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.