April 18th 2021: Nhu Lan Restaurant, Boston

Today, we decided to get take out from Nhu Lan Restaurant, a Vietnamese restaurant at 1157 Dorchester Aveneu in the Dorchester area of Boston. This place is cafeteria style with a small dining area.

Among other things I did not get to try, we got the Sugarcane Juice (Nuoc Mia),

the Banh Goi,

the Green Bean Milk (Sua Dau Xanh),

the Bun Mam,

and the Hu Tieu Nam Vang.

The drinks were pretty good, especially the green bean drink. The noodle soups were flavorful as well, but the best dish was actually the crispy dumplings, which had Chinese sausage and quail egg inside as well. Pretty good Vietnamese food from this place.

April 17th 2021: Second Time at Casa Vallarta, Northborough

Today, we decided to have a late lunch at Casa Vallarta, a Mexican restaurant in Northborough which I have been to before in the past.

This time around, we got the GAMBUENA (Malibu coconut, pineapple juice and muddled strawberries),

the HUEVOS CON MACHACA (Three scrambled eggs with shredded beef.),

and the SEAFOOD MOLCAJETE (Tilapia, shrimp, octopus and scallops sautéed in housemade

red sauce. Topped with fresh cilantro and onions. Served with white rice, lettuce, tomatoes

and avocado slices on the side.)

The drink was pretty good, while there was a lot of meat in the omelette. There was king crab in the seafood stew as well, which was a very pleasant surprise. Needless to say, we enjoyed our meal a lot. 

April 15th 2021: Takeout from Uptown Grille, Shrewsbury

 Today, we decided to get lunch takeout from Uptowne Grille in Shrewsbury, which I have vistied once in the past, this time getting the Combo Shawarma Platter (beef and chicken, rice or french fries, tahini sauce, pickles, a mix of parsley, onions, tomato's and pita bread)

and the Beef Shawarma Sandwich (rolled with tahini sauce, tomato, onion, pickles, parsley and sumac spices).

Pretty good Mediterranean flavor in both dishes, and filling too.

For dinner, we headed to Burton's Grill in town, which I have been to a few times in the past. This time around, we got the Blueberry Hibiscus Squeeze (blueberry infused Tito's handmade vodka, housemade blueberry hibiscus lemonade)

the Baked Ciabatta Bread Service (topped with parmesan cheese and served with garlic butter),

the Salmon Romesco (bronzed fresh salmon, roasted brussels sprouts, caramelized onions, mushrooms, romesco sauce, charred tomato salsa),

and the Choosy Kids Meal (Grilled Chicken, Cucumbers, Pasta, Fresh Fruit, Ice Cream Cup).

The bread was pretty good as was the ice cream, but everything else was a disappointment, especially the grilled chicken breast, which was totally dry. Not coming back again.

April 14th 2021: Rutland State Park and Center Tree Bar and Grill, Rutland

 Today, we decided to go check out the beach on Whitehall Pond at Rutland State Park. I have taken pictures of this place from afar before, but today was our first time actually being at the beach itself. Pretty peaceful and serene.

For dinner, we went to Center Tree Bar and Grill, which I believe has replaced Tavern on the Common.

We got the Crantini (Deep Eddy Cranberry Vodka, Triple Sec, Fresh lime),

the Cajun Shrimp Alfredo (creamy cajun alfredo sauce, broccoli, shrimp, penne and garlic toast)

and the Capuccino Mousse Pie for dessert.

The drink was just alright, although the pasta was delicious, as well as the crispy garlic bread. The dessert was not bad at first, but the sweetness got to me after a while. Our little one had no complaints though.

                              
                               ,

April 13th 2021: Great Oak Farm, Berlin and Kith and Kin, Hudson

 Today,while the weather was nice, we took the opportunity to go on a short hike at Great Oak Farm in Berlin, where the path we took to get to the water body here is shown below in pink.

Nice views of the small pond and the surrounding farmland.

From here it was on to dinner at Kith and Kin, which is more of a brunch place in Hudson. We got the Kith Royale (house infused raspberry vodka, chambord, prosecco), 

the Chicken and Corn Chowder (local pulled chicken, charred sweet corn, local slab bacon),

the Fried Cauliflower (with awesome sauce),

the Kid's Fish and Chips (cornmeal dusted skate wing, tartar sauce),

and the Mixed Berry Sorbet

and the Strawberry Shortcake (with strawberry compote and fresh whipped cream) for dessert.

The drink was just alright, as was the soup. The fish a little dry, but the worst dish was the fried cauliflower, which did not go well at all with the sweet sauce accompanying it. Should have gotten wings instead. Oh well. The dessert was not bad though. Overall, a pretty disappointing meal. Not sure I ever want to come back again.

April 12th 2021: Takeout from Gong Cha and Grill 352, Worcester

Today, we decided to get takeout from the Gong Cha in Worcester, 

getting the Ginger Brown Sugar Milk Tea, 

which was pretty good, not having too strong a ginger taste.

We also got takeout from Grill 352, a Pakistani restaurant nearby which I visited once before. This time, we got the Tilapia Fish 2pc Plate with Biryani Rice

and the Nehari with Naan.

The fish was fresh and really crispy, going well with the rice which wasn't too spicy, while the naan was really large, and the beef stew was really tasty with tender meat as well. Overall, a really good meal from this place.

Recommended Places to Visit: Belmont

Recreation

Water Bodies

Claypit Pond
Underwood Street and Concord Avenue

Little Pond
End of Larch Circle

Golf

Belmont Country Club

181 Winter Street

Museums

Belmont Historical Society

336 Concord Avenue

Hiking
Recommended:
Beaver Brook Reservation
66 Mill Street

Tried:
Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
10 Juniper Road

Architecture

Monuments

War Memorial
Royal Road and Common Street

Places of Worship

Boston Massachusetts Temple
86 Frontage Road

Plymouth Congregational Church
582 Pleasant Street

Open Door Baptist Church
300 Pleasant Street

Cornerstone Baptist Church
54 Brighton Street

First Armenian Church
380 Concord Avenue

The First Church in Belmont Unitarian Universalist
404 Concord Avenue

Payson Park Congregational Church

365 Belmont Street

Christ Lutheran Church

597 Belmont Street

All Saints' Church
17 Clark Street

St. Joseph's Church
130 Common Street

First Church of Christ, Scientist
199 Common Street

Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church

200 Lexington Street

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
15 Ledgewood Place

St. Luke's Catholic Church

132 Lexington Street

First Baptist Church

129 Lexington Street

CrossRoads Evangelical Church

51 Lexington Street

Immanuel Community Church

471 Trapelo Road

Belmont United Methodist Church

421 Common Street

Schools
W.L. Chenery Middle School

95 Washington Street 

Mary Lee Burbank School

266 School Street

Commercial Buildings
Belmont Savings Bank
2 Leonard Street


Town Facilities

Payson Park Reservoir
Payson Road and Oakley Road

Fire Department

299 Trapelo Road

Town Hall
455 Concord Avenue

Homer Municipal Building
19 Moore Street

Public Schools Administration
644 Pleasant Street

Public Library

336 Concord Avenue

Belmont Lions Club
1 Common Street

Benton Library
75 Oakley Road


Historical Buildings

Old Waverley Village School

~438 Trapelo Road

Old Wellington Hill Railroad Station
~1 Common Street near Belmont Lions Club

Old Fire Station
50 Leonard Street

Old Locatelli Building
57 Leonard Street

Old Harvard Lawn Fire Station
Fairview Avenue and Dalton Street

Belmont Woman's Club
661 Pleasant Street

Old Waverley Hall

50 Church Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Mediterranean
The Loading Dock
11 Brighton Street
Recommended Dishes: 
House Lentil Soup
Musakhan Flatbread
Kofta Roll Up

My Other Kitchen
762 Pleasant Street
Recommended Dishes:
Chicken Gyro Breakfast Wrap
Orange Juice
Blueberry Muffin


Deli
Bellmont Caffe
80 Leonard Street
Recommended Dishes:
Bellmont Smoke Stack


Dessert
Praline
203 Belmont Street
Recommended Dishes:
Truffles
Tuiles Almond
Millefeuille Vanilla

Breakfast
Sweet Peach Diner (closed)
628 Trapelo Road
Recommended Dishes:
Southern Peaches and Cream Stuffed French Toast
Southern Pulled Pork Benedict

Tropical Diner
628 Trapelo Road
Recommended Dishes:
Pork Omelette


Western

Savinos Grill
449 Common Street
Recommended Dishes:
Grilled Quail
Grilled Lamb Top


Tried:
Breakfast
Aram's Cafe
85 Trapelo Road
Recommended Dishes:
Egg, Cheese and Bacon Sandwich

Mediterranean
Ani Takeout
687 Belmont Street
Recommended Dishes:
Armenian Burger Dinner
Lamb Kabob Dinner

Dessert
Linda's Donuts
247 Belmont Street
Recommended Dishes:
Boston Cream Donut

Moozy's
2 Trapelo Road
Recommended Dishes:
Rainbow Sherbet
Kahlua Fudge Ice Cream
The Arsenal
Oakley Sandwich

Sweet Heart
386 Trapelo Road
Recommended Dishes:
Milk Foam Matcha Tea