Restaurant Reviews 2009-2011

I've been writing reviews of the restaurants I eat at since August 2009, but I never got around to actually posting them on the internet until now.  I write these reviews for my own benefit, but also because I because I have a travel and entertainment website I planned to post them to:  www.FunInNewEngland.com

That website was designed as a sort of directory of places to go and things to do in New England.  I have been focusing my energy on other projects, so www.FunInNewEngland.com has gotten a little out of date.

This first blog entry contains all my restaurant reviews to date.  Most are in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut.  You can search for a specific restaurant by pressing CTRL+F.  I often review the same restaurant more than once.  In the future I will post one review per blog entry.

Rating

1 star      Lousy / Poor

2 stars   Below average / Fair

3 stars   Average / Good

4 stars   Above average / Very Good

5 stars   Excellent / Exceptional

Prices

$                 under $10

$$              $10-15

$$$            $15-20

$$$$          $20-25

$$$$$       over $25

December 25, 2011

The Publick House

277 Main Street (Route 131), Sturbridge, MA 01566

www.publickhouse.com   508-347-3313   800-PUBLICK

Rating: 4.5 stars

Prices: *****

Spent:  $53.13 + tip

Ordered:  Christmas buffet

Review/Commentary:

My friends often go here for Christmas dinner.  They've been asking me to come along for a few years, so I finally decided to join them.  The Publick House is a large historic inn and restaurant that opened in 1771. Their yearly Christmas dinner is an upscale all you can eat buffet.  They serve a variety of items including roast prime rib, turkey, chicken marsala, baked stuffed scrod, New England clam chowder, antipasto, mixed greens salad, caesar salad, vegetables, breads, and desserts.  There were many more items, but I cannot remember them all.

We parked in the large lot in the back.  At the back entrance is a bake shop selling pasties, pies, and breads.  We were served in a large colonial dining room filled with wooden beams and Christmas decorations.  We arrived in the early evening, whereas most diners had taken an afternoon dinner and had already left, so it was not crowded, but there was plenty of food left.  The price was $50 per person, not including alcoholic drinks.  Our waitress was very nice, though her job mainly consisted of bringing drinks and clearing plates.  The food was excellent for a buffet.  Even the prime rib, which I've been having bad luck with lately at other restaurants, was perfectly cooked and tender, although it somewhat lacked flavor.

So, would I come back again?  Dinner was rather expensive, but it was Christmas.  I would definitely like to try eating lunch here one day.

December 19, 2011

Mykonos

1287 Liberty Street, Springfield, MA

Rating:  4.5

Spent: $27.13 + tip

Ordered: Stuffed eggplant, lamb kabob pita

Review/Commentary:

I'm sad to find out that Mykonos Springfield Plaza location will be closing at the end of the month.  They have been here for 29 years.  Their Eastfield Mall outlet will remain in business, but that location is part of the mall's food court and does not have a full menu or full service dining room.

Dinner was really good here this night.  The salad, stuffed eggplant, and lamb kabob pita sandwich were all perfect.  I asked for the lamb to be cooked closer to medium this time.  It was better and leaner than it had been the last couple times I got it here.  There was only one waitress this night and she apparantly was both serving food and tending the bar.  She seemed a bit harried when I asked for things.

Well, I don't know where I'm going to go for Greek food anymore, but I've been meaning to try that new Turkish restaurant in Agawam.

December 18, 2011

The Hazard Grille

39 Hazard Avenue, Enfield, CT 06082

Rating: 1.5 stars

Prices: $$$$$

Spent:  $38.55 + tip

Ordered:  Fried calamari appetizer, chicken & sausage penne, carrot cake

Review/Commentary:

The Hazard Grille is located in the same shopping plaza as Bob's Store and is right next to the Olive Garden.  It is considered to be one of the best casual upscale restaurants in Enfield.  Frankly there aren't many to choose from.  It's either here or Figaro.  The Hazard Grille is a descent size building.  The dining areas have a rustic New England theme and are very nice.

It's been many many years since I've eaten here.  I seem to recall that the last time I got the Mahi Mahi with a mango salsa and it was very good, although a bit expensive.  This night it was nowhere to be found on the menu.  When I asked the waitress she said it is offered as a special on rare occasions.  Seafood is the main specialty at The Hazard Grille, but there really aren't that many choices on the menu.

I started with the Fried Calamari appetizer.  The calamari was good, but the portion was very small considering the price.  I perused the menu, but nothing really struck my fancy.  I decided to try the Chicken & Sausage Penne.  I expected the chicken to be tender and flavorful.  I was wrong.  I've gotten much better meals at the Olive Garden.  I couldn't even finish my meal.  It was so bland and the chicken lousy.  I decided to try the carrot cake for dessert.  It actually was very good, but I could tell it had been sitting around in a case for awhile.

So, what can I say about The Hazard Grille?  The atmosphere is nice.  The food is way overpriced and nothing better than average, and the portions on the appetizers are too small.  I have no desire to ever eat here again.  I can't remember what my friends ordered, but they had the same feelings about this place as me.  Better to save your money and go to the Olive Garden next door or Figaro across the way or down the highway to the Maine Fish Market.

December 17, 2011

Tao's Asian Cuisine

31 Harkness Avenue, East Longmeadow, MA

Spent: $36.87

Takeout Ordered:  Pu Pu Platter, House Lo Mein, Shrimp with Mixed Vegetables

Review/Commentary:  Excellent, as usual.

December 12, 2011

Ninety Nine Restaurant

54 Hazard Avenue, Enfield, CT 06082 Tel: 860-741-7499

Rating:  4 stars

Prices:

Spent:  $17.31 + tip

Ordered:  Panko Crusted Cod

Review/Commentary:

The Ninety Nine is one of the most popular chains in the area.  It's often fairly crowded.  The food is consistantly acceptable, the service is usually pretty good, and the prices are reasonable.

Sometimes at chains restaurants I get some kind of lemonade or sweetened ice tea.  For the last couple years I've noticed that these drinks are sickeningly sweet due to the syrup they overuse.  I decided to try the Bubble Green Tea.  It's an ice tea mixed with orange juice and has some weird mango flavored jelly balls floating in it.  The drink was delicious and not too sweet.  The jury is still out though on those mango bubble balls.  They have a sweet liquid inside that pops in your mouth when you bite them.

For my entrée I got the Panko Crusted Cod which is served over linguine.  I paid a $3.00 upcharge to get the 3-course dinner which includes a salad and a petite dessert.  The salad was good.  The cod was very good.  The Apple Crunch Petite Treat was ok.  I was happy with my meal.

I ate here with a relative of mine that happens to be allergic to alcohol, so every restaurant she goes to she has to ask if their food is cooked with alcohol (especially wine).  She ordered the Baked Scrod which is served in a butter sauce and topped with bread crumbs.  She was a little worried about the butter sauce, but the waitress assured her that there was no alcohol in the food.  She was eating her fish when suddenly the waitress ran over and grabbed her dish away.  The waitress apologetically explained that there was alcohol used to make the bread crumbs on the fish.  Now who ever heard of alcohol in bread crumbs?  Luckily my relative had only eaten a tiny amount and was ok.  She then changed her meal to the Salmon which she later said was not very good.  The waitresses here are supposedly trained to deal with food allergies and have to memorize potential allergens in the menu.  I doubt there's much alcohol in bread crumbs, but anyways, despite the potentially dangerous situation, the waitress was very nice and sympathetic.  She attempted to correct the situation and gave my relative a discount on her meal.

December 11, 2011

Maine Fish Market

60 Bridge Street  East Windsor, CT 06088          

(860) 623-2281

www.mainefishmarket.com

Rating:  3.5

Prices:

Spent:  $27.95

Ordered:  Broiled Halibut with stuffing on the side

Review/Commentary:

This restaurant has been here for a long time.  It's been quite a few years since I've eaten here.  I used to come here every now and then.  I always thought that the seafood was average and a bit overpriced.  I'd say that, after many years, my assessment has not changed that much.  It is a nice restaurant.  They have plenty of parking.  The dining rooms get rather crowded on weekends.  They have a separate room with a bar.

My friends and I got here rather late on this Sunday night.  We were the last patrons to be served.  We could tell that the staff was hoping we would hurry up and leave, but our waiter was very polite.  I was in the mood for something different, so I ordered the Halibut dinner with a side of the stuffing they use for the baked stuffed scrod.  They gave me a large portion.  I couldn't even finish it.  I remember that the fish was slightly overcooked, so even though it was a good piece of fish, I only give it an average rating.  The salad was quite good and the free bread was ok.  The waiter was very attentive and polite.  I think I'll give this restaurant another try some night when it is not so late.

December 8, 2011

Outback Steakhouse

1537 Riverdale Street, West Springfield, MA  01089

Rating:  2.5 stars

Prices:

Spent:  $27.96

Ordered:  16oz. Prime Rib with mushrooms

Review/Commentary:

I had seen advertisements on TV for a filet mignon and lobster tail combination special.  I was looking forward to this.  When I searched the menus I could not find it.  I asked the waitress and she said they don't have that special in Massachusetts.  Why?  She said by Massachusetts law they are not allowed to serve lobster tail, only whole lobsters.  What kind of stupid law is this?  I know I've had lobster tail in Massachusetts, at least at Chinese restaurants.

OK, so I decided to get my usual favorite Outback Streakhouse entrée... the Prime Rib.  The beef here is usually pretty good.  I ordered mine medium-rare.  I started eating it.  It tasted good, but I quickly noticed that it was very chewy and not up to the usual Outback Steakhouse quality.  I mentioned this to the waitress.  Soon the manager came over and offered to replace my Prime Rib with another, so I said yes.  He brought me a second one.  It was basically the same as the first, but I told him it was better because I thought it would be ridiculous to get a third that probably wouldn't be any improvement.  My friend got an unusually large cut of Prime Rib (he likes to overdo things).  He said his was ok.

Well, I wasn't too happy with my meal this night, but the service was very good.

December 7, 2011

Tao's Asian Cuisine

31 Harkness Avenue, East Longmeadow, MA

Spent: $30.71

Takeout Ordered:  can't remember

Review/Commentary:  No complaints.

December 3, 2011

Monte Carlo

1020 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield, MA

Rating: 3.5 stars

Spent: $37.40

Takeout Ordered:  Double Beef Marsala, Stuffed Mushroom appetizer

Review/Commentary:

My friends and I actually went to Casa Di Lisa this night, but when we arrived it was all booked up with reservations, so we drove to the Monte Carlo instead.  It was very crowded this Saturday night and we had to wait in the lounge for a table.  There was a private party going on upstairs.  It's a fairly large restaurant and is very popular with an older crowd.

I was starving and decided to try the Stuffed Mushrooms appetizer.  It was ok, but definitely not worth the $8.00 I paid for it.  For my main entrée I got my usual favorite, the Double Beef Marsala.  This has always been phenominal here.  Tonight however, the portion was a little small and they were extremely stingy with the marsala sauce and mushrooms.  I had to ask for more sauce, but I still wan't happy.

Perhaps it was because the place was so crowded this night, but our waitress was very hurried, never around when I needed her, and not too polite.  Hopefully next time I come here, they will be back up to the usual quality.

December 1, 2011

Peacock Chinese Restaurant

336 Cooley Street, Springfield, MARating:

Prices:

Spent:  $33.00 + tip

Ordered:  can't remember

Review/Commentary:

November 27, 2011

Zoe's Fish House

195 Russel Street (Route 9), Hadley, MA 

www.zoesfish.com

Rating:  4 stars

Prices:  $$$$

Spent:  $44.30 + tip

Ordered:  Cod and Lobster Pan-Roast, Tuscan Style Calamari Fritti, Lemon Cream Cake

Review/Commentary:

It's been many years since I ate at Zoe's.  The last time I did it was located in Easthampton.  This location used to be a restaurant called Butternuts.  Zoe's was out of business for several years before it relocated here last year.  The Easthampton location was a bit out of the way and hard to find.  This location is right on a main route and easy to get to.  There is a good size parking lot, as it is located in a small plaza along with the Registry of Motor Vehicles.  The building is very big.  The interior is quite classy and comfortable.

Zoe's has an extensive menu.  The old Zoe's had a salad bar and I was looking forward to that, but sadly there is no salad bar anymore.  For starters I got the Tuscan Calamari.  I didn't realize how hot/spicy it was going to be.  I can't tolerate very spicy food, so I wasn't able to much of it, but at least my friends enjoyed it.  The salad was nice and the Basil-Vinaigrette dressing was exceptionally good.

For my main entrée I ordered the Cod and Lobster Pan-Roast, which consists of a "thick loin cut of cod, quickly seared, with chunks of lobster, tomatoes and spices in a rich sherry cream reduction. served over mashed potatoes with crispy onion strings".  Our waiter recommended this as his favorite.  It sounded good on the menu, but the reality of it wasn't as pleasing to me.  It's basically a huge bowl of mashed potatos covered with fish, sherry cream sauce, and fried onion strings.  There were some bits of lobster mixed in.  I ate the fish and lobster, but I couldn't eat much of the rest of it.  The fish was good quality, but I'll never order it prepared like this again.  I suppose some people like this entrée, but I didn't.

So, to conclude... I like the restaurant; the service was good; the food is good, but I unfortunately chose the wrong items this time.  By the way, they have a Sunday brunch buffet that sounds good.

November 26, 2011

LongHorn Steakhouse

1105 Riverdale St  West Springfield, MA 01089

www.longhornsteakhouse.com    (413) 747-8500

Rating:  4.5 stars

Prices:

Spent:  $30.47

Ordered:  Porterhouse steak

Review/Commentary:

I can't for the life of me figure out why I haven't reviewed the LongHorn Steakhouse yet.  I eat here every now and then.  This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area, not just as far as chains go, but as far as any restaurant is concerned.  I always get a good meal here.  The free bread is excellent.  The salad is good.  The Porterhouse steak is excellent and very flavorful.  The service is good.  The atmosphere and seating is acceptable.  What more can I say?  I you want a good steak without going to a very expensive steakhouse, then LongHorn is a great choice.

November 25, 2011

Horizons Restaurant & Bar

2200 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095

www.horizons-restaurant.com

(413) 599-1271

Rating: 3 stars

Prices:

Spent:  $35.97 + tip

Ordered:  Sea Bass, Chop Salad

Review/Commentary:

My friends and I decided to give this place another try since the fiasco of our last visit and because they had a gift certificate.  I haven't been keeping up with my restaurant reviews.  I'm writing this a month afterwards and I can't remember exactly what I thought.  I recall that there was nothing special about my fish; the portion was rather small;  and it seemed overpriced.  The chop salad was somewhat unusual.  It was more like a relish, but it was good.  I haven't been too impressed with Horizons this year.  The food is mediocre and the prices are too high.  Perhaps I should've stuck with my favorite from many years ago... the Filet Mignon.

November 20, 2011

Jack Chen II Restaurant

1193 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA 01118

(413) 782-5858

Rating:  2.5 stars

Prices:

Spent:  $19.47

Ordered Takeout:  don't remember exactly

Review/Commentary:

I ordered different items than I did last time and I did not think it was as good as last time.  In fact, it was only so-so.

November 19, 2011

Solmar Restaurant

132 Main Street, Indian Orchard, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Prices: $$$

Spent: $30.53 + tip

Ordered: Mariscada a Chefe

Review/Commentary:

My friends insisted on coming here for the Portuguese style blackened chicken.  I did not order that, but it is very good.  The free bread is so-so. For an appetizer I got the shrimp special, ordered not spicy. It was quite good, but soaked in a little too much butter. I got a side salad which was ok (mostly iceberg lettuce) with creamy Italian dressing. For my entrée I ordered the Mariscada with linguine instead of rice. I liked it this way much better. I'm not a big rice lover. It contains shrimp, scallops, lobster, and whole clams in a reddish Portuguese sauce with just a hint of spiciness. It comes in a very good-sized portion.

One of my friends got the blackened chicken which looked good. I tried a tidbit that was excellent. It came with "silver dollars" which were a cross between scalloped potatoes and potato chips. I liked them. It also came with rice. My other friend got the Mariscada with rice.

Solmar is divided into two separate sides: the bar room and a fairly small dining room. The majority of the customers are usually bar patrons. The dining room was empty when we came. It seems dining room is either empty or crowded. Our waitress was friendly and helpful.

Next time I might try the blackened chicken or the monk fish.

November 17, 2011

Carrabba's Italian Grill

955 Riverdale Street, West Springfield, MA

Rating: 3.5 stars

Prices:

Spent:  $34.40 + tip

Ordered: Chicken Trio (Rosa Maria, Bryan, Marsala) with Sicilian Chicken Soup & Cavatappi Amatriciana pasta; Insalata Fiorucci (salad)

Review/Commentary:  I was in the mood for chicken tonight. I was hoping to get the roasted vegetables, but they discontinued that menu item because it's seasonal. The free bread was excellent: soft and warm. The side salad here wasn't very good last time, so I opted for the big expensive Insalata Fiorucci because I love eggplant and artichokes. The salad consisted of marinated eggplant, artichokes, and red peppers over a bed of greens. They put the Italian dressing on it before they serve it to you. It was very good except that the eggplant and dressing was too salty. The soup was not supposed to be spicy, but it was. And it was extremely salty. Had the soup not been so salty and spicy, it would've been very good. I could only eat a few spoonfuls. The main course, the chicken trio was excellent as usual, although a bit salty. The pasta was not quite cooked enough, not al dente. The waitress was polite, friendly and efficient. My summary is: The food is very good, but I hope they use less salt next time.

November 13, 2011

Tony & Penny's Restaurant

18 Canterbury Street, Ludlow, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Prices:

Spent: $30.47 + tip

Ordered: Penny's Black Angus Filet Mignon with side salad and pasta; 1/2 Combo Platter Appetizer

Review/Commentary: My friends were in the mood for Portuguese food and I wanted to try somewhere besides Solmar, so we decided to try Tony & Penny's for the first time. The free bread was very good. The appetizer containing codfish cakes, shrimp cakes, and calamari was not bad. The side salad was very good. The filet mignon was very good. I ordered the beef medium rare. It was very rare in the middle... a bit too rare. The gorgonzola cheese on top was a little too strong for my liking. Perhaps I should have tried the Applewood Filet Mignon. Anyways, the black angus was very tender with excellent flavor. I got linguine pasta as a side. That, with its tomato sauce, was very good too.

            My friends ordered the Tony's Famous Seafood Rice Combo. They said it was good, but they were more used to the one at the other restaurant.

            Our waitress for the night was fast, extremely fast, but on the other hand she was not too polite. I'm not saying she did anything wrong. It was nice to have quick service, but she could've been a bit more gracious and cordial.

            Conclusion: I would be willing to come back again.

November 6, 2011

Horizons Restaurant & Bar

2200 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA

Rating: 2 stars

Prices:

Spent: $31.72 + tip

Ordered: Prime Rib, 1/2 Alfresco appetizer

Review/Commentary: I had not been here in many years. This used to be a good restaurant to bring your date or spouse. My friends and I decided to go here this Sunday night, which happened to be one day after our power was restored. Our electricity had been out for a week due to a freak October blizzard that took down tree limbs and power lines all over New England. When I arrived I saw that there were many trucks here from National Grid.  The linesmen and/or tree trimmers had contracted to eat here, so the place was full of them, although there was no wait for a table.

            We sat at a table for a few minutes while we waited for them to clean the booth we wanted to sit at. We looked at the menus for a few minutes. It took our waitress a long time to bring our drinks or take our order. We ordered an appetizer.  It took a really long time to bring our free bread. I guess because they were cooking more. The bread was very good. The calamari appetizer was pretty good.

            Both my friend and I ordered the Prime Rib. It took over an hour for our entrees to arrive. I know there were a bunch of construction workers here, but the place was not really packed, and most of them had already eaten. I was looking forward to a nice juicy slab of beef. The "petite" cut which I ordered was quite large. The large cut that my friend got was enormous. It tasted good and didn't have too much fat or gristle, BUT... it was overcooked, dry, and tough. I'm not sure why it was so chewy. It wasn't terribly overcooked. I ordered medium rare. My friend ordered rare. They were both medium at best. My friend ended up bringing half his prime rib (and a piece of mine) home to feed his dog. I'm not ordering prime rib here again. Maybe next time I'll get the filet mignon (like I used to get years ago).

            As to the service, our waitress had a very nice personality, but she was terrible at bringing us anything within a reasonable amount of time. I realize that the slow kitchen that night was not her fault, but she couldn't even bring drink refills within 5 minutes. She seemed rather ditzy and forgetful.

October 21, 2011

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill

436 Parker Street, Springfield, MA

Rating:

Prices:

Spent: $14.32 + tip

Ordered:

Review/Commentary: I come here every once in a while. This is the best buffet in the area for American food.  Of course buffet food is usually not very good, but the food here is not bad.  They have a seafood special now with your choice of fish, shrimp, or crab cakes.  I opted for the shrimp and roasted vegetables.  It was quite good, except that the server put a bit too much spice on it for my taste.  I had a couple plates of salad and I sampled the beef, BBQ chicken, and ribs.  The chicken had a slightly weird taste, but the rest of the food was ok.  Golden Corral is usually crowded with families and sometimes seems a bit chaotic.  I noticed an unpleasant odor near the cashier area.  I believe it is from food and drinks often spilling into the carpet.  Service can be spotty when you need a drink refill.  Despite my complaints there's a good selection of food and you can hardly find a better deal.

October 16, 2011

Ginger Blossom

1203 Parker Street, Springfield, MA

Rating: 5 stars

Spent: $24.50 + tip

Ordered: Sizzling beef & scallops (substituted non-spicy garlic sauce for oyster sauce), pad thai (non-spicy)

Review/Commentary: Food was excellent, even though the pad thai had a strange red-orange color

October 8, 2011

Jack Chen's

59 Maple St. East Longmeadow, MA

Rating: 5 stars

Spent: n/a

Take-Out Order: C5-The Good Earth, shrimp roll, house special fried rice

Review/Commentary: Got take-out with a family member; first time; very good food. C5 was very good; fried rice was very good; shrimp roll was basically an egg roll with shrimp in it; I didn't like it.

September 18, 2011

Tao's Asian Cuisine

31 Harkness Avenue, East Longmeadow, MA

Rating: 4.5 stars

Prices:

Spent: $25.98 + tip

Ordered:  Shrimp w/ garlic sauce, pork fried rice, house special soup

Review/Commentary:  The food was excellent; as good or better than the former Panda South (of a few years back)

September 17, 2011

Village Pizza

7 Audubon Street, Springfield, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Spent: $23.48

Ordered Take-out: Large House Special Pizza w/extra sauce, Large garden salad

Review/Commentary:  This time the pizza was ok, but not as good as last time; The salad was very large, a lot of iceberg lettuce, but good.

September 10, 2011

Iron Chef Asian Cuisine

923 Shaker Rd, Longmeadow, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Spent: $41.85

Ordered:

Review/Commentary:  I've known about this place for years, however I never ate here before due to my perception of it being too small and overcrowded and mainly a sushi bar.  My perception was not too far off.  It is rather small and sometimes crowded on the weekend, but they have many items on their menu besides sushi.  The service was excellent and very fast.  The food was very good.  My main complaint is that everything seems overpriced.  Iron Chef does get great reviews, but expect to spend much more than your typical Asian restaurant.  I failed to write this review soon after I went there, so I can't remember what I ordered.  My friends (who don't mind spending money) love this place.

September 4, 2011

Abudanza Ristorante

2341 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA

Rating:  3.5 stars

Prices:

Spent:  $22.30

Ordered:  New York Strip Steak

Review/Commentary:  This was my first time eating at their new location.  They seemed to be short on wait staff.  Service was a bit slow.  I was in the mood for prime rib but they were out, so I ordered the New York Strip.  It was good. I had no complaints, but nothing was exceptional.

August 28, 2011

Carrabba's Italian Grill

955 Riverdale Street, West Springfield, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Prices:

Spent:  $23.17 + tip

Ordered: Chicken Trio (Rosa Maria, Bryan, Marsala) with side salad & cavatappi pasta; ½ Calamari w/ marinara sauce

Review/Commentary:  I only ate here once before, a few years ago. Carrabba's is a slightly upscale Italian chain similar to Olive Garden and Bertucci's. In West Springfield it is located in a shopping plaza with plenty of parking. The interior is spacious and open with the back kitchen in full view of the diners. We were seated in a large booth near the kitchen. It is a little strange to see and hear the kitchen staff cooking and at times speaking Spanish. The restaurant is filled with a combination of tables and booths.

            The menu has a good variety of entrées, appetizers, and wines. The free Italian bread was very fresh and tasty, along with the olive oil and herbs.  I split a fried calamari appetizer with my friends. None of us liked it. It was mostly breading and little squid. The breading tasted a lot like KFC's crispy chicken and was soaked in tons of oil.  My friend also ordered a fried zucchini appetizer. That was better, but still oily. The zucchini was cut in thin strips like french fries. The Italian side salad was ok, but I think next time I'll skip the salad and get the mixed grilled vegetables instead. My friend also ordered a soup, which could have been good, but was way too salty he said.

            On to my main course, the chicken trio is an excellent way to try three of Carrabba's specialties. The Pollo Rosa Maria with fontina, prosciutto, and mushrooms was excellent. The Chicken Bryan was very good, though some people find the goat cheese too strong. The Chicken Marsala was very good also. I got a side of the cavatappi pasta with regular tomato sauce (instead of the spicy amatriciana).  My friend got the same entrée as me and was basically happy with it.

            Our service was very good. The booth tables are very long, which is good. The seats are not as comfortable as they could be.  All in all I rate Carrabba's above average. I'm willing to go back, but I will avoid the calamari next time.

August 27, 2011

Outback Steakhouse

Enfield, CT

Rating:

Prices:

Spent: $28.04 + tip

Ordered: 10 oz. ribeye steak & grilled mahi combo, house salad

Review/Commentary:  As far as chains go, Outback Steakhouse is pretty good. This was my first time at the Enfield location. It is located on the edge of the mall parking lot. I decided to try a new combo entrée. The mahi fish was excellent. The ribeye was good. The bread and salad were ok.

August 23, 2011

Cafe Lebanon

60 Shaker Rd, East Longmeadow, MA

Rating:  3 stars

Prices:

Spent: $32.36 + tip

Ordered: Lamb kabob dinner, fattoush salad, hashwee

Review/Commentary:  My current opinion of this place is that it is a very nice restaurant, but it is expensive and the food is ok but not worth the price.

August 21, 2011

Tao's Asian Cuisine

31 Harkness Avenue, East Longmeadow, MA

Rating: 4.5 stars

Prices:

Spent: $29.73 + tip

Ordered:  Sizzling Seafood, House Special Fried Rice (split with friend), Fried Chicken Wings

Review/Commentary:  This was my first time here since Tao's took over the former Panda South Restaurant. I ate at Panda South for about 15 years. It was my favorite Chinese restaurant for a long time, but their quality had definitely taken a turn for the worse in the last couple years, probably due to the change of ownership during that time.  Tao's is a completely new restaurant... new owners, new chef, new menu, and a totally renovated interior.  They have gone very upscale with a beautiful décor, a real cocktail bar, a new sushi bar, and lots of Japanese and Chinese menu items.  They even have a few Thai entrées.

For my first time here, I decided to get my former favorite (from Panda South), the Sizzling Seafood Platter ($15.95). It was perfect, with nice shrimp, scallops, and a good-sized piece of lobster.  It was the way Panda South used to make it before they started putting fake crab meat in it.  The fried chicken wings were good, but on the small side.  The House Special Fried Rice was very good, but they gave me very little for the $8.25 it cost.  When I get take-out from most Chinese restaurants I get 3 or 4 times as much fried rice as they gave me. I got here late on a Sunday night.  Usually the food at any restaurant late on Sunday is not so good, but I'm happy to report that the food was excellent.

            In conclusion, Tao's is an perfect Asian restaurant for East Longmeadow. The food is excellent, but the prices are on the high side and the portions are on the small side. In any case, I will be back soon.

August 14, 2011

Hu Ke Lau Restaurant

705 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA

Rating:

Prices:

Spent:  $44.06

Ordered:  triple lobster special, house fried rice, fried chicken wings

Review/Commentary:  The food tasted good; the three lobsters were a great deal; however... my stomach did not agree with me the next day

August 13, 2011

Mykonos

1287 Liberty Street, Springfield, MA

Spent: $29.91 + tip

Ordered: Ribeye?

****can't remember****

August 6, 2011

Casa Di Lisa Restaurant

801 Springfield Street, Feeding Hills, Agawam, MA

Rating:  4 stars

Prices:

Spent: $36.41 + tip

Ordered:  Veal francese, side of shrimp scampi, asparagus, salad, calamari (half)

Review/Commentary: It's been almost 2 years since I've eaten here. They have a descent sized parking lot with optional valet parking. The interior is somewhat upscale and nicely decorated with a traditional Italian restaurant theme. The menu is mostly typical Italian entrees but with a few fusion cuisine inspired dishes. The prices are reasonable. The service is good. The portions are generous.

    The calamari appetizer here is excellent... nice and thick, perfectly cooked, reasonably priced, and large. The side salad was almost entirely iceberg lettuce, nothing special there. The house Italian dressing was good. The free bread was not bad. The olive oil dip for it was extremely garlicky. My veal francese was very good, though I did squeeze extra lemon on it. I ordered a side of shrimp scampi. They gave me a large plate of it that was a meal in itself. It was also very good. The asparagus was good, but rather thin and sparse.  My friend got the veal saltimbocca, which is even better than the francese. I was told that the mixed vegetable side (squash & onions) was very good. They had a variety of cakes for dessert. The carrot cake looked good but I passed on dessert.

     Although I was not totally happy with my meal in 2009 when I got the beef marsala, tonight's meal was very good. I would definitely go back in the future. Casa Di Lisa is one of the better Italian restaurants in the Agawam/Springfield area.

July 31, 2011

Olive Garden

1380 Boston Road, Springfield, MA

Rating:

Prices:

Spent: 21.45 + tip

Ordered: Grilled shrimp caprese, salad

Review/Commentary:

July 24, 2011

Max's Tavern

1000 West Columbus Avenue, Springfield, MA (413) 746-6299

Rating: 4 stars

Prices: $$$$$

Spent: 48.63 + tip

Ordered: Prime Rib 16 oz., chopped salad (half), asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes, sorbetto

Review/Commentary: Located in the Basketball Hall of Fame, Max's Tavern is part of a small group of upscale restaurants based in Connecticut. Parking here is rarely a problem. The restaurant has a small outdoor seating area, but on the night I came, there was a bad odor drifting across the river from the sewage treatment plant. The inside of Max's Tavern is very nicely decorated and comfortable. Based on the menu this is a steak and seafood restaurant. They have some good fish choices, though I opted for beef.

     This was my first time eating here. Salad is not included with meals. I ordered a chopped salad as a side (half-size). It was more like a coarsely chopped relish than a salad... not what I was expecting, but it was good. My prime rib was excellent, thick and tender, with the usual amount of fat. Meals only come with one side, so I had to pay extra for my others. The asparagus was good. The garlic mashed potatoes were ok, but there was almost no garlic in them. My friend got the ribeye steak (on the bone). It looked like the ribeye served at 350 Grill, but it was very chewy and low quality. My other friend got the swordfish. It was good, but small. For dessert I got the sorbetto. That was delicious.

     While my meal was very good, my friends were not happy with the food or prices. I guess Max's Tavern is expensive because it's located in the Hall of Fame. In my opinion this place is way overpriced. The food is generally very good, but not all of it is top notch. I can find better deals elsewhere. Also, there are no free soda refills. They are $2.50 per glass.

July 23, 2011

Hu Ke Lau Restaurant

705 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Prices:

Spent: 38.47 + tip

Ordered: garlic ribs, happy family, house fried rice

Review/Commentary: Very good, as usual. My friend got the triple lobster special (normally reserved in advance). He got the last one available. I was jealous.

July 17, 2011

Osaki Japanese Hibachi & Sushi Steak House

1404 Boston Road, Springfield, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Prices: $$$$

Spent: $47.60 + tip

Ordered: Filet mignon & lobster hibachi dinner, California roll, mochi, soda

Review/Commentary: Last time I went here was the middle of winter and it was freezing inside. Now is the middle of summer, so guess what? It was rather warm inside, but bearable at least. Last time I thought the food was very good. Today I have to say that the food was excellent. My only warning is that they don't always cook the meat thoroughly. I ordered the beef medium, but it was medium-rare. That was fine for me, but my friend's wife got scallops that were not cooked enough. Other than that, the flavor and quality of the food was superb. The chef's show was good.

            They have now started including the noodles for "free" with the cost of the hibachi dinners. They should, considering the high prices they charge. They charge $2.00 for each soda refill. I ordered mochi ice cream with two flavors. The waitress apparently misunderstood me and brought two orders of mochi. I decided to keep them both, so of course I had to pay for them. I gave one to my friends. I ordered mango and strawberry, but the waitress gave me vanilla and strawberry. I didn't realize it until I had already started eating it.

            In conclusion, I give the place 4.5 stars for the food, no stars for the climate control, and 2 stars for attention to detail. Overall, it's a good restaurant, but be prepared to spend a lot because it's overpriced.

July 16, 2011

Masse's Ocean Bar & Grille

1329 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA

Rating: 3 stars

Prices: $$$

Spent: $36.87 + tip

Ordered: Fried fisherman's dinner with salad & fries, stuffed mushroom caps

Review/Commentary:  I have been meaning to try this place for years, but I often eat out on Sunday night, when they are closed.  There are not too many seafood restaurants in the Springfield-Chicopee area. Masse's has been here for many years, so they must be doing something right. I like the building and the interior, although it was rather loud and echoing inside.

They have a good selection of New England seafood on the menu. I decided to try the fried combination platter which includes fish, scallops, shrimp and clam strips. I thought the fried seafood was just below average. It had too much breading and the quality was just ok. I can't help comparing the place to Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale on the Connecticut shore. The Fish Tale is much better, but very far away from here. My friend got the Seafood Newburg. He said it was good, but lacked some flavor. His wife got the grilled swordfish. That was pretty good. The side salad was lousy, nothing but lettuce. Their homemade honey-mustard dressing scared me. It looks like a glob of whole mustard seeds. I tried it, then opted for the balsamic vinaigrette. The crab stuffed mushroom caps appetizer was good. My friend got the clam chowder and crab cakes appetizers. Both of those were good. The free rolls were not bad.

I was not impressed with the fried seafood, but I'm willing to come back again. I think next time I'll try the baked fisherman platter or the surf & turf or the shrimp scampi or the seafood alfredo.

July 10, 2011

350 Grill

350 Worthington Street, Springfield, MA

Rating: 4.5 stars

Prices: $$$$$

Spent: 38.17

Ordered: 350 ribeye steak, calamari (shared), soda

Review/Commentary: The 350 Grill is sort of out of place. It is a somewhat high class steakhouse, but located next to the Mardi Gras strip club adult entertainment venue in the not-so-good downtown area of Springfield. They have a large parking lot that is shared with the Mardi Gras. (Note: I parked on the street because I wasn't sure if parking was free.) The décor is nice, sort of like a fancy Italian bistro. They have an outdoor seating area, but the view consists of the parking lot and the street. We opted to sit inside with the air conditioning. There is a large bar located in the same large room as the dining tables. The restaurant is very open, with no partitions. We came on a Sunday night. They used to be closed on Sundays. I was told that this is the first Sunday that they've opened on. There were very few customers this night.

I split a calamari appetizer with my friends. That was quite good. The ribeye steak I ordered is their signature cut of beef. Unlike most restaurant's ribeyes this one comes as a thick piece attached to a long bone. I ordered it cooked medium, even though I like medium rare. It came out perfect, but closer to medium rare. The quality and taste was superb. This was probably the best ribeye I've ever had. The meal comes with two sides and free bread. For sides I got salad and finger potatoes. The salad was good. I got the house Italian dressing. It turned out to be balsamic vinaigrette and too strong with the vinegar. The finger potatoes were interesting, but nothing special.

To conclude: The food is excellent, the prices high, the décor nice, the service good, the location questionable. You may need reservations on Saturday nights, and the staff can be a bit pretentious.

July 10, 2011

Monte Carlo

1020 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield, MA

Rating: 5 stars

Prices:

Spent: 26.70 + tip

Ordered: Double beef marsala tenderloin

Review/Commentary: I came back here for the beef marsala ...again. I think last time I ordered it medium rare, but it came out too rare. This time I ordered it medium and it came out medium rare ...perfect. This has got to be the best beef marsala you can buy. The quality and flavor are second to none. The salad, sides, and bread are pretty good too.

July 3, 2011

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina

33 Border Way, West Springfield, MA

Rating: 5 stars

Prices:

Spent: $20.62

Ordered: The Ultimate Fajita, guacamole, ice tea

Review/Commentary: This is the first time I've eaten a meal here. I've never been a big fan of Mexican food, but I'm starting to like it. The Ultimate Fajita is one of the more expensive things on the menu of this restaurant chain, but well worth it. They give you a very good serving of meats and vegetables along with the fajita wraps. I must say that it was excellent. I had nothing to complain about.

June 26, 2011

Texas Roadhouse

Address:

Rating:

Prices:

Spent: 20.32

Takeout Order: Ribeye steak (medium rare)

Review/Commentary: Excellent

June 24, 2011

China Gourmet Restaurant

1374 Allen Street, Springfield, MA

Rating: 3.5 stars

Spent: $16.60 on take-out

Ordered: Dinner Combination Plate #14 (shrimp w/ garlic sauce, broccoli, chicken fingers, pork fried rice), House Lo Mein

Review/Commentary: I have to compare this place to my longtime favorite Wong Wok. I have to say that I'm liking China Gourmet more and more. While all Chinese food tends to be oily/greasy, Wong Wok has been overdoing it the last few years. China Gourmet's food is very similar, but less oily.  I definitely like the fried rice better. The chicken fingers are also very good, and likewise the lo mein. They have the dark duck sauce I like. Regarding #14... they gave me a fair amount of large shrimp and an excessive amount of broccoli. The shrimp are coated with something sweet, which is ok by me since I have a sweet tooth. The garlic sauce is not as flavorful as Wong Wok's, but it's a lot less oily. The broccoli were the more mature variety, not the young tender ones I like; and they were on the raw side. At this point it's nearly a toss-up over who has the best shrimp with garlic sauce, but I still think Wong Wok has the edge, despite the pools of oil.

June 18, 2011

A Touch Of Garlic

427 White Street, Springfield, MA

www.atouchofgarlicrestaurant.com

Rating: 4 stars

Prices: $$$$

Spent:  38.34 + tip

Ordered: Bistecca Provencal

Review/Commentary: I only ate here once before, a few years ago. The restaurant often gets great reviews. They have a small parking lot on the side. The dining room is rather small, long and narrow. We were seated at the back, which was ok.

For starters I split a calamari fritti with my dinner guests. The calamari was very good. The meal came with bread and salad. They gave us one very very small bread to be shared among the three of us. It was nothing great, so we did not bother to ask for more. They did provide oil & balsamic vinegar to dip it in. The salad was rather sparse. The herb vinaigrette dressing was good.

For my main entrée I ordered the Bistecca Provencal which is a filet mignon with a pinot noir demi wine sauce over mushroom risotto with grilled asparagus. The portion size was good. At first I thought the filet was excellent, but as I got into it, I found far too much gristle. At least the flavor and part of the meat was excellent. I ordered it medium-rare and that is exactly how it was cooked. It was slightly too rare in the center for me, but that's how medium-rare usually is. I was not a fan of the risotto. It seemed sort of stuck together in a giant lump. The asparagus was very good.

My dinner companion got the Veal Giuseppe which is a "cutlet of veal, eggplant and mozzarella layered, baked and topped with tomato, wine and mushroom sauce, served with penne marinara". It was a large portion. I tried it. It was very good.

            I thought the food on the whole was above average. I would eat here again. Next time I think I would try something different such as the Shrimp Florentine, Veal Giuseppe, Rigatoni Rustica, Lasagna, or the Parma Rosa.

May 23, 2011

Ginger Blossom

1203 Parker Street, Springfield, MA

Rating: 5 stars

Spent: 27.50 + tip (approx.)

Ordered: Sizzling beef & scallops (substituted brown sauce for oyster sauce), wonton soup, chicken wings, chicken & eggplant (split with my friends)

Review/Commentary: It was late on a Sunday night. Ginger Blossom is one of the few restaurants in the area open until 10:00pm on Sunday. I've been here many time before. I know the food is good, but not particularly cheap. I always like to try different things, so I changed it up from my usual order.

            Instead of oyster sauce, which I find too strong tasting, I ordered the sizzling beef and scallops with an ordinary brown sauce. It was excellent. The chicken & eggplant was good, but I also tried my friend's chicken & cashews. That was even better. Next time I'm ordering chicken & cashews. The wonton soup was good but very small (only two wontons). The chicken wings were excellent, very crispy on the outside.

May 15, 2011

Figaro

90 Elm Street, Enfield, CT

Rating: 4 stars

Spent: 33.05 + tip (approx.)

Ordered: Beef Tenderloin Marsala, seafood chowder, side salad

My friends got the family dinner, but I wasn't in the mood for that. I got the beef tenderloin marsala from the regular menu. It was very good (although not quite as good as Monte Carlo in West Springfield). The seafood chowder was excellent as usual. The side salad was ok, but small. I ordered it with Italian dressing, but that seemed to have no flavor, so I then asked for the gorgonzola vinaigrette. That dressing was much better.

March 5, 2011

Mykonos

1287 Liberty Street, Springfield, MA

Spent: 29.91 + tip

Ordered: Lamb Shank with Orzo, Lamb kabob sandwich

Much better than the Leg of Lamb (that is served as slices of lamb). The Lamb Shank is a big hunk of lamb on the bone. It is cooked in a tomato-based sauce and served over orzo pasta. The meat is tender and nice quality. It is good, perhaps very good. It depends what you like. I would consider it again. The lamb kabob sandwich tastes great, BUT the quality of the lamb used in that is not good. It's full of gristle. As with all restaurants lately, Mykonos has been raising their prices on meat.

April 30, 2011

Solmar Restaurant

132 Main Street, Indian Orchard, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Prices: $$$

Spent: 23.10 + tip

Ordered: Mariscada a Chefe

Review/Commentary: I ate here once before on November 27, 2010. Tonight I think I ordered the same entrée as last time... the  Mariscada a Chefe, which is a seafood stew that comes with rice. The seafood consists of lobster, shrimp, scallops, and whole clams. The rice comes separate, but I mix it with the seafood after I remove the shells. Note that the Paelha a Valencia is very similar, but contains some different meats. I'm not used to Portuguese food. The smell and flavor is a little strange and fishy, but it does not taste strong or spicy. I can say that it is good, but I lean more toward Italian cuisine. They give you a generous amount of seafood, but you have to do a little bit of work to get the shells off. My friends got one entrée the same as mine and one entrée of Frango no Churrasco (Portuguese Style Barbequed Chicken). They thought the food was top notch. I tried the chicken. It was good and had a very nice flavor.  It was covered with a sauce that was slightly spicy.

            The side salad was nice. It was fresh and mix of the usual ingredients. The free rolls were delayed, but when they finally came, they were fresh and hot and good. I did not try the Kale Soup, but it looked good. I was told it was ok.

            Last time I was here the place was nearly empty. Tonight they apparently had a private party that filled up the small dining room.  We were forced to eat at a table in the bar room. This did not make for a pleasurable dining experience due to the loud pop-dance music and the bar customers talking and watching sports on TV. Had I known about this circumstance ahead of time I would have chosen to come here on a different night.

            Final verdict: I don’t know Portuguese cuisine, but the food seemed fresh, good quality, and tasty. I would say above average to very good... 4 stars. I forgive them for the seating arrangement.

April 23, 2011

Silvano's Restaurant

664 Page Boulevard (at Rory Fitzpatrick's bar), Springfield, MA

Rating: 1 star

Spent: $25.68 + tip

Ordered: Delmonico steak dinner

Review/Commentary: Yep, back here again one week later. My friend is convinced that the Delmonico steak here is the best steak around. I decided to give it another try since it was pretty good last week. To sum it up, I was not happy tonight. The steak was the one of the fattiest pieces of meat I ever had. I had to cut off and throw away half of it. The part I did eat is probably going to clog my arteries and give me a heart attack. Sure the flavor is good, but I'll take a prime rib or porterhouse any day over this low quality cut. The only things that were good were the salad and the spaghetti. The waitress is not very friendly or quick either. My friends also got a veal parmesan, which I tried. It was acceptable. I'm not in any hurry to come back here. I think I'm going to try to eat healthier... less beef and no more Delmonicos or ribeyes.

April 22, 2011

Cal's Wood-Fired Grill & Bar

1068 Riverdale Road, West Springfield, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Spent: $31.00 + tip

Ordered: Daily Special 3-course meal.

I ordered the mahi mahi, but instead of the blackened Cajun style, I got it non-blackened and non-spicy. I substituted french fries instead of the lobster-asparagus risotto and I got a side of asparagus (extra). I got the clam chowder as an appetizer and the vanilla flan as dessert. I wanted a side salad added to my dinner, but I was told there is no side salad (only a regular full-priced salad). I thought this was strange.

Review/Commentary: I used to eat here now and then when it was called Calamari's. I used to think it was ok, but they had a limited menu. I may have been here once before since it's been called Cal's Wood-Fired Grill & Bar, but I can't remember. As for tonight, it was very crowded, this being Good Friday. I didn't have to wait since I had called ahead for a table. The menu has changed quite a bit since Calamari's and seems much improved. As described above, I customized one of the daily specials to my liking. The clam chowder was good I thought, even though my dinner companion insisted that it was canned.  We had to ask the waitress for bread because she totally forgot about it, or maybe you have to request it. Anyways, when it finally arrived it consisted of one roll for each dinner guest. The rolls were fresh, piping hot, and quite good.  Somehow my companions got side salads which they requested as a substitute for their cole slaw. The mixed greens looked acceptable. The entrées took a while to arrive (as I mentioned, it was busy tonight). The fish was good, but on the small side. It lacked flavor mostly due to my own preparation request. I thought it might be good with a ginger soy sauce, but I probably need to go to an Asian restaurant for that. Quality-wise it was a good piece of fish. The french fries were good, fairly thin and crispy. The grilled, slightly blackened asparagus was thick and pretty good, though it could have cooked another minute or two. The vanilla flan was good. Our waitress was ok, but she kept forgetting things and mixing them up. Maybe she was tired. There's not too many seafood restaurants in the area, so at least I know I can get a descent meal here. My restaurant verdict: better than average.

April 18, 2011

Olive Garden Restaurant

1380 Boston Road, Springfield, MA

Ordered: Chianti braised short ribs (substituted angel hair pasta for risotto), salad

Review/Commentary: excellent

April 17, 2011

Vinh Chau Vietnamese Restaurant

409 Dickinson Street, Springfield, MA

Rating: 4.5 stars

Take-out Order: #2 Spring rolls, #15 Seafood soup, #65 Grilled chicken thigh

This tiny restaurant at the "X" in Springfield probably has the best and most authentic Vietnamese food in Springfield (although I do tend to go to Bamboo House a lot). Their fresh spring rolls (Goi Cuon) and the peanut sauce are the best. They have several items on their menu, and a few specials not on the menu, that are not available at the other Vietnamese restaurants in the city. For example, they sometimes have Bún riêu, a spicy soup made with ground shrimp and fried tofu; and Bún bò Huế, a mildly spicy soup made with oxtail/beef, pork, shrimp paste and lemon grass. (In those cases I ask for mine without the pig blood gelatin). Open every day except Tuesday.

April 16, 2011

Silvano's Restaurant

664 Page Boulevard (at Rory Fitzpatrick's bar), Springfield, MA

Rating: 2 stars

Ordered: Delmonico steak dinner

Review/Commentary: My friend who used to love the original Silvano's Restaurant (formerly at 680 Worthington St., but closed for several years) insists on coming here every now and then. He swears that the former Silvano's was the best Italian restaurant in the Springfield area back in its heyday. Now we only come here for the Delmonico steak. The veal parmesan and chicken are ok. I've had the Delmonico steak here a few times over the last 3 years. The preparation and quality has been inconsistent, but I was pretty happy with it on this night. I order it medium-rare, but my friend likes his extra rare. It's a rather fatty piece of meat, but the flavor is phenomenal due to the marinade they use. We always ask for extra seasoning. It's a very large steak at a reasonable price. It comes with a side salad pre-dressed with Italian dressing. I usually ask for a large salad, because I really like the salad and the dressing. The meal also comes with a side of pasta and french fries. The free rolls are dry and chewy and cold. Note that the dining room is a small room next to Rory Fitzpatrick's bar. Silvano's rents this space only on Friday and Saturday night. The menu and seating is limited. The location and atmosphere here leave a lot to be desired, but then again it's part of a small local bar, not a real restaurant. The Delmonico steak and veal parmesan are really the only reason to come here. Verdict: 1 star for the restaurant, but 4.5 stars for the Delmonico steak.

April 10, 2011

Texas Roadhouse

12 Mall Street, Springfield, MA

Ordered Take-out: Rib-eye steak, salad, vegetables

Verdict: Very good

April 3, 2011

Spoleto

84 Center Square, East Longmeadow, MA

Rating: 3.5 stars

Spent: $27.57 + tip

Ordered: 3-Course Dinner Special: Calamari (appetizer), Mixed Grill with asparagus, Side salad

Review/Commentary: This was not the first time I'd eaten here, but the other times were so long ago I can't remember what I had. I do remember that it was neither bad nor spectacular. Everything on the menu sounds very appetizing. The early bird specials and the 3-Course meal specials are good deals. The Mixed Grill I ordered has great potential, however...it suffers from poor execution. The meat was generally overcooked and the portions were very small... Who ever heard of a HALF of an Italian sausage? Could the asparagus be ANY thinner? Am I being too harsh? The Mixed Grill could be an excellent meal with better preparation.

March 25, 2011

Village Pizza

7 Audubon Street, Springfield, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Spent: $17.07

Ordered Take-out: Large House Special Pizza

I used to come here a lot when it was Damiano's (until I started getting stomach problems from the food).  This is the first time I tried the place now that it's called Village Pizza and under new ownership-management. Surprisingly the pizza was excellent, and no stomach problems. Will I come back again? Definitely yes.

March 25, 2011

Wong Wok

749 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA

Spent: $14.95

Ordered: Take-out: Special Tidbits, House Fried Rice

March 13, 2011

Peacock Chinese Restaurant

336 Cooley Street, Springfield, MA

Rating: 3.5 stars

Spent: $18.10 on take-out

Ordered: Dinner Combination Plate #11 (shrimp, vegetables, chicken wings, pork fried rice), Barbequed Spareribs

Review/Commentary: I have eaten here a few times over the years, but not recently. I got take-out. When I got the food in house I realized that the paper bag was leaking oil/sauce. There was no plastic bag inside or outside of the paper bag to stop it from leaking. The oil subsequently got onto my jacket... not happy.  The spareribs consisted of tender, good quality pork, but lacked enough barbeque sauce and flavor.  The #11 was good, no complaints, but I prefer Wong Wok's version.  The chicken wings were very good.  The pork fried rice was ok.  Overall no real complaints about the food, but it was not much above average in my opinion.

March 12, 2011

Stayed home

March 5, 2011

Mykonos

1287 Liberty Street, Springfield, MA

Spent: 28.57 + tip

Ordered: Ribeye steak dinner with french fries, salad, Lamb kabob sandwich

February 27, 2011

Ginger Blossom

1203 Parker Street, Springfield, MA

Spent: $28.25 + tip

I don't know why this place doesn't have combination plates like most Chinese restaurants. The prices seem quite high here.

February 20, 2011

Figaro Restaurant

90 Elm Street, Enfield, CT

Spent: about $24.50 + tip

Ordered: Family Meal (veal marsala, chicken franchese, scrod francese, ziti, meatballs, sausage, tortellini toscada, seafood chowder), side salad

My friend talked me into getting the Family Meal with him and his family.  It consists of seven items, which are shared among the guests at your table that also ordered the same (a minimum of two people must order the Family Meal). It also comes with your choice of soup or salad.  I thought the chicken franchese and Italian sausage were excellent; the veal marsala was also pretty good; the other items were good, but nothing special.  I got the seafood chowder soup. It was honestly one of the best soups I've ever had in my life. I also ordered a side salad, which was average. For the price this meal is a great deal.  Compared to the Olive Garden's Tour of Italy, Figaro is much better. The waiter was very courteous, prompt and professional.

February 19, 2011

Mykonos

1287 Liberty Street, Springfield, MA

Spent: 30.17 + tip

February 13, 2011

Texas Roadhouse

12 Mall Street, Springfield, MA

Spent: $24.59

Take-Out

January 22, 2011

Osaki Japanese Hibachi & Sushi Steak House

1404 Boston Road, Springfield, MA

Rating: 2 stars

Spent: $31.82 + tip

Ordered: Hibachi Grill – Filet Mignon & Scallops, noodles

Review: First let me state that this place lost two stars because of their lack of heat. I was freezing inside... 58 degrees to be exact (that's what they had their thermostat set at). Everyone, including me, had to wear their winter jackets to eat dinner. I even saw at least one girl wearing a hat. It was ridiculous. I and others complained about the heat, but it did no good. Apparently the hibachi grills require a vented hood which pulls the inside smoke and air out, therefore their heat literally goes through the roof, so I guess they felt it would be too expensive to keep the place at a normal temperature.

As to the food, it was actually good quality food, perhaps slightly better than what's served at Goten in Sunderland. I think I had to ask for the scallops to be cooked a little more.  The hibachi chefs are entertaining and seem well trained. I would recommend this place in the warmer weather. In fact, if it had been warm inside, I would have given them four stars.

January 16, 2011

Olive Garden

1380 Boston Road, Springfield, MA

Spent: $20.11 + tip

January 15, 2011

Mykonos

1287 Liberty Street, Springfield, MA

Spent: 24.82 + tip

January 8, 2011

Mykonos

1287 Liberty Street, Springfield, MA

Spent: 30.70 + tip

January 2, 2011

Ruby Tuesday

1411 Boston Road, Springfield, MA

Spent: about $25 + tip

Ordered: Chicken & Mushroom [Alfredo?] Pasta with Salad Bar; shared half an Alpine Burger

I've been here many times in past years. The main attraction of this place is the salad bar, which I always load up on when I come here.  Their burgers are very good also. Make sure to order them well-done if you don't like undercooked hamburger. My actual meal of chicken & mushroom pasta was not very good. It was way too heavy on the cheese sauce.  As a friend of mine said, always stick to the salad bar and burgers when you come here.

December 26, 2010

The Student Prince (The Fort)

8 Fort Street, Springfield, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Prices: $$$$

Spent: $42.27 (36.27 + 6 tip)

It's been over a year since I ate here. Last time I was not impressed, but perhaps I had ordered the wrong thing (and the table between the door and dining room did not make me happy). This time we got a nice table in the dining room. The free bread I still don't like – thin, cold, slightly dry, with near frozen butter. I ordered the Rack of Lamb cooked medium in a mushroom sauce along with a salad and buttered noodles. At $27 the lamb was not cheap, but I have to say... this was the best rack of lamb I've ever had, perfectly tender with a most delicious mushroom gravy. The side salad lacked everything except greens, however it was acceptable and the Italian dressing was quite good. The noodles I threw into the mushroom sauce for more flavor. For dessert I ordered the warm apple strudel, which was very good. All in all it was an excellent meal, albeit pricy. My friend ordered the lobster newberg. I thought it was a strange choice for a German restaurant, but he had ordered it several times years ago and really liked it. This time, however, it was not so good. I suspect they use frozen lobster meat. My friend and his wife also got the Wurst Platte (sausages) which they like.

December 19, 2010

Bernie's Dining Depot

749 James Street, Chicopee, MA

Rating: 4 stars

Spent: $24.40 + tip

It's been a few years since I've eaten here (5 or 6 years?). Almost every time I come here I order the Prime Rib of Beef. Tonight was no different. They have the largest cuts of prime rib I've found at any restaurant around.  In fact, they are quite famous for their prime rib. I ordered it medium-rare. In the past I used to order it medium, but it often seemed to end up medium-well. I ordered the regular sized cut, which is enough for two people. The one thing I can say is that it's BIG. However the cut of meat has never been top quality. No matter how little they cook it, it's never as tender as what a good steakhouse serves. It also seems to lack seasoning/flavor. It's still a good piece of meat at a good price, but I think I would prefer a smaller size with better quality.

December 18, 2010

Pasquale's Restaurant

642 North Main Street, East Longmeadow, MA

Prices: $20.19

Ordered: Veal Parmesan

December 11, 2010

Salvatore's Restaurant

1333 Boston Road, Springfield, MA

Rating: 2 stars

Prices: $$$

Spent: 43.26 + tip

The first and last time I ate here was 9 years ago in the fall of 2001. At that time I was not impressed and decided not to eat here again. I gave the place another try this weekend. It's a fairly popular Italian restaurant, especially with the older crowd. The staff was friendly. I saw they have Beef Marsala on the menu, so I decided to try it. I guessed it wouldn't be as good as Monte Carlo, but I expected better than I got. The beef tenderloin was quite chewy despite the fact it was medium-rare. The marsala sauce was watered down with very little flavor. I was disappointed to say the least.  On a better note, my friend's veal saltimbocca was good.  The free bread was good and warm (a combination of white and wheat Italian bread).  The antipasto for one was large with a lot of deli cold-cuts, but with little vegetables and lettuce and no dressing (I had to request Italian dressing).  The side salad was lousy – almost entirely lettuce. I also ordered a side of lasagna to try.  That wasn't bad.  All in all the food here is fair.  I've had better meals at chains like Olive Garden and Bertucci's.

December 5, 2010

Shallot Thai Cuisine

1455 Riverdale Street, West Springfield, MA

Spent: $31.95 + tip

Review: Very cold inside; overpriced, food good; but not as good as in Northampton

December 4, 2010

Ninety Nine Restaurant

390 North Main Street, East Longmeadow, MA

Spent: $20.77 + tip

Ordered Take-Out: NY Strip sirloin, fries, pasta, salad

November 28, 2010

Wong Wok

749 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA

Spent: $14.39

Take-out

November 27, 2010

Solmar Restaurant

132 Main Street, Indian Orchard, MA

Spent: $24.85

November 21, 2010

Bueno Y Sano

880 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA

Spent: $14.25

Ordered: Steak Fajita, Chicken Taco

November 20, 2010

Monte Carlo

1020 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield, MA

Spent: $28.84 + tip

Ordered: Beef Marsala (Double - medium-rare)

The best beef marsala anywhere. Can't be beat.

November 19, 2010

Jason's Seafood

137 Elm Street, Enfield, CT

Spent: $28.87 + tip

Ordered: Seafood Casserole

November 15, 2010

Outback Steakhouse

1537 Riverdale Street, West Springfield, MA

Spent: $25.38 + tip

Ordered: 12oz Prime Rib; Chicken/Artichoke Flatbread appetizer (shared)

November 10, 2010

China Gourmet Restaurant

1374 Allen Street, Springfield, MA

Spent: $25.55

Take-Out

November 6, 2010

Panana's

916 Suffield Street, Agawam, MA

Spent: $27.89 + tip

Ordered: Shrimp Scampi; Roasted Eggplant appetizer (shared)

I went here twice recently. A bit expensive.  One Saturday night I was here seemed to be karaoke night for the middle-aged crowd. It was rather loud.

October 30, 2010

Ginger Blossom

1203 Parker Street Springfield, MA

Spent: $36.80 + tip

Ordered: Avocado Salad, Barbequed Spare Ribs, Ten Ingredient Fried Rice, H21 Ginger Blossom Shrimp

October 9, 2010

Panana's

916 Suffield Street, Agawam, MA

Spent: $35.33 + tip

I went here twice recently. I can't remember what I ordered, but it was quite good, though a bit expensive.  One Saturday night I was here seemed to be karaoke night for the middle-aged crowd. It was rather loud.

May 12, 2010

Foody Goody

1714 Boston Road, Springfield, MA

Rating: 1.5 stars

Prices: $$

This is basically your typical cheap Chinese buffet, although they do have a large selection of foods.  I haven't eaten here in several years. I never cared much for the food. They were running a 9.99 dinner special for Wednesday night. My friends insisted on eating here, so I reluctantly decided to join them and give it another try tonight. There were only a few other customers in the place, so there was a very slow turnover of the food at the buffet. I tried some different items. The food was lousy, as I remembered it to be – oily and lukewarm. They do have a barbeque grill where you can have some things freshly cooked. I am told that there is a bigger, better selection of food on the weekend.  Even though I really like Chinese food, I have to give this place less than two stars.

Two Eagles Restaurant

110 Island Pond Road, Springfield, MA

Texas Roadhouse

12 Mall Street, Springfield, MA

May 9, 2010

Takeout:  spent: $17.97; ordered prime rib 12oz, medium rare – very good; salad – good; sweet potato – very good

Li’s Brothers

795 Maple Road, Longmeadow, MA

May 8, 2010

We got a male waiter with no personality who was somewhat pert and hard to get service from. We had to flag down a female waitress on more than one occasion to ask for things when he wasn't around.  I ordered the Japanese seafood soup, which was good.  It tasted a lot like miso soup. Then I ordered the Singapore Mei Fen. They didn't tell me it was going to be spicy. It was ok, but they were a bit cheap with the shrimp. I also ordered the ***** Roll.  It contains no fish, basically just rice and avocado along with two shrimp on the side.

Two Eagles Restaurant

110 Island Pond Road, Springfield, MA

May 7, 2010

Spent: $36 incl. tip; Ordered the dinner special: Cod with Lobster Stuffing – very good; also split a chicken parmesan – poor (the chicken was overcooked)

Goten Of Japan

104 Old Amherst Road, Sunderland, MA‎

May 1, 2010

Spent: $37.40 + tip; Got there near closing time, but they were still able to seat us and give us the full show. The food was good, but definitely not as great as my friend has been raving about for years. I also thought it was overpriced.

Texas Roadhouse

12 Mall Street, Springfield, MA

May 2, 2010

Takeout:  ordered ribeye, medium rare – excellent, lean; sweet potato – gave me baked potato, which I threw out; ordered salad with no cheese, no croutons – gave me cheese and no tomato. Thoroughly unhappy.

Two Eagles Restaurant

110 Island Pond Road, Springfield, MA

April 30, 2010

Rating: 3.5 stars

Prices:  $$ to $$$

Spent: $25.58+tip; Dinner: Baby lamb chops $25.xx – taste good, ordered medium rare, but came medium to medium well; side salad – ok; Greek rice – good (not exactly my favorite); My friend: BBQ chicken – good; corned beef – said was good, but not enough cabbage; haddock au gratin – said is good

Bertucci's

847 Riverdale Street, West Springfield, MA

April 28, 2010

Lunch: free rolls so-so; free salad very good; shrimp scampi appetizer very good; roasted vegetables good; Pucillo thin crust pizza - good

Panda South

31 Harkness Avenue, East Longmeadow, MA

April 27?, 2010

Dinner with friends

Texas Roadhouse

12 Mall Street, Springfield, MA

April 25, 2010

Take Out:  Ribeye (medium rare) – perfect, lean; salad – asked for no cheese & croutons, but gave me cheese, no tomato; ordered sweet potato, sent baked potato

Peacock Chinese Restaurant

338 Cooley Street, Springfield, MA

April 24, 2010

Dinner: #? jumbo shrimp w/ vegetables – good; beef teriyaki - good

Mykonos European Restaurant

1287 Liberty Street, Springfield, MA

April 17?, 2010

Dinner: service slow as usual, but courteous; ordered: stuffed peppers – very good; gyro sandwich –  weird meat, don't like, poor; eggplant mousaka - good; lamb soulvaki sandwich – good; house salad – very good

Panda South

31 Harkness Avenue, East Longmeadow, MA

December 17, 2009

Spent $35 with tip; ordered sizzling seafood, house special fried rice, fried chicken wings

Texas Roadhouse

12 Mall Street, Springfield, MA

December 16, 2009

Ninety Nine Restaurant

390 North Main Street, East Longmeadow, MA

December 15, 2009

Cape Cod Seafood; very good

Pho Saigon Restaurant‎

398 Dickinson Street, Springfield, MA

December 14, 2009

Wong Wok [take-out]

December 13, 2009

Mykonos European Restaurant

1287 Liberty Street, Springfield, MA

December 12, 2009

Rating: 4 stars

I give the food 4.5 stars; I give the service that night 2 stars

Olive Garden

1380 Boston Road, Springfield, MA

December 6, 2009

Rating: 4 stars

Prices: $$$

Spent: 30.12 + tip

Ordered Grilled Shrimp Caprese (on angel hair with olive oil & parmesan); fried calamari appetizer; "endless" Salad.  Very good, especially for a chain restaurant.

The Student Prince Café

8 Fort Street, Springfield, MA

December 5, 2009

Rating: 2 stars

Prices: $$$$

Spent:  about $25 + tip

Ordered Weiner Schnitzel; my friend ordered the Wurst Platte (sausage entrée) and Pig's Knuckle.  The salad was very small and boring.  The veal was very chewy.  The Pig's Knuckle had very little meat and lots of fat and bone, but I guess that is to be expected. The various sausages were good, but nothing special.  The meal portions were rather small.  Quality-wise I expected a lot more from this top-rated restaurant.  Perhaps it was an unlucky night or a poor choice of menu items.  It was extremely busy this Saturday night (I believe every Saturday is), and seating was hard to come by.  The service was good.

Storrowton Tavern

1305 Memorial Avenue (Big E Fairgrounds)

November 26, 2009 Thanksgiving

Spent: 29.94 with tip included

This was a special Thanksgiving Day buffet.  The food was good, but nothing special.  I also went here for a Mother's Day buffet special this year.  I vow never to waste my money here on another holiday buffet.

Dakota Steakhouse

1035 South Street, Pittsfield, MA

October 21, 2009 (Friday)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Prices: $$$$ to $$$$$

Ordered Prime Rib (medium) – very good [might order medium-rare next time]; very good salad bar; nice atmosphere; rather expensive for any beef or seafood entrees. Very busy; very large restaurant

Li’s Brothers

795 Maple Road, Longmeadow, MA

October 11, 2009

Ordered the Japanese roasted squid appetizer – excellent; Seafood Imperial – very good, but has a distinctive bamboo flavor which I can’t decide if I like; House Special Fried Rice – excellent as always.  My friend ordered the [Thai] Basil Chicken special which we’ve had before – always good.  My only complaint was that the food got cold very fast. It was late on a Sunday night though.

Amici Italian Grill

401 West Main Street, Avon, CT

October 10, 2009

Rating: 2.5 stars

Prices: $$$ to $$$$

I’d never been here before. This place held promise. Ordered the pepper encrusted ribeye steak. I specifically asked for very little pepper, but my ribeye came completely encrusted with crushed peppercorns.  The roasted vegetables also had peppercorns on them. I spent too much time trying to scrape off the crushed peppercorns. The bread and salad were average.  The french fries were simply frozen fries one can buy at a supermarket. My dinner guest ordered the fish, which was good.  The food was average Italian fare. I give it 2.5 stars because I was annoyed with the kitchen ignoring my request.

Panda South

31 Harkness Avenue, East Longmeadow, MA

October 5, 2009

Ordered C29 – Triple Delight In Sizzling Plate (shrimp, scallops, beef, vegetables in brown sauce). Excellent as usual.

Gelato Giuliana

70 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury, CT

October 4, 2009

Rating: 5 stars

I have to admit that this was my first time eating gelato. I got the “large” cup for $5 which entitled me to 4 scoops. I tried some fruit flavors which are basically sorbet (non-dairy). Although very expensive, I think this was the best “ice cream” I’ve ever had. Can’t wait to go again.

Sakura Garden

120 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury, CT

October 4, 2009

Rating: 5 stars

Prices: $$$$

Spent: 39.22 + tip

A very hip classy upscale Japanese restaurant in the heart of Glastonbury. The décor is sort of trendy nouveau Asian.  They have a nice big sushi bar with professional sushi chefs.  I tried the Avocado Garden Salad, the Seafood Miso Soup, and the Chilean Sea Bass (which also came with Miso Soup).  Everything was excellent. I would highly recommend this place if you want to impress someone.  The service was also excellent, although there were few customers at the time I visited.

Lido Ristaurante

555 Worthington Street, Springfield, MA

September 29, 2009

Rating: 2.5 stars

I have not been here since last winter.  It’s in an undesirable part of the city, but the regulars keep coming back.  They serve typical Italian-American fare.  One nice perk is that the salad is free, and if you ask, you can keep getting more.  It’s not a great salad and neither are the dressings, but hey, it’s free.  They also give you a free package of very very thin breadsticks.  Went here for the Tuesday dinner specials – a select few complete entrees with bread and salad for about $10.  My friend and I both got the combination with veal parmesan, meatballs, sausage, fries, and spaghetti. For some reason the kitchen forgot to put the parmesan on both our veal parmesans.  We weren’t in the mood to send them back, so we ended up just keeping quiet.  The service was not very quick or attentive, although the place was busy this night. The food was descent.

Misaki Japanese Seafood Buffet Restaurant

238 Tolland Turnpike, Manchester, CT

September 26, 2009 ?

Rating: 4 stars

Prices: $$$

All you can eat buffet Japanese food. They have hot and cold buffet bars, a sushi bar, and a hibachi station. The food was quite good, although much of it was more like Chinese than true Japanese. In fact the staff seemed to be Chinese.

China Gourmet

1374 Allen Street, Springfield, MA

September 24, 2009

Take Out

Casa Di Lisa

801 Springfield Street, Agawam, MA

September 19, 2009

Rating: 3.5 stars

Prices: $$$ to $$$$

Nice upscale Italian restaurant; valet parking; Ordered:  Calamari appetizer, Beef Marsala entrée. The calamari was excellent, very thick pieces. The beef marsala tasted very good, but it was much too chewy even though it was medium to medium rare. Apparently it was a poor cut of beef.  I don’t know if this was a fluke or it’s always like that, but I cannot give the restaurant much better than an average rating at this time. Spent $32.57+tip

Bertucci’s

54 Post Road (Route 1), Darien, CT

September 3, 2009

Rating: 4 stars

Prices:  $$$ to $$$$

Ordered: Roasted Vegetables, Chicken Maria (substituted spaghetti for ), Scallops & Shrimp in pasta

Very large restaurant with an outdoor patio; Good food overall (a little bit too much oil in the sauces)

Curry King

5 National Drive, Windsor Locks, CT

August 30, 2009

First time eating here

Rating 2 stars – Below Average

Prices: $ to $$

Looking for an Asian restaurant or buffet I couldn’t find, we ended up here. I thought this place was a Chinese buffet (it used to be). My friend insisted we eat here because he loves Indian food. We came at a bad time because it was late Sunday night, there was a private banquet going on, and they said two of the chefs were out. The buffet was closed at this time, so we had to order off the menu.  Service was slow, but I can excuse that because of the conditions.  I don’t care much for Indian food, so I let my friend do the ordering. The food was below average in quality.  Maybe it was just a bad night, but we couldn’t recommend this place based on our experience.

Abudanza Ristorante

513 Belmont Avenue, Springfield, MA

August 29, 2009

First time eating here

Rating: 4.5 stars – Excellent

Prices: $$$$ - slightly above average

Appetizer - Calamari with Red sauce:  good

Complimentary bread:  chiabatta type; warm; very good; came with a type of relish – good; cons: no butter or margarine (I could’ve asked but I didn’t)

Side salad with balsamic vinaigrette: lettuce, mixed greens, tomato, cucumber – good (a couple rotten greens as always)

Surf & Turf (9oz filet mignon (medium) in a mushroom sauce, lobster meat & scallops sautéed in butter) [special – not on menu]:  filet was very good; mushroom sauce ok; seafood very good quality but too much butter

My friend got the Veal Parmesan. He said it was good. Better than Typical Sicilian

Opinion: Small restaurant; Casual/Family dining with a hint of upscale. Was quiet and not too busy on this particular Saturday night. Good background music (Italian type, relaxing, not too loud). Booths and tables ok. Somewhat expensive menu.  Food quality very good. Service: good.  I will return.

Mamoun's Falafel Restaurant

85 Howe Street, New Haven, CT

August 28, 2009

First time eating here

Rating: 4 stars – Very Good food for the type of restaurant it is

Prices: $$ reasonable

Lamb Shwarma in pita bread (special – not on menu): excellent, but a bit small

Eggplant (forgot the name):  ok

Taboule:  too much parsley (and slightly bitter), not enough taboule

My relative had the falafel: good

Opinion: Excellent shwarma; very small restaurant; paper plates and plastic utensils; Casual dining; more of a cheap fast food atmosphere, but waitress was very nice; service was very good and prompt

Li’s Brothers

795 Maple Road, Longmeadow, MA

August 22, 2009

Ate here a few times before

Overall rating: excellent 4 stars

Prices: $$$ to $$$$  slightly above average for Chinese/Japanese

Appetizer – mushroom miso soup: strange looking white mushrooms, but tasted great

Appetizer – Japanese whole roasted squid chopped in slices: very good; I never had it prepared like this before

Basil ginger chicken (julienned chicken with green beans): excellent; tasted better than it looked

Pawns in coconut sauce: very sweet, very big shrimp: good

House special fried rice: very good

Pork [My friend’s] - good

Service: Casual/Family dining; average service; entrees took a long time to come out of kitchen; we were there 2 hours

Typical Sicilian Ristorante

497 Belmont Avenue, Springfield, MA

August 15, 2009 ????

First time eating here

Overall rating: 3.5 above average

Prices: $$$$  slightly above average

Appetizer – house calamari: different, good, but too spicy for me

Chicken marsala: good, but sauce a bit watery (better at Figaro in Enfield, CT I think)

My friend - Veal Parmesan: he said ok, but nothing special

Atmosphere: Casual/Family dining; crowded, very busy, somewhat noisy

Service: ok