Sunday, March 31, 2024

March 31st 2024: Second Time at Mint Kitchen and Bar, Worcester

 Today, we decided have dinner with family at Mint Kitchen and Bar, a Vietnamese bar restaurant in Worcester which we visited a while back. This time around, we got the Cha Ca Thang Long (“Thang Long” style sizzling fish flavored with fresh dill, scallion and galangal. *Served with rice noodles and fresh herbs*)

and the Bo Luc Lac (Cubed ribeye sauteed with sweet soy sauce *Served with salad and jasmine rice*)
Really excellent, and unique too. Definitely glad we brought our family here.



Saturday, March 30, 2024

March 30th 2024: 'Olo Pizza, Worcester

 Today, after getting a Oleato Golden Foam™ Cold Brew

and the Potato, Cheddar and Chive Bites


from the Starbucks at 41 Park Avenue in Worcester,

We decided to check out 'Olo Pizza, a wood-fired oven pizza bar restaurant nearby, getting the Oven Wings (lemon pepper rub and served with garlic parmesan dip)

and the Mushroom (Thyme, shredded mozzarella, fontina, and truffle oil).

Not bad actually, although I did see some other plates with burnt pizza.


Tuesday, March 26, 2024

March 26th 2024: Amato's, Worcester

 Today, while in Worcester, I decided to grab a quick bite from Amato's, an Italian store located within a gas station, which apparently has locations all over New England. I got the Little Stuffers Pepperoni and Ham,

which was just alright in my opinion. Filling though, for cheap.


Saturday, March 23, 2024

March 23rd 2024: Eating in the Rain in Worcester and Amherst

 Today, we started off with a quick bite at Yume Dumplings, a new Chinese hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Worcester,

getting the BBQ Pork Bao,
the Wontons in Spicy Szechuan Chili Oil,

the Seafood Wontons Noodle Soup,
and the Beef Soup Dumplings.
The beef dumplings were a pretty interesting concept and well done in terms of flavor, although everything else was just alright. Not a restaurant I would come back to.

From here, we headed to Amherst in the rain, getting dinner at Formosa Chinese Restaurant, a pretty nice restaurant in town.
we got the Jumbo Shrimp with Pea Pods,
the Mala Dry Hot Pot (beef, fish fillet, squid, enoki mushroom, bean Curd, Lotus roots and potato),
and the Lion Head in Sizzling Hot Pot (shrimp, tofu, black mushroom, bamboo shoots, ham and vermicelle).
the shrimp was just alright, and the meatball soup was a tad salty. The spicy dish was decent though. Overall, I think Oriental Flavor nearby, which we visit once in the past, is much better. After an unsatisfactory dinner, we decided to get some bubble tea from LimeRed Teahouse nearby, 


getting the Jasmine Milk Tea.
Not too bad an end to a rainy day of eating in Worcester and Amherst.














Friday, March 22, 2024

Recommended Places to Visit: Auburn

Recreation
Bowling
AMF Auburn Lanes
101 Southbridge Street

Ice Skating
403 Oxford Street North


Parks
Goddard Park/Auburn Pond
Auburn Street and Southbridge Street


Shopping Malls
Auburn Mall
385 Southbridge Street


Kids
Crystal Caves Family Entertainment Center
790 Southbridge Street


Museums
Auburn Historical Society
41 South Street

Water Bodies
Dark Brook Reservoir
Leicester Street and Bryn Mawr Avenue

Eddy Pond
Central Street near Sharon Avenue

42 Tinker Hill Road

Stoneville Pond
~140 Oxford Street North

Pondville Pond
~375 Washington Street

Stoneville Reservoir
~168 Rochdale Street


Architecture
Monuments
Town Common
104 Central Street

War Memorial
Auburn Street near Southbridge Street

Water Street Memorial Park
Southbridge Street and Water Street

Kusy Park
Southbridge Street and Church Street

Prospect Street Memorial Park
Southbridge Street and Prospect Street

Veteran's Memorial Corridor
Southbridge Street and Washington Street


Town Facilities
Auburn VNA Health Network
191 Pakachoag Street

Auburn Sportsman's Club
50 Elm Street

Town Hall
104 Central Street

Public Library
369 Southbridge Street


Places of Worship
St. Joseph's Church
194 Oxford Street

First Congregational Church
128 Central Street

Faith Baptist Church
22 Faith Avenue

Bethel Lutheran Church
90 Bryn Mawr Avenue


Pakachoag Church
203 Pakachoag Street

Hampton Street Baptist Church
81 Hampton Street


Restaurants
Highly Recommended:
Chinese
Yong Shing
90 Auburn Street
Recommended Dishes:
Monster Maki
Ma La Lamb


Western
Chuck's Steakhouse
10 Prospect Street
Recommended Dishes:
Chateau of Beef
Spinach, Tomato and Mushroom Quesadilla

Bentley Pub (chain)
602 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Coconut Shrimp
Fish Tacos


Tried:
Breakfast
Frank and Nancy's
500 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
1 Egg and Kielbasa

Heritage Coffee Shop
567 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Meat Lovers Omelette

The Coffee Mug
286 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Hot Chocolate
2 Eggs, Hash, Toast, Home Fries

Uncle Mark's Diner
17 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Hash and Cheese Omelette


Seafood
Cap't Loui (chain)
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Louisiana Clams
Garlic Noodles

Ronnie's Seafood and Ice Cream
871 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Lobster Roll
Clam Roll


Japanese
Jasmine Restaurant
711 Southbridge Street


Western
820 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Naked Chicken Chalupa
Crunchy Taco
Beef Burrito

503 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Ace of Staff Wings
Route 20 Sub

Laneside Grill
101 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Coney Island Hot Dog
Loaded Fries

McDonald's (chain)
72 Auburn Street
Recommended Dishes:
Smoky BLT Double Quarter Pounder* with Cheese
4 pcs. McNuggets


Latin American
Tacos Mexico
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Fried Pork Gordita
Tamarindo


Italian
Brother's Pizza
850 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Maui Pizza
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

Auburn Town Pizza
69 Auburn Street
Recommended Dishes:
BBQ Chicken Pizza

Dessert
Cafe Amore
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Frozen Hot Chocolate

Coco's Tropical Ice
1 Swanson Road

Hershey's Ice Cream (chain, closed)
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Strawberry Fields

Edible Arrangements (chain)
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Fruit Smoothie


Tutti Frutti (chain)
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Caramel Iced Coffee
Iced Coffee
Original
Pineapple Sorbet
Taro

March 22nd 2024: 185 Bistro, Worcester

 Today, after checking out the Daniel Horgan Skating Rink in Auburn,



and getting a Butternut donut from the Honey Dew Donuts at 99 Gold Star Boulevard in Worcester,

I decided to have brunch at 185 Bistro in Worcester, a new brunch place that has opened up in the place of Mac's Diner, which I visited once in the past. Much nicer inside now. 
I got the Fried Buttermilk Chicken Benedict (with spicy chipotle sauce on our homemade bulky),
which was really tasty. A good shout out to my friend whose parents own this place now.



Saturday, March 16, 2024

March 16th 2024: Sichuan Gourmet House, Newton

 Today, we decided to go on a hike at Rosemary Brook in Wellesley, where the path we took from 204 Oakland Street is shown below in pink.

pretty nice views of the wetlands from the path.

From here, we headed to lunch at Sichuan Gourmet House, a decent Chinese restaurant in Newton.
We got the Shrimp in Spicy Salt and Pepper,

the Stir Fried Spinach with Garlic,
the Cumin Lamb on Skewers,
the Chengdu Style Ma Po Tofu,

and the Steamed Pork Soup Dumplings.
Really delicious, especially the lamb skewers, which were full of meat for once and not dry.






Saturday, March 9, 2024

March 9th 2024: Play in Northborough, Lunch in Worcester

 Today, after checking out Teamworks in Northborough for a bit, 




we decided to have lunch at Hien Vuong, a Vietnamese restaurant in Worcester, this time getting the Sau Rieng Sinh To (fresh fruit shake, durian),


the Pho Bo Vien (rice noodles with beef balls),

the Mi Thap Cam (special combination with egg noodles, shrimp, slices of BBQ pork, fish cakes, Vietnamese pork ham and fish balls)
and the Hu Tieu My Tho (a clear noodles soup from the My Tho region of South Vietnam (shrimp, slices of BBQ pork, Vietnames pork ham and fish balls).
Just alright in our opinion, made up for with the new Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha from the Starbucks inside the Target on Lincoln Street.





Friday, March 8, 2024

March 8th 2024: Eating Out in Woburn and Burlington

 Today, we decided to first have an early dinner in Woburn, checking out the Polish-Portuguese bar restaurant The Fox Den in town. Pretty nice decor inside.


We got the Shrimp Mozambique (shell on shrimp, onion, garlic, piri piri, Mozambique sauce)


the 3 Pierogi Mix and Match (sauerkraut and spicy sour cream, Classic (potato, cheddar, scallions, spices topped with scallion), Mushroom Marsala (potato, mushroom, carmelized onion, garlic confit), Lil' Polska (Potato, kielbasa, sauerkraut, whole grain mustard)).


Pretty good food I must say, full of flavor, with a kick too.

Later, while at H-Mart in Burlington, we decided to get some food from the food court there, getting the Spicy Rice Cakes from Woojeon

and the Squid Dog from Oh! K-Dog,
the Queens location of which I visited once in the past.

Excellent day of eating out in Woburn and Burlington

Monday, March 4, 2024

March 3rd 2024: Hiking and Eating in Hopkinton

 Today, we decided to go on a hike at the Deneen Conservation Area in Hopkinton, where the path we took to get to view points from 48 Deneen Road is shown below in pink.




Decent views of Lake Maspenock from here, though going to Sandy Beach on the other side would have sufficed.




From here, we decided to get dinner from Cornell's Irish Pub, a typical bar restaurant in town, 



Getting the Cape Cod Rachel (fried haddock, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, thousand Island dressing, served on grilled white bread with fries).



Pretty good I must say, although the food took a long time to come.