USA Restaurants

Our favorite restaurants in the US

The Central Restaurant & Bar in York, Maine

What to do when visiting relatives who have a friend who just opened his restaurant? Visit it of course, which is why I stopped in recently at The Central Restaurant & Bar in York, Maine. Because they wanted me to write about it, we sampled much more than if I were just dining. And for full disclosure, we paid for everything. Be sure to try some of their small plates. The flavorful Vietnamese garlic wings ($7) are only the flat wing, without the meaty drums (my favorite part). Their fried Scotch eggs (three for $8) use quail ones, wrapped with Italian sweet sausage and rolled in Panko crumbs, served with [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:09-04:00December 2nd, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Whispers Restaurant, Spring Lake, NJ

The Chateau Inn in Spring Lake (NJ) where we were staying offered a mid-week special that included a $60 gift certificate to one of a few restaurants in the area. That's how we ended up at Whispers, a restaurant in the Hewitt-Welington Hotel with NYC prices. But  — with that coupon and being allowed to BYO  wine — it became reasonable. The "crostini" served as our amuse-bouche was topped with an unusual homemade hummus with the taste of the sweet corn added. Just wish the bread hadn't been soft. Our fresh arugula salad included shaved sweet onion, candied pecans, crumbled goat cheese all in a lemon-thyme vinaigrette ($12). My favorite [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:10-04:00October 6th, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Cafe Artiste, Dinner with Cosimo, Spring Lake, NJ – CLOSED

We had no clue that the town of Spring Lake (NJ) would have little to no food offerings Sunday evening at a reasonable Manhattan dining time. So when we heard some noise on a side street off Third Avenue, we followed that and tripped over Cafe Artiste, which we'd later find out was a "Dinner with Cosimo." "Could we just order salad?" "Chicken scarpariello? You'll love it." We said, just the salads would be fine, as it was  late and we had lost our hunger. That salad — topped with sauteed peppers and fresh Parmigiano Reggiano cheese  — was quite good in a light flavorful vinaigrette. It felt like we [...]

By |2018-09-08T16:39:29-04:00September 24th, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Philadelphia City Center District Restaurant Week September 2014

Philadelphia City Center District Restaurant Week runs Sunday, September 7 through Friday, September 12 and Sunday, September 14 through Friday, September 19, 2014. It will be featuring a variety of restaurants and offering three-course dinners for $35 per person and three-course lunches for $20. For additional information, click here.

By |2017-09-01T17:43:57-04:00September 4th, 2014|USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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La Plage, Wading River, Long Island, NY

With La Plage was walking distance from where we were staying at the beach, we stopped by more than once. This alfresco white-tablecloth restaurant with unusual combinations of fresh foods is worth trying if you're in the area. I ordered a japapeño margarita from their libation menu, purportedly made with jalapeño tequila, fresh squeezed lime juice ($13) and an unnecessary splash of premade sour mix. They first served it sans the spicy tequila, but when remade was fine. That mistake was my only issue with the restaurant. One night we each had a couple of apps or salads making a light summer meal. I'd recommend any of these including a [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:10-04:00August 20th, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Buoy One, Riverhead, Long Island, New York

If you're out on the North Shore, head to Buoy One in Riverhead for lobster. It's a small shack-like place on the south side of Route 25 that offers clambakes to-go, or eat in their casual indoor or outdoor space. We opted to eat — and make our lobster mess — there. One had the classic clam bake ($25.95) with a pound-and-a-quarter lobster, shrimp in the shells, steamers, mussels, baked potato and veggie. The veggie du jour was broccoli, not the more classic corn. Others dug into just the lobster with fries and cole slaw or veggie (market price that night was $22.95). Skip the over-chopped, vinegary slaw, have the [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:11-04:00August 4th, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Crescent Grill, Long Island City, Queens

A friend and I walked across the 59th Street Bridge and literally just turned left onto Crescent Street to walk to and sample Crescent Grill's farm-to-table fare in Long Island City. After the short walk, we tried the bartender's Sriracharita. Don't miss this spicy variation on a margarita made with Avion Anejo Tequila, Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and Sriracha served in a salt rimmed glass ($14). As their guest, I sampled a few starters. I liked the simple salad with black mission figs with frisee and aged goat cheese in a light vinaigrette ($13). An interesting preparation is the wild boar tenderloin slices  interspersed with [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:11-04:00August 2nd, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Brio Tuscan Grille, Westfarms Mall, Farmington, CT

I was surprised to find tasty food, alfresco dining and attentive service at Brio Tuscan Grille at Westfarms Mall in Farmington, CT, where I was recently returning something and meeting friends for lunch. We sat on the terrace, beginning with an plentiful app attractively presented with nine pan-seared shrimp in a light cream sauce with a black pepper kick, over bread-crusted eggplant ($10.95). That could have been a meal in itself.  It went well with my Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand, $9.25) and one of my dining partner's 10Span Chardonnay ($8.25). We next shared a hearty Romaine salad tossed with Parmesan, toasted Brioche croutons and housemade Caesar dressing [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:11-04:00July 23rd, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Lenny & Joe’s, New Haven, Revisited

Lenny & Joe's in the harbor of New Haven is worth the visit when you can sit on the deck, weather permitting. I revisited recently and did just that, beginning with a sweet lump blue crab cake ($7.99) made with just enough filling to hold it together. My main was a platter of  moist, fresh Atlantic-caught scrod (cod) fried gently and serve with crispy fries and creamy cole slaw ($14.99). A perfect combo. Worth a visit to dine alfresco.   Follow @BonnieBOTB - bonnie Lenny & Joe's 501 Long Wharf Dr New Haven, CT 06511 (203) 691-6619    

By |2017-08-31T15:40:18-04:00July 7th, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Tolli’s Apizza, East Haven

Tolli's is an 60-year-old neighborhood Italian restaurant, where most patrons are well-known by the staff, including my friend Claire who suggested we dine there. A couple of us indulged in the thinly layered eggplant parmigiano ($14) baked in a ramekin and served with a side of pasta pomodoro and a salad. I do recommend it along with the unusual tomato vinaigrette on the salad. Our waiter forgot to bring us the homemade bread that should have accompanied it. (I realized this as I began to write this review.) Also recommended is the hearty tuna salad platter including onions, celery, capers, olives, shaved carrots and tomatoes on a bed of greens [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:40:19-04:00July 2nd, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Mickey’s Happy Hour, Hamden, CT

Mickey's — on the corner of Whitney and Dixwell in Hamden — offers quite a bargain for happy hour Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 6:30. Drinks are $1 off regular prices; appetizers are half price and quite filling. We nibbled the hearty portion of broccoli rabe and sausage (the latter a tad overcooked,) sautèed in olive oil and seasoned with garlic and hot pepper flakes ($5); and five large grilled shrimp over cannellini beans, flavored with pancetta and cherry tomatoes, served with garlic crostini ($6). Such a tasty bargain! - bonnie Follow @BonnieBOTB Mickey's 2323 Whitney Ave Hamden, CT 06518 (203) 288-4700  

By |2017-08-31T15:40:19-04:00June 29th, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Bangkok Gardens, New Haven

I noticed a huge plate of veggies served to the table next to us and told the waitress that I would like what they had, but without the tofu, with chicken and added spiciness. She thought for a moment, and figured out how to easily accommodate me. The resulting dish was just what I was looking for: a melange of fresh veggies, plus mini corn, with some thin pieces of chicken in a brown sauce with just enough kick to satisfy. I'd recommend. My dining partner order sauteed chicken with lots of Thai basil, some bell peppers and onions also served with a bowl of rice ($10). Both were good, [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:40:19-04:00June 15th, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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San Francisco Dine About Town June 2014

San Francisco Dine About Town runs Sunday, June 1 through Sunday, June 15, 2014, featuring a variety of restaurants prix-fixe two- or three-course lunches for $18.95 and three-course dinners for $36.95. For additional information or a list of participating restaurants, click here.

By |2017-09-01T17:49:15-04:00May 31st, 2014|USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Thali, New Haven + Long Wharf’s The Last Five Years

Before heading to the opening of The Last Five Years at Long Wharf theatre, I stopped in for a meal at Thali, New Haven's innovative Indian restaurant on Orange Street with the creations of Chef Prasad Chirnomula (who also owns Oaxaca). While deciding what to order, we nibbled on the two types of crispy papadums along with the flavorful chutneys brought to the table. For apps, we nibbled the three amchur potatoes and green pea samosas ($6). The gobi  - cauliflower in a hot cilantro garlic sauce ($6) - which is to die for. Seriously, I could eat a bowl of that for dinner as it's perfectly seasoned. We also [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:40:19-04:00May 21st, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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