A rainy Monday night. Can't BBQ. So why not check out a new local restaurant?
Georgie D's Place is new though it has connections to the E&G restaurant. I am not sure of the exact relationship between the two businesses though some of the cooks from E&G's work at Georgie D's. I have long been a fan of E&G's food, usually getting take-out or delivery. So, I had high expectations for Georgie D's.
I had previously tried to get into Georgie D's one Saturday night, around 5:30p.m., but it was full. So, I decided to try it on a Monday night, figuring I could get in without a reservation. Though I was able to get a table, it was actually fairly busy. Georgie D's is a popular place. I should also note that there is not a lot of parking in the area but they do have valet service on Friday and Saturdays.
The restaurant is small and has two main rooms. One room contains the open kitchen and four tables while the other room is basically just a dining room. Some of the tables in that room are rather close together. The dining room might fit about 25-30 people. When I arrived, the main dining room was almost completely full so we chose to sit in the other room.
I first checked out the wine list which is short, with about 16 wines available. Most of the wines are Italian but they have a few non-Italian wines available. Prices averaged about $6 per glass and $22-25 per bottle. There are very reasonable prices.
The menu includes salads, appetizers, pasta dishes and various meat/poultry dishes. It is fairly diverse though with some standard Italian dishes such as Veal Marsala and Chicken Piccata. Appetizers average about $9 and entrees about $17-18. There were also a few specials for the evening. An interesting item on the menu is that if you cannot decide on what to order, you can ask Georgie D to create a dish for you! All of their dishes are available for take-out as well.
While checking out the menu, we received a loaf of warm bread with a dish of oil. The bread is made on the premises and was definitely fresh, with a nice soft interior and a crusty exterior. An excellent way to start the meal.
We started with a Caprese Salad ($9). This consisted of five yellow tomato slices, topped by slices of prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella. These slices were also topped with basil, olive oil, seasonings and aged vinaigrette. This was certainly a large salad! It was delicious with clearly fresh ingredients. There was plenty of prosciutto as each tomato was covered by a large, full slice of the salty ham. A very good salad and a good value.
Next came our appetizer, the Farmer's Sausage ($9). This consisted of two sausages, sliced in half, atop grilled polenta with melted gorgonzola cheese and a side of grilled peppers. This was another good-sized dish. The sausage was tasty and a little spicy. The sauce was quite delicious, especially atop the moist polenta. We used some of our bread to sop up the excess sauce once we finished the dish.
Our entrees included the Veal Marsala ($18) and the Scallop Ann ($17). Dinners are cooked to order so you are ensured of fresh food. I had always enjoyed the Veal Marsala from E&G's so hoped this was as good. And it certainly was! The dish had a large veal cutlet, with plentiful cubes of ham, and pappardelle. I had them hold the mushrooms. The veal was very tender and the marsala sauce was excellent. The Scallop Ann is seared with sundried tomatoes and rabbes. Though the menu stated it came with angel hair pasta, it also came with pappardelle. The scallops were tender and good. Another very good dish.
We were too full to order any dessert.
Service was good. Especially considering that there was only one waitress. Maybe they had not expected so many people on a Monday night. The hostess though frequently helped out to ensure everyone had good service. The staff worked well together.
Overall, this was a very good experience and I would definitely recommend this restaurant. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. This is a restaurant obviously run by passionate owners who want to create an excellent, intimate restaurant.
Georgie D's Place
499 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 481-9300
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query georgie d's place. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query georgie d's place. Sort by date Show all posts
Monday, June 4, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Georgie D's Place: Lunch
There is a new lunch option in Stoneham...Georgie D's Place.
I have previously told you about the good food that can be found for dinner at Georgie D's Place. Just recently though, they opened for lunch, starting at 11:30am.
You have plenty of options, including salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes. Prices are reasonable at an average of $6.95-$8.95.
You could order the Mixed Salad, Soup and a Sandwich for $6.95. Your sandwich choices include Cutlet Parmesan, Chicken Parmesan, Grilled Chicken, Meatball and Sausage. Or you could order a Sandwich with French Fries ($6.95-$7.95). Pasta dishes include such items as Chicken Parmesan, Sausage, Meatball, Shrimp Scampi, Steak Pizzeola and more ($6.95-8.95). There are also Caesar Salad and Mixed Salads which you can order with Shrimp, Steak or Chicken.
I ordered the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich with French Fries ($7.95). For bread, they use their home-made loaves, which I definitely enjoy. There were plenty of tender chicken cutlets in the sandwich, which were made to order. An excellent and large sandwich. The fries were thick steak fries and there were plenty of them as well. Overall, this was a very good meal and for a very reasonable price.
I will be back. And I recommend that you check it out as well.
Georgie D's Place
499 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: 781-481-9300
I have previously told you about the good food that can be found for dinner at Georgie D's Place. Just recently though, they opened for lunch, starting at 11:30am.
You have plenty of options, including salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes. Prices are reasonable at an average of $6.95-$8.95.
You could order the Mixed Salad, Soup and a Sandwich for $6.95. Your sandwich choices include Cutlet Parmesan, Chicken Parmesan, Grilled Chicken, Meatball and Sausage. Or you could order a Sandwich with French Fries ($6.95-$7.95). Pasta dishes include such items as Chicken Parmesan, Sausage, Meatball, Shrimp Scampi, Steak Pizzeola and more ($6.95-8.95). There are also Caesar Salad and Mixed Salads which you can order with Shrimp, Steak or Chicken.
I ordered the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich with French Fries ($7.95). For bread, they use their home-made loaves, which I definitely enjoy. There were plenty of tender chicken cutlets in the sandwich, which were made to order. An excellent and large sandwich. The fries were thick steak fries and there were plenty of them as well. Overall, this was a very good meal and for a very reasonable price.
I will be back. And I recommend that you check it out as well.
Georgie D's Place
499 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: 781-481-9300
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Georgie D's Place: Changes
I stopped by Georgie D's Place this evening for a quick dinner. Overall, it was another excellent meal. Though I noticed a couple subtle changes in a couple of the dishes.
We began with the Farmer's Sausage appetizer, something I have had there before. The gorgonzola cheese sauce was a bit thinner than previously, a slight change made by the Chef. The sauce was still quite delicious. The taste was really no different, it was simply not as heavy.
I then ordered the Chicken Marsala. The ham was different than before. Rather than small cubes of ham, this was more pieces of Prosciutto slices that might have been sauteed. This was a very nice change. It enhanced the dish and was a pleasant surprise.
We also ordered one of the specials, a haddock with a brandy brown butter shrimp sauce. This was a large, tender piece of haddock with a very tasty sauce.
It seems that the Chef is doing a little experimentation, trying to make his dishes even better. It certainly seems to be working so far.
Georgie D's Place
499 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 481-9300
We began with the Farmer's Sausage appetizer, something I have had there before. The gorgonzola cheese sauce was a bit thinner than previously, a slight change made by the Chef. The sauce was still quite delicious. The taste was really no different, it was simply not as heavy.
I then ordered the Chicken Marsala. The ham was different than before. Rather than small cubes of ham, this was more pieces of Prosciutto slices that might have been sauteed. This was a very nice change. It enhanced the dish and was a pleasant surprise.
We also ordered one of the specials, a haddock with a brandy brown butter shrimp sauce. This was a large, tender piece of haddock with a very tasty sauce.
It seems that the Chef is doing a little experimentation, trying to make his dishes even better. It certainly seems to be working so far.
Georgie D's Place
499 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 481-9300
Monday, January 5, 2009
The New Georgie D's Place
Georgie D's Place, one of my favorite local Italian restaurants, recently moved from its prior location at the intersection of Main and Marble Streets. It now is located near the Redstone Shopping Center, occupying the former space of a Chinese restaurant. I recently stopped by to check out the new location, hoping that its quality had not diminished, and it did not disappoint.
First, the parking situation is much better as there are plenty of spots nearby. That makes it easier to visit the restaurant. Second, the restaurant itself is larger with two rooms, one a bar and the other the dining area. The bar has about twelve stools and has a full menu of alcohol. There is also a piano in the bar and on Friday and Saturday evenings, there is a pianist and sometimes a singer as well. The dining room seats around 50 people and has a nice ambiance, a casual but classy vibe. The lighting is subdued with candles on each table.
The food menu, which is still being finalized, is larger than at the prior location, adding more appetizers as well as a new category, vulcanos. Plenty of old favorites are still on the menu. And one of the restaurant's best options still exists, that the chef will make you almost any dish you want if you do not see it on the menu. So you are essentially guaranteed of finding a dish you want there. Appetizers range $8-$11 and entrees generally range from $15-$25.
Before any of your food comes, you receive a freshly baked and warm loaf of delicious bread with a dish of oil, herbs and grated cheese if you want. An excellent way to begin your dinner. I started my dinner with the Beef Spiedini ($10), sirloin stuffed with prosciutto and cheese topped with balsamic pepper cream sauce. There were four pieces of tender beef with the ice salty ham and melted cheese. The sauce was very dark, with a strong balsamic flavor that matched the sirloin quite well. I enjoyed this dish and would order it again.
For my entree, I decided to try one of the new vulcano dishes, said to be a thin bread filled to bursting with fillings. Though they have several vulcano dishes listed, you can also make your own, deciding on which fillings you want inside of it. I decided to have veal, prosciutto, and mozzarella in marsala sauce inside of mine ($24). When it arrived, it reminded me of an open-faced calzone. It was like a shallow bread bowl surrounding all of the fillings, and there was plenty of meat and cheese inside of it.
The bread was baked with the fillings and had a nice crispy exterior and soft bread within. An excellent bread which is going to appeal to any bread lover. There was plenty of thin and tender veal, with lots of ham and cheese. And the marsala sauce was quite savory and delicious, similar to what I had at their prior location. I was very happy with this dish and would highly recommend the vulcanos.
Service was very good. Overall, the quality of the restaurant has not diminished at all, and in other respects the restaurant has improved. It is easier to park, the restaurant is larger, and the menu has more interesting choices. The food is just as good as before and I continue to highly recommend this restaurant.
Georgie D's Place
125 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 481-9300
First, the parking situation is much better as there are plenty of spots nearby. That makes it easier to visit the restaurant. Second, the restaurant itself is larger with two rooms, one a bar and the other the dining area. The bar has about twelve stools and has a full menu of alcohol. There is also a piano in the bar and on Friday and Saturday evenings, there is a pianist and sometimes a singer as well. The dining room seats around 50 people and has a nice ambiance, a casual but classy vibe. The lighting is subdued with candles on each table.
The food menu, which is still being finalized, is larger than at the prior location, adding more appetizers as well as a new category, vulcanos. Plenty of old favorites are still on the menu. And one of the restaurant's best options still exists, that the chef will make you almost any dish you want if you do not see it on the menu. So you are essentially guaranteed of finding a dish you want there. Appetizers range $8-$11 and entrees generally range from $15-$25.
Before any of your food comes, you receive a freshly baked and warm loaf of delicious bread with a dish of oil, herbs and grated cheese if you want. An excellent way to begin your dinner. I started my dinner with the Beef Spiedini ($10), sirloin stuffed with prosciutto and cheese topped with balsamic pepper cream sauce. There were four pieces of tender beef with the ice salty ham and melted cheese. The sauce was very dark, with a strong balsamic flavor that matched the sirloin quite well. I enjoyed this dish and would order it again.
For my entree, I decided to try one of the new vulcano dishes, said to be a thin bread filled to bursting with fillings. Though they have several vulcano dishes listed, you can also make your own, deciding on which fillings you want inside of it. I decided to have veal, prosciutto, and mozzarella in marsala sauce inside of mine ($24). When it arrived, it reminded me of an open-faced calzone. It was like a shallow bread bowl surrounding all of the fillings, and there was plenty of meat and cheese inside of it.
The bread was baked with the fillings and had a nice crispy exterior and soft bread within. An excellent bread which is going to appeal to any bread lover. There was plenty of thin and tender veal, with lots of ham and cheese. And the marsala sauce was quite savory and delicious, similar to what I had at their prior location. I was very happy with this dish and would highly recommend the vulcanos.
Service was very good. Overall, the quality of the restaurant has not diminished at all, and in other respects the restaurant has improved. It is easier to park, the restaurant is larger, and the menu has more interesting choices. The food is just as good as before and I continue to highly recommend this restaurant.
Georgie D's Place
125 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 481-9300
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Georgie D's Place: New Website
Just a quick update:
Georgie D's Place, which I have previously reviewed several times has a new website. You can take a look at their menu, read their catering menu, and get other info about the restaurant. So check it out.
Georgie D's Place
499 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: 781-481-9300
Georgie D's Place, which I have previously reviewed several times has a new website. You can take a look at their menu, read their catering menu, and get other info about the restaurant. So check it out.
Georgie D's Place
499 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: 781-481-9300
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Georgie D's, Once Again
I stopped by Georgie D's Place for an early dinner this evening. I previously reviewed this restaurant and was impressed. Would my subsequent visit be as good?
The restaurant opened at 5:00pm and I arrived around 5:15pm and was their first patron. I sat in the main dining room near the bar. I was given the option of a couple tables. I started off with a glass of their house Chianti ($6). This was a decent wine, a typical Chianti. It is a simple but pleasing wine.
I was also delivered a loaf of warm, home-made bread and a dish of oil. Once again, I have to rave about the bread. I love bread and this is an excellent loaf with a very crusty exterior and a soft interior.
For an appetizer, I chose one of the specials, shrimp and pesto poppers ($10). This was apparently something new that the Chef came up with. The dish had five very large shrimp, encased in a spiced batter, with tomatoes and a pesto dipping sauce. The shrimp were tasty and meaty. The spiced batter was mild and the pesto made a nice accompaniement. An inventive and delicious appetizer.
I felt like having some veal parmigiana but it was not on the menu. No problem! The waitress stated it would not be a problem at all to make it. As I said previously, the menu states that if you do not see something on the menu, just ask. When the dish ($17) arrived, it consisted of two pieces of veal with pappardelle. The red sauce was dark, thick and tasty. The veal was also delicious with plenty of melted cheese.
I was too full to order dessert. Between the bread, shrimp, veal and pasta, I had plenty of food.
Service was excellent. The waitress was personable, courteous and helpful.
Overall, my second visit was as good as the first. So, there has been consistency at this restaurant. I definitely recommend that you check it out. But you may want to make reservations, especially on weekends. I think the word is getting out about the quality of this restaurant.
Georgie D's Place
499 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 481-9300
The restaurant opened at 5:00pm and I arrived around 5:15pm and was their first patron. I sat in the main dining room near the bar. I was given the option of a couple tables. I started off with a glass of their house Chianti ($6). This was a decent wine, a typical Chianti. It is a simple but pleasing wine.
I was also delivered a loaf of warm, home-made bread and a dish of oil. Once again, I have to rave about the bread. I love bread and this is an excellent loaf with a very crusty exterior and a soft interior.
For an appetizer, I chose one of the specials, shrimp and pesto poppers ($10). This was apparently something new that the Chef came up with. The dish had five very large shrimp, encased in a spiced batter, with tomatoes and a pesto dipping sauce. The shrimp were tasty and meaty. The spiced batter was mild and the pesto made a nice accompaniement. An inventive and delicious appetizer.
I felt like having some veal parmigiana but it was not on the menu. No problem! The waitress stated it would not be a problem at all to make it. As I said previously, the menu states that if you do not see something on the menu, just ask. When the dish ($17) arrived, it consisted of two pieces of veal with pappardelle. The red sauce was dark, thick and tasty. The veal was also delicious with plenty of melted cheese.
I was too full to order dessert. Between the bread, shrimp, veal and pasta, I had plenty of food.
Service was excellent. The waitress was personable, courteous and helpful.
Overall, my second visit was as good as the first. So, there has been consistency at this restaurant. I definitely recommend that you check it out. But you may want to make reservations, especially on weekends. I think the word is getting out about the quality of this restaurant.
Georgie D's Place
499 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 481-9300
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Stoneham Restaurant News
Just a couple of items to report.
First, Pignone's Cafe has ended their dinner service. With the current economy, and the long hours they have had to put in to run their restaurant from breakfast through dinner, they have decided it was not beneficial enough to continue serving dinner. This is certainly understandable considering the tough situation many restaurants currently face.
Fortunately, Pignone's will continue though to serve both breakfast and lunch, seven days a week. They are one of the few local restaurants that serves breakfast, and they do an excellent job at it. Drop by for some eggs, pancakes, waffles or French toast. I also like the fact you can get breakfast for lunch as well. They serve breakfast throughout their hours of operation.
Pignone’s Café
319 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 279-0131
Second, Georgie D's Place has now opened at its new location. I have not yet been in there but plan to visit soon. They now have a piano bar and feature various pianists on the weekend. Their food menu also looks slightly different, though mainly with the addition of new appetizers. I am sure the food quality has remained the same and I look forward to checking it out.
Georgie D's Place
125 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 481-9300
First, Pignone's Cafe has ended their dinner service. With the current economy, and the long hours they have had to put in to run their restaurant from breakfast through dinner, they have decided it was not beneficial enough to continue serving dinner. This is certainly understandable considering the tough situation many restaurants currently face.
Fortunately, Pignone's will continue though to serve both breakfast and lunch, seven days a week. They are one of the few local restaurants that serves breakfast, and they do an excellent job at it. Drop by for some eggs, pancakes, waffles or French toast. I also like the fact you can get breakfast for lunch as well. They serve breakfast throughout their hours of operation.
Pignone’s Café
319 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 279-0131
Second, Georgie D's Place has now opened at its new location. I have not yet been in there but plan to visit soon. They now have a piano bar and feature various pianists on the weekend. Their food menu also looks slightly different, though mainly with the addition of new appetizers. I am sure the food quality has remained the same and I look forward to checking it out.
Georgie D's Place
125 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 481-9300
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Stoneham Sun: What's New in Stoneham
My new column of "A Passionate Foodie" can be found in the October 29 issue (it was delayed a week) of the Stoneham Sun newspaper. This is a weekly column that concentrates on reviews of local restaurants though it may also touch on a few other food and wine topics.
The new column has been published today and is also available online. The new column discusses some of the latest changes and events in the culinary world in Stoneham, as well as some of the future changes coming. Learn what is going on at Melissa's Main Street Bistro, Pignone's Cafe, Bacci, Georgie D's Place and Honey Dew Donuts.
As an addition, a new Thai restaurant, House of Siam, is going into the space where Georgie D's Place used to be. House of Siam is supposed to open in November.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.
Dine with passion.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Stoneham Sun: Georgie D's Place
My next column of "A Passionate Foodie" can now be found in the August 15 issue of the Stoneham Sun newspaper.
The Stoneham Sun is a weekly free newspaper. I will be writing a weekly column that will concentrate on reviews of local restaurants. The column may also touch on a few other food and wine topics as well. My second column will be published tomorrow though it is available now online. This column is a restaurant review of Georgie D's Place, a new Italian restaurant in Stoneham.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here. Next week, my column will be another local restaurant review.
I hope you enjoy!
The Stoneham Sun is a weekly free newspaper. I will be writing a weekly column that will concentrate on reviews of local restaurants. The column may also touch on a few other food and wine topics as well. My second column will be published tomorrow though it is available now online. This column is a restaurant review of Georgie D's Place, a new Italian restaurant in Stoneham.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here. Next week, my column will be another local restaurant review.
I hope you enjoy!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
2008 Readers' Choice Awards
The winners in the 2008 Readers' Choice Awards have now been published in the June 25 issues of the local newspapers, including our own Stoneham Sun. You will also be able to read the list of winners online tommorrow. The areas covered by the awards include Stoneham, reading, Wakefield, Saugus, Melrose, Malden and Medford.
There are over 70 categories though what is most important to me are the numerous restaurant and liquor store categories. Last year, some of the results surprised me and I previously posted my thoughts. What had most surprised me were some of the omissions as well as a few of the places received the Best votes. So it is time for me to dissect some of the list of winners again, to see where I may agree or disagree.
I had complained last year that though there is a listing for Liquor Store there is not a separate category for Wine Store. This year, they still do not have a separate category for Wine Store and I still think they should. We have seen a number of stores in the last few years that concentrate primarily on wine. I don't think they can be adequately compared to a general liquor store.
As for the specific winners, I am surprised that the Grapevine Travelers, a very good wine store, did not make the list in Medford. Which could be due to the lack of a separate category for wine stores. In Saugus, though OurGlass Wine Co. received an honorable mention, I do think they are better than the winner, Nasty Nonnis. I was glad to see that The Wine Shop of Reading and Rapid Liquors took top honors in Reading and Stoneham.
I was pleased to see that Pignone's Cafe was the #1 Choice of Restaurant for Breakfast in Stoneham. They certainly serve an excellent breakfast. Though I do think that the Dairy Dome is deserving at least of an Honorable Mention. Their D-Boy spucky is an excellent breakfast sandwich. I think the Dairy Dome also should have be on the list for Restaurant for Lunch as well as Restarant for Takeout. Plus, where are the mentions for Georgie D's Place? Georgie D's makes excellent Italian food and they are open for both lunch and dinner. Yet they did not receive any mention on Restaurant for Lunch, Restaurant for Dinner, or Fine Dining Restaurant. They only received an Honorable Mention for Italian Restaurant. Melissa's Main Street Bistro (the former KroMels') received an Honorable Mention for Fine Dining Restaurant. But they did not receive a mention for Restaurant for Steak. And they do deserve such a mention. As for Pizza Place, one of my favorite places in Stoneham was omitted, Pizzamia. And for Saugus, there was no mention for Angela's Coal Fired Pizza.
So, what do you think of the list of winners? Do you agree or disagree? Did one of your favorites fail to make the list?
There are over 70 categories though what is most important to me are the numerous restaurant and liquor store categories. Last year, some of the results surprised me and I previously posted my thoughts. What had most surprised me were some of the omissions as well as a few of the places received the Best votes. So it is time for me to dissect some of the list of winners again, to see where I may agree or disagree.
I had complained last year that though there is a listing for Liquor Store there is not a separate category for Wine Store. This year, they still do not have a separate category for Wine Store and I still think they should. We have seen a number of stores in the last few years that concentrate primarily on wine. I don't think they can be adequately compared to a general liquor store.
As for the specific winners, I am surprised that the Grapevine Travelers, a very good wine store, did not make the list in Medford. Which could be due to the lack of a separate category for wine stores. In Saugus, though OurGlass Wine Co. received an honorable mention, I do think they are better than the winner, Nasty Nonnis. I was glad to see that The Wine Shop of Reading and Rapid Liquors took top honors in Reading and Stoneham.
I was pleased to see that Pignone's Cafe was the #1 Choice of Restaurant for Breakfast in Stoneham. They certainly serve an excellent breakfast. Though I do think that the Dairy Dome is deserving at least of an Honorable Mention. Their D-Boy spucky is an excellent breakfast sandwich. I think the Dairy Dome also should have be on the list for Restaurant for Lunch as well as Restarant for Takeout. Plus, where are the mentions for Georgie D's Place? Georgie D's makes excellent Italian food and they are open for both lunch and dinner. Yet they did not receive any mention on Restaurant for Lunch, Restaurant for Dinner, or Fine Dining Restaurant. They only received an Honorable Mention for Italian Restaurant. Melissa's Main Street Bistro (the former KroMels') received an Honorable Mention for Fine Dining Restaurant. But they did not receive a mention for Restaurant for Steak. And they do deserve such a mention. As for Pizza Place, one of my favorite places in Stoneham was omitted, Pizzamia. And for Saugus, there was no mention for Angela's Coal Fired Pizza.
So, what do you think of the list of winners? Do you agree or disagree? Did one of your favorites fail to make the list?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Taste of Siam: New Restaurant in Stoneham
Stoneham is seeing the opening of a few new restaurants lately or in the near future. One of the openings that most excited me was Taste of Siam, a Thai restaurant. Stoneham did not previously have a Thai place so I was intrigued by what this place might be like. It has now been open for a couple weeks and I have already eaten there a few times, for both dinner and lunch.
Taste of Siam occupies the previous location of Georgie D’s Place, so it does have a bit of a parking issue. Though they are supposed to be having valet service in the near future which will help to alleviate much of that problem. Plus, as they are still very new, they don't have their liquor license yet, though that is forthcoming.
Only some minor changes have been made to the interior of the restaurant, including adding some tasteful Thai decorations. They did place a small section of wall in the front dining room to block off the view of the kitchen.
They are open for both lunch and dinner and their menu is fairly lengthy and diverse. There are appetizers, soups, salads, curry dishes, noodle dishes, fried rice, healthy stir fry dishes, and entrees specials. Prices are very reasonable with appetizers averaging $6 and most dinner entrees costing under $15. Lunches range $8-10. You will find many standard Thai dishes as well as some of their own creations. There should be something for everyone there.
To start your meal, I highly recommend the Thai Chicken Wings ($5.95) appetizer. They are your standard fried chicken wings but covered with Thai spices and a delicious and slightly sweet sauce. They were fresh, meaty and very flavorful. The sauce elevates this appetizer above the usual wings you get elsewhere. They are messy though but you will probably just lick the delicious sauce off your fingers.
The Shrimp Tempura ($6.95) was good, though the batter was a touch heavier than I prefer. I am very picky about my tempura. Kyotoya in Stoneham still has one of the best tempura around, just so light and crispy that you crave piece after piece of it. The Chicken Coconut Soup ($3.95) has slices of white meat chicken in a broth made of coconut milk, lemongrass, galangal and cilantro. What I especially liked was that I could taste all of the individual ingredients and they mixed well in the soup. The Bangkok Dumplings ($5.95), deep fried, were small dumplings filled with pork that were okay but nothing special.
As for their entrees, they really excel, providing fresh, delicious food in good-sized portions. There are two standard Thai dishes I use in comparing Thai restaurants, Massaman Curry and Pad Thai. If a restaurant can do those dishes well, then there is a very good chance the rest of their menu will be as good. For both dishes, Taste of Siam passed with flying colors.
Their Massaman Curry with Chicken ($12.95) comes in a porcelain bowl sitting above a candle to keep it warm, a cool presentation. Though the bowl at first may seem shallow, it actually contains a ton of food and sauce, more than you get at most other Thai places. It comes with potatoes, bell pepper, carrots, peanuts and basil leaves in a superb coconut curry sauce. Everything seemed very fresh and the sauce really pleased me. I was extremely happy with this dish and highly recommend it.
They have a few different versions of Pad Thai. The traditional Pad Thai ($10.95), is a rice noodle dish with chicken, shrimp, egg, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts and scallions. A nice touch was that the sprouts were on the side so they remained crunchy. This was another large dish of food with plenty of chicken. Also quite delicious and recommended. Their Pad Thai Basil Noodle ($10.95) comes with rice noodles, egg, and some veggies, but also thin slices of a tasty, crispy chicken cutlet. This dish does not come with bean sprouts and I very much liked it, especially the crunchy batter on the chicken.
One of their lunch specials is Gai Kapow ($7.95), ground chicken stir fried with Thai chilies, garlic and basil leaves in a spicy sauce and served atop jasmine rice and with some veggies. This dish was spicy hot though not so overwhelming that you lost the flavors of the dish. There was certainly plenty of food on the plate and it is a perfect dish for a cold afternoon when you want something to warm and satisfy your belly.
They have nine desserts available, from Homemade Thai Custard to Fresh Mango with Sweet Sticky Rice. I tried the Fried Banana ($5.95), which includes several pieces of banana fried in light and crispy spring roll wrappers accompanied by a large scoop of vanilla ice cream with some chocolate sauce and whipped cream. A decadent dessert that you could share, though you might want it all to yourself. It was not as good as the similar dish I recently had at P.F. Chang, but it still was very good and worth ordering.
Service has been very good, despite the fact they don’t have their full staff working yet. Overall, I was impressed with this restaurant. It is an excellent place for reasonable prices, delicious food, and good-sized large portions. It is off to an auspicious start and I look forward to returning there soon to try more of their menu.
Taste of Siam
499 Main Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-4001
http://www.tasteofsiamstoneham.com/ (Note their website does not appear to be working yet)
Taste of Siam occupies the previous location of Georgie D’s Place, so it does have a bit of a parking issue. Though they are supposed to be having valet service in the near future which will help to alleviate much of that problem. Plus, as they are still very new, they don't have their liquor license yet, though that is forthcoming.
Only some minor changes have been made to the interior of the restaurant, including adding some tasteful Thai decorations. They did place a small section of wall in the front dining room to block off the view of the kitchen.
They are open for both lunch and dinner and their menu is fairly lengthy and diverse. There are appetizers, soups, salads, curry dishes, noodle dishes, fried rice, healthy stir fry dishes, and entrees specials. Prices are very reasonable with appetizers averaging $6 and most dinner entrees costing under $15. Lunches range $8-10. You will find many standard Thai dishes as well as some of their own creations. There should be something for everyone there.
To start your meal, I highly recommend the Thai Chicken Wings ($5.95) appetizer. They are your standard fried chicken wings but covered with Thai spices and a delicious and slightly sweet sauce. They were fresh, meaty and very flavorful. The sauce elevates this appetizer above the usual wings you get elsewhere. They are messy though but you will probably just lick the delicious sauce off your fingers.
The Shrimp Tempura ($6.95) was good, though the batter was a touch heavier than I prefer. I am very picky about my tempura. Kyotoya in Stoneham still has one of the best tempura around, just so light and crispy that you crave piece after piece of it. The Chicken Coconut Soup ($3.95) has slices of white meat chicken in a broth made of coconut milk, lemongrass, galangal and cilantro. What I especially liked was that I could taste all of the individual ingredients and they mixed well in the soup. The Bangkok Dumplings ($5.95), deep fried, were small dumplings filled with pork that were okay but nothing special.
As for their entrees, they really excel, providing fresh, delicious food in good-sized portions. There are two standard Thai dishes I use in comparing Thai restaurants, Massaman Curry and Pad Thai. If a restaurant can do those dishes well, then there is a very good chance the rest of their menu will be as good. For both dishes, Taste of Siam passed with flying colors.
Their Massaman Curry with Chicken ($12.95) comes in a porcelain bowl sitting above a candle to keep it warm, a cool presentation. Though the bowl at first may seem shallow, it actually contains a ton of food and sauce, more than you get at most other Thai places. It comes with potatoes, bell pepper, carrots, peanuts and basil leaves in a superb coconut curry sauce. Everything seemed very fresh and the sauce really pleased me. I was extremely happy with this dish and highly recommend it.
They have a few different versions of Pad Thai. The traditional Pad Thai ($10.95), is a rice noodle dish with chicken, shrimp, egg, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts and scallions. A nice touch was that the sprouts were on the side so they remained crunchy. This was another large dish of food with plenty of chicken. Also quite delicious and recommended. Their Pad Thai Basil Noodle ($10.95) comes with rice noodles, egg, and some veggies, but also thin slices of a tasty, crispy chicken cutlet. This dish does not come with bean sprouts and I very much liked it, especially the crunchy batter on the chicken.
One of their lunch specials is Gai Kapow ($7.95), ground chicken stir fried with Thai chilies, garlic and basil leaves in a spicy sauce and served atop jasmine rice and with some veggies. This dish was spicy hot though not so overwhelming that you lost the flavors of the dish. There was certainly plenty of food on the plate and it is a perfect dish for a cold afternoon when you want something to warm and satisfy your belly.
They have nine desserts available, from Homemade Thai Custard to Fresh Mango with Sweet Sticky Rice. I tried the Fried Banana ($5.95), which includes several pieces of banana fried in light and crispy spring roll wrappers accompanied by a large scoop of vanilla ice cream with some chocolate sauce and whipped cream. A decadent dessert that you could share, though you might want it all to yourself. It was not as good as the similar dish I recently had at P.F. Chang, but it still was very good and worth ordering.
Service has been very good, despite the fact they don’t have their full staff working yet. Overall, I was impressed with this restaurant. It is an excellent place for reasonable prices, delicious food, and good-sized large portions. It is off to an auspicious start and I look forward to returning there soon to try more of their menu.
Taste of Siam
499 Main Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-4001
http://www.tasteofsiamstoneham.com/ (Note their website does not appear to be working yet)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Stoneham Sun: Taste of Siam
My new column of "A Passionate Foodie" can be found in the November 26 issue issue of the Stoneham Sun newspaper. This is a weekly column that concentrates on reviews of local restaurants though it may also touch on a few other food and wine topics.
The new column has been published today and will soon be available online. The new column is a restaurant review of Taste of Siam, a brand new Thai place in Stoneham. It occupies the location that used to house Georgie D's Place. It is a delicious place and a welcome addition to the local culinary scene.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.
Dine with passion.
The new column has been published today and will soon be available online. The new column is a restaurant review of Taste of Siam, a brand new Thai place in Stoneham. It occupies the location that used to house Georgie D's Place. It is a delicious place and a welcome addition to the local culinary scene.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.
Dine with passion.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Stoneham Recommendations
Revised as of 6/1/09
This is the first post of a planned series of posts noting my personal recommendations for food/wine places in various towns and cities. I am beginning with my home town, Stoneham. This post lists my favorite wine stores, restaurants, and food stores in Stoneham. This list might be expanded and/or revised in the future but I will note when it changes. Be sure to check my extended reviews of many of these places elsewhere on my blog.
Wine Stores:
Rapid Liquors
171 Main Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-0595
(Rapid has the best prices in town. In fact, its prices are some of the best of any of the surrounding towns and cities. They also have a good selection and are very willing to order what they don't carry.)
Restaurants:
Rang Indian Bistro
6 Central Square (Across the street from Stoneham Theater)
Stoneham MA
Phone: (781) 438-8200
http://www.rangindianbistro.com/
(Very good Indian food)
Kyotoya
58 Montvale Ave.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-9688
(Excellent Japanese food and inexpensive sushi. Superb shrimp tempura. It is BYOB.)
Sato II
147 Main Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-8786
(Very good Chinese and Japanese food)
Taste of Siam
499 Main Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-4001
(Excellent Thai food.)
Melissa's Main Street Bistro
407 Main Street (Stoneham Square)
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-7243
(Higher end, intimate Bistro. Great place for special occasions or romantic dinners.)
Georgie D's Place
125 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 481-9300
(Excellent Italian food, great bread, good prices.)
Bacci's of Stoneham
316 Main Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-9200
Dairy Dome
474 Main St.
Stoneham,MA
Phone: (781) 438-9425
(Excellent home-made Italian food, pastries, and ice cream.)
Liberty Bell Famous Roast Beef & Seafood
219 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 279-2000
(Great roast beef sandwiches. I love their fries and onion rings as well. Extensive menu.)
Pizzamia
67 Franklin Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 572-3300
(My favorite take-out spot for pizzas, calzones and sandwiches.)
Anthony's Italian Specialties
408 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-9840
(Excellent deli, sandwiches and they now have Finnegans.)
Daily Scoop
232 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-9831
(Excellent ice cream and slush.)
Pignone’s Café
319 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 279-0131
(Excellent breakfast, which is also served at lunch.)
This is the first post of a planned series of posts noting my personal recommendations for food/wine places in various towns and cities. I am beginning with my home town, Stoneham. This post lists my favorite wine stores, restaurants, and food stores in Stoneham. This list might be expanded and/or revised in the future but I will note when it changes. Be sure to check my extended reviews of many of these places elsewhere on my blog.
Wine Stores:
Rapid Liquors
171 Main Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-0595
(Rapid has the best prices in town. In fact, its prices are some of the best of any of the surrounding towns and cities. They also have a good selection and are very willing to order what they don't carry.)
Restaurants:
Rang Indian Bistro
6 Central Square (Across the street from Stoneham Theater)
Stoneham MA
Phone: (781) 438-8200
http://www.rangindianbistro.com/
(Very good Indian food)
Kyotoya
58 Montvale Ave.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-9688
(Excellent Japanese food and inexpensive sushi. Superb shrimp tempura. It is BYOB.)
Sato II
147 Main Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-8786
(Very good Chinese and Japanese food)
Taste of Siam
499 Main Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-4001
(Excellent Thai food.)
Melissa's Main Street Bistro
407 Main Street (Stoneham Square)
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-7243
(Higher end, intimate Bistro. Great place for special occasions or romantic dinners.)
Georgie D's Place
125 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 481-9300
(Excellent Italian food, great bread, good prices.)
Bacci's of Stoneham
316 Main Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-9200
Dairy Dome
474 Main St.
Stoneham,MA
Phone: (781) 438-9425
(Excellent home-made Italian food, pastries, and ice cream.)
Liberty Bell Famous Roast Beef & Seafood
219 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 279-2000
(Great roast beef sandwiches. I love their fries and onion rings as well. Extensive menu.)
Pizzamia
67 Franklin Street
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 572-3300
(My favorite take-out spot for pizzas, calzones and sandwiches.)
Anthony's Italian Specialties
408 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-9840
(Excellent deli, sandwiches and they now have Finnegans.)
Daily Scoop
232 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 438-9831
(Excellent ice cream and slush.)
Pignone’s Café
319 Main St.
Stoneham, MA
Phone: (781) 279-0131
(Excellent breakfast, which is also served at lunch.)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Stoneham Sun: What's Up in Stoneham
My new column of "A Passionate Foodie" can be found in the October 22 issue issue of the Stoneham Sun newspaper. This is a weekly column that concentrates on reviews of local restaurants though it may also touch on a few other food and wine topics.
The new column has been published today and will soon be available online. The new column discusses some of the latest changes and events in the culinary world in Stoneham, as well as some of the future changes coming. Learn what is going on at Melissa's Main Street Bistro, Pignone's Cafe, Bacci, Georgie D's Place and Honey Dew Donuts.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.
Dine with passion.
The new column has been published today and will soon be available online. The new column discusses some of the latest changes and events in the culinary world in Stoneham, as well as some of the future changes coming. Learn what is going on at Melissa's Main Street Bistro, Pignone's Cafe, Bacci, Georgie D's Place and Honey Dew Donuts.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.
Dine with passion.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Stoneham Sun: What's New?-Part 2
My new column of "A Passionate Foodie" can be found in the December 12 issue of the Stoneham Sun newspaper. This is a weekly column that concentrates on reviews of local restaurants though it may also touch on a few other food and wine topics.
The new column will be published tomorrow and is currently available online. The new column is the second part of a two-part series discussing what is new and different on the local culinary scene. This week, learn about a new Stoneham restaurant, Pignone's Cafe. You will also get updates on three places I previously reviewed, including Savory Tastes Cafe, Georgie D's Place, and the Dairy Dome.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here. Next week, I will present some Champagne and Sparkling Wine recommendations for the holidays.
Dine with passion!
The new column will be published tomorrow and is currently available online. The new column is the second part of a two-part series discussing what is new and different on the local culinary scene. This week, learn about a new Stoneham restaurant, Pignone's Cafe. You will also get updates on three places I previously reviewed, including Savory Tastes Cafe, Georgie D's Place, and the Dairy Dome.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here. Next week, I will present some Champagne and Sparkling Wine recommendations for the holidays.
Dine with passion!
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