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

Recommended Places to Visit: Northborough

Recreation
Kids
185 Otis Street


Events

Fruit Picking
Tougas Farm
234 Ball Street
Recommended Dishes:
Apple Cider Donut
Strawberry Cider Donut
Strawberry Turnover
Strawberry Slush
Strawberry Coffee Cake
Strawberry Crumble Muffin
Blueberry Donut
Blueberry Scone
Blueberry Donut Sundae
Blueberry Muffin
Cherry Scone
Blueberry Pie Slice
Strawberry Donut Sundae
Strawberry Smoothie
Apple Dumpling
Strawberry Cheesecake Sundae


Hiking
Recommended:
Mount Pisgah
~21 Smith Road

Cedar Hill
270 Lyman Street, Westborough

Cold Harbor Trail
On West Main Street opposite Davis Street

Little Chauncy Pond
Lyman Street near Talbot Road

Edmund Hill
119 Bearfoot Road

257 Hudson Street


Tried:
West Main Street near Crawford Street

79 Bartlett Street


Museums
52 Main Street


Shopping Malls
Northborough Crossing
Shops Way


Parks
Assabet Park 
20 Gale Street

Ellsworth McAfee Park
363 South Street

Casey Field
61 East Main Street


Groceries
Davidian's Farm Market 
500 Church Street


Water Bodies
Solomon Pond
Pond View Way and Solomon Pond Road

Smith Pond
~75 Otis Street

Bartlett Pond/Waston Park
~41 Lyman Street


Architecture
Monuments
War Memorials
Pierce Street and Hudson Street

American Legion Post 234
402 West Main Street

Giant Rooster
411 West Main Street

War Memorial
Church Street and Whitney Street

War Memorials
63 Main Street

Northborough Town Common Park
45 West Main Street

4 West Main Street


Historical Buildings
10 School Street


Places of Worship
St. Rose of Lima Parish
244 West Main Street

Trinity Church
23 Main Street

First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist
40 Church Street

St. Bernadette Parish
266 Main Street



Town Facilities
Senior Center
119 Bearfoot Road


Commercial Buildings
White Cliffs Function Facilities
167 Main Street

Times Square
299 West Main Street

411 West Main Street


Schools
Algonquin Regional High School 
79 Bartlett Street


33 Howard Street


Bridges
Wachusett Aqueduct Bridge
Hudson Street between Allen Street and Vanessa Drive


Restaurants
Highly Recommended:
Indian
Kumar's South Indian Village Cuisine (chain, closed)
8110 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
Kari Dosai
Nannari Sarbath
Meen Kolambu
Paneer Tikka Masala
Garlic Naan

Peppers Indian Cuisine (chain)
8110 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
Garlic Naan
Madras Filter Coffee    
Butter Chicken
Chef's Special Goat Soup
Mutton Roast Boneless


Breakfast
Britney's Cafe
291 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Meaty Pancake Breakfast Combo
Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast
Hot Chocolate


C'est La Vie Bistro
30 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Duck Salade
Not Your Classical Clam Chowder
Poor Chanticleer Tartine
Orange Juice
Eggs a la King
Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes
Duck Hash Browns
Steak and Eggs
Zinneken Wafel
Gougeres


Mexican
Casa Vallarta (chain)
45 Belmont Street
Recommended Dishes:
Vallarta Molcajete
Seafood Molcajete
Huevos con Machaca
Gambuena

290 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Siete Mares
Borrego Don Mutate

Margarita's (chain)
10006 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
Mango Flavored Margarita
Grilled Steak Chimichanga
Mexican Street Corn
Tacos del Mar
SKILLET BAKED ENCHILADAS
Island Coconut Martini


Japanese
Yama Zakura
369 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Seafood Seaweed Salad
Lobster Bomb
Crabby Turtle
Yama Coco Noodle
Sake Sangria
Alligator
Hot Basil Noodle
Yama Nachos

Hanto (chain, closed)
10010 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
Bong Bong Chicken in Hot Chilli Sauce
Ray's Special Soup
Volcano Maki


Mediterranean
Zem Han (closed)
4 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Cheese Borek
Beet Dip
Liver

Fattoush Grill and Bakery
10 Blake Street
Recommended Dishes:
Lentil Soup
Kunafa
Beef Shawarma
Lamb Kabseh

Western
The Neighborhood Tavern
318 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Blackened Chicken Alfredo
Red Sangria
Steak Frites

299 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Wood Roasted Duck
Clam and Crab Cakes
Lemon Almond Cake
Burrata Ravioli
Pasta with Marinara Sauce

Sea Dog Steak and Ale Restaurant (closed)
318 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Blackened Scallop Salad
Chorizo Crusted Haddock

Applebee's (chain)
10004 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
Buffalo Boneless Wings
Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp
1/2 Rack of Baby Back Ribs
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Steamed Broccoli


Italian
Giuseppe's Grille (closed)
35 Solomon Pond Road

Anzio's Brick Oven Pizza
10010 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
Spinaci Pollo
Shrimp Sorrento
Sangria
Wings
Caesar Salad
Cotoletta Alla Bolognese
Tiramisu

Casta Diva Restaurant and Lounge
35 Solomon Pond Road
Recommended Dishes:
Escargot al Limone
Vitello Napolitana
Zuppa del Pollo
Alfredo la Rosa Sauce
Tiramisu
Fried Potatoes

AJ Tomaiolo's
411 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Escarole Soup
12 oz. Sirloin Steak
House Salad
Seafood Calabrese
Tiramisu

Bistro Limoncello (closed)
290 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Chicken Sinatra
Flute Limoncello


Dessert
CocoBeni Confections
Pond View Way and Solomon Pond Road

Brilla Coffee (chain)
17 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Vanilla Milkshake
Blueberry Muffin

Starbucks (chain)
1104 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Strawberry Green Tea
Triple Mocha Frappucino

AggroDolce Coffee Shop
35 Solomon Pond Road
Recommended Dishes:
Butter Croissant
Pink Bottom

Lalajava
290 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Chcocolate Truffle Iced Cocoa
Orange Poppy

Inhouse Coffee (chain, closed)
17 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Green Tea Frappe
Raspberry Pastry


Deli
Festive Breads
299 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Cotswold Croissant


Thai
Yoong Tong Thai Restaurant
278 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Yoong Tong Duckling
Tom Kha Gai Soup
Pineapple Fried Rice
Pad Thai
Yellow Curry
Beef Noodle Soup


Tried:
Deli
Pickle Haus Deli
276 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Berkeley Panini

Jimmy John's (chain) 
10010 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
BBQ Ranch Chicken Crunch

Dessert
Trombetta's Farm (chain, closed)
277 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Sherbet Freeze

291 Coffeehouse and Art Studio
291 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Hot Chocolate

318 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Iced Coffee
Liege Waffle
Pecan Sticky Bun

Honey Dip Donuts
308 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
French Cruller
Cream Filled Donut

Oh Wow Frozen Yogurt & Smoothies
269 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Strawberry
Cotton Candy

Nicky D's Donuts
253 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Strawberry Donut

Mediterranean
Hillside Grill
73 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Jo's Meatless Pasticcio


Seafood
Clam Box Cafe (closed)
14 East Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Combo Plate
Clam Chowder

14 East Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Fried Calamari

Latin American
QDOBA (chain)
4104 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
QuesaBirria Quesadilla


Breakfast

Chet's Diner
191 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Homemade Corned Beef Hash with 2 Eggs

Tilz Restaurant (closed)
249 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Bacon Cheese Dog

Two Doors Away Cafe (closed)
249 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Two Eggs in a Nest

Jolly Rogers Diner
249 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
1 Slider


Chinese
Shangri-La
259 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Orange Crispy Shrimp

Mandarin Pan Restaurant
292 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
General Gau's Chicken
Crab Rangoon


Japanese
Mikaku Japanese Restaurant
290 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Black Rice Mermaid
Mikaku Special


Italian
Northborough House of Pizza
12 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Meat Lover's Pizza
Clam Strip Plate
Baklava
Mediterranean

245 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Frango Passarinho
Extravaganza
Steak Tip Broccoli Alfredo

Monti's Pizza Plus
369 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Rice Pudding
Pastrami and Swiss
Lasagna
Breakfast Pizza
FRESH TOMATO & GARLIC
CHICKEN & BROCCOLI ALFREDO
Cheese Pizza
Spicy Curley Fries
Pasta with Eggplant

308 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Mediterranean Mista
God Father

Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza (chain, closed)
10002 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
Meatballs with Ricotta Cheese
Anthony's Original Coal Fired Roasted Chicken Wings
Pork Ribs with Vinegar Peppers

Western
IHOP (chain)
4102 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
Red Velvet Pancake
Chicken Florentine Crepes
Sirloin Tips and Eggs Combo
Jr. Chicken and Waffles
Ham and Cheese Omelette Combo

Subway (chain)
200 Otis Street
Recommended Dishes:
The Great Garlic

Mooyah (chain)
10010 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
Half and Half
Mooyah Cheeseburger
Avocado Ranch Black Bean Burger
Oreo Milkshake
Texas Chili Cheese Fries
Strawberry Milkshake
Mushroom Swiss Burger
Reese's PB Cups Milkshake
Little Burger
Campfire Burger
Chilli Cheese Dog

Burger King (chain)
1102 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
Original Chicken Sandwich
Hamburger
Rodeo Burger
Spicy Ch'King

Special Teas
10 Church Street
Recommended Dishes:
Mulled Cider
Famous Melt
Tomato Spinach Soup
Spinach Crepe
House Chai Tea
Afternoon Tea

Beezers
277 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Pizza Dog

369 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Filet Mignon
New England Clam Chowder
Asparagus
House Cut Steak Fries
Almond Cake

JJ's Sports Bar and Grill
380 Southwest Cutoff

Texas BBQ Company
309 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Corn Chowder
3 Meat Sampler

Market Cafe (chain)
9102 Shops Way
Recommended Dishes:
New England Clam Chowder
Garlic Parmesan Wings
Garlic Parmesan Tilapia with Lemon Butter Sauce
Organic 3 Grain Ginger Salad
Cold Roasted Cauliflower
Roasted Red Potatoes
California Spring Roll
Spicy Tuna Volcano Roll
Thai Crispy Chicken
Chocolate Iced Ring with Sprinkles
Seasoned Green Beans
Cold Butternut Squash with Baby Spinach and Craisins
Stir Fry Broccoli and Mushrooms
Danny's Born in Buffalo Medium Chicken Wings
Vegetable Fried Rice
Vegetable Lo Mein
Cold Roasted Brussels Sprouts 
Crunchy Roll Family Pack
Eel Cucumber Roll

CJ's Steakloft (closed)
369 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Beef Stew
Combo Dinner with Prime Rib and Lazy Lobster

Celtic Tavern (chain, closed)
45 Belmont Street
Recommended Dishes:
Stuffed Cheeseburger
Tavern Double Flay Burger
Beer Battered Fish and Chips
Savory Sheppard's Pie


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.