Restaurants (mostly around Milford)

Milford/Franklin/Belllingham

• Hunan Gourmet, 130 Main St, Milford
  Chinese, $8-$12. I like this place immensely. It also was in walking distance from my apartment before we bought our house. They have a buffet for lunch and dinner, but I prefer the a la carte fare. I have had quite a variety of the menu (mostly, but not exclusively from the Hunan/Szcechuan range). I also would recommend eat-in vs. take out, although the take out is still quite good. Highlights include Shredded Beef Szechuan Style, Lamb with Basil, Dumplings with Peanut Sauce, Hunan Beef, and Chicken and Mushroom Soup. They also renovated and enlarged in April, 2000, and now have lunch and dinner buffets.
• Mandarin Restaurant, Just off of Rt. 16, east of Milford center
  Chinese, $9-$13. I also like this place, and frequent it quite often. They also have a buffet Thursday and Sunday nights (from 5-9 pm) and are open until Midnight on Firday and Saturdays. The food is excellent.
• Taste of India, Just off of Rt. 16, east of Milford center
  Indian, $8-12. High recommendations from friends. I had one disappointing lunch buffet (everything was very bland), but went back and had the opposite opinion - several excellent items on the buffet, including Chili Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Korma, Tandoori Chicken (the flavor cooked all the way through - as it is supposed to be, but often isn't - a treat), and a wonderful Mushroom dish. We have had dinner here several times, and have always been pleased.
• Thai Pepper, 178 E. Main (Rt 16), Milford
  Thai, $8-$12. Quite good, surprisingly so since it is in Milford. Tends towards the coconut milk-based foods, not long on lemon grass. Good Basil Duck dish. Closes at 9:00. Very limited seating.
• Royal Buddha, 2 Depot St, Milford
  Chinese, $7-$12. Not impressive. My impression is that by the time you are a regular, you get the food the way they like it, but is it worth it?
• Peppercorns, Rt 109, Milford
  American food, good quality and imagination. I am also told that Peppercorns is child friendly (and was blessed for the recommendation!)
• Hang Tai, downtown Franklin (right next to the Florentina and Zeotrope Theater)
  Chinese, $8-12. Very imaginative menu. The shrimp toast are very nice, and the Imperial Spicy Duck was quite a treat. However, I was disappointed with the crispy beef-the sauce was much too sweet for my personal taste, and the meat of only adequate quality. The Hunan Beef was much better, so it appears to be simply a matter of picking the best of the menu.
• The Colonial House, 2 South Maple St (Rt 140), Bellingham
  A nice place for American food, reasonably priced. Service can be slow.
• Florentina Ristorante, downtown Franklin (right next to Hang Tai and the Zeotrope Theater)
  Italian, $12-16. Quite good. Very nice veal, excellent calamari.
• Hunan Gourmet II, Franklin Village
  see Hunan Gourmet in Milford. This place tends to be busier. It also runs a lunch and dinner buffet 7 days a week.

Uxbridge and the Blackstone Valley

• Harry's Famous Pizza, Rt 122, Uxbridge
  Pizza, sandwiches. Also very good. Nice deals on personal pizza's. Ok wings and steak sandwiches.
• L'il Texas Restaurante, 466 Quaker Highway (Rt 146A), Uxbridge
  Tex-Mex, $9-14. The first time I went, I had a burrito and was unimpressed. However, I have been back many times now, and have been very pleased each time. I can recommend the Cajun Prime Rib, the Chili (which actually was hot!!), the burritos, and the BBQ (especially the Brisket and the pork loin). Even the kid's chicken tenders are great! The refried beans, which I usually am not excited about, are very good.
• Cocke 'N Kettle, 240 S Main St (Rt 122), Uxbridge
  Fine American food, steak and seafood. $13-$20. Good entrees, outstanding appetizers. Wonderful popovers too.
• Dragon House, (formerly East Wang), 158 N Main St (Rt 122), Uxbridge (Victory Plaza)
  Chinese, $6-10. A new restaraunt as of 10/1/98, this is your typical Chinese kitchen/fast food place with 6 tables for seating. However, the food so far has been very nice, and I will be eating here fairly often. Too bad they don't deliver. Their lunch specials are in effect on Sunday. We have tried the Hunan Beef, the Szechuan Beef, the Shrimp Toast, the Pork Egg Foo Yung, the Moo Shoo Shrimp, the Hot and Spicy Beef, the Shrimp and Broccoli, and the ribs so far, with uniformily good success.
• Brian's, Rt 122, Linwood (Just north of Uxbridge).
  Good pub-type menu, including a very nice prime rib, and good sandwiches. The Buffalo chicken tenders are great. The lunch portions are very large. Well worth the visit.
• Golden Lotus, Rt 122, Northbridge.
  Chinese, $7-10. Kind of a hole-in-the-wall, but with comfortable seating and very high quality food. I have tried the Hunan Beef, the Shredded Beef, the Hot and Sour and Won Ton soups, and the Shrimp Toast, and have been very pleased.
• Redwood's Drive-In (Harry's Surf-n-Turf), Rt 16, Mendon
  Fried Seafood, burgers, and ice cream. Fried seafood tends to run in the $8-13 range. Outside eating only. Closed from November or so through February.
• Canoe Club, 84 Uxbridge Rd (Rt 16), Mendon
  Steak, fried/baked seafood, pasta, and more, $9-16. A casual atmosphere overlooking Mendon Pond, the food alone is probably not enough to bring us here over NES&S (see next entry). However, the appetizer menu and the beer list makes it an attractive place for a Sunday afternoon football game.
• New England Steak and Seafood, Rt 16, Mendon
  Steak and more, $9-$19. Excellent prime rib, Clam Chowder. Karen loved the Trout (and the Salmon appetizer), but while the Veal was superb, the rest of the Veal Marsala was unimpressive. I can attest to the overall quality of the Veal Parmesian, though - as good as any Italian restaurant! I usually can't bring myself to try something besides the Prime Rib and chowder. (Closed Tuesdays)
• Wright's Farm, Rt 102, R.I.
  Broiled chicken. Period. $7.25 per person. Very popular, huge place. We had a half hour wait for a table (7:00 Sat. night), but the food hits your table as soon as you sit, so that isn't so bad. Served family style. Good, but certainly not worth the drive and the wait.
• Royal Panda, 356 Mendon Rd (Rt 122), Cumberland R.I.
  Chinese (all day buffet), $6 lunch $9 dinner. Pretty good buffet. I haven't tried anything off the menu.
• Gi Gi's, 1992 Victory Highway, Glendale, R.I.
  Italian, $8-12. In the middle of no-where, but very nice food. Friendly (but not intrusive) waitstaff.

Greater Worcester/Marlboro/Framingham areas

• House of India, 439A Park Ave, Worcester.
  Indian, $8-12. Good. If you ask for hot, it will actually be hot! I tried the Lamb Vindaloo and the Palak Paneer. Serving sizes seem to require an order of Nan or something, but larger than those at the Rasoi (see Marlboro).
• Peking Wok, 7 W Boylston St, Worcester.
  Chinese. Karen has eaten lunch here often. I have dined here twice, and have had takeout a couple times. First off, I must say that the squid in the Seafood War Bar was the best prepared I have ever had. Overall, not quite so spectacular, but very worthwhile. Haven't tried anything I wouldn't recommend yet.
• O'Connors, 1160 W Boylston St, Worcester
  Irish pub, $6-10. Very generous servings of good food, mostly Irish in style. For example, one of the flasgship dishes is the Beef and Mushroom Pie, which is the size of an (American) football. All of the meat pies seem to be wonderful, as is the Irish Stew. Also good are the Corned Beef "Shillelaghs" (pastry sticks stuffed with meat). This place is huge, and also very long in atmosphere. Well worth at least one trip, my wife goes here often for lunch.
• Sole Proprietor, Rt 9 (Highland St) Worcester
  Seafood, $12-18. Very good. We had a nice variety of dishes, and almost all were great. Karen loved her Trout dish (served with a sauce that had a touch of cinnamon!), and I was very pleased with my Crispy Peppered Squid and Clams Casino. The Crab Cakes weren't quite my style though, but I was still thrilled with my meal.
• East Side Mario's, Rt 9, Worcester (by Lake Quinsigamond).
  Italian, $8-12. Good, generous portions. The Veal Parm was wonderful. The lasagna had too much Ricotta for my taste. We also gorged on sauteed mushrooms. Try the cannoli (they are small though).
• India Cafe, 84 Boston Turnpike (Rt 9), Shrewsbury.
  Indian, $7-12. Very good. I tried the Lamb Curry and the Palak Panir. The Curry was good, interesting, very tasty. The Palak Panir was great, an excellent selection. The rice ("plain" basmati) was exquisite, and putting sauce over it would have been a crime.
• Taste of India, PetCo Plaza Rt 9, Shrewsbury.
  Indian, $8-12. Also very good. A very popular (but not too crowded) lunch buffet. We are huge fans of the Chicken Tikka Masala!
• Golden's Steakhouse, Rt 9/Rt 140 (Shrewsbury?).
  Steak, $13-18. The steak isn't bad, but the fried shrimp and scallopss are superb. The appetizer menu includes teriyaki ostrich skewers. A nice, but somewhat large room which can be somewhat cold during the winter.
• Shanghai Jack's, 45 Sterling St (Rt 12), West Bolyston
  Chinese, $8-14. Good, dependable food quality. However, be careful of their parties. If they are throwing a party upstairs, service for both the party and the rest of the place drops markedly.
• Yong Shing, 338 Southbridge St (Rt 12), Auburn
  Chinese, $8-14. Reasonably good, but not particularly so. There are enough other good Chinese restaurants around that I would not be hurrying back.
• Dynasty Restaurant, 77 W. Main St, Hopkinton.
  Chinese, $9-13. I very good food, more willing to spice it up if you like than most. Great soup! I have enjoyed the Shredded Beef Szechuan style, the Hunan Beef, and several other of the similar styles, while Karen has always loved the more Cantonese style dishes she has ordered. We both love the Dumplings in Hot Peanut Sauce. The only exception was an order for Kung Pao Chicken I placed that came back without peanuts-just chicken with celery in a mild brown sauce. They apologized, and did not charge me for the dish, however, so it has not deterred me from being a regular! Note-open until Midnight, 1:00 am on weekends.
• Chef Sun, 30 Lyman St, Westboro.
  Chinese and Thai. I have never been here for dinner, but the lunch buffet works well, adding some Thai dishes into the normal mix (like Pad Thai, etc).
• Cheng-Du, 157 Turnpike Rd (Rt 9), Westboro.
  Chinese, $8-13. They have a very nice lunch buffet. Busy, but haven't had trouble getting seating yet. We finally stopped by for dinner, and had a very nice meal. Karen had a Mongolian Lamb dish that was very well prepared, with a very distinctive, but not overpowering flavor. I had a Two Flavor Shrimp dish, and was very pleased (although it was not very hot, even though I had asked for spicy). Karen also found that the Seafood Hot and Sour soup comes in a very large bowl ("It's sure a good thing we didn't have a soup for two!"). Well worth the visit!
• Westboro Mandarin, Rt 30, Westboro.
  Chinese, $7-12. I have only eaten dinner here once. I had Beef Chow Fun, and it was excellent. I'll definitely try it again sometime. I have also been here twice for lunch - once for the buffet, which was good and busy, and once off the menu (I had a Spicy deep fried shrimp dish, which was a bit sweet for my personal taste, but very good).
• China Taste, 197A Boston Post Rd (Rt 20), W. Marlboro
  Chinese, $8-11. Very good lunch buffet, although the lines can get to be unbearable. The only dinner I had there was the Hunan Triple Delight, which was adequate, but the meat was deep fried and the sauce not what I was hoping for. The service was excellent.
• Craig's Cafe (The Healthy Alternative), 241 Boston Post Rd (Rt 20), W. Marlboro (480-0379)
  Relatively healthy sandwiches, plus soup, salad. For example, they do quite a bit with Turkey (including a "Turkey Cheese Steak" and a Cajun Turkey sandwich, for people like me). They also usually have a good variety of hot sauces kicking around to make things more interesting. Lines can get long as 12:00 approaches.
• Family House of Pizza, Rt 85, Marlboro
  Pizza, typical pricing. Very good pizza and calzones. Ok pasta, for this type of place. The pepperoni is thicker than the paper slices you usually get (a big plus for me). I also like the veal parm and steak sandwiches
• Kennedy's Pub, Rt 85, Marlboro
  Upper scale pub food. $5-$9 (at least for lunch). Very good but pricy.
• Chin's Garden, 106-100 Main St, Marlboro (481-2822)
  Chinese, $8-$11. Very good lunch buffet, soup is not great. They do not deliver.
• Chez Siam, Rt 20 Marlboro
  Thai, $8-$11. Lunch specials $6-8. Good, based on one lunch trip.
• Oriental Kitchen, 42 Boston Post Rd, East (Rt 20), Marlboro (460-3878)
  Chinese, takeout. Lunch specials around $5, and dinner specials $6-7. I have only had lunch here, and the food is good and the portions are great. I will be a regular here for lunch!
• Hunan Delight, 200 Boston Post Rd, East (Rt 20), Marlboro (460-8989)
  Chinese, $7-$11. Reasonable, but not great. Lunch buffet isn't bad. I would recommend the Kung Pao Chicken as one of their better dishes. Stay away from the soup. Of of few places in this area that delivers.
• 400 and One, 500 Boston Post Rd (Rt 20), Marlboro, MA
  Pub food, lunches are $5-8. Doesn't have a no-smoking section. However, portions are generous, and certain dishes are very good. For example, one Friday lunch special is a very nice Shepherd's Pie.
• Joy Asia, 735 Boston Post Rd (Rt 20), E. Marlboro
  Chinese, $8-11. I have only eaten the lunch buffet here. It was almost always been good. The chicken wings should be passed, but the boneless spare ribs were quite good. The Beef with veg. was very good, as was the Kung Pao Double. I would need to try more dishes before making a meaningful recommendation though. One of my favorites is the Pork in Lobster Sauce.
• EO Noodles, Rt 9 and Temple St Framingham
  Oriental Noodle house, very good stuff, $6. I have been here several times, and had a number of dishes, from Mongolian Barbecue to Grilled Beef, all over noodles . I think the Grilled stuff was the best of the lot.
• Iguana Cantina, 1656 Worcester Rd (Rt 9) Framingham
  Tex-Mex, $9-15. Well, I think they are trying to serve a quality product, but I was not impressed. I had the chili, a burrito, black beans, and rice. The chili is the form which is primarily meat with some other stuff tossed in for slight flavoring, and this is not a style I favor. In fact, the meat chunks were large enough that they did not get the full benefit of what little sauce there was. The burrito was reasonable, but not particularly good. The black beans were a little runny, and reminded me more of a bean salad than black beans served in the place of refried beans. The rice was fine, if plain, and the chips were nice, although the salsa had no spicing that I could detect. This place seems more suited to be a bar, and has a nice drink and beer list, but the food prices do not really seem in line. If you ask, they have some good hot sauces, but the sauce on the table simply a vinegar with a lot of pepper in it. I will try it again to be fair.
• Rasoi, 855 Worcester Rd (Rt 9), Framingham
  Indian, $8-$11. Good food. A better deal is their lunch buffet. I particularly like the Beef or Chicken Saag and the Palak Paneer. Good Beef Naan.
• Chef Orient, 583 Worcester Rd (Rt 9), Framingham
  Chinese/Sushi/Japanese Steak House. Karen likes sushi, but I don't, so I cannot speak for it myself. She has gone back with other friends, so she must like it though. It is a perfect solution-I prefer the chinese food, and she can still have sushi. The Steak House side is often quite busy, although I have seen flashier performances elsewhere, and the Chinese is quite good. although not among my favorites.
• Gold Star India, 341 Cochituate Rd (off the Caldor's), Framingham
  Indian, $9-13. Very good. Karen is particularly fond of the Nan Special Basket, and all sorts of menu items, particularly the Saag Paneer, the Lamb Korma, and the ground lamb.
• Go Fish, Rt 9 Natick (across from the Mall, next to PetCo)
  Seafood, $10-$16. Nice, fresh fish, somewhat smallish portions, with an interesting variety of ingredients. The Clam and Seafood Chowders were outstanding, every bit as nice as Legal's. We had Calamri, which was good but not notable, and I had a Seared Shrimp with Portobella Mushrooms, which was very nice. A good change of pace from Legal's, with waiting.
• Ipanema Brazilian Restaurant, Rt 85 and Rt 135, (Ashland?)
  Brazilian, order the barbecue thing...a true experience. Open Wed-Sun

Capital District (Albany, NY)

• Ale House, 3rd Ave, Troy
  Pub food, $6 or so. Home of the Capital District's hottest wings (and IMHO the best), they also have great hot, open sandwiches
• Shalimar, 31 Central Ave, Albany
  Indian/Pakastani, $4-7. Very good food, and less expensive than other Indian restaurants. I love the Palak Paneer and the Lamb Curry. The Madras and Vindaloos are also very good.
• Shalimar, 407 Fulton St, Troy
  see above. Same people, same menu, same high quality, same low prices. Highly recommended.
• Verdile's, 3rd Ave, Lansingburgh
  Italian, $9-14. Great veal, very nice lasagna, and the world's largest slices of carrot cake.
• The New Castaway's, 3rd Ave, downtown Troy
  Seafood, $12-16. Very good. Also well known for a great (but packed) happy hour. There is a Sunday champagne brunch for $15, and we even skipped Dim Sum for it once (no higher praise needed)!
• China House, Price Chopper Plaza, Hoosick St., Troy.
  Takeout place with a few tables A favorite for lunch while I was still in the area, they have particularly good Shredded Beef and Hunan Beef. The Chow Fun is fine, and they also have Crab Sticks that are a treat. Great Prices too!
• Mama Zapata's, Hoosick St, Troy
  An interesting combination of Mexican and Italian. $7 or so The burritos are very good (I like the 5-pepper) as are many of the pizza's, including the Fra Diavolo and the scampi. Mostly a takeout place, they do have some seating. Oh, I have not heard good things about the pasta.
• Troy Pub and Brewery (formerly Brown and Moran), 417-419 River St, Troy
  Pub. Good beer, good menu, including spiedies, sausage bites, beef barley stew, and the Sicilian Pasta is sinful. I also highly recommend the chocolate cake.
• Ted's Fish Fry, several locations in Troy and Latham
  Fast food fish fries and other grilled and deep fried stuff. Huge orders of Onion Rings and Fries. Good shakes. A classic.
• Tavern at Sterup Square, Rt 7, Raymertown, NY
  "New American Buffet", $18. Excellent food, with a wide selection on our visit including Partridge, Braised Duckling, Peppercorn Veal, a dish with Clams, Mussels, and Crawfish, Wild Mushroom Omelets, Belgian Waffles, a tremendous "Fish Boat Chowder", a very piquant Hot and Sour Beef Gazpacho, and much more. Expensive, but a real treat!
• Latham 76 Diner, 722 Loudon Rd (Rt 9), Latham
  A classic diner, open 7x24, and a staple for the late night crowd (after Player's parties, etc.) Classic cheesecake, standard diner fare (Greek, roast, etc.). Excellent chocolate shakes!
• Garcia's, 1673 Central Ave, Colonie
  Tex-Mex, $8-12. Good, but not terribly interesting. A small chain that is a cut above Chi-Chi's. During the school year, they have a great Sunday bruch buffet. note that this may no longer be under the same ownership, and may no longer be part of a chain.
• El Loco, 465 Madison Ave, Albany
  Mexican, very good. Reputation for often having slow service.
• El Mariachi, 62 Central Ave, Albany
  Mexican, new. It comes highly recommended, and it does have a different, perhaps more authentic Mexican menu, but the food I had didn't excite me, and I am not likely to try again. I did enjoy the interesting sodas, including the Sangria flavored soda. Service was also sub-par, although not the worst I have seen.
• Tai Pan, 1519 Halfmoon Pkwy (Rt 9), Halfmoon
  Don't go here for dinner. However, on weekends and holidays, from 10-3, you can get a great Dim Sum. Offered from a menu-no carts, they offer a strong choice of dumplings (seafood, shrimp, and 'shark fin' among others). They aren't carrying one of my favorites at the moment-Crystal Buns (duck!). I have met other Chinese Restaurant owner's here at Dim Sum. A can't miss.
• Miss Albany Diner, Broadway, Menands (Albany?)
  Mostly a great place for breakfast. Owned and run by Cliff Brown, a friend from way back, this is one of those 50's diners you see, and Cliff serves some wonderful omelets, waffles, and French Toast creations. Stop by!
• Real Seafood, 195 Wolf Rd, Colonie
  Seafood, $10-20. Very good, similar in concept to Red Lobster, but more focused on fish.
• Sitar, 1929 Central Ave, Albany
  Indian, $10-20. A high reputation, but I always have preferred the Shalimar, for the food and the prices. The Sitar has been a fixture in Albany since I was in college in the early 80's. FYI - You will have to be creative to convince them to make the food hot, or they won't believe you.
• Aashiana Restaurant, 118-120 Jay St, Schenectady
  A very nice Indian/Pakastani restaurant with most dishes in the $6-8 range. I have tried the curry, the Lamb Korma, the Chicken Tikka Masala, and the Palak Paneer, and was definitely pleased. Closed Sundays.
• Fireside Pizzeria and Sandwich Pub, 1631 Eastern Parkway, Schenectady
  A good pub/restaurant type atmosphere, with some very nice food. I always enjoy everything I get, from the Wings, to the Broccoli Soup, to the Sausage sandwiches. This was a great favorite when I was playing Bridge at the Studio next door.
• Van Dyck Restaurant and Brewery, 237 Union St, Schenectady
  An old boss of my, John Botti, and friends have opened up this historical Stockade district Jazz club, and added a brew pub to the restaurant. I haven't been here yet, but I have heard nothing but great things about the Van Dyck (except that it can be crowded later in the evening).
• A list restaurant capsule reviews kept by the RPI CS deptartment.

Greater Rochester

• Jade Palace, 602 Ridge Road, Webster
  Chinese, $8-13. Excellent...perhaps the best chinese restaurant I have been to (although they do not offer Dim Sum). Every thing is of the highest quality, and the preparation is exellent.
• Charlie's, Ridge Road, Webster
  Burger joint...$2-5. Excellent qualtiy and value. I love the Italian Cheeseburgers, and the fried mushrooms are very good. A local favorite.
• Bill Gray's, several locations in the Rochester area, including Hard Rd. Webster and Eastview Mall in Victor.
  Burger-type fare, $2-4 per item. I am a particular fan of the hot sauce, especially on the Italian Cheeseburgers, as well as the Breaded Mushrooms.
• Castaway's, Seabreeze, Webster
  Seafood plus, $10-13. Nice, excellent view of the lake. Open during the winter, although I am not sure that would be as enjoyable an outing.
• Mongolian Barbeque/China Buffet, 2186 Empire Blvd, Webster
  $6 for lunch (no Mongolian), $9 for dinner. Adequate, but for the size and seating, a quite limited selection. I did not have the opportunity to try the Mongolian Barbeque.
• India House, 998 S. Clinton Rd, Rochester
  Indian, $9-$16. Good food, and they have a nice lunch buffet as well. The Lamb Vindaloo is the best I have ever had, much richer and not as sour as it often is, but nicely spiced.
• More Coming soon

Greater Boston

• Chow Chow City, Chinatown, Boston
  Chinese. $9-15. Excellent Dim Sum on Saturday and Sunday, good for both dumplings and other stuff. I also go here often late night, they are open until 3AM or later 7 days a week. I am very fond of the Chicken with Asparagus in Black Bean Sauce and the Beef with Black Mushrooms and Bamboo Shoots.
• Imerial, Chinatown, Boston
  Chinese, primarily seafood. This had been the standard choice for Dim Sum for us, due to the superior selection of dumplings, until we switched to the Chow Chow City. The fried is often warm/cool/cold, so if this is your primary preference, go to the elsewhere.
• Ocean Wealth, 12 Tyler St, Chinatown, Boston.
  Chinese, $10-16. This was probably the best reviewed restaurant by the time we made it. We had 3 dishes - House Special Duck with 3 Mushrooms (outstanding!), Fried Rice with Shrimp, Chicken, and Egg (also amazing), and the Fried Salted Squid (not very impressive). What we had was more than enough to make us eager to go back again. Very busy, but on Saturday evening, we got immediate seating.
• Peking Cuisine, 10 Tyler St, Chinatown, Boston.
  Chinese, $8-12. Pretty good, not completely dominated by seafood as many other Chinatown restaurants are.
• Grand Chau Chow, 41 Beach St, Chinatown, Boston.
  Chinese, $7-12. Also very good.
• People's Cafeteria, 2-23 Edinboro St, Chinatown, Boston
  Perhaps the best cheap food in chinatown, most dishes are in the $6-10 range, with a special menu of $6 dishes. Not the most inspired food, but reasonable quality and generous portions. I tried the Chicken and Brocolli and the Hunan Beef.
• Best Cafe, 11 Tyler St, Chinatown, Boston
  Open 'til 2:30am, this place seems to worry less about the Anglos than the Chinese. There are numerous specials listed all over, all in Chinese only. However, the menu is clear and I felt quite welcome, and had the Beef and Peppers, a quite filling dish at a nice price!
• East Ocean City, 25-29 Beach St, Chinatown, Boston
  Open 'til 3, this seems to be another fine restaurant. I tried the ribs a rice plate with duck and vegetables, and was very pleased (the duck and the vegetables were cooked separately).
• Kashmir, 279 Newbury St, Boston.
  Indian, $10-15. Very good. They also have a weekday lunch buffet, which is quite nice for those trade shows at Hynes. I have tried and enjoyed the Gosht Curry, Murg Korma, and the Saag Paneer.
• Yenching Palace, 671 Boylston St, Boston
  Chinese, $8-12. Reasonable food, seems to be easy to get a seat for dinner. I have tried the Szechuan Beef (Kung Po, but also had some cashews) among others, and found it quite good.
• India Quality Restaraunt, 536 Commonwealth Ave (Kenmore Square), Boston.
  Indian, $7-10. After two meals there, I am very impressed. The place is small, and can feel somewhat cramped, but the food is very good, and variations on the standard themes are also available (such as Mushrooms Saag, which was tremendous). Best food near Fenway, IMHO.
• Zuma Mexican Cafe, Faneuil Hall, Boston
  Mexican, $8-12, adequate. I tried a combo plate to sample different stuff, including a burrito, an enchilada, and a taco. The burrito (beef) was ok, I didn't care for the enchilada (although I often don't), but the taco was worthwhile. I won't likely be back though.
• Cafe Pompei, 280 Hanover St, Boston (North End)
  Italian, $8-15. Notable mostly for being open until 4AM!! I've tried the Chicken Pana (w/ ham, mushrooms, and peas in a white sauce) and the Carbonara (panceta and onions). The Carbonara didn't really suit me very well, but I liked the Pana very much. I have to note that the mushrooms and peas were either cooked a very long time, or more likely will canned, but the dish was very good in spite of that detail.
• CIBC, 326 Hanover St, Boston (North End)
  Italian, $13-18. Small place, didn't seem too busy on a Wed. night. I tried the Fettucini Napolitana, and it was excellent (fettucini with a orange ("pink") sauce, with peas, prosciutto, and mushrooms). Service was a touch slow for me, but other groups seemed to move through pretty quickly.
• Pagluca's, 14 Parmenter St., Boston (North End)
  Italian, $15-20. Often very busy, they have an excellent Veal dish served with mushrooms and a verdiccio wine sauce. They also make a homemade pasta that is very nice, served with any meal (if you like, you could opt for spaghetti if you prefer).
• Armida's, Boston North End
  Italian, $15-20. Nice, a little more quiet than many of the other North End restaurants. I had the Chicken Armida, a dish with Garlic, Mushrooms, and a wine sauce, which was very good, but a bit salty for my taste.
• G'Vanni'sPrince St., Boston North End
  Italian, $13-20. I tried the Seafood Risotto, rice cooked with chicken broth, then with scallops, shrimp, and brocolli florets. Excellent!
• Artu's, 6 Prince St., Boston North End
  Italian, $9-18. Some less expensive items than most of the rest of the North End. I tried the Veal Braciolettine, which was somewhat nicer than a similar dish at Pagluca's.
• D'Parma Restorante, 456 Hanover St, Boston North End
  Italian, $8-15. Another place with very reasonable prices, this is the last restaurant on Hanover St before you reach the Coast Guard Station (and the water). I tried the Risotto di Mare, which had a good number of mussels, 3 clams (all in shell), 2 shrimp, and many pieces of calamri in a tomato risotto (rice cooked in a sauce instead of just water). Very tasty, although I might have prefered a chicken based risotto over the tomato. Enough that I couldn't finish it as well, a rarity. Open till 11PM.
• Antico Forno, 93 Salem St., Boston North End
  Italian (including pizza), $14-19. I had a very interesting dish: Veal stuffed with spinach and mushrooms, served over an asparagus risotto and "au jus" (brown gravy). Not the cheapest dish in town, but it was a very nice treat for someone looking for a good and creative dish. It was also quite filling!
• D'Amores, Salem St, Boston North End
  Italian, $10-14. A menu tending towards "simpler" fare, and a bit less expensive. I had the Veal Parmesian. I must note that the red sauce was superb, flavorful, chunky, and very "fresh". I went back a second time, and tried a special: the Veal and Chicken Umbria, which had mushrooms, onions, and red pepper, in a cream burgundy sauce. Outstanding!! (although a bit spicy due to the pepper, so not for everyone).
• Eastern Pier II, 146 Northern Ave, Boston (near the World Trade Center)
  Chinese, $8-13. Excellent, with a nice lunch specials menu. Some of the seating includes a nice look over the harbor (towards Logan). The menu also includes some sushi, which I, of course, cannot comment on.
• Carlos Cucina Italia, 131 Brighton Ave, Boston
  Italian, $12-15. A very nice little nook of a place, the food was great! I had dish with veal wrapping spinach and cheese, and was very pleased.
• Legal Seafood, several locations, including attached to Park Plaza, Boston.
  Seafood, $11-18. Excellent, variety of fresh fish, and excellent clam chowder.
• Picante Mexican Grill, 217 Elm St, Davis Square, Somervile (MA) and 276 Washington St, Boston (near Post Office Square)
  A limited line of authentic and creative Mexican food, $4-6. Not heavily spiced, so it is not my favorite, but the quality is very good. Price is very attractive. The downtown location is a much better lunch place, since it closes at 5:00 (earlier, really). They tend to have some imaginative and very tasty Burrito specials.
• Korean BBQ, Rte. 3A, Burlington (MA)
  $14-18. Very good barbecue, generous portions. The side dishes (various pickled hot stuff) were not highly salty or vinegary, but very peppery (and tasty!). The tables are wood, with built-in Hibachis. (Bad for kids, most likely). Service was painfully slow at points.
• Shang Yee, Waverly St, West Newton (MA)
  Chinese, $7-12. Excellent quality, and they do a ton of takeout business as well. I can vouch for the Pan-fried Ravioli, the Won Tons in Hot Peanut Sauce (although it was not hot at all), Crab Rangoon, the Aromatic and Spicy Shrimp, the General Gau's Chicken (more sesame than some), and the Sizzling Beef and Scallops. I found the spring rolls to be too boring to order again though.
• Chevy's Fresh Mex, 1143 Broadway (Rt 1), Saugus
  Tex-Mex, $8-14. Very good fajitas. Can be hard to find parking.
• T-D Waffle, Rt 38, Tewksbury
  Waffles and other breakfast, and a slight menu of American fare, such as Shepherd's Pie, etc. $3-6. Although this place can get crowded, it is offers good quality food, such as fresh squeezed orange juice. It is also very convenient to Rt I-495, just to the south about 1/4 mile.
• Pub Pacific, 553 Main St, Tewksbury
  Very unimspired Chinese.
• Kenny's Kitchen, 165 High Street, Clinton
  Chinese, near the Last Strand movie theater (http://www.last-strand.com/). All I had was the hot and sour soup (good, plentiful) and the beef teriyaki, also good. Can't speak to the main dishes though.

Elsewhere

• Szechuan Chinese Restaurant, 179 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA
  Chinese, $6-12. Very good, and surprisingly affordable in this expensive town.
• The Lobster Pot, Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA
  Seafood, $10-16. Karen and I were happy with both meals we ate their. We've tried the fried seafood platter (which had amazing fish and scallops, as well as nice clams, calamari, and a shrimp), the Seafood Crepes, the Chicken Imperial (a very large portion!), and an appetizer mix that included Clams Casino (salty but good), Oysters Pesto (wonderful), and some excellent Mussels. We'll be back!
• Twomey's, 269 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA
  Irish and seafood, $8-12. Good lunch place. The Shepherd's Pie (with lamb) is quite good, and the crab cakes are outstanding.
• Dancing Lobster, 371 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA
  Seafood, $16-25. Expensive, but really quite good. The appetizers are pricey, but are even better. The Oysters Rockefeller are pure bliss. The lobster bisque was very nice (although strong of sherry). The Seafood Enchiladas were nice, and Karen thought the Baked Cod was a very interesting and delicious dish, with asparagus cooked in a white wine sauce with parsley and a touch of rosemary). Also, a very nice view of the water.
• Panda House Restaurant, 664 Pittsfield Rd (Rt 20), Lennox, MA
  Chinese, $12-15. I tried the Smoked Tea Duck with Vegetables, which was very nice, and the hot and sour soup. A definite treat. The Tea Duck was first introduced to me by the Hunan Family Duck House, which has since stopped serving Duck.
• Pietro's, 150 Main St. (Rt 20), Lee, MA
  Italian, $8-14. Very good. I had the Fettucini del Mar, a mixed seafood Alfredo dish, and my wife had the Stuffed Sole. We were both very pleased. On a return visit, I had a Seafood Alfredo w/Penne (a special the FdM noted above was no longer on the menu), which was very nice, and my wife had the Veal Pietro's, which is served with capers and artichoke hearts in a wine sauce. I also tried the French Onion soup, which came in a very generous crock, and was nice, although a touch salty.
• Cork N Hearth, Rt 20, Lee, MA
  American, $12-20. Very nice. A woodsy cabin type restaurant with very nice food.
• Student Prince (The Fort Restaurant), Fort Street, Springfield, MA
  German, $12-$20. Excellent food and beer. Too many things to talk about here, but the specials are always worth keeping an eye on too!
• Tea Pot Restaurant, 116 Main St, Northhampton, MA
  Chinese and sushi, $10-15 for the Chinese. I don't do sushi, but the Chinese was very nice! We started with Spicy Dumplings, and I had the Tea Smoked Duck (one of my favorites from the dear departed Duck House), and was very pleased.
• Andino's, 171 Atwells Ave (Federal Hill), Providence (401)421-3715
  Italian, $12-20. Outstanding. I had "Ferdinand Alfredo" (Fettucini with Ham, Bacon, and Peas), and Karen had the stuffed Veal Steak Andino's...exquisite. We'll be back!
• Camille's Roman Garden, Federal Hill, Providence
  Italian, $12 (Pasta) - $15 (Chix) - $20 (Everything else). Also outstanding. Very generous portions. I had the Scallopini alla Romana, a veal and mushrooms dish similar to a Marsala, and it was tremendous. Was unimpressed by the cannoli, however. Still, a true treat!
• Bombay Club, 145 Dean Street (right off Atwell on Federal Hill), Providence RI
  Indian, priced in the $7-10 per entree. First off, this place is right next to all the Italian places that are so good, but you should be able to get in here when you forget and need a reservation at the other places. Second, the food is very good. We tried the Fish Tikka, the Palak Paneer, and the Lamb Korma. A keeper!
• Fire & Ice, Providence Place, Providence, RI
  This place is sort of like a Mongolian grill, with a wider variety of sauces, and a very nice variety of meats. The concept is that you take a bowl and fill it with your choice of stuff, ladle out another (smaller) bowl of sauce, give it to the guys at the grill, and watch them cook it up on this large, round (flat) grill (looks like cast iron), with a hole in the middle to scrap out into after each order is prepared. On a Friday night, they could have about 40 orders grilling at a time (perhaps more). Selections include meats from beef, pork, lamb, kielbasa, shrimp, scallops, calamari, and more (and tofu), with vegetables like Portabella and button mushrooms, red onion, leeks, scallions, green beans, zucchini, tomato, and more. Mix in some udon noodles if you like (I think the noodles hold the sauce better). Each night there is a selection of about 10 sauces to choose from. Really interesting, and all-you-can-eat at $15.95 is a good deal! Be prepared for long lines at busy times. There are also locations in Back Bay (Boston) and Harvard Square.
• Mandarin Garden, 555 Chalkstone Ave, Providence, RI (good luck finding this place!)
  A hole in the wall that serves mostly takeout, but the food is surprisingly good.
• Port Chowder House, Rt 1, Warwick RI (Near the TF Green Airport)
  New England Chowder, as well as red chowder, and other (mostly fried) seafood. The Crab Cake for $1.75 was outstanding, and the white chowder was very good. A very casual place, laid out more like an Arby's with slightly more privacy. Great cheap eats!
• Bali Village, Rt 138, Wyoming RI
  Chinese (well, more polynesian). Good place for a PuPu Platter or similar fare, not much for Chinese food on the menu. I did have a nice spicy Beef with Mushrooms dish.
• Madarin Mae, 1500 E Pleasant Valley, Manchester CT
  Chinese, $8-10. A plaza restaurant, we were pleased with the quality of the food. Very accessible from I-84 as we cruised through.
• The Little Pepper, 420 West Putnam Ave (Rt 1), Greenwich CT
  Chinese and Japanese, including Sushi, $12-20. High quality. Karen had the Sushi, of course, and was very satisfied. I had Hunan Beef and Spring Rolls.
• El Torero, 1698 Post Road, Milford CT
  Mexican, $8-18. Good stuff. The basics, as well as specialties including Paella, Shrimp Juarez (broiled in spices and served over saffron rice), and more. Right off I-95.
• La Fonda del Sol, Wapinger Falls, NY
  Mexican, $10-15. Very good food. Not for those looking for only heat in the food, it is imaginative and very tasty. The Mole Poblano, for example, is excellent.
• River Station, Poughkepsie, NY
  Steak, etc, $15-22. Some excellent steak-I gorged myself on the porterhouse, while Karen enjoyed a more modest cut. The Crostini comes in huge portions, and is excellent. Thanks Andrea! And as it turns out, a friend out here in Milford proposed to his wife here! (he says he doesn't remember much about the food though ;-)
• New Szechuan, 353 Tarrytown Rd, Elmsford, NY (off of Rt 684)
  Chinese. $7.50-15. Pretty good. We had Hunan Beef, Chicken with Broccoli, Shrimp Toast, Chicken Wings, and Teryaki Beef. The portions are generous, and the prices reasonable. A very good stopping point if it is convenient.
• Sichuan Pavilion, 480 Westchester Ave, Port Chester, NY
  Chinese, $8-13. Very good. I have had two lunches and two dinners here. The Hot and Sour Soup is excellent, the Spring Rolls are very good. I had Noodles with Brown Meat Sauce for lunch and Shredded Beef Sichuan Style for dinner, and both were very good. The Hunan Beef and Karen's Chicken with Vegetables had perfectly cooked veggies, again with very high food quality nicely prepared. Relatively small seating, and the service was good.
• Pizza and Brew, Rye Brook, NY
  Italian, $10-15. Not just a pizza joint, they have a wide menu full of nice Italian entrees. Definitely worth a visit.
• The Curry Club, 766 Rt 25A, Setauket, NY
  Indian, $8-13. Right next to SUNY Stony Brook. A wider menu than is usually found. I tried the Saag Panner, which was not as sweet as it often is found, and was quite good and more than I could finish.
• The Last Resort Niagara, 5645 Victoria Ave, Niagara Falls, Ontario
  Mixed, $10-15, the steak and soups were wonderful. The Mexican was not as good as expected, but that was a guess. Worth heading back to.
• El Azteca II, 714 Chestnut, Philadelphia, PA
  Tex-Mex, $7-10. Really tasty, cheap eats. Plastic table-cloth type of atmosphere. Try the beef quesadilla.
• Hong Kong Harbor, 1002 Race St, Philadelphia, PA
  Chinese, $9-14. Check all the Philly Chinatown web pages.
• Imperial Inn, 142-46 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA
  Chinese, $10-14.
• Bao Bao Hao, 1004 Race St, Philadelphia, PA
  Chinese, $7-13. Open until 3PM Check all the Philly Chinatown web pages.
• Dumpling House"Old Chinatown", Toronto, Ontario
  Plates of dumplings were $6 for 12. A crowd of us tried one plate of every dumpling, and with the personal exception of the fennel dumplings, loved every bite. Better with a good group of people to share a wider variety of the fare.
• The Fortune Cookie, 291 King St W, Toronto Ontario
  Chinese. For $13 (if I recall), they have a sampling menu, basically all you can eat from a smaller menu of perhaps 30-40 items (both entrees and appetizers). Everything I had was very nice.
• Swiss Chalet, 214 King St W, Toronto Ontario
  I suspect this is a chain, featuring barbeque and burgers. I had the ribs, which really hit the spot, and with soda, ran me $20 before tip.
• Alfredo's Eatery and Bar, 1517 Niagara Stone Rd, Virgil Ontario
  Bar food with an array of Italian stuff. I had the poutine (which was made with cheez whiz, not curds, and suffered for it). Otherwise, pretty good.
• El Serrano, 2151 Columbia Ave, Lancaster, PA
  Mexican, $7-15. Good food, generous portions, and a variety of beverages, including some mexican sodas (I like the sangria flavored soda). The ambiance was nice. Four of us went, had a variety of food, and were all happy.

• Cheesecake Factory, Harborplace (Pratt St side), Baltimore, MD
  Various foods and, of course, cheesecake. Food tends in the $10-20 range, and cheesecake is $6 a (large) slice. The portions are very generous - I would recommend splitting an entree if you wish to sample the cheesecake there (but the cheesecake to go works out very nicely as well). This place can be very busy, especially on the weekends.
• Tex-Mex Grill, Harborplace (Pratt St side), Baltimore, MD
  Tex-Mex, $8-13. One of the less crowded places at Harborplace. I tried the Chimi (ok, not great) and the wings (pretty good). Nice when you can sit outside on the balcony, overlooking the harbor.
• Wayne's B-B-Q, Harborplace (Pratt St side), Baltimore, MD
  BBQ, $6-18. The BBQ is very good, although possibly a touch pricy. The Crab soup is very spicy (great for me, too much so for Karen). They do also have sandwiches, making this a better lunch offering than some of the competition. They even have some bottled hard cider available (the soft cider is really apple juice from concentrate). The line can be very long for dinner, especially on the weekends.
• Phillips, Harborplace (Light St side), Baltimore, MD
  Seafood, wide range. There are several Phillips restaurants here, with a range from takeout to sandwiches to a buffet to a fancy restaurant. The food is much the same between them. The crab cakes are very good, and the Sunday lunch buffet was a real treat ($20).
• Downtowne Sports Exchange, 200 W Pratt St., Baltimore, MD
  Bar food, $5-10. Not bad, and a good selection of beer. The Chili has a cinnamon flavor to it, and the wings are more barbeque than buffalo style, but the food isn't bad, and can be an excellent alternative to the convention center across the street, and it is very close to Camden Yards. Outdoor seating available.
• Wharf Rat Pub, W Pratt St., Baltimore MD
  Bar food tending towards British Pub style, $5-10. Also with outdoor seating. I tried the wings and the Potato Leek soup. A nice lunch, although a touch expensive. I also enjoyed the Oliver's Dark Light (and the Irish Red, which I sampled elsewhere is also good). Also across the street from the convention center, and very near to Camden Yards.
• Su-Zhou Pearl, Splendid China (Orlando)
  The only sit-down Chinese restaurant currently open here. The others are more mall-type chinese (lower-end). Good, although not particularly memorable.
• Imperial China Buffet, 5138 Peach St, Erie PA
  Easy to find off I-90, although a ways down, this was a great spot to stop along the way. Both a Chinese buffet and a Mongolian-style barbeque, you can get a large variety for under $10!
• The Crab House, 8496 Palm Parkway, Orlando
  A local chain of good seafood. $11-16. Very good crab cakes, lots of fresh fish. Try the gator nuggets!
• Boston Lobster Feast, 8204 Crystal Clear Lane, Orlando
  Seafood Buffet, $13. Very good buffet including lobster tails, crab, clams, several different types of fish, a huge variety of food. Recommended.
• Barley's Brewing House, 467 N High St, Columbus OH
  Across the street from the Convention Center, this is a nice brew pub, more notable for the beer than the food. Worth a stop though.
• Stetson's a Chop House and Bar, Hyatt Regency Chicago
  Steak and seafood, $20-35. Similar in menu and quality to Bensen's (see above), but with more seafood options. The meat portions are slightly smaller, as are the side dish portions. However, the quality of the Porterhouse was as high as any.
• All Season's Cafe, Hyatt Regency Chicago
  A variety of menu items, running $8 (sandwiches) - $13 (dinner entrees). They also threw dinner buffets for Chicon, and we ate at three of these, with good success. A very good salad as well. Very pricy for lunch though.
• Bensen's Steak House, across the street from the Milwaukee Convention Center
  Steak, $20-35 per entree. Note that vegetables are extra. Not a cheap place to eat, but the highest quality steak. I have eaten here once each during two Gencon's, and look forward to coming back. The vegetables are also extra (similar to many steak houses), but the asparagus was a very large portion, and the stalks were very slight and extremely tender and tasteful. I also had the Porterhouse (32 oz. for $32 if memory serves), and had a feast for a king.
• Butch's Steakhouse, 555 N 7th St, Milwaukee (also near the Convention Center).
  Steak, $25-30. Also very good, generous portions (all steaks are server with onions and mushrooms unless requested otherwise - all the better for me!).
• Odyssey Restaurant, N82 W15380 W Appleton Ave, Menomonee Falls, WI
  A standard Greek diner, with reasonable prices and large portions, and a fairly wide menu that is well executed.
• Peppercorn Restaraunt and Lounge, 1813 Paul Bunyan Dr NW, Bemidji, MN
  Mostly steak, $9-15. I had the Cajun Prime Rib, and was ecstatic. Not very hot, but a wonderfully spiced marinade, this was a real treat.
• Stats Sportsbar/MN Diner, 102 First St, Bemidji, MN
  High quality pub food, with a couple higher-end menu items. The Fettucini is great, and the burgers are highly recommended. The town's only sports bar.
• T. Juan'sBemidji, MN
  Mexican, $5-12. Reasonable food, very generous portions.

• Yolie's, Paradise Blvd, Las Vegas
  Brazilian steakhouse, and excellent. The mixed grill is $28, other entrees are $16-23. The standard fare here is a series of grilled meats, cooked over mesquite and charcoal. Standard list is a sausage, pork cutlet, two different cuts of beef, chicken, , turkey wrapped in bacon, and lamb. Warning-if you are there during a convention make a 6:30 reservation, not later, and do not be late. 6:30 sits at 6:30, 7:30 sits at 10:30. I've eaten here three times now, and have witnesses - it is truly excellent!
• Madame Ching's, at Treasure Island, Las Vegas
  Chinese, and quite nicely done. Expensive though-$12-20 entrees. The Won Ton soup ($5) was ok, but not great. I had the Beef Chow Fun (which they make spicy), and it was excellent. Shark Fin Soup anyone?
• Chang's at Bally's, Las Vegas
  Chinese, $12-20. Nothing amazing, but nice high quality food with a varied menu.
• Spago's, at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas
  Nouvelle Italian, excellent and creative. Entrees run between $15 and $20. This is one of Wolfgang Puck's restaurants, and can be counted on for creative and exciting dishes with excellent visual appeal as well as the taste experience. I have had a duck stirfry, and a wild mushroom and fetuccini dish that was fantastic, and with an appetizer, I was also full. Excellent bread too. See http://www.wolfgangpuck.com.
• Chinois China Cafe, at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas
  Chinese & sushi, approx $15. Very nice indeed! Another Wolfgang Puck establishment. We had two of the combinations: Dragon and Rabbit. Included was a simply wonderful duck moo shu pancake, a pair of very spicy dumplings (according to Karen), a creative and very tasty curry chicken spring roll, and the two main dishes - Mandarin Beef (something of a Mongolian Beef style) and Chicken with Cashews. See http://www.wolfgangpuck.com.
• La Salsa in the Caesar's Shopping wing, Las Vegas
  Mexican, $8-15. Very good, high quality food. I had a Bisctec Adobada, which was very flavorful, was served with Black Beans and rice, and was everything I had been hoping for. This is a much more casual environment than the other L.V. restaurants I have listed.

• Kan's Restaurant, 708 Grant St. (Chinatown), SF (CA).
  Chinese, $8-15. Four of us dropped in and had a super-amazing meal!. Even though we were in for an early dinner, we were able to order some dim-sum ala carte, as well as duck mu-shu (outstanding) and fried calamari (salted) that was the best we have ever had. We would be thrilled to eat here again any time whatsoever!!! Highest marks.
• Far East Cafe, 631 Grant St (Chinatown), SF (CA).
  Chinese. I'd love to be able to comment on this place, but after being seated for 20 minutes, we hadn't been able to place so much as a drink order. You might try it yourself, but make sure you have a ton of time to wait
• Bella Mia, 58 South First St., San Jose (CA)
  Italian, $12-20. Nice place, fairly close to the convention center (a block from the Fairmont). Large portions, good food. I had the Lasanga (outstanding), and companions had a variety of dishes, all generous and all very good. After two visits, I have had two very different experiences with service quality though.

• Original Joe's, 381 S 1st St, San Jose (CA)
  Italian, $16-20. Expensive, with what I have heard described as a "Soprano's-like feel". This is not related to any national or regional chain. Food is good, and in large portions, and service is attentive.
• Mariasol Cocina Mexicana, 401 Santa Monica Pier, Monterey CA.
  Tex-Mex, $9-12. Pretty good food, usual fare, with the usual run of seafood to be expected. Located at the end of the pier, the view can be spectacular, depending on your seating.
• Palmer's on 3rd, 3rd St, Seattle
  Bar food. A very nice place to hang out. A bit pricy, but the wings were very good for the west coast, the ribs were very good (chili was unbelievably bland though). A very nice stock of Beers on Tap and Scotches.
• Pike Market Chinese, Pike Public Market, Seattle
  Chinese, $8-10. Not bad, excellent view. I had the curry beef bun, which was very good, and the Pan Fried Prawns, which was very good. Not a large amount of seating, but it wasn't very crowded.
• Pabla Indian Cuisine, 1516 2nd Ave, Seattle
  Indian, lunch buffet was $6.95. I wasn't there for dinner, and didn't see the menu. Generous buffet which included Saag Paneer and Chicken Curry, two of my favorites, along with all the standbys (Tandoori Chicken, Naan, Veggie Somosas, etc.). I was quite pleased.
• China First Restaurant, 4237 University Way NE, Seattle
  Chinese, $7-12. I had a dinner combination including Szechuan Beef, Hot and Sour soup, and Fried Wantons for $6.95. The soup was interesting, and was a little more sour than I am used to, but ws good. The Fried Wantons were soaked in a sweet and sour sauce, and were, in my mind, a complete loss. The main dish was very nice, and I left full of a meal that was also quite a value. University Way refers to U of Washington, which is right next door.

• China Palace, International Bazaar, Freeport Bahamas
  Surprisingly good, $10-$14. They seem to use conch in their won-tons, and we approve!!! Try both the Won Ton soup and the fried won-tons. Also the Shredded Beef (Spicy Szechuan style) is among the best I have ever had.
• Ruby Swiss Restaurant, Freeport, near International Bazaar
  Fine food, strong on seafood, $10-18. We both had the mixed seafood grill (broiled), and were both thrilled. This had everything from stuffed crab to half a lobster tail to three large shrimp to grilled conch to grouper. Oh, the drinks are expensive ($8.50), but are HUGE!!!!! One is probably too many. Some of the entrees are prepared at your table (Karen calls these emabarrassing food).