Massachusetts Restaurant Review Sound Bites

Panayiotis' Grill and Pizzeria, Lee MA

2009-03-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

Panayiotis' Grill and Pizzeria, a family-owned and operated restaurant in quaint, downtown Lee, MA (in the Berkshires), offers reasonably-priced pizza, Greek, American and Italian pasta dishes served in large portions within a somewhat sleek, small-to-medium-sized storefront setting. With the bar and dining room combined into one long room, Panayiotis' Grill and Pizzeria brings in many families, couples on a "date night" and those looking just to have a few drinks. The service is quite friendly and attentive, helping enhance the overall pleasant dining experience. Panayiotis' Grill and Pizzeria is the type of place that ultimately caters to everyone without sacrificing any quality -- similar chain restaurants should take note! Our favorite dishes: pesto pizza with shrimp, Angus hamburger, Caesar salad

Price Category: Inexpensive to Moderate
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Street
Attire: Casual
Kid Friendly: Yes
Alcohol: Yes

Panayiotis' Grill and Pizzeria
54 Main St
Lee, MA 01238
Tel. (413) 243-8220‎

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Finnegan's Wake, Walpole, MA

2009-03-18T05:43:00.000-07:00

Finnegan's Wake in Walpole, MA -- it's magically delicious! Now that we've got the Lucky Charms Leprechaun reference out of the way, let's get down to discussing Finnegan's Wake, Walpole's strongest case of "going green." Located in the basement of a former foundry building, the dark and cozy Finnegan's Wake serves some of the best Irish fare in the Boston area -- and plenty of beer on tap, to validate the Irish pub experience. Lunch and dinner standouts include the Guinness beef pie, roast turkey dinner, fish and chips, Irish potato pizza, Shepherd's pie and "toasties" (grilled ham, cheese and tomato -- all at tremendous value for the budget-minded. With the ultra comfortable bar and dining room areas enhanced by Irish colors, decor and furnishings, Finnegan's Wake is a beloved local dining spot -- perfect for small or large groups and even as a kid friendly place (free "Hoodsies" with every children's meal!). Owned by Irishman Tom Kirwin (a very nice fellow) who is often working hard at the restaurant and brightening up the place with his wonderful Irish accent, Finnegan's Wake is a very welcoming place to be and, now, with much-improved service (a sticking point in the past). Ultimately, Finnegan's Wake is indeed "magically delicious!" Our favorite dishes: As mentioned, the Guinness beef pie, roast turkey dinner, fish and chips, Irish potato pizza, Shepherd's pie and "toasties" (grilled ham, cheese and tomato.

Price Category: Inexpensive
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Street
Attire: Casual
Kid Friendly: Yes, best for lunch or early evening in the dining room section
Alcohol: Yes

Finnegan's Wake
7 Glenwood Ave.
Walpole, MA
Tel. (508) 668-1189

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Mackie's, North Attleborough, MA

2009-03-17T05:58:00.000-07:00

Mackie's runs on all restaurant cylinders, offering some of the best breakfasts and lunches in the area, as well as dinners (Wednesday through Sunday). More than just a restaurant (the dining room is old-world and quaint with high ceilings and period lighting), Mackie's also features an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and a "country store" (mostly paintings for sale on the dining room wall). It's always nice to eat at Mackie's as the character of the restaurant, pride of ownership, and high batting average of turning out excellent food comprise a template, of sorts, on how a local restaurant should be run. Our favorite dishes: steak tips, hand-pressed burgers, fish and chips, omelet with Parmesan cheese, tuna melt, blueberry pie, chocolate cake, chocolate chip pancakes. The coffee is tremendous!

Price Category: Inexpensive
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Street
Attire: Casual
Kid Friendly: Yes
Alcohol: Yes

Mackie's
49 N Washington St,
North Attleborough, MA‎
Tel. (508) 643-4141‎

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Cambridge Common, Cambridge, MA

2009-03-17T03:54:00.000-07:00

Dark, noisy and seemingly always crowded, this informal Harvard Square area restaurant is a favorite amongst college students and professors, and virtually anyone looking for large portions of food at low prices for lunch and dinner. Cambridge Common is always open late and a truly great ultimate bar and comfort food place, serving all the genre's signature bells and whistles -- meatloaf, fish and chips, Guinness beef stew, macaroni and cheese, steak tips, burgers, southern fried chicken, salads, sandwiches, and a large number of beers on tap. Our favorite selections: meatloaf, black angus burger, and grilled chicken Caesar salad

Price Category: Inexpensive
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Street, limited back parking lot
Attire: Casual
Kid Friendly: Yes, best at lunch and early dinner
Alcohol: Yes

Cambridge Common
1667 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA
Tel. (617) 547-1228

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Basil Restaurant, Medfield, MA

2009-03-17T03:39:00.000-07:00

Basil Restaurant, an Italian and new American restaurant located in a charming, converted house, might just be one of the true hidden gems in the Boston area. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood, Basil is an upscale but casual, friendly dining spot as sweet as its name. The value is also surprisingly good, as prices have not risen much through the years. The chef's and staff's attention to detail results in a special dining experience, all set within a dimly-lit, romantic setting where you always feel you've made your own special dining discovery. There an incredible, huge salt water tank in the dining room, but there's nothing below "C" level at this wonderful little dining getaway spot. Our favorite dishes: butternut squash ravioli, Caesar Salad, shrimp, veal and chicken marsala, slow roasted duckling and grilled salmon fillet with a lemon caper sauce and rice pilaf and very fresh vegetables

Price Category: Mostly moderate, some dishes expensive
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Yes
Attire: Neat Casual to Formal
Kid Friendly: Yes, best at lunch and early dinner, but it's more of a couples or groups place
Alcohol: Yes

Basil Restaurant
43 Frairy St
Medfield, MA 02052
Tel. (508) 359-4400

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Needham House of Pizza, Needham, MA

2009-03-17T03:30:00.001-07:00

Beyond the typical house of pizza quality, the Needham House of Pizza creates the type of Greek-style pizza that requires you to eat the whole meal quickly -- it's that good and addictive. The Needham House of Pizza attains the correct mix through a not overwhelming base of grease combined with a very tangy sauce and a very agreeable blend of cheese. Service is quite personable with staff interacting quite nicely with the locals. The Needham House of Pizza is a bit more expensive than other pizza places -- perhaps because of its upper-class Needham center location and the quality of the product -- but this small storefront with a few seats will not disappoint those in search of great Greek-style pizza. Our favorite selections: hamburger-anchovy and mushroom pizzas.

Price Category: Inexpensive
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Street
Attire: Informal
Kid Friendly: Yes
Alcohol: No

Needham House of Pizza
914 Great Plain Ave.
Needham, MA
Tel. (781) 444-1139

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Commons Eatery and Cafe, Foxborough, MA

2009-03-17T03:15:00.000-07:00

The Commons Eatery and Cafe in Foxborough, MA, represents the best of friendly, hometown breakfast and lunch restaurants. With a menu seemingly as large as a Milton novel, the Commons specializes in breakfast and lunch, but also features dinner on Friday night. As expected, you'll find a pleasant mix of booths, tables and counter space, and some truly friendly, "What would like like....buddy... or honey?" service depending upon which gender serves you (to clarify, that's men and women, respectfully on the "buddy" or "honey." Our favorite selections: omelet with peppers, onions and cheddar cheese, chocolate chip muffins, hamburger club sandwich, homemade chicken soup.

Price Category: Inexpensive
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Street
Attire: Casual
Kid Friendly: Yes!
Alcohol: No

Commons Eatery and Cafe
20 Central St.
Foxboro, MA
Tel.: (508) 543-4432

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