Looking for places to eat in Quincy

[ktg2422]

Hi- We just moved to Quincy and are eager to check out some cool places. It seems like people on here know some great places so I thought I'd ask for help. Thanks!

[Chris VR]

Here are some recent discussions to get you started:

http://www.chowhound.com/search/std?q...

My sister lives there and I am looking forward to checking out many of these Asian recomendations!

[rkstrat]

For breakfast/lunch try Uncle Charlies, good food simple and cheap.

[kosimpson]

There are many great places to eat in Quincy, in particular; The Varsity Club on Independence Ave just outside of Quincy Square, not much in the way of atmosphere but great burgers and the spicy fish and chips is out of this world; Tony's on the beach for fried clams (closed in the fall/winter); Tullio's, Hancock St., North Quincy for Italian; Pizza at Alumni on Hancock St., Wollaston, cheap and yummy, they only serve one thing at the Alumni - Pizza; Trattoria Alba and Alba in Quincy Square for Italian a little more upscale. There are also a lot of great Chinese and Sushi places in Quincy. I like Quincy Dynasty for Chinese and they have a great lunch buffet on Billings Road in North Quincy and Fugi 1546 for Sushi. There are also a couple of good Indian places one in the Square and one on the Southern Artery. Bon Appetit!

[Johnresa]

Well I would recommend Neapoli in Quincy Square for some of the best pizza there. Their subs are great too.

I would also recommend Finian's. On Monday and Tuesday they have a 2 for 1 dinner special for around $15. There are a ton of choices.

[hiddenboston]

I have eaten at many places in Quincy (I probably eat there more often than in any other town in the Boston area). Here are some of the places I've been:

Tullio's--great Italian
Alumni Cafe--outstanding pizza
Villa Rosa--good pizza, so-so meals
Quincy Dynasty--very good authentic Chinese food
Cronin's Publick House--some of the best steak tips in the Boston area
Grumpy White's--excellent comfort food in a friendly environment
Tony's Clam Shop--great seafood and Greek/Middle Eastern specialties
Quincy Jade--not all that great Chinese food
Finian's--mostly very good family restaurant, but hit or miss at times
Classic India--one of the best Indian restaurants in the Boston area
Captain Fishbones--decent family restaurant with great water views
Newcomb Farms--good place for breakfast
Mannion's--excellent traditional Irish breakfasts

Good Lord, I guess I have been spending too much time in Quincy! But as you can see, there is no shortage of dining spots there...

[mwk]

Hi,

There are lots of posts here about Quincy eats. The city has come a long way in recent years, regarding the choice of restaurants.

Here are some of my favorites:

Indian

Classic India in the Registry building on Hancock St. This is one of my all time favorite Indian restaurants in the Boston area. Huge varied menu, and excellent breads and curries.

Punjab Cafe on Route 3A near Stop and Shop. Excellent food as well, but not quite as large or interesting a menu as Classic India.

Both places have excellent lunch buffets too.

Chinese

Chinese food is Quincy's specialty now, since there is such a large Chinese population here. Little Q hotpot in the Registry building (down the hall from Classic India). This is a chinese version of shabu-shabu where you cook your meals at the table in a pot of broth. Everything is fresh and delicious. Do a search here on chowhound and lots of discussions will come up.

East Chinatown restaurant on Hancock St. in North Quincy, and Quincy Dynasty around the corner on Billings St., are both excellent "chinatown-style" restaurants with very good food. I posted a review of East Chinatown a while ago.

In Quincy Center on Hancock, is the Hong Kong Eatery, which is a branch of the one in Chinatown. It's pretty good, and worth trying if you are in the area.

For Mandarin food, Mandarin King on Rte 3A just before the Fore River Bridge, has excellent food.

The take out deli at Kam Man Marketplace on Rte 53 just before WalMart, has excellent whole roast duck for $14, and a big selection of hot and cold foods. Everything I've tried there has been excellent. Plus, it's a fun place to shop.

Japanese

Next door to each other on Hancock St. in Quincy Center, are Kagawa and Fuji1546. For straightforward Japanese food, like sushi and tempura and such, I prefer Kagawa. Fuji is a bit more "fusion" and upscale, but still good.

Italian

Trattoria Alba on Hancock in Quincy Center, is a very good "North End" style bistro with good pasta and nice atmosphere.

Gennaros is a local neighborhood place on Quincy Ave with good Italian-American food like veal parm and spaghetti.

American

Grumpy White's on Sea St. is an excellent local place where you can go for a very tasty and filling cheap meal. Dishes like meatloaf, fish and chips and burgers are excellent and they have a very nice prime rib special on weekends.

Cronin's Publick House on Desmoines St. in Quincy Point is a dive bar with really good steak tips. It's what they are known for. Worth a trip when you are in the mood for that.

The Half Moon Irish pub on Hancock St. in Quincy Center has excellent Irish food like Shepard's pie and stews and burgers and other pub food in a nice atmosphere.

Middle Eastern

Webster's eatery in Pilgrim Plaza on Scammel st (across from Gennaros), has excellent Lebanese food such as Kibbe and schwarma. The atmosphere is sort of take out pizza style, but the food is very good.

Brasilian

Terra Brasilis on Hancock in Quincy Center is a Churrcasaria (the Brasilian BBQ where it's all you can eat). The salad bar isn't great, but the meats are tasty. Especially the sirloin, which is awesome. They have a parmesan-crusted sirloin with is really tasty. They also make a great Caprhina drink.

Breakfasts

My favorite breakfast places are the Wheelhouse Diner on Hancock St., which is a classic dining car diner serving huge portions of artery-clogging goodies like corned beef hash, eggs and big fluffy waffles and pancakes.

Another good place is the Early American Diner, on Hancock St., which has excellent specialties like gingerbread pancakes and homemade baked goods.

For Irish breakfast, Mannion's on Copeland St. serves full Irish breakfasts which are excellent.

I guess that should be good enough for starters. There's plenty of good chow in Quincy, so happy munching!

[MC Slim JB]

I quite like La Paloma for their border food/Mexican, especially the shredded beef in their tacos, which is weirdly sweet but good.

Places I have been referred to but not yet tried: Pho Yuen Dong for Vietnamese, and the Asian grocery next to it for banh mi; the Hancock Tavern for above-average bar food; Tulio's for slightly creative Italian (its owners also run the Tuscan Grill in Waltham, which I like a lot); Little Q for Mongolian hotpot.

[hiddenboston]

How could I have forgotten Pho Yuen Dong. Next to Pho So 1 Boston in Dorchester, it's probably my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the Boston area. Better atmosphere than most Vietnamese dining spots, too.

[knosher51]

I tried La Paloma, and frankly was disappointed. Haven't they heard of garlic, cumin and red pepper? The chicken mole was actually sweet - not proper at all! the rice was nice and pink but had no flavor. the chips were pretty good, and the salsa had a few nice bits of cilantro in it - not bad despite the carrots (!) in it. I'd rather go to a taqueria or make my own mex, and I'm hardly a chef, but my mex is better than theirs! La Paloma is pretty blah!

[C. Hamster]

IMO La Paloma ranges from the Meh to the Vile.

It's terrible.

[LadyAudio]

Hamster I couldnt agree more. It's very Meh....... I've never gotten vile, but just Meh- doesn't cut it after you've been to El Sarape in Weymouth Landing. That place is the BEST mex in the area, hands down

[emilief]

There is a hidden jewel called "Get Fresh Rotisserie and Grill" on Hancock STreet, next to the South Costal Bank,not actually on the street but a little around the corner. The owner, Julie, used to be the Chef at Fava Restaurant in Needham. She makes wonderful food and quite unusual for a small lunch type place- open until 8 pm.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

There's also Eating Healthy around the corner from the Quincy Center T station. Mostly sandwiches, but they're unusual, fresh ingredients, and, best of all, you can't tell that they're actually healthier than the usual.

There's also a Mexican/BBQ place a couple of doors down from Eating Healthy...gah, can't remember its name at the moment. More downscale than La Paloma, but very good.

For a good simple lunch (cheeseburgers, etc.) you can't go wrong with either Mannion's or Newcomb Farms.

Alternative breakfast if you can't get into the Wheelhouse Diner -- Stella's on Adams St. in East Milton Square, just down the road from the Villa Rosa.

[Dizzied]

Lots of good recommendations, but if the Mexican place you're referring to is Acapulco's, I'd have to dissent. I was there about a month ago for dinner. It wasn't awful, but I found the food to be nothing special and the service mediocre. It wasn't any cheaper than La Paloma's, so if I wanted Mexican, I'd definitely make the trip to La Paloma. (Or the often-mentioned, deservedly-praised El Sarape in Braintree, but that's off the topic.)

[mwk]

I had also forgotten about La Paloma, but I hesitate to recommend it,
because it seems that people either love it or really hate it. I happen
to like it (I like their Paella), but my partner hates it. The "weirdly
sweet" meat in the tacos really turns him off.

Acapulcos is part of a chain, and the food there is NASTY. Stay away
from it. Their "Mole" sauce tasted like a squirt bottle of Hershey's
syrup.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

No, it's not Acapulco's I'm thinking of. This one's on the same block as Eating Healthy, about 3-4 doors down. The candy/fudge shop is its next door neighbor, I believe.

Argh, I hate it when a name's on the tip of my tongue!

[janzy]

Fajitas & 'Ritas is the name you are thinking about.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

That's it!

[knosher51]

NOTE: THERE IS NO FAJITAS & RITAS IN QUINCY AS OF 8/1/08

[jjbourgeois]

Fajita's and Ritas has been gone since at least February 08.

[rk4me]

GREAT DISCUSSION -- appreciate this info as I'll be headed up to Wollaston to visit family this week.

One more question for this group, has anyone been to the restaurant that's on Adams St. (the former location of Naked Fish Restaurant). Sorry, can't remember the name of the place .... read about it on Cheap Eats (boston.com?) .... anyhow, it's basic American cuisine .... however always looking for a reasonably priced, simple menu for my Mom. At her stage of life, she's not seeking any dining adventures.

[jjbourgeois]

Sounds like you mean the Redwood Tavern. Fortunately they are out of business. Rumor is it will become a Firefly BBQ.

[rk4me]

Out of business already ??? Sounds like they haven't even been there a year! Well, guess I'll revise my file of "places to eat in Quincy".

Thanks!

[mkel34]

Any documentation on this or just word of mouth?

[Pegmeister]

Firefly's is advertising "coming soon to Quincy".

[mwk]

Hi,

As an update, just saw this in today's Patriot Ledger:

http://ledger.southofboston.com/artic...

Looks like it is Firefly's, and they are planning a May 1 opening.

[kobuta]

This news makes me so happy! I just hope the curse of that location will finally be broken.

[mkel34]

I've never been to Fireflys my only experience with them is through Phantom Gourmet, anyone know if they have a decent beer selection ala Redbones?
I'd be happy if they met 25% of the quality of the Redbone's quality/quantity.

[LadyAudio]

I've been to Fireflys and its pretty good. I'm not a BBQ nut as some are- but i really dug my blackened dalmon. Must confess my mac & cheese was lil dry..... bummer. Partner liked his ribs and greens. But it did seem highly priced, and I'd say they do meet just about 25% of Redbones quality... They need to work on it a bit more..... I may have been there on an off day, They had just opned the doors early on a Sunday..... So- I'll give it another go........ I got the feeling that they can do alot better-- and hope that they do

[mwk]

For what you want, I'd highly recommend Grumpy White's on Sea St. It's a standard menu with some Italian, some American, some Seafood, etc. All of it is very good and very reasonably-priced

[rk4me]

Thanks for the suggestion. I looked at their online menu --- appears to be a "Mom-suitable" place.

[Chris VR]

I sent my parents to Grump White's on Chowhound recommendations and she was thrilled- said everything was great. I tasted the meatloaf leftovers and it was very good!

[kobuta]

Wow, already a lot of great recommendations, but here's my take. Even though I live there, I don't dine in Quincy very often, but these are some places I frequent. (As you will notice, extremely skewed towards Asian fare):

Hong Kong Cafe - same as the one in Chinatown, but cleaner and prettier. A default for my family when we want to eat out but not go to Chinatown

Little Q Hotpot - I think I like ShabuZen better, but this is a good alternative. I like their wider menu with more reasonably priced a la carte option. Love their crazy, fiery spicey broth.

East Chinatown - ok Chinese food, but actually decent Chinese BBQ (roast duck, pork, chicken, etc.). Great for takeout if you want to make some rice at home (or a lazy night when you want to buy a big rice box with roasted meats for dinner).

Beni Cafe - my exp. here is limited, but surprisingly quick and easy lunch food. Loved their sweet potato fries and a good iced lemon tea. Decent katsukare (curry pork katsu) rice bowl. Looking forward to trying some other things on their menu.

Pho Yuen Dong - good Vietnamese food

Punjab Cafe - I preferred Classic India, but is it confirmed that Classic India is no more? *sad* Punjab is a respectable 2nd place.

Royal Bakery - off a side street in the Wollaston area, and serves a lot of the same goodies as the Chinatown branch. Great for quick breakfast items on a weekend (and can get crazy busy in the mornings). One of the best egg custard tarts available in Boston.

Newcomb Farms - I prefer "A Lighter Fare" at nearby East Milton Square, but really good for breakfast.

[rk4me]

I'm preparing myself for the winter onslaught -- fly up to Boston tomorrow. At least the storm is over & it's just a matter of bundling up against the cold --- brrrrrr.

OH, and one more restaurant question. What about the "Inn at Baypointe" on Washington St., Quincy? Actually, if I recall the restaurant is down a small road off of Washington. It's been several years since I ate there. Has anybody been there recently?

If I recall, I really enjoyed their veal marsala. Certainly if anyone can suggest another place in Quincy (or Braintree, Weymouth, Randolph) that offers up yummy veal dishes, I'd like to hear about it.

[hungryagain]

I just had the veal saltmbuca at Gennaro's Eatery in Quincy (not sure what street). It was delicious and plentiful. It was my first visit there. Enjoyed it very much. The place was very busy and I noticed that the owner seemed to know everyone there.

[purpletequila]

Gennaros is great. VERY friendly and accomodating staff and very good food at very reasonable prices.

[rk4me]

In addition to "Inn at Baypointe", also would like to hear feedback about "Hingham Bay Club", [phone],
349 Lincoln St
Hingham, MA 02043

[Pegmeister]

Hingham Bay Club closed more than a year ago to make way for a multi-million dollar development which eventually will contain at least 5 restaurants. In the meantime, I'm still a fan of Inn at Baypointe. I like to sit at the bar and watched the boats go by. They serve a great turkey dinner and the fried clams are good as well.

[tomaneng]

A few assents and dissents:

Agreed that Genarro's is great for local, homemade, stick-to-your-ribs italian american fare. Also LOVE Punjab Cafe. Have had much better experiences there that at Classic in Quincy Center, though the latter has more space and atmosphere. Have enjoyed Hong Kong Eatery as well. Where I disagree: I haven't enjoyed anything but the pho at Pho Yuen Dong. I say drive the few extra exits at go to Pho So 1, Pho Hoa, or Pho 2000. I've also had very inconsistent experiences at Tulios. In general it's been very average and it's too expensive to be average.

[turbo]

One place that hasn't been mentioned, to my surprise, is the Village Common Food Court on Williard St. in West Quincy. It's just across the street from the Common Market REstaurant and it's owned by the same family. The foodcourt has a ton of different options:

1. Fish and Chicken - everything from roasted chicken to baked stuffed scallops. They also have great side dishes that can be eaten alone. THE BEST CLAM CHOWDER AROUND! hands down. The gobbler sandwich (turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayo) and a side of mashed potatoes is my usual lunch.

2. Pizza and Pasta - decent pizza (not incredible) but their panninis are incredible - try the chicken parm pannini.

3. The Grille - steak tips, burgers, london broil, etc.

4. Salad bar

They are an "upscale food court" with great quality, affordable food! If you're in the area you should definitely check it out for lunch or dinner...you'll find yourself back there all the time.

[Chris VR]

Is Common Market Restaurant any good? I'm considering holding a function there and haven't had a chance to go yet and check out the food.

[Pegmeister]

The Common Market hasn't been consistent for a long time. I've been to numerous functions there and at times its good and at times, well it's not. The buffet seems to be of better quality then the chicken or fish sit down choices.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

Seconded! The grill section also offers some Asian-inspired alternatives from pad thai to spicy noodles, with your choice of meat or shrimp.

It's mostly a takeout place, although there's a small dining section tucked in the back corner. There's also a convenience store on the other side of the Pizza/Pasta station that's grossly overpriced but at least you can peruse the newspapers while waiting for your number to be called.

[chowciao]

I havent seen this one mentioned (but I like a great deal) - Skyline in Marina bay - nothing fancy but the food is good (I really enjoyed their fried clam plate) and the view is terrific. I would that would also be a "Mom-friendly" location. Actually we've gone a couple times for Mothers day and I think everyone was quite happy with their meal.

[mwk]

Hi,

For veal, Gennaro's is very good. I also recommend the Venetian in East Weymouth. I've eaten there twice recently. Once, I had the pork chops with vinegar peppers, which was just outstanding. Last time, I had the veal parm, and it was excellent. Not that really heavy breaded "fake" veal, but nice cutlets and a tasty red sauce that didn't have too much sugar in it.

[victoria81]

Eatin Healthy on Hancock Street is great. I agree with Gennaro's and Grumpy Whites. There is also an Italian place on Adam's Street... can't think of the name right now, but it is really good.
Tullio's is good too.

[bitsubeats]

italian place on adam's street? the villa rosa?

ughhhhhhhhh I hate that place :/

[mwk]

Villa Rosa? How does that place stay in business? I went there once, and we ordered an antipasto salad as a starter. What did they serve us? Some browning iceberg lettuce with a couple of CANNED sliced black olives, and a can of tunafish dumped on top.

Basically, it was the worst Italian meal I've had in a long time.

[bitsubeats]

glad you agree with me. This place stays packed every single night. I hate it...and the smells coming from the place at night - smells like a box of fishsticks!

[rk4me]

I have NO idea how or why the VR is still in business . . . . . probably because it's an "institution" (???).

A better choice for Italian in Quincy is Alfredo's just past Quincy Sq. on 75 Franklin St., Quincy MA, [phone]. Ate there a couple months ago (Sept) during a family visit to area.

[rk4me]

ALL - Thanks for the input on this topic. I've now come back to Tejas from my visit back to Quincy. Weren't able to get to as many spots as I'd have liked. However did have a wonderful Sunday lunch at the Inn at Bay Pointe -- http://www.innatbaypointe.com/
Several at our table had fish -- I tried my Mom's broiled schrod & it was quite tasty. I had the lamb shank --- oh, a good hearty meal on a cold wintery day.

I 'm sorry to hear the Hingham Bay Club is now gone.

Then on Monday we had lunch at Finian's Restaurant in Quincy Square -- and that worked fine for Mom. For some reason, she wasn't interested in checking out Grumpy White's (sigh) ..... at her stage of life, she likes to stick w/ tried & true.

[mwk]

Hi,

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit, and I'm sorry that out of all the good restaurants around Quincy, you got stuck going to Finian's. But, as long as everyone was happy, that's the important thing, and you realize that Finian's is pretty mediocre, and not a good representation of dining in the area.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

Re Finians -- your mom too? We haven't been in awhile, but it's usually our default choice only because hubby and I know Mom will eat something there.

I've been dying to try Grumpy White's as an alternative, but convincing her that Quincy extends past the square is another story...

[Mrs_S]

Grumpy's is classic for my folks who live nearby. Food is definitely better than Finian's but is plain and simple the way my mom and dad (and they sound like your mom) like it. Had a lobster roll there on my birthday in September and it was heaven!

[Chris VR]

My sister is thinking of either Ciro's, Inn at Bay Pointe or Skyline at Marina Bay for a rehearsal dinner for 25 people. Any feedback on which might be best? She's not looking for groundbreaking creative food, just good food in a nice atmosphere.

[mwk]

Hi,

If it's for an event in the spring/summer, I'd say Bay Pointe. They have a nice function room and a beautiful view of the water. The food is pretty decent, though not "groundbreaking", like you said.

[rk4me]

I seem to have visited my former hometown alot more times this year than I would have thought . . . . still give a hearty thumbs up for the Inn at Bay Pointe. And during a trip to Quincy in September, I ate at "Captain Fishbone's" --- http://www.captainfishbones.com/direc...
It's located on the way to Squantum, I guess this is the "Marina Bay" area? When I grew up, it didn't exist . . . well, at least the development of shops/restaurants/etc wasn't there.

Are there other restaurants in Marina Bay worth a try? And, of course, please feel free to share more recent comments/reviews for any other restaurants in Quincy.

Thanks,

[Bradydog]

Welcome back to "The Q"...and you must've been away a long time as Marina Bay has been there a while (at least since the late 80's)...with not-so many restaurants.
I have recently been to Skyline and it was a nice atmosphere...friendly staff...and food was ok. Nothing too crazy, but good nonetheles...i was more focused on the beverages that were being served. Cocktails were good (hard to mess up a cape codder), as were the martinis. I think it could be a good place in the summer time when the weather is warm...not so much fun during the winter.

[zxcvb]

taste of taiwan is a good place too. it is located at a food court. my favorite dishes are crispy beef wrap, boneless spare-rib over curry, mini pork buns, scallion pancakes, soy milk, shaved ice, tofu pudding, and their special chicken cutlet with the bone...the very taiwanese way. (you have to ask because it is not on the menu)
www.mytasteoftaiwan.com

[hungryhippoo]

Check out he new place " The Jury Room " across from the court house. Awsome and funky!!!! They have a bar side and and a dining room side.

[boutros]

Some places my wife and I like in Quincy:
Great Chow or Mandarine King for my wife's General Gao's (she's an addict)
Falafal King
Fuji
Early American
Fox & Hound
Fat Cat
Tom's Clam Shop
Schoolhouse Pizza
LaPaloma
and Cintra across the boarder in Braintree

[Guinness02122]

Do you mean Tony's Clam Shop?

[sandypants1]

I love the Fat Cat, reasonable prices, gastro-pub style. Amazing Blackened 16 oz Rib Eye and the Lobster Mac and cheese is tasty and huge (my BF and I share a plate and can't finish it) The crab cakes and fried pickles are awesome too.

If you like sushi, Fuji 1546 (hancock st) has hands down the best spicy tuna I have ever had.

[C. Hamster]

I still swear by Fat Cat, too.

The quality can sometimes be uneven, but overall it's fun, good and priced right.

Plus the people are awesome! Especially the bartenders Tara, John and Jimmy. And, of course, Neil.

Great bartenders, great service and caring proprietors often make up for whatever smaller shortcomings an establishment might have. They sure do here.

[Delhiwala]

The Punjab Cafe has excellent North Indian food

[galangatron]

jnj turo turo filipino cuisine
taste of taiwan
little q hot pot
pho yuen dong
ba le banh mi
prepared foods counter at kam man market

[bostongal]

Where in Quincy is Ba Le Banh Mi - I thought Ba Le was in Chinatown? If not, I'll be psyched to avoid a drive to Super 88 food court in Allston to get a really top notch banh mi.

[galangatron]

inside kam man marketplace

[bostongal]

Ah yes...I have been here. I've gotten several different types of banh mi but they never seem to serve the grilled meats warm. SInce i have not been in love with the cold grilled meat, I go to Siagon Kitchen on Billings.

[chowfamily]

Stopped at Falafel King, 1504 Hancock Street, and picked up a couple of Falafel sandwiches to go after running morning errands. They were delicious, with fresh salad, tahini and a nice touch of dill pickle on a very fresh and tender wrap. It was a bargain at $3.99 each. Others were enjoying fresh grilled Chicken Shawarma plates with rice and salad, the most expensive item on the menu at $6.50. This is a no-frills takeout place with six tables.