Bombay
435 Laurel St
Lee, MA 01238
http://www.fineindiandining.com/bombaylee.htm
Let me be frank from the beginning: don't go to Bombay. Got that? If you have no other options, go to the McDonald's on route 20 by the Mass Pike. Seriously. Don't go.
When I first bought the house in Lee in the spring of 2008, I spent a dinner with my new neighbors discussing dining options in the area. They were big fans of Bombay although they pointed out it was pricey. I tried it a few times, and while it did add up quickly once an appetizer or nan is on the order along with entrees, it rated "pretty good" Indian. There are a few top-notch Indian restaurants in my hometown of Waltham, MA, so I tend to assume all Indian food will at least be in the pretty good category, if not even excellent. There is one Indian place in Natick, MA where I had my first truly bad Indian meal, so I know it existed. But Bombay was good enough that I took my family there in the summer of 2008.
That was a weird visit, and I see I did not write it up at the time. It was before a Tanglewood concert, so the place was pretty full. It's not the best atmosphere because although it has a beautiful view of Laurel Lake, it's also in a Quality Inn. So off the rather small dining room, which has that lingering scent of Indian spices (and in an "open a window and clean this place" kind of way, not a "this smells delicious" kind of way), is a breakfast room with containers of cereal. I cannot imagine eating breakfast in a stuffy Indian restaurant. The service was pretty terrible. The waitstaff did not seem at all interested in the customers and it left a bad taste in all of our mouths. I don't really remember the food.
Anyway, speaking of bad tastes, tonight I was driving up the mass pike trying to decide what to get for dinner. I had just been looking at Indian recipes to use in the slow cooker I got for Christmas, so I thought I would splurge on Bombay and then have plenty of leftovers for lunches for the next few days - an indulgence tonight and then utilitarian the next few days - excellent.
So I picked up the order and spooned out chicken saag, lamb rogan josh, a vegetable samosa, and added some raita on the side. I also ordered a plain naan, which was a garlic naan. I like garlic as flavoring, not as the main event, and especially not as big hunks sitting on top of an oily nan. Ick. Where do I begin with the rest of the awfulness? The fact the entrees were incredibly oily? The flavorlessness of the saag? The big piece of gristle I bit into from the rogan josh? The chopped raw onion in the raita (at least that's what it tasted like)? The tough, tough, elderly crust of the samosa?
I spent too much money and now I wish I could go back in time and not eat any of it. I also have a whole pile of Indian food garbage on my hands.
I am drinking a beer now, trying to forget.
Don't go to Bombay. Seriously.
Showing posts with label Restaurant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Restaurant. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Dreamaway Lodge
1342 Country Road
Becket, MA 01223-8725
(413)623-8725
The Dreamaway is a Berkshire legend, known for its former existence as a speakeasy and possible brothel, and then for a night in 1975 when Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, and the Rolling Thunder Review spend a night jamming in the parlor. It is also now known for good food and being notoriously hard to find.
However, I took two visiting friends there last weekend and I was pleased to find that if you follow the directions on the website, it's not hard to find at all. We had left early, basically prepared with snacks, blankets and a compass in case we were never seen again. But we found it right away and it was perhaps a 15 minute drive at the most from my house in Lee. One tip that is one the website I can vouch for, though - don't assume your GPS is smarter than the directions the restaurant gives you. After dinner, we got in the car and tried to GPS just to see what it would do - it directed us the wrong way, and then showed the road ending on the screen - and then shut off. You would not think that in a location just a few miles from the Mass Pike you would be so far off the beaten path, but at least to the satellite, you are.
The Dreamaway is in a beautiful location on a rural road, and old farmhouse surrounded by gardens, a wildflower maze, and in the front, a fire pit and area to sit down. At 6:30 on a warm Saturday night, people were wandering around the grounds with drinks and the dining rooms were packed. We were seated in the back near the bathroom (the Loo Gallery where exhibits change regularly) and the kitchen, so I would suggest asking for a table near the front of the house. Reservations are a must.
The interior is shabby chic/antique store/yard sale, with an array of old kitchen implements, toys, religious icons and the like in every nook and cranny. The walls are hung with a combination of kitsch and contemporary art. Very charming and very unique. The menu is relatively small but covers it all: fish, steak, lamb, chicken and spareribs, and a vegetarian option (which actually appeared to be vegan). There are also small plates - mac and cheese, pizzas, and a hamburger.
It was hard to decide - it's a nice menu and there are many appealing options. We ended up going for three salads - the mixed greens with green goddess dressing, a frisee salad with bacon and cheese, and a roasted baby beet salad. Everything was extremely fresh and delicious, as the restaurant is committed to using local ingredients. The baby beet salad was five beets around Greek scordalia mi kapari - basically, a cold roughly-mashed potato with garlic, capers, and almond. Definitely unusual, tasty, and worth trying. The frisee salad was also rather revelatory in the simple way a vey good salad sometimes can be - I am not a big fan of bitter, spindly frisee that usually comes in a mixed green salad. This frisee was still a little bitter, but it was not like eating twist-ties - it was substantial and more the texture of "normal" green. I would order any of those salads again.
For entrees, we ordered pizzas - two shrimp pizzas and one feta, beet greens and garlic. A side of lemon should come with the feta pizza and if you order it, make sure you let the waitress know right away if it isn't there - the spray of lemon really brings the flavors alive. The feta pizza had a little too much raw, crunch garlic for my taste - it imparted a bit too much onion-y flavor, as raw garlic can, and that's not my scene with a pizza. Neither had sauce on it. The shrimp pizza was just fabulous - the shrimp were beautifully cooked.
We were all worried that the pizzas would not be substantial as they were under the "small plates" - but they are solid individual sized pizzas that were quite filling, and the crust was thin, crunchy and flavorful - very authentically Italian.
For dessert, I had the vanilla bundt cake - a choice that seemed to go with the nostalgic funky decor of the place. It was quite good, although I was full so I could not enjoy it as much as I would have - I think a lighter fruit dessert might have been a better choice, or the buttermilk panna cotta. The chef formerly owned a bakery, so she is an excellent pastry chef. My friends had a raspberry sorbet from SoHo Creamery which was bursting with flavor - it really tasted as if it had been just made from fresh raspberries.
I would highly recommend the Dreamaway - it is definitely a unique Berkshire experience. There were diners of all ages when we were there, from small kids in booster seats to a group of older couples. Before I had visited, I was wondering if the place would be too "hipster" to bring older folks or young kids - not the case. There is music after 10, and my sense is this place changes flavor then completely, and the hipsters descend. The band for the evening was happily sitting outside at a picnic table enjoying some ribs as we left around 8pm.
Becket, MA 01223-8725
(413)623-8725
The Dreamaway is a Berkshire legend, known for its former existence as a speakeasy and possible brothel, and then for a night in 1975 when Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, and the Rolling Thunder Review spend a night jamming in the parlor. It is also now known for good food and being notoriously hard to find.
However, I took two visiting friends there last weekend and I was pleased to find that if you follow the directions on the website, it's not hard to find at all. We had left early, basically prepared with snacks, blankets and a compass in case we were never seen again. But we found it right away and it was perhaps a 15 minute drive at the most from my house in Lee. One tip that is one the website I can vouch for, though - don't assume your GPS is smarter than the directions the restaurant gives you. After dinner, we got in the car and tried to GPS just to see what it would do - it directed us the wrong way, and then showed the road ending on the screen - and then shut off. You would not think that in a location just a few miles from the Mass Pike you would be so far off the beaten path, but at least to the satellite, you are.
The Dreamaway is in a beautiful location on a rural road, and old farmhouse surrounded by gardens, a wildflower maze, and in the front, a fire pit and area to sit down. At 6:30 on a warm Saturday night, people were wandering around the grounds with drinks and the dining rooms were packed. We were seated in the back near the bathroom (the Loo Gallery where exhibits change regularly) and the kitchen, so I would suggest asking for a table near the front of the house. Reservations are a must.
The interior is shabby chic/antique store/yard sale, with an array of old kitchen implements, toys, religious icons and the like in every nook and cranny. The walls are hung with a combination of kitsch and contemporary art. Very charming and very unique. The menu is relatively small but covers it all: fish, steak, lamb, chicken and spareribs, and a vegetarian option (which actually appeared to be vegan). There are also small plates - mac and cheese, pizzas, and a hamburger.
It was hard to decide - it's a nice menu and there are many appealing options. We ended up going for three salads - the mixed greens with green goddess dressing, a frisee salad with bacon and cheese, and a roasted baby beet salad. Everything was extremely fresh and delicious, as the restaurant is committed to using local ingredients. The baby beet salad was five beets around Greek scordalia mi kapari - basically, a cold roughly-mashed potato with garlic, capers, and almond. Definitely unusual, tasty, and worth trying. The frisee salad was also rather revelatory in the simple way a vey good salad sometimes can be - I am not a big fan of bitter, spindly frisee that usually comes in a mixed green salad. This frisee was still a little bitter, but it was not like eating twist-ties - it was substantial and more the texture of "normal" green. I would order any of those salads again.
For entrees, we ordered pizzas - two shrimp pizzas and one feta, beet greens and garlic. A side of lemon should come with the feta pizza and if you order it, make sure you let the waitress know right away if it isn't there - the spray of lemon really brings the flavors alive. The feta pizza had a little too much raw, crunch garlic for my taste - it imparted a bit too much onion-y flavor, as raw garlic can, and that's not my scene with a pizza. Neither had sauce on it. The shrimp pizza was just fabulous - the shrimp were beautifully cooked.
We were all worried that the pizzas would not be substantial as they were under the "small plates" - but they are solid individual sized pizzas that were quite filling, and the crust was thin, crunchy and flavorful - very authentically Italian.
For dessert, I had the vanilla bundt cake - a choice that seemed to go with the nostalgic funky decor of the place. It was quite good, although I was full so I could not enjoy it as much as I would have - I think a lighter fruit dessert might have been a better choice, or the buttermilk panna cotta. The chef formerly owned a bakery, so she is an excellent pastry chef. My friends had a raspberry sorbet from SoHo Creamery which was bursting with flavor - it really tasted as if it had been just made from fresh raspberries.
I would highly recommend the Dreamaway - it is definitely a unique Berkshire experience. There were diners of all ages when we were there, from small kids in booster seats to a group of older couples. Before I had visited, I was wondering if the place would be too "hipster" to bring older folks or young kids - not the case. There is music after 10, and my sense is this place changes flavor then completely, and the hipsters descend. The band for the evening was happily sitting outside at a picnic table enjoying some ribs as we left around 8pm.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Perigee Restaurant
South Lee, MA
http://perigee-restaurant.com/
Two friends came with me to try Perigee, which replaced Sweet Basil about six months ago in a tavern-like building near two inns on the South Lee/Stockbridge line. The first floor is particularly cozy with beamed ceilings, a six-seater bar, and a handful of tables. Unfortunately, the upstairs is in need of a re-do, with carpeting that looks to be of 70's "colonial dining" era and tables and chairs to match.
Much to my surprise, the weekend before memorial day, we arrived a little before six to find there were no tables and the bar was our only option. Given that we were enticed by the menu, particularly with a $34 prix fixe "farmed and foraged" menu, we opted to stay at the bar. This decision was also influenced by the persuasive skills of the owner and bartender - encouragement that flirted with the obnoxious but just about steered clear.
Two of us had the prix fixe and it can be summaried as follows: Course one: small asparagus salad with buttermilk dressing and orange garnish - lovely. Nice balance of flavors and a dressing so tasty I asked for more bread to sop it up. Course two: "foraged" soup - the description was lovely - potatoes, mushrooms, etc with a flavoring of chorizo. It was bland, under-seasoned and over-processed so the consistency was baby-food like. I counted three tiny tidbits of chorizo. Course three: Strip steak with a brandy peppercorn sauce, mashed potatoes, ramps. The strip steak was enormous, particularly for one included in a four-course prix fixe. Impossible to eat the whole thing. The steak was done adequately although the color varied throughout - I ordered medium rare and parts were definitely on the medium to medium-well spectrum. However, the meat itself was so tender it could be cut without a steak knife. The pepper was much to much, however, and both of us are lovers of peppered steak. It overwhelmed the meat. The potatoes were fine and the ramps freaked me out in their little crunchy pinwheels - not the fault of the chef, however. Just not my thing. Course four: OK - this was the real Waterloo of the prix fixe. It sounded quite delightful - a mixture of fig and date in a dessert wine sauce with a touch of chocolate. I imagined a small, finely diced fig and date tart-like dessert. Instead it was a large dessert plate filled with barely sliced large pieces of fig and tart, with a sickly sweet sauce. I could barely eat two bites. The bar tender told us she had complaints about it earlier in the evening - just completely misguided.
The third in our party had a caesar salad that she reported was excellent, and a vegetarian tortellini in a cream sauce that she said was very tasty but too heavy.
We drank a bottle of local Cabernet from Furnace Brook Orchards after the bartended kindly let us sample (generously) from that and another wine. Service was friendly and efficient and the house made breads were terrific. However, even though we were at the bar, it still took a little over two hours to get in and out - the kitchen is not so swift.
All in all, we deemed Perigee to be ambitious but not quite able to live up to their menu just yet. However, they are adding outside tables and that just might make it tempting enough for us to return.
http://perigee-restaurant.com/
Two friends came with me to try Perigee, which replaced Sweet Basil about six months ago in a tavern-like building near two inns on the South Lee/Stockbridge line. The first floor is particularly cozy with beamed ceilings, a six-seater bar, and a handful of tables. Unfortunately, the upstairs is in need of a re-do, with carpeting that looks to be of 70's "colonial dining" era and tables and chairs to match.
Much to my surprise, the weekend before memorial day, we arrived a little before six to find there were no tables and the bar was our only option. Given that we were enticed by the menu, particularly with a $34 prix fixe "farmed and foraged" menu, we opted to stay at the bar. This decision was also influenced by the persuasive skills of the owner and bartender - encouragement that flirted with the obnoxious but just about steered clear.
Two of us had the prix fixe and it can be summaried as follows: Course one: small asparagus salad with buttermilk dressing and orange garnish - lovely. Nice balance of flavors and a dressing so tasty I asked for more bread to sop it up. Course two: "foraged" soup - the description was lovely - potatoes, mushrooms, etc with a flavoring of chorizo. It was bland, under-seasoned and over-processed so the consistency was baby-food like. I counted three tiny tidbits of chorizo. Course three: Strip steak with a brandy peppercorn sauce, mashed potatoes, ramps. The strip steak was enormous, particularly for one included in a four-course prix fixe. Impossible to eat the whole thing. The steak was done adequately although the color varied throughout - I ordered medium rare and parts were definitely on the medium to medium-well spectrum. However, the meat itself was so tender it could be cut without a steak knife. The pepper was much to much, however, and both of us are lovers of peppered steak. It overwhelmed the meat. The potatoes were fine and the ramps freaked me out in their little crunchy pinwheels - not the fault of the chef, however. Just not my thing. Course four: OK - this was the real Waterloo of the prix fixe. It sounded quite delightful - a mixture of fig and date in a dessert wine sauce with a touch of chocolate. I imagined a small, finely diced fig and date tart-like dessert. Instead it was a large dessert plate filled with barely sliced large pieces of fig and tart, with a sickly sweet sauce. I could barely eat two bites. The bar tender told us she had complaints about it earlier in the evening - just completely misguided.
The third in our party had a caesar salad that she reported was excellent, and a vegetarian tortellini in a cream sauce that she said was very tasty but too heavy.
We drank a bottle of local Cabernet from Furnace Brook Orchards after the bartended kindly let us sample (generously) from that and another wine. Service was friendly and efficient and the house made breads were terrific. However, even though we were at the bar, it still took a little over two hours to get in and out - the kitchen is not so swift.
All in all, we deemed Perigee to be ambitious but not quite able to live up to their menu just yet. However, they are adding outside tables and that just might make it tempting enough for us to return.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Moe's Tavern
Many thanks to Kevin and Martha E. for submitting this review of Moe's. I have been longing for Moe's since I moved there, but there hasn't been the right time to go with visitors yet (usually we trying one of the fancier places as I am trying to impress them so they return) and while there are some places I am fine going by myself, taverns at night are not among them. Maybe I should rethink this strategy and become a barfly at Moe's on the weekends? Oh if only they allowed in wheaten terriers...
Moe’s Tavern
10 Railroad St
Lee, MA 01238
Shortly before our second trip to Chez Julie West, I came across a review of Moe’s on the blog of Lenox’s Arcadian Shop. How could we pass up the opportunity to visit a place called Moe’s Tavern, especially on Halloween weekend?
So early on Friday evening Martha and I headed out and found Moe’s hidden off of the main drag in Lee. Moe’s is relatively small, but clean and modern. Most of the crowd the night we were there appeared to be friendly locals. For sports fans there are 4 big screen TVs. More importantly, for Bostonians Moe’s had plenty of Red Sox memorabilia in an area with a few too many Yankee fans.
The menu at Moe’s is fairly limited, and features fairly standard bar food. I had the TV Diner, which consisted of chicken strips and fries. Martha had the Krusty Burger and Sweet Potato Fries. The sweet potato fries were excellent, and the burger was a straight-forward double-patty affair—nothing spectacular, but a tasty fry-cook style staple.
The real draw at Moe’s though is not the food but the beer. They have 11 taps with various micro-brews, and 40-50 or so bottled selections. I had an Ommegang Abbey Ale for the first round, followed by one of my favorites, and Alligash White Ale. Martha ordered a Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA and stuck with it for the night.
One thing is for sure… there is plenty to visually appreciate about Moe’s. There are tchotchkes galore and entertaining posters covering the walls. And if you like TV’s Simpson’s, you’ll have fun finding the many do-dads and references that are tucked about the place.
Overall, it’s a friendly place with a great beer selection, good bar food, and a great place to watch a game or just hang out.
FYI, Moe’s doesn’t appear to have an official site, but you can get both beer and food menus here:
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/205/1412631/restaurant/Massachusetts/Pittsfield/Moes-Tavern-Lee
Also, here are a couple of good reviews.
http://jbojangles.blogspot.com/2008/05/two-minute-guide-to-moes-tavern.html
http://arcadianshop.typepad.com/arcommunity/2009/10/review.html
Moe’s Tavern
10 Railroad St
Lee, MA 01238
Shortly before our second trip to Chez Julie West, I came across a review of Moe’s on the blog of Lenox’s Arcadian Shop. How could we pass up the opportunity to visit a place called Moe’s Tavern, especially on Halloween weekend?
So early on Friday evening Martha and I headed out and found Moe’s hidden off of the main drag in Lee. Moe’s is relatively small, but clean and modern. Most of the crowd the night we were there appeared to be friendly locals. For sports fans there are 4 big screen TVs. More importantly, for Bostonians Moe’s had plenty of Red Sox memorabilia in an area with a few too many Yankee fans.
The menu at Moe’s is fairly limited, and features fairly standard bar food. I had the TV Diner, which consisted of chicken strips and fries. Martha had the Krusty Burger and Sweet Potato Fries. The sweet potato fries were excellent, and the burger was a straight-forward double-patty affair—nothing spectacular, but a tasty fry-cook style staple.
The real draw at Moe’s though is not the food but the beer. They have 11 taps with various micro-brews, and 40-50 or so bottled selections. I had an Ommegang Abbey Ale for the first round, followed by one of my favorites, and Alligash White Ale. Martha ordered a Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA and stuck with it for the night.
One thing is for sure… there is plenty to visually appreciate about Moe’s. There are tchotchkes galore and entertaining posters covering the walls. And if you like TV’s Simpson’s, you’ll have fun finding the many do-dads and references that are tucked about the place.
Overall, it’s a friendly place with a great beer selection, good bar food, and a great place to watch a game or just hang out.
FYI, Moe’s doesn’t appear to have an official site, but you can get both beer and food menus here:
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/205/1412631/restaurant/Massachusetts/Pittsfield/Moes-Tavern-Lee
Also, here are a couple of good reviews.
http://jbojangles.blogspot.com/2008/05/two-minute-guide-to-moes-tavern.html
http://arcadianshop.typepad.com/arcommunity/2009/10/review.html
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Haven Bakery and Cafe - Brunch
I took M. and C. to the Haven Cafe in Lenox to try their brunch. Keep in mind at the Haven the eggs come with greens, baguette, and roasted potatoes, so if you have a yen for hash and home fries, look elsewhere.
However, the eggs benedict, one of the most expensive items on the menu at $13 had a heavenly Hollendaise. I have been comparing every EB to the revelatory EBs I experienced two mornings in a row at Payard at Ceasar's Palace this past August and I can say that Haven made a light and lemony hollandaise that rivals the French. Instead of a flaky croissant, though, Haven puts its eggs on a ham-gruyere biscuit which is delicious but does become a little soggy. (The BG has a problem with sogginess, FYI - so this may be relevant only to me.) The greens were basically not dressed, which was a disappointment, and I can't say I have any recollection at all about the roasted potatoes, which is never a good sign. M. had the breakfast burrito and C had a frittata of the day - they both reported their meals as excellent. We all enjoyed the Haven Hot Chocolate, which I would recommend highly if you ae in the mood for a very rich and chocolatey experience.
I still find Haven a touch on the precious side - it definitely caters to weekenders like me with $5 bags of gourmet pretzels for sale - but brunch was undeniably tasty and the service was very efficient. Keep up that hollandaise, Haven - you can't not like a place that does a French sauce and hot chocolate so well.
However, the eggs benedict, one of the most expensive items on the menu at $13 had a heavenly Hollendaise. I have been comparing every EB to the revelatory EBs I experienced two mornings in a row at Payard at Ceasar's Palace this past August and I can say that Haven made a light and lemony hollandaise that rivals the French. Instead of a flaky croissant, though, Haven puts its eggs on a ham-gruyere biscuit which is delicious but does become a little soggy. (The BG has a problem with sogginess, FYI - so this may be relevant only to me.) The greens were basically not dressed, which was a disappointment, and I can't say I have any recollection at all about the roasted potatoes, which is never a good sign. M. had the breakfast burrito and C had a frittata of the day - they both reported their meals as excellent. We all enjoyed the Haven Hot Chocolate, which I would recommend highly if you ae in the mood for a very rich and chocolatey experience.
I still find Haven a touch on the precious side - it definitely caters to weekenders like me with $5 bags of gourmet pretzels for sale - but brunch was undeniably tasty and the service was very efficient. Keep up that hollandaise, Haven - you can't not like a place that does a French sauce and hot chocolate so well.
Route 7 Grill
999 Main Street (rte 7)
Grewat Barrington, MA 01230
www.route7grill.com
Don't always stop in the center of Great Barrington, although there are many alluring eating opportunities in town. Drive a little further south on Route 7 and you will come upon the charming Route 7 Grill, a restaurant built around an impressive two-sided open stone fireplace. They specialize in BBQ-d meats smoked in-house and all the items on the menu originate from local farms, all at a reasonable price.
The atmosphere is definitely cozy, simple and family friendly. This is all about comfort food, not about fine dining.
I went to the Rt 7 Grill last Saturday with my friends M and C. M is a vegetarian and when she simply wondered out loud what the pasta of the day might be, both the waitress and the host came over to point out all the vegetarian options on the menu. We started with freshly made chips and salsa - the chips were hot and crispy and the salsa was flavorful with a slight kick. Then they put down corn bread that was crumbly, corn-y, not too sweet. I started with the house salad which featured fresh greens (some of which looked like seaweed but weren't - we couldn't ID what variety of green it was), apples, cheddar, and almonds with a maple-bacon vinaigrette that had real chucks of bacon. Delicious. M. ended up ordering four sides - beets, mac and cheese, fresh homemade applesauce and... I can't remember. But there are fish options and there is always a pasta of the day.
I ordered the brisket with mac and cheese and onion strings - the meat was tender enough to cut with a fork but a tiny bit on the fatty side. C. ordered the pot roast cooked in Guinness, which was so rich and tender, I think I would opt for that over the brisket next time.
For you mac and cheese fans, the side is served in individual ramekins with crusty crispy cheese melted over the top. Gooey with a bit of cheddar sharpness - very satisfying. Sometimes I regret ordering onion rings/strings but these were thin and crunchy without being greasy.
For dessert, we had chocolate pecan pie with SoCo Creamery Dirty Chocolate ice cream. The pie was an excellent balance of pecans and chocolate.
The restaurant wasn't very full when we arrived early, about 5:30, but as we left around 7, it was filling up. I would suggest getting there early during the high season.
Grewat Barrington, MA 01230
www.route7grill.com
Don't always stop in the center of Great Barrington, although there are many alluring eating opportunities in town. Drive a little further south on Route 7 and you will come upon the charming Route 7 Grill, a restaurant built around an impressive two-sided open stone fireplace. They specialize in BBQ-d meats smoked in-house and all the items on the menu originate from local farms, all at a reasonable price.
The atmosphere is definitely cozy, simple and family friendly. This is all about comfort food, not about fine dining.
I went to the Rt 7 Grill last Saturday with my friends M and C. M is a vegetarian and when she simply wondered out loud what the pasta of the day might be, both the waitress and the host came over to point out all the vegetarian options on the menu. We started with freshly made chips and salsa - the chips were hot and crispy and the salsa was flavorful with a slight kick. Then they put down corn bread that was crumbly, corn-y, not too sweet. I started with the house salad which featured fresh greens (some of which looked like seaweed but weren't - we couldn't ID what variety of green it was), apples, cheddar, and almonds with a maple-bacon vinaigrette that had real chucks of bacon. Delicious. M. ended up ordering four sides - beets, mac and cheese, fresh homemade applesauce and... I can't remember. But there are fish options and there is always a pasta of the day.
I ordered the brisket with mac and cheese and onion strings - the meat was tender enough to cut with a fork but a tiny bit on the fatty side. C. ordered the pot roast cooked in Guinness, which was so rich and tender, I think I would opt for that over the brisket next time.
For you mac and cheese fans, the side is served in individual ramekins with crusty crispy cheese melted over the top. Gooey with a bit of cheddar sharpness - very satisfying. Sometimes I regret ordering onion rings/strings but these were thin and crunchy without being greasy.
For dessert, we had chocolate pecan pie with SoCo Creamery Dirty Chocolate ice cream. The pie was an excellent balance of pecans and chocolate.
The restaurant wasn't very full when we arrived early, about 5:30, but as we left around 7, it was filling up. I would suggest getting there early during the high season.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Angelina's
Locations in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, etc.
The menu I picked up from Angelina's in Pittsfield said it had a location at 95 Main Street in Lee, which is right in the middle of downtown. I don't know if this is a former location or one to come, but I am hoping Angelina's has a future in town.
I have been curious to try the old standby steak and cheese at Angelina's for a while and had the opportunity over the weekend. The sub store is pleasantly, genuinely retro in its no frills sign over the counter listing the sandwiches available, the rack of chips off to the side, the case of soda in the corner. When I grew up in Waltham, there seemed to be about five of these kind of sub shops within a ten minute drive of my house and I don't know if any of them still survive.
For 6 bucks, you can get a steak and cheese with your choice of onions, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, etc. I opted for just the tomatoes. It was ready in about five minutes and stayed well intact for the ride from Pittsfield to Lee, still warm when I unwrapped it. The cheese was American - such a excellently salty, melty cheese for such purposes. The steak was lean but juicy. The roll was fresh. Overall, very satisfying.
There were many other options on the menu I found tempting - a chicken caesar wrap, a taco sub. There are also all the classic options. I am hoping the Lee locale does open because this seems like the ideal option for getting into town at 7 on a Friday and wanting to pick up a meal that is quick, cheap and satisfying. I'll keep you posted!
The menu I picked up from Angelina's in Pittsfield said it had a location at 95 Main Street in Lee, which is right in the middle of downtown. I don't know if this is a former location or one to come, but I am hoping Angelina's has a future in town.
I have been curious to try the old standby steak and cheese at Angelina's for a while and had the opportunity over the weekend. The sub store is pleasantly, genuinely retro in its no frills sign over the counter listing the sandwiches available, the rack of chips off to the side, the case of soda in the corner. When I grew up in Waltham, there seemed to be about five of these kind of sub shops within a ten minute drive of my house and I don't know if any of them still survive.
For 6 bucks, you can get a steak and cheese with your choice of onions, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, etc. I opted for just the tomatoes. It was ready in about five minutes and stayed well intact for the ride from Pittsfield to Lee, still warm when I unwrapped it. The cheese was American - such a excellently salty, melty cheese for such purposes. The steak was lean but juicy. The roll was fresh. Overall, very satisfying.
There were many other options on the menu I found tempting - a chicken caesar wrap, a taco sub. There are also all the classic options. I am hoping the Lee locale does open because this seems like the ideal option for getting into town at 7 on a Friday and wanting to pick up a meal that is quick, cheap and satisfying. I'll keep you posted!
Panayiotis Grill and Pizzaria
54 Main Street
Lee MA
413-243-8220
Panayiotis has a pleasant, simple atmosphere with high ceilings and tables spaced far enough apart for privacy. The lighting could be a little more intimate, but it works. It has the feel of a mid-range restaurant but the menu is huge - really more like a diner. If any of you have seen Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares, you know Gordon sees a wide range of offerings as a danger sign. However, the one time I ate in rather than picked up pizza, everyone was happy with what they ordered.
So, let's get to the pizza, because I had heard this is what they are known for, and if you like classic Greek pizza, this is about the best I've had in a long time. The crust is thick, pillowy, and buttery, with a crispy, crunchy edge. Toppings are placed between the sauce and a thick layer of cheese. The cheese is generous and seems to be more than mozzerella as it has a sharpness as well. Pizzas are baked until the cheese has a golden brown crispness.
As you may be able to tell, I am a fan of this pizza. However, it has a down side. Unlike my very favorite type of pie, the crisp thin crust, the first two pieces of Panayiotis's pizza is delicious and you want a third piece but a third piece is a mistake, a recipe for indigestion. I have not internalized this lesson yet, so once I eat that third piece, I am convinced that I do not want this kind of pizza again for another six months.
Lee has a pizza option shortage. Arizona Pizza is really not very good at all - there is nothing so disappointing as a mediocre pizza as there is no excuse for it. Baba Louie's in Great Barrington is outstanding, but that's twenty minutes away - not really convenient for a quick take out choice. The small Boston chain Hot Tomatoes opened a location in Pittsfield - hey guys, why not come over to Lee?
Lee MA
413-243-8220
Panayiotis has a pleasant, simple atmosphere with high ceilings and tables spaced far enough apart for privacy. The lighting could be a little more intimate, but it works. It has the feel of a mid-range restaurant but the menu is huge - really more like a diner. If any of you have seen Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares, you know Gordon sees a wide range of offerings as a danger sign. However, the one time I ate in rather than picked up pizza, everyone was happy with what they ordered.
So, let's get to the pizza, because I had heard this is what they are known for, and if you like classic Greek pizza, this is about the best I've had in a long time. The crust is thick, pillowy, and buttery, with a crispy, crunchy edge. Toppings are placed between the sauce and a thick layer of cheese. The cheese is generous and seems to be more than mozzerella as it has a sharpness as well. Pizzas are baked until the cheese has a golden brown crispness.
As you may be able to tell, I am a fan of this pizza. However, it has a down side. Unlike my very favorite type of pie, the crisp thin crust, the first two pieces of Panayiotis's pizza is delicious and you want a third piece but a third piece is a mistake, a recipe for indigestion. I have not internalized this lesson yet, so once I eat that third piece, I am convinced that I do not want this kind of pizza again for another six months.
Lee has a pizza option shortage. Arizona Pizza is really not very good at all - there is nothing so disappointing as a mediocre pizza as there is no excuse for it. Baba Louie's in Great Barrington is outstanding, but that's twenty minutes away - not really convenient for a quick take out choice. The small Boston chain Hot Tomatoes opened a location in Pittsfield - hey guys, why not come over to Lee?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Jacks Grill
Main Street
Housatonic, MA
www.jacksgrill.com
Jacks (no apostrophe) Grill - I love the idea. It has a comfort food menu - pot roast, fried chicken, mac and cheese, chocolate pudding, Toll House cookies. It's decorated with old board games, toys, and lunchboxes. What is not amusing about dining next to Welcome Back Kotter lunch box? There are twinkly white lights on the walls and a model train circling overhead, with a real whistle kids can blow if they ask the waitstaff.
I love the idea. But the reality? Unfortunately, another mediocre story.
I went to Jacks several weeks ago with my friends J and D, who recently bought a house around the corner. Perfect! Wine and cheese at their new home and then a quick walk down the street in the crisp autumn air to the warm and welcoming restaurant. The atmosphere is pleasant, no question. The service was quite friendly. But the food is just like most home cooking - this side of serviceable. I had the house speciality pot roast, which was good. I had the open-faced sandwich for $9 and I was very full. I am not shy, retiring and ladylike about portion sizes, so it was hard to imagine just how much more food you would get in the $18 entree portion and not end up with a large amount of leftovers. The sweet potato steak-cut were actually less delicious than the thin shoestring variety served in my school's dining hall. They pride themselves on local produce, but they seemed frozen to me - maybe it was fresh but tasted like frozen - ? Category = fine.
However, J's ordered the crab melt and I have to say I could have produced it in ten minutes in my kitchen, and it would have looked the same on the plate - an English muffin with crab salad and melted cheese in between, some fries thrown on the side. Home cooking and not in the best sense. J reported that it tasted like it looked - like lame-ish overpriced homecooking. D had the chicken pot pie and for some reason, there is a trend in the Berks of not presenting an actual pot pie, but putting chicken a la king in a bowl and putting a piece of puff pastry on top (this was the same presentation my dad had at the Morgan House in Lee). She also reported it was fine but overpriced for what it was.
I will say, in Jacks(no apostrophe)'s favor, the chocolate pudding was delicious. Much better than the stuff from a can. It might, MIGHT, just lure me back again.
Jacks is seasonal and it about to close for the winter. You can enjoy the chocolate pudding again next spring.
Housatonic, MA
www.jacksgrill.com
Jacks (no apostrophe) Grill - I love the idea. It has a comfort food menu - pot roast, fried chicken, mac and cheese, chocolate pudding, Toll House cookies. It's decorated with old board games, toys, and lunchboxes. What is not amusing about dining next to Welcome Back Kotter lunch box? There are twinkly white lights on the walls and a model train circling overhead, with a real whistle kids can blow if they ask the waitstaff.
I love the idea. But the reality? Unfortunately, another mediocre story.
I went to Jacks several weeks ago with my friends J and D, who recently bought a house around the corner. Perfect! Wine and cheese at their new home and then a quick walk down the street in the crisp autumn air to the warm and welcoming restaurant. The atmosphere is pleasant, no question. The service was quite friendly. But the food is just like most home cooking - this side of serviceable. I had the house speciality pot roast, which was good. I had the open-faced sandwich for $9 and I was very full. I am not shy, retiring and ladylike about portion sizes, so it was hard to imagine just how much more food you would get in the $18 entree portion and not end up with a large amount of leftovers. The sweet potato steak-cut were actually less delicious than the thin shoestring variety served in my school's dining hall. They pride themselves on local produce, but they seemed frozen to me - maybe it was fresh but tasted like frozen - ? Category = fine.
However, J's ordered the crab melt and I have to say I could have produced it in ten minutes in my kitchen, and it would have looked the same on the plate - an English muffin with crab salad and melted cheese in between, some fries thrown on the side. Home cooking and not in the best sense. J reported that it tasted like it looked - like lame-ish overpriced homecooking. D had the chicken pot pie and for some reason, there is a trend in the Berks of not presenting an actual pot pie, but putting chicken a la king in a bowl and putting a piece of puff pastry on top (this was the same presentation my dad had at the Morgan House in Lee). She also reported it was fine but overpriced for what it was.
I will say, in Jacks(no apostrophe)'s favor, the chocolate pudding was delicious. Much better than the stuff from a can. It might, MIGHT, just lure me back again.
Jacks is seasonal and it about to close for the winter. You can enjoy the chocolate pudding again next spring.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Cakewalk Bakery
56 Main Street
Lee, MA
www.cakewalkbakery.com
There is everything to like about the Cakewalk. When I first moved in, my neighbors (a tip of the hat to Shawnie and Bryan - may they be enjoying their new home in Ithaca!) said one of the best things about downtown Lee was the Cakewalk and they are correct. The vibe is much more funky-retro, using the original elements of the store such as the 50's linoleum and exposed radiators, than the hard wood/stainless steel bistro chic of the Haven Bakery in Lenox. (But then that's sort of Lee vs Lenox in a nutshell. There's another entry in there...) Another difference between the two is that the Cakewalk sells items like blondies and brownies and the Haven sells chocolate chiffon cake with double-whipped cream cheese frosting. You get the point - both are great, just different. There is also less risk of getting run over by a Donald J Pliner mule in the Cakewalk.
The croissants are quite good, buttery and flaky. I think the Berkshire Mountain Bakery's croissants may be a hair better (BMB's pan au chocolat are definitely superior - much more French than Cakewalk's more American packed-solid-with-chocolate version) but BMB is in Housantonic which is too long a drive first thing in the morning. The other baked goods are universally delicious and I am particularly fond of the cinnamon rose and the chocolate chip scone. Of course these are enormous, sweet, American scones - you won't be using lemon curd or jam on these. I have been less impressed with their baguette.
Get there early since as they sell out of various baked goods, that's it for the day. The staff is friendly and low-key. Overall, the biggest problem with the Cakewalk is that often it's hard to find a space to sit down!
Lee, MA
www.cakewalkbakery.com
There is everything to like about the Cakewalk. When I first moved in, my neighbors (a tip of the hat to Shawnie and Bryan - may they be enjoying their new home in Ithaca!) said one of the best things about downtown Lee was the Cakewalk and they are correct. The vibe is much more funky-retro, using the original elements of the store such as the 50's linoleum and exposed radiators, than the hard wood/stainless steel bistro chic of the Haven Bakery in Lenox. (But then that's sort of Lee vs Lenox in a nutshell. There's another entry in there...) Another difference between the two is that the Cakewalk sells items like blondies and brownies and the Haven sells chocolate chiffon cake with double-whipped cream cheese frosting. You get the point - both are great, just different. There is also less risk of getting run over by a Donald J Pliner mule in the Cakewalk.
The croissants are quite good, buttery and flaky. I think the Berkshire Mountain Bakery's croissants may be a hair better (BMB's pan au chocolat are definitely superior - much more French than Cakewalk's more American packed-solid-with-chocolate version) but BMB is in Housantonic which is too long a drive first thing in the morning. The other baked goods are universally delicious and I am particularly fond of the cinnamon rose and the chocolate chip scone. Of course these are enormous, sweet, American scones - you won't be using lemon curd or jam on these. I have been less impressed with their baguette.
Get there early since as they sell out of various baked goods, that's it for the day. The staff is friendly and low-key. Overall, the biggest problem with the Cakewalk is that often it's hard to find a space to sit down!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Haven Bakery and Cafe 10-12-09
Haven Bakery and Cafe
8 Franklin Street
Lenox, MA
www.haven.berkshireculinary.com
I can't believe it took me this long to get to the Haven Bakery. I had walked by it many times, and even dropped laundry off right next door, but never wandered inside. The curb appeal is minimal and the menu looked a tad fussy. And often I walked by it with Nessa, another factor in not darkening its door.
I decided I would pick up some lunch after walking the Ness over in Lenox this morning and stopped in. The inside is far more charming than the outside - warm wood floors, comfortable lighting, an appetizing case of fresh delicious looking baked goods, wine bottle at the end of the counter just waiting to be poured into a glass for you. You order at the counter and your breakfast/brunch/lunch is delivered to your table. I can't wait to take guests here sometime soon.
There were a lot of fancy young families on this Columbus Day - the children's wardrobes looked to be worth close to my yearly salary, and I would speculate there was more than one set of Land Rover keys in the pockets of the diners. I will probably return again later in November when its a bit more peaceful.
I ordered a hot chocolate and the friendly counterwoman recommended the "Haven Hot Chocolate." It was excellent and I am extremely picky hot chocolate drinker - the top of the top is Burdick's in Cambridge with its shaved real chocolate mixture and I have to say this topped it. Whatever they use permeates the milk more fully and leaves minimal chocolate at the bottom.
For lunch, I ordered a chickem sandwich with ham and sage aioli. It turned out also to have cheese, I think some kind of gruyere, which was mysteriously (and sort of disturbingly) left off the menu. The challah bread roll was toasted, crunchy, rich and buttery. It was a nice sandwich although the aioli was super-garlicky. I also bought a peanut butter cookie which is still waiting for me to eat - I ate a piece of it and can report it to be very good. Next time I want to try a slice of chocolate chiffon cake.
There was one down side and that was that I ordered the sandwich to go, it tooks forever, and there was no where to wait where I did not feel I was in the way and in danger of getting stepped on by one or more pair of very expensive boots. I would not rush in there again to get a sandwich for takeout.
And wow - that aioli was garlicky...
8 Franklin Street
Lenox, MA
www.haven.berkshireculinary.com
I can't believe it took me this long to get to the Haven Bakery. I had walked by it many times, and even dropped laundry off right next door, but never wandered inside. The curb appeal is minimal and the menu looked a tad fussy. And often I walked by it with Nessa, another factor in not darkening its door.
I decided I would pick up some lunch after walking the Ness over in Lenox this morning and stopped in. The inside is far more charming than the outside - warm wood floors, comfortable lighting, an appetizing case of fresh delicious looking baked goods, wine bottle at the end of the counter just waiting to be poured into a glass for you. You order at the counter and your breakfast/brunch/lunch is delivered to your table. I can't wait to take guests here sometime soon.
There were a lot of fancy young families on this Columbus Day - the children's wardrobes looked to be worth close to my yearly salary, and I would speculate there was more than one set of Land Rover keys in the pockets of the diners. I will probably return again later in November when its a bit more peaceful.
I ordered a hot chocolate and the friendly counterwoman recommended the "Haven Hot Chocolate." It was excellent and I am extremely picky hot chocolate drinker - the top of the top is Burdick's in Cambridge with its shaved real chocolate mixture and I have to say this topped it. Whatever they use permeates the milk more fully and leaves minimal chocolate at the bottom.
For lunch, I ordered a chickem sandwich with ham and sage aioli. It turned out also to have cheese, I think some kind of gruyere, which was mysteriously (and sort of disturbingly) left off the menu. The challah bread roll was toasted, crunchy, rich and buttery. It was a nice sandwich although the aioli was super-garlicky. I also bought a peanut butter cookie which is still waiting for me to eat - I ate a piece of it and can report it to be very good. Next time I want to try a slice of chocolate chiffon cake.
There was one down side and that was that I ordered the sandwich to go, it tooks forever, and there was no where to wait where I did not feel I was in the way and in danger of getting stepped on by one or more pair of very expensive boots. I would not rush in there again to get a sandwich for takeout.
And wow - that aioli was garlicky...
Morgan House 10-11-09
Morgan House
33 Main Street
Lee, MA
www.morganhouseinn.com
Entrees: $10-20
The Morgan House is a Berkshire institution. My parents ate there on their honeymoon over 50 years ago. It has seen more and less prosperous times. The last time I ate there, several years ago, I had vowed never to return. It was the kind of place that was dark and you suspected no one wanted to turn the lights on as it would reveal just how dirty the carpet was. The food was middling at best with iceberg lettuce salads and boiled mixed vegetables as a side.
A few years make a difference. My new neighbors told me it had changed hands and been given a makeover. While the menu online did not look like it would be a revelatory experience (crab cakes, nachos, burgers, chicken BLT, Chicken pot pie), I was curious to see what the new owners had done.
I made my parents go there before they left on the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend and I would pronounce the meal "fine." The dining room was brightened up, the furniture looked new, and flow seems to have been improved. The service was prompt and friendly. My dad said his chicken pot pie was good, although the "pie crust" was a piece of puff pastry floating ont he top, and the consistency was more like stew or thick soup. I had a nice side salad with balsamic dressing and a disappointing slice of quiche. Quiche crust is hard - it gets soggy to quickly - and this was no exception. I had a delicious mini-quiche at tea at a hotel in Boston last winter that was so buttery and flaky it melted in your mouth; this was not the case with this uninspired crust. However, the hand-cut fries on the side were good even if the portion was miniature. My mom had the chicken BLT which she reported she enjoyed, although it was a deconstructed BLT with the lettuce on the side, and it was on a bun. I like a BLT to embrace it's BLT-ness - this was more like a grilled chicken sandwich.
Overall, I would rate it "fine." Inexpensive, quick, pleasant atmosphere, close to my house, and I would likely order a burger or something along those lines next time - although I won't be hurrying back with so many better options around.
33 Main Street
Lee, MA
www.morganhouseinn.com
Entrees: $10-20
The Morgan House is a Berkshire institution. My parents ate there on their honeymoon over 50 years ago. It has seen more and less prosperous times. The last time I ate there, several years ago, I had vowed never to return. It was the kind of place that was dark and you suspected no one wanted to turn the lights on as it would reveal just how dirty the carpet was. The food was middling at best with iceberg lettuce salads and boiled mixed vegetables as a side.
A few years make a difference. My new neighbors told me it had changed hands and been given a makeover. While the menu online did not look like it would be a revelatory experience (crab cakes, nachos, burgers, chicken BLT, Chicken pot pie), I was curious to see what the new owners had done.
I made my parents go there before they left on the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend and I would pronounce the meal "fine." The dining room was brightened up, the furniture looked new, and flow seems to have been improved. The service was prompt and friendly. My dad said his chicken pot pie was good, although the "pie crust" was a piece of puff pastry floating ont he top, and the consistency was more like stew or thick soup. I had a nice side salad with balsamic dressing and a disappointing slice of quiche. Quiche crust is hard - it gets soggy to quickly - and this was no exception. I had a delicious mini-quiche at tea at a hotel in Boston last winter that was so buttery and flaky it melted in your mouth; this was not the case with this uninspired crust. However, the hand-cut fries on the side were good even if the portion was miniature. My mom had the chicken BLT which she reported she enjoyed, although it was a deconstructed BLT with the lettuce on the side, and it was on a bun. I like a BLT to embrace it's BLT-ness - this was more like a grilled chicken sandwich.
Overall, I would rate it "fine." Inexpensive, quick, pleasant atmosphere, close to my house, and I would likely order a burger or something along those lines next time - although I won't be hurrying back with so many better options around.
John Andrews Restaurant 10-10-09
John Andrews Restuarant
Route 23
Egremont, MA
www.jarestaurant.com
Entrees: Mid-$20s
I hadn't been to John Andrews for several years but I had fond memories of enjoying a pleasant meal in their woodsy sculpture garden. When my parents and I drove down route 23 through Egremont Saturday night as the sun set, I kept thinking I must have passed the place - it seemed much closer towards the Taconic than I remembered. But we had not passed it. It was 6pm and already the place was doing a brisk business with several couples eating in the bar and the restuarant steadily filling. It is still charming although too cold to eat outside in October! It did become more difficult to see your food as the sun went down and the one tiny candle worked hard to illuminate our table.
The feeling at JA is slightly more upscale than at a place like Chez Nous, although I was perfectly comfortable wearing jeans. The crowd is a tiny bit chic-er; we sat near a couple who looked likely to spend their spare time investing in art and building a new section in their NY loft for their future Baby Upscale.
The service was excellent, always a pleasant event for the laid-back Berskhires, with a well-executed system with a waitress, food runners/bussers, and a "bread guy" (really a "bread teen") who came around with fresh bread.
I have to confess I think I ordered badly. The meal started off well with hot fresh onion/rosemary focaccia, and then I ordered the root vegetable salad. In retrospect, a root vegetable salad is probaly not a flavor-filled party in your mouth. The vegetable had a good crunch but they all tasted the same, as root vegetables tend to do. A few mouthfulls were plenty and then I wished I had ordered the pumpkin soup on special that night. My parents enjoyed their romaine salads.
I did very much enjoy a beautifully done pork chop with a sweet potato bacon hash. Unfortunately, it also included cabbage with cider vinegar for a sauerkraut-like side placed on top of the hash. It was just too tangy and I tried to extricae the hash from it, but without a great deal of success. My mom enjoyed a simple mushroom pasta dish and my dad had the organic chicken which he reported was excellent. For dessert, my mother had a pear in custard and I had the chocolate cheescake. The cheesecake was not as heavy as sometimes it can be, but was not quite as light and fluffy as I would have preferred - but satisfactory, if not trancendant.
This restaurant is a 30 minutes drive on very dark roads so while it is likely not a place I would go frequently, when there are equally good options closer to Lee, it has a very specific and romantic charm - a nice special occassion place for those of us in the middle of the county. And they have a great and interesting wine list.
Route 23
Egremont, MA
www.jarestaurant.com
Entrees: Mid-$20s
I hadn't been to John Andrews for several years but I had fond memories of enjoying a pleasant meal in their woodsy sculpture garden. When my parents and I drove down route 23 through Egremont Saturday night as the sun set, I kept thinking I must have passed the place - it seemed much closer towards the Taconic than I remembered. But we had not passed it. It was 6pm and already the place was doing a brisk business with several couples eating in the bar and the restuarant steadily filling. It is still charming although too cold to eat outside in October! It did become more difficult to see your food as the sun went down and the one tiny candle worked hard to illuminate our table.
The feeling at JA is slightly more upscale than at a place like Chez Nous, although I was perfectly comfortable wearing jeans. The crowd is a tiny bit chic-er; we sat near a couple who looked likely to spend their spare time investing in art and building a new section in their NY loft for their future Baby Upscale.
The service was excellent, always a pleasant event for the laid-back Berskhires, with a well-executed system with a waitress, food runners/bussers, and a "bread guy" (really a "bread teen") who came around with fresh bread.
I have to confess I think I ordered badly. The meal started off well with hot fresh onion/rosemary focaccia, and then I ordered the root vegetable salad. In retrospect, a root vegetable salad is probaly not a flavor-filled party in your mouth. The vegetable had a good crunch but they all tasted the same, as root vegetables tend to do. A few mouthfulls were plenty and then I wished I had ordered the pumpkin soup on special that night. My parents enjoyed their romaine salads.
I did very much enjoy a beautifully done pork chop with a sweet potato bacon hash. Unfortunately, it also included cabbage with cider vinegar for a sauerkraut-like side placed on top of the hash. It was just too tangy and I tried to extricae the hash from it, but without a great deal of success. My mom enjoyed a simple mushroom pasta dish and my dad had the organic chicken which he reported was excellent. For dessert, my mother had a pear in custard and I had the chocolate cheescake. The cheesecake was not as heavy as sometimes it can be, but was not quite as light and fluffy as I would have preferred - but satisfactory, if not trancendant.
This restaurant is a 30 minutes drive on very dark roads so while it is likely not a place I would go frequently, when there are equally good options closer to Lee, it has a very specific and romantic charm - a nice special occassion place for those of us in the middle of the county. And they have a great and interesting wine list.
Shirl's Gelato/Old Inn on the Green
The Old Inn on the Green is selling their handmade gelato. The Old Inn, in New Marlborough, is an extremely charming place, recommended to me by the owner of Alta in Lenox as they were closed when I wanted to make a reservation in March. There is no electricity in the dining rooms so it is supremely romantic and evokes the original days of the Inn in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Stopping into the Berkshire Coop to pick up some Berkshire Mountain Bakery projects, I picked up a pint on a wim, and nearly had a stroke when it rang up at $7.99.
It is good gelato - creamy, and the pistacio had more nuts in it than I have ever experience before. But worth $7.99? No. Get a scoop at SoHo Creamery and hope the guy at the counter is having a better day.
Stopping into the Berkshire Coop to pick up some Berkshire Mountain Bakery projects, I picked up a pint on a wim, and nearly had a stroke when it rang up at $7.99.
It is good gelato - creamy, and the pistacio had more nuts in it than I have ever experience before. But worth $7.99? No. Get a scoop at SoHo Creamery and hope the guy at the counter is having a better day.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Chez Nous 10-09-09
Chez Nous
150 Main Street
Lee, MA
www.cheznousbistro.com
Entrees: $20-30
Chez Nous is just a few minutes from my house and it was one of the selling features. It has long been a favorite of my family. The restaurant is a warren of smallish rooms in a former residence, the tablecloths white, and tables themselves sometimes a bit cozy if you have a party larger than 3. The lighting is on the romantic side, but not so dim it is impossible to see your food. The place has a comfortable, homey feel and the staff are friendly and low-key. This is Lee, not Lenox, in a good way. The menu is French - I would describe it as "French-inspired" - I have had several dishes there, such as the butternut squash ravioli, that I would not categorize as classical French. This is not a criticism; just don't necessarily expect sole meuniere.
I was there with my parents and it was the end of a busy week for all of us; we were happy to be sitting down to a nice dinner. I started with a cocktail of St Germain (elderflower liquer), vodka, and pineapple juice. I'm not overly fond of sweet drinks but they were out of the Breton cider I ordered to begin with, and I was in the mood for something new. It was quite tasty. I will be getting a bottle of St Germain for my bar at home. I have to say that in the summer, the bar had been very slow - you could be well into your salad by the time the cocktails appeared - but this was not an issue during this visit.
We started with salads and a smoked salmon appetizer. The restaurant produces its own smoked salmon and it is excellent - smokiness pervades the fish without overwhelming it. It called to mind smoked salmon I had in Ireland. For entrees, I had scallops with butternut squash ravioli, my dad had salmon with a vegetable filled buckwheat crepe, and my mom had a burger with foie gras. The scallops were done perfectly and the ravioli had the right ratio of filling to pasta - all done well. My father enjoyed the salmon and the crepe, although I have to say the buckwheat crepe was not the most appetizing looking object in world - it was a strange brown color and laid like a lump on the plate. My mom enjoyed hers although she had never had the foie gras/burger combination and it was not to her liking.
My mom is the kind of eater who does not like large portions and she often asks about this when she orders. She finds it overwhelming to be presented with a heaping plate of food. I have eaten with other people like this - I was once with a colleague who burst into tears when confronted with a tall pile of shrimp tempura when she meant to order tempura sushi. Thus, my mom did not make much of a dent in the heaping pile of fries, discarded the foie gras, and did not eat the bun on the burger. After the table was cleared, the manager came over afterward because the chef was worried there was something wrong with her meal. While this made her uncomfortable, and that made me wish he hadn't said anything, I think it was the mark of a good chef to follow up and make sure there weren't any problems.
For dessert, I had a warm sticky toffee pudding and my dad had an apple tart - both delicious. Overall, a very pleasant, comfortable, relaxing dining experience.
150 Main Street
Lee, MA
www.cheznousbistro.com
Entrees: $20-30
Chez Nous is just a few minutes from my house and it was one of the selling features. It has long been a favorite of my family. The restaurant is a warren of smallish rooms in a former residence, the tablecloths white, and tables themselves sometimes a bit cozy if you have a party larger than 3. The lighting is on the romantic side, but not so dim it is impossible to see your food. The place has a comfortable, homey feel and the staff are friendly and low-key. This is Lee, not Lenox, in a good way. The menu is French - I would describe it as "French-inspired" - I have had several dishes there, such as the butternut squash ravioli, that I would not categorize as classical French. This is not a criticism; just don't necessarily expect sole meuniere.
I was there with my parents and it was the end of a busy week for all of us; we were happy to be sitting down to a nice dinner. I started with a cocktail of St Germain (elderflower liquer), vodka, and pineapple juice. I'm not overly fond of sweet drinks but they were out of the Breton cider I ordered to begin with, and I was in the mood for something new. It was quite tasty. I will be getting a bottle of St Germain for my bar at home. I have to say that in the summer, the bar had been very slow - you could be well into your salad by the time the cocktails appeared - but this was not an issue during this visit.
We started with salads and a smoked salmon appetizer. The restaurant produces its own smoked salmon and it is excellent - smokiness pervades the fish without overwhelming it. It called to mind smoked salmon I had in Ireland. For entrees, I had scallops with butternut squash ravioli, my dad had salmon with a vegetable filled buckwheat crepe, and my mom had a burger with foie gras. The scallops were done perfectly and the ravioli had the right ratio of filling to pasta - all done well. My father enjoyed the salmon and the crepe, although I have to say the buckwheat crepe was not the most appetizing looking object in world - it was a strange brown color and laid like a lump on the plate. My mom enjoyed hers although she had never had the foie gras/burger combination and it was not to her liking.
My mom is the kind of eater who does not like large portions and she often asks about this when she orders. She finds it overwhelming to be presented with a heaping plate of food. I have eaten with other people like this - I was once with a colleague who burst into tears when confronted with a tall pile of shrimp tempura when she meant to order tempura sushi. Thus, my mom did not make much of a dent in the heaping pile of fries, discarded the foie gras, and did not eat the bun on the burger. After the table was cleared, the manager came over afterward because the chef was worried there was something wrong with her meal. While this made her uncomfortable, and that made me wish he hadn't said anything, I think it was the mark of a good chef to follow up and make sure there weren't any problems.
For dessert, I had a warm sticky toffee pudding and my dad had an apple tart - both delicious. Overall, a very pleasant, comfortable, relaxing dining experience.
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