151499 Mon Apr 11 23:57:09 -0700 2005 14 12 Boston Area 0 813094 Hounds: My husband and I are big foodies making a move from Chicago to Wellesley. Among our biggest fears about transitioning to Suburbia is the lack of quality food options. We're interested in gaining insights into great places to eat. We're open to everything: fancy places, holes-in-the-wall, all types of cuisine, bakeries, shops...what are your personal favorites??? Since we have a new infant, we'll be somewhat tethered to Metrowest, so we're particularly interested in places in and around Wellesley (e.g., Natick, Newton, Needham.) Thanks for your help! Mon Apr 11 23:57:09 -0700 2005 0 GKH 1 813119 I am in the same boat, having moved from Brookline to Wellesley with an infant in the fall. There are some other good posts on this topic on the board, but let me make a few suggestions based on my own experience: Wellesley: good takeout sandwiches from Tutto Italiano and Linden Shoppe. Top notch fish, shellfish, crabcakes and chowder from Captain Mardens, the eat-in restaurant is also good and baby friendly. John Dewar's next door has some of the best meat in the area. It is pricey and worth it. We often pick up steaks or lamb chops from there to cook and eat on weekend nights when there are no sitters available. We recently had a very good and expensive dinner at Blue Gunger - a nice splurge place in town. Natick: Oga on Route 9 westbound has some of the better sushi in the area, and we have found the staff very baby friendly. It can be very busy on weekend nights. In Framingham, just over the line from Natick on Route 9, is Sichuan Gourmet, amply discussed on this board. During weekend lunch hours we have never had the only baby there, and we have had one great meal after another either eating in or taking out. The Sichuan dishes are superior to the more standard Chinese fare. A little further west on Route 9 is a Whole Foods market much larger and better stocked than Wellesley's tiny one, and adjacent to it is a good liquor store with a fine beer selection. This is important because Wellesley has no retail alcohol sales. I will let others chime in on Newton as well as Wellesley's southern neighbor, Needham. Welcome to Massachusetts. Tue Apr 12 09:49:06 -0700 2005 813094 0 charlieg 2 813150 Excellent recs from charlieg. Many of Newton's bset options are in West Newton, which is one of the closest Newton villages to Wellesley. Just follow Route 16 east from Wellesley and it takes you right to the heart of West Newton, where you will find the following options: Lumiere: one of metrowest's better fine dining establishments. Reservations are essential. Although the people here are delightful and I am sure you could bring an infant, it's not really the type of place you'll want to bring an infant. Blue Ribbon Barbecue: one of the Boston area's better barbecue joints. Better for take out, as they only have a handful of stools. Sweet Tomato's: some of the best thin-crust pizza in the area. They have a few tables; most people do take out. Comella's: good red sauce Italian, including great chicken and veal parm sandwiches and a large selection of "messes": pasta with assorted add-ins mixed together and served, well, in a bucket. Also primarily take out, although they too have a handful of tables. One other Wellesley rec: when your child gets a little older, Vidalia Truck Stop on Route 135 is a very toddler-friendly lunch place. The food is good, although not extraordinary, but the place is great with little kids. They'll stick you in the back room with all of the other little kids, and you don't have to be embarrassed because your kid won't be the only one screeming, or throwing food on the floor, or doing whatever else it is that your kid does. Tue Apr 12 11:59:32 -0700 2005 813119 0 Ian 3 813196 Went to Vidalia's once, a few years ago. The food was so bad that even my then middle-school-aged son found it inedible. Heard that the burgers aren't too bad, but won't go back to try. Tue Apr 12 17:46:35 -0700 2005 813150 0 mirage 4 813244 I agree about the bad review of Vidalia's. Some of the worst food that I have ever tasted. Wed Apr 13 08:36:00 -0700 2005 813196 0 cp 1 813221 Blue Ginger- I know it has taken some hots here, but I've always had a quality meal there. Jimmy's in Wellesley isn't bad. In Natick, Maxwell's has gotten good reviews, I haven't been . I like Dah Mee, also taken some hits here. I usually eat Korean there. Caseys for hot dogc, bakery on the common has good, hearty baked goods. Don't forget Marinop's Lookout Farm in S Natick for Excellent Gelato, organic produce and meats. I remember reading years ago that Odette Berry( she ran a rest. where Lala Rokh is) was running something at wellesley College, open to the publick but have not heard anything for quite some time.Anybody know? Tue Apr 12 23:06:34 -0700 2005 813094 0 mike 1 813233 For better-than-usual-suburban Chinese, try Chung Shin Yuan on California Street in Newton, Sichuan Gourmet on rte 9 in Framingham, Tian Fu or the new CK Shanghai (haven't been here yet) on route 16 in Wellesley. Both Figs (Todd English) and Blue Ginger (Ming Tsai) in Wellesley get mixed reviews here due to the celebrity chef factor and the once-great-now-slipping factor, but both are worthy of at least 1 try. Figs especially is very kid-friendly. Wasik's Cheese Shop on 135 in Wellesley is a great place for cheese and other upscale snacks. I agree with the West Newton suggestions by a previous poster. Wed Apr 13 07:10:14 -0700 2005 813094 0 GaryLovesFood 1 813239 since others have covered a few of the more high class places, let me put in a lowbrow plug for the historic landmark that is casey's diner at 36 south ave in natick. Wed Apr 13 08:11:19 -0700 2005 813094 0 passing thru 1 813276 For excellent mediterranean-style food go to Kouzina in the Waban section of Newton. Wed Apr 13 12:40:02 -0700 2005 813094 0 cap 1 813299 Other posters on this board may disagree with me, but I would strongly recommend AGAINST going to Le Soir in Newton Highlands--I had a bad experience there about a year ago. Had 8:30 reservations for 4 on a Friday night. I can understand having to wait 15-20 minutes for tables to clear out--but we didn't sit down until 10 PM. That's correct, an hour and a half after our reservation. To make up for it they gave us a free bottle of wine and a chef's offering (mini-appetizer). The food was good, but definitely not worth waiting an hour and a half for, especially out in the suburbs... I will never go there again. Wed Apr 13 16:30:42 -0700 2005 813094 0 Doug E Fresh 1 813354 Just thought I'd share thoughts on Needham. Sweet Rue's in the center is a great bakery with wonderful sandwiches at lunch time. The staff are great and its great for kids. As with all of Needham, its on the pricey side. http://www.billpaulson.com/html/sweet_rue_s.html Sweet Basil is wonderful. Its a tiny restaurant but does lots of take out business. Its BYOB. The chicken Cacciatore is to die for. Wonderful specials change at the chef's whim. Be prepared to wait for a table in the evenings but its great for take out. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g41699-d323174-Reviews-Sweet_Basil-Needham_Massachusetts.html Thu Apr 14 11:19:39 -0700 2005 813094 0 MaddieCat 1 813385 Additional Wellesley comments, from a 25 year resident who mostly dines out in Boston: * Maugus Restarurant near Whole Foods and Blockbuster and Louie's in Lower Falls - two classic, authentic greasy spoons that are great for breakfast (all I've ever had there). A vanishing breed, and well worth trying; very kid friendly. * Papa Razzi in Lower Falls. Only in desperation and only for the pasta dishes. * Wellesley Bakery on Washington, near the new library. Great for rollups and soup at lunch. * Stephanie's "Parisian" Bakery on Linden - despite the pretense, quite good for breakfast goodies and sandwiches. But mostly...as has been stated previously, Wellesley is most blessed by having Captain Marden's, John Dewar's, and Wasik's Cheese Shop to buy from for home entertaining. You just can't do better anywhere for quality products and knowledgeable, helpful service. Thu Apr 14 13:45:17 -0700 2005 813094 0 terryc 1 813416 I too suffer from suburban culinary blahs in Needham after living in vibrant Brighton for 5 years. I must tell all of you that I went to Not Your Average Joe's in Needham for the first time a few weekends ago on a Saturday night. Its probably one of the most over priced, low quality, yuppified places in the area. They can't even make a good drink, and the bread tries to make up for the tiny portions. It might be kid friendly, but you pay for the privilage. In January we did go to the small Italian place right next to Sudbury Farms in Needham. Its a nice, homey red-sauce joint. As a vegitarian I had plenty of options. Good food at honest prices, and convienient to Needham. I wish i could tell you the name. The Thai place next to Bertuccis in Needham is worth a visit. Its never very busy, but they do a lot of take out. I would imagine its kid friendly because they need the customers. We also had an AWFUL expereince at Joy Luck Club last week. What kind of suburban restaruant tells you that there's a 45 minute wait... in a place that looks empty? We didn't even get to taste the food, and we ended up at Pho Pasteur. If any one has experience at Joy Luck, please share. So far. I'm not impressed with the food in Needham. Its a good thing, we're saving our money,(paying a massive mortgage) shopping at Russos a few times per month, and eating in! Thu Apr 14 18:14:53 -0700 2005 813094 0 Cheesehead in Recovery 2 813457 Agreed. There is nothing in the world that is worse than spending money on mediocre food. Fri Apr 15 10:02:43 -0700 2005 813416 0 Sheila 2 815457 Yeah, we just moved from Brighton to Needham as well. I miss the vibrant city, I don't miss the parking, traffic and clueless college kids. Anyway you really must try Sweet Basil in town. There is always a wait to eat there, but worth the wait. A little expensive for someone with a new mortgage, but the portions are large! So get a single entree as takeout and share it (about $21). If you like Indian, then Masala Art is good. I miss Rangoli though. Bai Thong is good, Sweet Rues makes good sandwiches for lunch. Head to Wellesley and go to Capt Marden's for inexpensive seafood. Amarin (Thai) is okay there too. I agree, NYAJ's sucks. When I really want a good/inexpensive meal I head back to my old haunts. (Swarma king, Anna's etc). Mon May 09 17:59:18 -0700 2005 813416 0 DLN