pub, a bar restaurant in Auburn.

We got the Coconut Shrimp (butterflied and breaded with coconut then flash fried, served with coconut cream sauce)

and the Fish Tacos (twin tacos, loaded with lightly breaded tilapia, cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, drizzled with spicy mayonnaise).

Both were actually pretty good, the shrimp going well with the sauce provided, and the fish being really crispy and flavorful. Not bad for a pub.

For dessert, we were in the Auburn Mall, so we decided to check out the Edible Arrangements store here, which also serves smoothies made with fresh fruit, of which we got one.

Not bad actually, especially without any sugar.

June 15th 2016: Prime Rib Dinner at Jimmy's Tavern, Shrewsbury

We had dinner at Jimmy's Tavern in Shrewsbury tonight, taking advantage of their Prime Rib deal by of course getting the Slow Roasted Prime Rib with Seasoned Fries

along with a Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri

and a New England Clam Chowder.

Pretty good stuff, although the drink got a little too sweet after a while.

June 14th 2016: Dinner at Uno's Pizzeria and Grill, Millbury

Dinner tonight was at the Uno's Pizzeria and Grill in Millbury,

 where we got a Chicago Thin Pizza with Pesto sauce, mushrooms and eggplant while waiting for a seat. Thankfully, we got one just before the pizza arrived.

The pizza was pretty good, although the crust was not that thin. It did not fill us up though, so we got the Rattlesnake Pasta (Sautéed chicken and spicy alfredo tossed with penne and topped with cheddar and slices of jalapeño),

which was a tad spicy, though nothing special.

Overall, just an average meal from this place, as always.

June 13th 2016: Dinner at Civic Kitchen and Drink, Westborough

We had dinner tonight at the newest restaurant in Westborough, Civic Kitchen and Drink. This place used to be the Grille at Westborough Country Club, which I visited a while back, and the decor has not changed much since then.

We got the Dixie Shrimp (Tangy Pickled Shrimp Served Chilled, shrimp cocktail twist, no sauce)

and the Short Ribs (Ponzu Glace, Grilled Bok Choy and Crispy Rice) for food,

For dessert, we got the Vanilla Pound Cake with Poached Apricots (with apricot whipped cream).

The shrimp were a little on the sour side, and way too simplistic for what we paid. The sauce for the short ribs was really good, but the meat itself could have been more tender. As for the dessert, it was just alright, and I did not like the slight almond flavor in the cake.

Overall, don't think I will come back to this place again.

June 12th 2016: Second Time at the Boston Dragon Boat Festival

This morning, we went to Touga's Farm in Northborough to pick some strawberries.

After we filled up 3 boxes, we decided to take a break at the shop, getting a Strawberry Slush,

a bag of Strawberry Donuts

and a Strawberry Coffee Cake.

Amazing how good stuff tastes when they are made from fresh fruit.

For brunch, we were in the Harvard Square area, and decided on the Russell House Tavern, a pretty upscale bar restaurant.

We settled on the Anti-Benedict (2 Crispy-Fried Poached Eggs, English Muffin, Spinach, Sausage, Hollandaise, Home Fries),

which was not bad, especially because the crispy eggs were an interesting concept, although it bordered on being bland at times. Might come back here to try the dinner fare next time.

Next, we headed over to the Charles River to watch the Boston Dragon Boat Festival for bit.

Finally, we stopped for some dessert at Praline, a French desserterie in the town of Belmont. We got a box of truffles, which came in a cute box,

the Millefeuille Vanilla,

and the Tuiles Almond.

I did not like the almond taste in the wafers even though they were really crispy, although the vanilla cake was absolutely delicious. The truffles were only so-so though. Overall, a pretty nice bakery.

June 11th 2016: Lunch in Natick, Dinner in Framingham

We had a late lunch at the California Pizza Kitchen, a famouse chain pizza place in the Natick Mall in Natick today.

We didn't get any pizza today, getting the Dakota Smashed Pea and Barley Soup (A hearty split pea soup with barley, carrots, onions, savory herbs and scallions),

the Kung Pao Spaghetti (with garlic, scallions, peanuts and hot red chilies with chicken and shrimp),

the Classic Caesar (With shaved Parmesan and housemade garlic butter croutons with Sauteed Salmon) salad,

the Avocado Club Egg Rolls (Hand-wrapped crispy wonton rolls filled with avocado, chicken, tomato, Monterey Jack and Nueske’s applewood smoked bacon. Served with housemade ranchito sauce and herb ranch),

and finally the Strawberry Shortcake for dessert.

Of all the food, only the egg rolls were absolutely fantastic, flavorful and with different textures. The salmon for the salad was too salty, as were the noodles. The soup and dessert were just so-so as well. Maybe we should have tried the pizza instead.

As expected, dinner was late as well, at the Olive Garden nearby in Framingham.

We got the Cucina Mia (make your own pasta, GF Rotini with Italian Sausage and Traditional Marinara sauce),

the Stuffed Mushrooms (Baked with clams, parmesan, romano, mozzarella and herb breadcrumbs.) and Zuppa Toscana (Spicy Italian sausage, fresh kale and russet potatoes in a creamy broth),

the Pasta e Fagioli (White and red beans, ground beef, fresh tomatoes and tubetti pasta in a savory broth)

and finally the Warm Apple Crostata (Northern Spy apples baked inside crispy pastry crust, served warm and topped with vanilla ice cream and a caramel drizzle) for dessert.

Only the Tuscan soup was good as always. I didn't like the tomato flavors of the other soup and the pasta, the mushrooms were alright, although dessert was not bad.

Not one of my better meals at Olive Garden.