I've lived practically next door to this wonderful restaurant for over 20 years. It gets better and better. Of course, by now, they recognize me when I walk in the door, know which tables I like, and what I'm likely to order. So I guess this is a very biased review, but they deserve it.
I usually go there for Sunday brunch, which is really a great Sunday dinner around the mid day hour, some brunch items only served on Sundays around noon, and a full menu available as well at that hour. I could have a quiche and salad, (always excellent, fresh, good crust on the quiche, salad of fresh greens, excellent dressing, and anchovies with the Caesar salad). Or I could order the 12 once London broil, or the full turkey dinner...or a burger, or french toast, eggs benedict; the options are amazing. I guess that's why it's a great place to go for Sunday brunch..no pancakes...go down the road 100 yards if you insist upon pancakes.
Dinner, NOW, if you want to go to dinner, obviously you want some drinks and dinner, and are prepared to wait as so many people wait to be seated, or choose to be served at a table in the bar, whichever....the food is still fantastic, the drinks are over-priced for a man like me on a fixed income, but for you young folks who don't mind paying $7-$10 a drink after happy hour, or just want a few beers, it's fine, all sorts of options again. Please don't have more than 2 alcoholic drinks without eating if you are driving a car, 3 drinks at most if you have a full meal. I live near by, and the neighboring kids play in the road, and I don't want you to hit them when you're half drunk from more than 2 drinks.
Now, the food, there are some things they do better than others, so try almost everything on the menu and figure out what you like best. I think the burgers are just about ordinary or on-par, not sensational. Their french fries, there's better alternatives, sweet potato, or mashed, or one of their wonderful salads.
I know the owner, obviously, since he comes and greets me each and every time I go there. So yes, I'm biased, but he greets almost everyone who goes there, he's just that sort of guy, and if there's something wrong with your order, he'll fix it, nowTHAT is what an owner/manager should do, right? He does it with a flair and does not insult the server person or the kitchen staff for making a mistake, he knows they are human, as are you..
All in all, I don't want you to go there for Sunday brunch, because I like NOT having to wait in a long line for 20 minutes to get a table...most Sundays the Sunday brunch is slow until 1 pm. So go late, or don't complain if the owner comes out and asks me to go inside, (crippled as I am, it takes 3 minutes for me to get to my table). Just come and enjoy one of the truly fine and caring good to excellent restaurants outside of the Boston buzz. It's a gem, enjoy it!
Now, if you want, you can just get a drink there at 2:30 on a weekday afternoon, and probably they will serve you a "sampler" of what their appetizers are for that evening...so you don't just drink and drive. Be good to these good people, they even called me on the phone when I left my credit card on the table after paying my bill.. yes, they returned it the same day. These are good people doing good restaurant work, and their server people fully deserve a 20% tip. read more