February 3rd 2018: Birthday Dinner at Maya Indian Bar and Grill, Wakefield

Tonight, we decided to take the parents out to Maya Indian Bar and Grill, an Indian restaurant in the town of Wakefield.

We got the Mango Lassi (traditional flavored yogurt smoothie),

the Maya Scallop (Pan seared scallops tossed in a chef’s special Mango Sauce),

the Peshawar Kulcha (Naan Bread stuffed with dry fruits and nuts),

the Goat Tikka Masala (Creamy tomato sauce flavored with methi leaf), Fish Saag (Spinach green, Garlic, roasted Cumin, mildly spiced and flavored with Fenugreek leaves), Shrimp Lagan (A Hyderabadi slow cooked creamy sauce made with roasted nuts and spices),

and finally the Rice Kheer (rice pudding, cashew nuts, cardamom and saffron) for dessert.

The drink was pretty good, although the scallops were a little underwhelming. Everything else was really delicious, especially the spinach curry, although the rice in the dessert was not ground enough, and it had too much herbs in it. Overall though, I am glad the parents enjoyed their first Indian meal.

November 15th 2016: Breakfast with Grandma at Blue Moon Grill, Wakefield

We brought our grandmother to breakfast at Blue Moon Grill, a popular diner in the town of Wakefield, where we had to wait a while even after calling ahead in order to get a seat.

We got the Hot Chocolate, which was good as always,

the Morning Glory (carrot and orange) and Healthy Glow (cucumber and carrot) juices made from fresh fruit and vegetables,

the Crabmeat Eggs Benedict (Eggs Benedict with claw crabmeat, asparagus topped with hollandaise sauce, served with sweet potato hash),

the Pineapple Coconut Bliss Pancakes (chunks of pineapple, coconut, dollops of cream cheese and brown sugar baked in)

and the Irish Stuffed Potato Skins (a scooped out potato cut in half stuffed with corned beef hash, poached eggs topped with hollandaise sauce and served with home fries).

In my opinion, the potato skins were a disappointment with not much flavor to them, as was the corned beef hash. The pancakes were interesting and tasty with the pineapple, as was the sweet potato hash, but I could not find anything special in the eggs benedict. Overall, definitely not worth the price or the wait, although the portions were really big.

May 14th 2016: Meals in Hudson, Wakefield and Dedham

We started off today with breakfast in Hudson at Cafe 641, a nice cafe in town.

We got a Tropic Nut Latte (with coconut and almond flavors)

and the Orchard Crepe (soft brie, apple, cranberry compote).

While the coffee was just alright by me as always, the crepe was actually pretty good, mainly because of the brie. A place worth coming back to.

Lunch was in the town of Wakefield, first at Sakura Organic, a chic looking Japanese restaurant using organic ingredients.

We got the Ramen Noodle Soup (Traditional Japanese noodle in creamy pork broth, top with sliced roast pork, bamboo shoots, beansprouts and egg)

and the Sushi Pizza (Layers of sliced avocado, spicy tuna, salmon and yellowtail, chopped onion and jalapeno, with chef special sauce, grilled to perfection, on top of thin crispy fried dough).

Pretty good actually, and fresh, but overall nothing amazing in my opinion, although my other half would beg to differ.

Next, we headed to Cravings, a small eclectic ice cream shop from out of the 70s.

We got a Pineapple Soft Serve, which was pretty large for a serving, and not bad in flavor, although it was just pineapple bits mixed in with vanilla ice cream.

Dinner was in Dedham, where we decided to check out the Greek cafe Kouzina Estiatorio. A pretty popular place, we were lucky enough to get seats.

We got the Greek Salad (with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, feta cheese, cucumbers, olives and Greek dressing),

the Mousaka (layered ground beef and eggplant topped with a rich bechamel sauce and baked)

and the Galaktobouriko dessert.

Now I can see why this place is so popular. Everything was excellent to say the least, but I have to say the mousaka was absolutely heavenly, and the best I have had to date, hands down. Definitely worth a visit.

Recommended Places to Visit: Wakefield

Recreation

Water Bodies
Crystal Lake
Broadway Street near Lake Street


Parks

Hall Park
North Avenue and Lakeside Avenue

Gertrude Spaulding Park
Lowell Street and Quannapowitt Parkway

Wakefield Lower Common
Lake Avenue and Salem Street


Architecture

Monuments

Artichoke Monument
317 Main Street

Clock
357 Main Street

Wakefield Upper Common
Main Street and Salem Street

Places of Worship

Most Sacred Sacrament Church
8 Grove Street

Greenwood Union Church
4 Oak Street

St. Joseph's Church
173 Albion Street

First Parish Congregational Church
1 Church Street

Emmanuel Episcopal Church
5 Bryant Street

First Baptist Church
8 Lafayette Street

Unitarian Universalist Church
326 Main Street

Wakefield Lynnfield United Methodist Church
273 Vernon Street

St. Florence Church
47 Butler Avenue

St. Parascheva Romanian Orthodox Church
171 Water Street

Town Facilities
Lucius Beebe Memorial Library
345 Main Street

Post Office
321 Main Street

Town Hall
1 Lafayette Street

Fire Department
1 Union Street

Housing Authority
26 Crescent Street

Americal Civic Center
467 Main Street

Broadway Treatment and Pumping Facility
108 Broadway Street

Commercial Buildings
Four Points by Sheraton Wakefield
1 Audubon Road


Historical Buildings
Odd Fellows Building
Main Street and Avon Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Indian
Maya Indian Bar and Grill
33 Tuttle Street
Recommended Dishes:
Maya Scallop
Rice Kheer
Mango Lassi
Peshawar Kulcha
Goat Tikka Masala
Fish Saag

Shrimp Lagan

Italian

Porto Bello Ristorante
979 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Costata Fiorentino
Lobster Bisque
Camarao A Casa
Limoncello Cake


Tried:
Breakfast
Blue Moon Grill
397 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:

Hot Chocolate
Morning Glory
Pineapple Coconut Bliss Pancakes
Irish Stuffed Potato Skins
Crabmeat Eggs Benedict 

Japanese
Sakura Organic
397 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Sushi Pizza
Ramen Noodle Soup

Western
Billy's Famous Roast Beef and Seafood
1291 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Fried S'mores
Junior Beef Sandwich


Dessert
Cravings
389 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Pineapple Soft Serve

Italian
Greenwood House of Pizza
979 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Chicken BBQ Delight
Grilled Pastrami Hot Sub

Slice, Pizza and More
587 Lowell Street

Recommended Dishes:
Rabe White Bean Pizza

Massimo Ristorante

19 Centre Street
Recommended Dishes:
Tiramisu
Chicken and Shrimp Al Tartufo 

January 16th 2016: Food on the Way to Malden

We happened upon the H-Mart in Burlington today, and decided to stop there for lunch, getting the Spicy Ramen from San Soo Kap San Sushi,

the Bibim Chewy Noodles from Woojeon Restaurant

and the Cheesecake from Tous les Jours.

The ramen was a little too spicy, but the cold korean noodles were pretty tasty. The cheesecake was way too powdery for my liking though.

Passing through the town of Wakefield,

The Savings Bank, 357 Main Street

we grabbed some froyo at the Zinga! location in Saugus.

Not bad, but too few topping options in my opinion.

September 2nd 2015: Meals in Worcester, Wakefield and Haverhill

Lunch today was at Dell'ovo's Kitchen, a small hole in the wall Cafe on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, with the Shrimp Fra Diavolo with Ravioli.

Pretty small portion,  and nothing amazing.

After work, before meeting my friend for dinner, I went to get some takeout for tomorrow's lunch in Wakefield, getting the Chicken BBQ Delight Pizza (grilled BBQ chicken, tomato sauce, ham, bacon, turkey, mozzarella cheese)

and the Grilled Pastrami Hot Sub

from Greenwood House of Pizza, which were alright I guess,

and a Junior Beef Sandwich

and Fried S'mores from Billy's Famous Roast Beef and Seafood nearby.

The S'mores were an interesting concept, but the execution wasn't that great, although the roast beef sandwich was delicious.

Dinner itself was at Keon's Restaurant, a small bar restaurant in Haverhill serving tapas style western dishes.

For food, we got the Lamb Lollipop Chops (Grilled lollipop chops are served over baby greens with toasted pine nut gremolatta and aged balsamic),

the Country Short Ribs (Slow braised in red wine, root vegetables and served atop country slaw with port wine reduction)

and the Crab and Lobster Ravioli (Jumbo lobster and crab filled raviolis are tossed with a creamy roasted tomato pan sauce and topped with fresh basil).

Pretty well presented and tasty food, especially the lamb chops. No complaints about this place, although I would give it higher points if it had better ambience.

August 15th 2015: Checking Out Places North of Malden

My friend and I started out this morning in Danvers,

Doubletree by Hilton Boston North Shore

Glen Magna Farms

Holten Richmond Middle School

Danversport Yacht Club

grabbing a delicious Roast Beef Sandwich 3 Way (cheese, mayo, BBQ sauce) from Prime Roast Beef and Pizza, a fast food like place,

and another meal at Blu Karma, a small Japanese place in town,

getting the Malaysian Roti Canai with Curry Sauce

and the Red Spider Roll (soft shell crab tempura maki topped with tuna and tobiko drizzled with una balsamic syrup).

Unfortunately, the curry was too sweet for my liking, while the crab itself was stale and powdery. Never coming back here again.

From here, it was on to the town of Middleton,

Teresa's Function Facility

where we grabbed a dozen macarons from Tara Leigh Cakes

that were a little on the hard side but delicious.

Beverly was next,

Beverly Golf and Tennis Club

where we grabbed another meal at Calibasil, another fast food like place serving Vietnamese food.

We got the Mango Lychee Iced Tea

and the Pho with Brisket and Meatballs.

Not bad actually.

Next, we checked out the American Legion Post 113 in Manchester,

the Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead

and the Gannon Golf Club in Lynn.

Finally, we ended up in Wakefield,

Four Points By Sheraton Wakefield

where our final meal of the day was at Massimo's Ristorante, an Italian place in town.

We got the Chicken and Shrimp Al Tartufo (sauteed with wild mushrooms in truffle butter and cheese, served with fontina cheese and mushroom stuffed tortellini),

which came with a side salad,

and the Tiramisu for dessert.

I liked the meal, but ambience wise, Porto Bello was better. With that, a day of checking out places north of Malden came to an end.