November 4th 2023: Lunches in Norwood and Somerville

 Today, we had 2 lunches, first at the 1240 Cafe in Norwood, getting the Mediterranean Vegetables and White Bean Soup and Chicken Fingers,

The Chilli,

The Pasta Salad,

the Cream of Chicken and Mushroom,

the Sausage Bomb (with peppers and onions)

and the Pizza (tomato, mushroom, broccoli).

An alright meal overall. Later, while in Somerville,

Conway Park

We decided to get more food at Koshari Mama, a small vegan Egyptian restaurant in town,

getting the Sahlab

and the Koshari (layered rice, lentil and pasta dish. Topped with fried onions and chickpeas. Served with a vinegar garlic sauce and tomato based sauce).

Pretty good, and apparently it is the national dish of Egypt, go figure.

October 21st 2023: Crazy Tacos Bar and Grill, Norwood

 Today, while in Norwood, we decided to check out Crazy Tacos Bar and Grill, a takeout Mexican restaurant in town.

We got the Yucca Fries,

the Traditional Taco Combo (3 traditional tacos with rice and beans. Topped with onions and cilantro and salsa verde),

and the Chimichanga (crispy fried burrito stuffed with jack cheese, rice and beans, topped with fresh lettuce, homemade guacamole and mild pico de gallo and sour cream).

It was weird to see a barely fried chimichanga, but the food was not bad for a hole in the wall place.

Recommended Places to Visit: Norwood

Recreation

Arts and Crafts
Luke Adams Glass
416 Lenox Street

Arts Performances
Norwood Theatre
109 Central Street


Parks

Father MacAleer Playground and Park

Hawthorne Street & Vernon Street

Water Bodies

Ellis Pond
Walpole Street and Endicott Street

Guild Pond
~550 Nichols Street

Hawes Brook Walkway
~1315 Washington Street

Architecture

Commercial Buildings

Hampton Inn Boston-Norwood
434 Providence Highway

Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

1125 BOSTON PROVIDENCE TURNPIKE

Monuments

Town Common
Cottage Street East and Central Street

Aaron Guild Park
Central Street and Guild Street

Places of Worship

Grace Episcopal Church
150 Chapel Street

Emmanuel Lutheran Church
24 Berwick Street

First Congregational Church
100 Winter Street

First Baptist Church
71 Bond Street

United Church of Norwood
595 Washington Street

St. Catherine of Siena Church
547 Washington Street

First Church of Christ, Scientist
751 Washington Street

St. George Orthodox Church
6 Atwood Avenue

Schools
Norwood High School
245 Nichols Street

Town Facilities
Morrill Memorial Library
33 Walpole Street

Historical Society
93 Day Street

Town Hall
566 Washington Street

Post Office
1 Central Street

Norwood Memorial Airport
125 Access Road

Skating Club of Boston

750 University Avenue


Bridges
Colonel George T Lee Bridge
Nahatan Street near Broadway


Historical Buildings
Norwood Masonic Building: Orient Lodge
76 Day Street

The Exploration Center
932 Washington Street

Old Northrop Grumman Building
934 Washington Street


Restaurants
Highly Recommended:
Western

Mick Morgan's (chain)
434 Providence Highway

Recommended Dishes:

Clam Chowder

Fish and Chips

One Bistro

1125 BOSTON PROVIDENCE TURNPIKE

Recommended Dishes:

One Bistro Gin and Tonic

Portabella Mushroom

Kid's Fish and Chips

Caribbean

La Baguette North (chain)
485 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Baguette

Almond Croissant

Acassan

Mediterranean
Byblos Restaurant
678 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Loubye with Lamb
Kafta Kabob
Ma'mul

Thai
Thai Boo Cuisine

712 Washington Street

Recommended Dishes:

Larb
Duck Love Boo
Thai Donuts

Italian
Boncaldo Italian Restaurant

1381 Providence Highway

Recommended Dishes:

Gamberi
Pappardelle
Crostata
Budino

Sky Restaurant

1369 Providence Highway

Recommended Dishes:

Shellfish Platter
Wild Mushroom Sweet Potato Ravioli
No Guilt Minis


Dessert

Fresh Froyo

642 Washington Street

Recommended Dishes:

Original Yogurt
Peach Mango Smoothie

Perks Coffeehouse

685 Washington Street

Recommended Dishes:

Raspberry Mousse

Tried:
Mediterranean
The Feisty Greek
38 Vanderbilt Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Pastitsio

Victoria's Cafe
655 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
House Salad
Hummus
Mixed Kabob
Cobb Salad
Cauliflower

Dessert
Guarino Pastry Shop
865 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Chocolate Chip Cannoli
Cream Puff

Common Cafe and Patisserie
637 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Smoked Turkey Delight Sandwich
Greek Koulourakia
Linzer Cookie
Sugar Leaves
Walnut Butter Cookie
Apricot Cookie

Latin American

Crazy Tacos Bar and Grill

716 Washington Street

Recommended Dishes:

Chimichanga

Traditional Taco Combo

Yucca Fries

Chinese
Peony Chinese Restaurant

654 Washington Street

Recommended Dishes:

Ginger and Basil Chicken Chops with Bone Casserole
Cold Noodle With Peanut Sauce
Boiled Wonton With Spicy Sauce

Bamboo Cafe
663 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Crispy Sesame Chicken
Christmas Tree Roll

Western

McDonald's (chain)

31 Providence Highway

Recommended Dishes:

4 pc. Chicken McNuggets

McRib

Burger King (chain)

41 Providence Highway

Recommended Dishes:

4 pc. Chicken Nuggets

BBQ Bacon and Cheese BK Royal Crispy Chicken

1240 Cafe

750 University Avenue

Recommended Dishes:

French Fries

Chicken Fingers

Cream of Chicken and Mushroom

Pizza

Mediterranean Vegetables and White Bean Soup

Chilli

Pasta Salad

Sausage Bomb

Lewis' Bar and Grill

92 Central Street

Recommended Dishes:

House Marinated Lamb Kabob
Cup and Quahog
Chicken Wings

September 9th 2023: One Bistro, Norwood

 Today, while in Norwood, 

Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

we decided to have lunch at One Bistro, located within the hotel.

We got the One Bistro Gin and Tonic (Bombay Dry Gin, Fever Tree Tonic, peaches and Thyme),

the Portabella Mushroom (Roasted Red Peppers, Goat Cheese, Baby Arugula, Balsamic Glaze, Brioche Bun, served with coleslaw)

and the Kid's Fish and Chips (with lemon caper sauce).

Not bad, although the drink was not to my liking at all.

April 8th 2023: 2 Brunches in Dedham

 Today, we started out with looking for a breakfast place in Dedham, finally settling for the Orchid7 Fusion Bar and Grill, a Caribbean restaurant in the downtown area. Pretty nice inside.

The brunch menu wasn't very Caribbean looking, which made me kind of regret coming here this time of day, but with a crunch for time before Ice Chips 2023 was to start, we decided to go with the HAM BENEDICT (4oz Canadian bacon, served on an English muffin, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, breakfast potatoes, and toast or fruit) 

and the ORCHID7 BREAKFAST (Sour dough bread, herb cream cheese, scrambled eggs, bacon, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, with breakfast potatoes.).

Nicely presented, I must say, and the flavors and textures were decent as well, with a Caribbean twist to it. Glad we came here because The Friendly Toast in town was full of people. 

After watching Ice Chips 2023 at the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood,

which starred the reigning Olympic champion Nathan Chen,

we decided to give The Friendly Toast a second try, and this time they had available seating. Interesting decor as always like the Cambridge location I visited a few times.

We got the Huevos Rancheros (A bed of home fries, layered with crispy corn flats, black beans, fire roasted poblano corn, smashed avocado, a sunny egg, cotija cheese, pico de gallo, pickled onion & chimichurri.),

and the Appetize Me Captain (Try the Breakfast Egg Rolls (Two crispy egg rolls filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, home fries, American & Cheddar cheese - topped with Everything Bagel aioli), Churro Bites (Crispy fried doughnut pieces tossed in cinnamon & sugar, topped with a creamy cheesecake glaze & chocolate drizzle - served with our strawberry habanero jam), Some Like it Tot (Golden fried cheddar stuffed jumbo tots with VT cheddar cheese sauce, caramelized onions, crumbled bacon, sriracha glaze & scallions) & fresh fruit in this signature PuPu platter).

Excellent food I must say, especially the combination of flavors in the egg rolls, as well as the potato tots. Can see why this place is so popular.

March 26th 2023: Cava, Dedham

 Today, after having fun at the Father MacAleer Playground and Park in Norwood,

we decided to get lunch from Cava, a popular fast food style Mediterranean restaurant chain in Dedham,

getting the Balsamic Date Chicken (grilled chicken, roasted eggplant dip, roasted red pepper hummus, fire-roasted corn, cabbage slaw, tomato + cucumber, brown rice, spinach),

the SPICY CHICKEN + AVOCADO (Harissa honey chicken, Crazy Feta, hummus, avocado, pickles, corn, pickled onions, hot harissa vinaigrette.),

and drinks like Pineapple Apple Mint ( pineapple, apple cider, fresh mint, and lime juice.), Blueberry Lavender (purée of fresh blueberries and lavender)

and Cucumber Mint Lime (with lime juice).

Pretty good flavors in the meats and drinks. The only drink that tasted weird was the lavender drink.

February 5th 2023: Mick Morgan's, Norwood

 Today, while in Norwood,

Hampton Inn Boston-Norwood

my little and I decided to have dinner at Mick Morgan's, an Irish bar-restaurant located within the hotel. 

We got the Clam Chowder (New England style clam chowder)

and the Fish and Chips.

Not bad, and pretty big portions too. Everything else on the menu was too expensive though. Oh inflation.

For dessert, we got a Old Fashioned Strawberry Cheesecake (NY style cheesecake finished with strawberry preserves and a fresh strawberry)

from Dessert Works, a bakery in Westwood.

Not bad, but on the sweet side.

 

January 15th 2023: Norwood Spice, Norwood

 Today, while in Norwood, we decided to grab a bite from Norwood Spice, an Indian restaurant in town.

We got the Veg Samosa (Turnover filled with potato and peas stuffing),

the Naan/Bread (Soft and delicious bread made in our tandoor clay oven) and Chicken Makhani (Chicken tandoori pieces cooked in delicate cream containing ground cashews, raisins, and almonds, with tomato sauce.).

Everything was not bad in my opinion, although my other half felt it was on the stale side. Oh well, at least our little one was happy.

January 8th 2023: La Baguette North, Norwood

 Today, while in the town of Norwood, we decided to check out La Baguette North, a Haitian bakery with branches in Brockton and Boston. We had thought it was French initially. We got the Almond Croissant,

the Baguette,

and the Acassan (Corn Milk Shake).

Extremely underwhelming, the drink full of cinnamon, the croissant really undercooked as well. Not sure why they have so many branches, even in New York.

November 13th 2022: Fast Food in Norwood, Italian in Boston

 Today, while in Norwood, we had to grab some quick bites, getting Chicken McNuggets (made with all white meat chicken and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.)

and the McRib (with seasoned boneless pork dipped in a tangy BBQ sauce, topped with slivered onions and dill pickles, all served on a toasted homestyle bun) from McDonald's,

and the 4 Pc. Chicken Nuggets (Bite-sized white meat chicken coated in crispy homestyle seasoned breading.) and BBQ Bacon and Cheese BK Royal Crispy Chicken (Crispy white meat breast fillet topped with southern-spiced BBQ sauce, crispy bacon and melty cheese on a toasted potato bun.) from Burger King next door.

Pretty good for the purpose they served, to fill our stomachs.

From here, we headed into Boston,

Boston Marathon Survivor Memorial,
755 Boylston Street

Apple Store Boylston Street

where we somehow managed to get a table at La Pizza and La Pasta within Eataly, albeit at the tabletop area.

We got the Lambrusco di Sorbara Vecchia Modena, Cleto Chiarli (Emilia-Romagna),

the Norcina (black truffle and mushroom cream, mushrooms, mozzarella di bufala from Napoli, sweet Italian sausage, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil),

and the Cacio e Pepe (afeltra bucatini, Genuine Fulvi Pecorino Romano DOP, black pepper).

The wine was alright in my opinion, while the pizza and pasta were simple but pretty tasty. Overall, can see why people fill up this place all the time.