Wakefield, MA area - family dinner for 10

[aunteejoy]

Can anyone recommend a good place for a family dinner - 6 adults, 4 kids (some picky). Not strictly seafood. Moderately priced. Takes reservations.

[Chris VR]

Just because I've got a bit of time on my hands today, and we've got a nifty new "Places" feature that will help me get all of this info in the same place, I'm adding listings of restaurants mentioned in this thread.

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Mexico Lindo
449 Main St, Melrose, MA 02176

Ristorante Molise
464 Main St, Wakefield, MA 01880

Porto-Bello Restaurant
979 Main St, Wakefield, MA 01880

Turner's Seafood Grill & Mrkt
506 Main St, Melrose, MA 02176

Zaleks
21 Princess St, Wakefield, MA 01880

Felicia's of the North End
423 Main St, Stoneham, MA 02180

Duck Walk On Wakefield Sq
397 Main St, Wakefield, MA 01880

Georgie D's Restaurant
Main St, Malden, MA 02148

The Blues Grille
454 Main St, Melrose, MA 02176

Tremonte Restaurant & Bar
397 Main St, Woburn, MA 01801

The Restaurant
489 Main St, Woburn, MA 01801

Brothers Kouzina
25 Newbury St, Peabody, MA 01960

Flatbread Co
213 Burlington Rd, Bedford, MA 01730

North End Cafe
124 Broadway Ste B, Saugus, MA 01906

La Vita Mia
331 Main St, Saugus, MA 01906

Toody's
107 Water St, Wakefield, MA 01880

Gaetano's
271 Main St, Stoneham, MA 02180

Bostonville Grille
325 Broadway, Lynnfield, MA 01940

[Harp00n]

Hey Chris,
Would you mind cataloging my cd's & lp's? There's only about 15,000 of 'em. :-))

Harp00n

[Chris VR]

Hahaha sure, right after I get every Boston restaurant entered into the Places ;-)

It's selfish, though, I'm mostly doing the places in my own area because once they're in there, it's easier than digging through my bookmarks every time I want to discuss takeout menus with hubby! I am also loving the parking and other tips people are putting in. it's a lot easier than wading through 20 threads for that kind of info.

[Harp00n]

Hey Chris VR,
Yes it is,and, hopefully, we'll all contribute to the database

Thanks,
Harp00n.

[othervoice]

Hey Chris,

How'd you do that? This would come in really handy when trying to find places to go.
and if Harp00n has been there I want to try it!!! :-)

[Chris VR]

Check out this thread on Site Talk: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/417592

It's pretty easy though, look right under the reply box and click on "Link to a place BETA". I've had some troubles/issues which are being discussed on this thread: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/417583

[kate used to be 50]

I'm just thankful you live in my area ;)

[TomH]

There is also Gaetano's in Stoneham which serves some very good italian.

Hope this helps!

Enjoy,
Tom

[taxi]

I haven't been to the new location of Toody's on Water Street but they used to have fine subs and sauce. Kids usually enjoy spaghetti. Hope this one helps. Racking my brain for other ideas.

[macca]

Toody's- used to love the chicken parm subs- and sometimes they would have eggplant, but I always seemed to be there when they were all out. I drove by there on Saturday, and was wondering if they were still any good.

[TomH]

Mmmmm, Toody's steak & cheese! With the flat steak cutlet and the cheese all rolled up inside it. Man, I need one of those, stat! :)

[Alice123]

North End Cafe on Route 1 in Saugus. It's in the same plaza as Orzo, next to Our Glass Wine shop. Good family atmosphere, good food. Not too fancy. But the food is very good. I like the scallops. And they can put a big table together for you.

[taxi]

Thanks Alice 123 as I plan to go there soon. I have heard good things. Did you by an chance have spaghetti and meatballs? I will be taking my 87 year old mom and she eats very little and very basically.

[Alice123]

No, I had scallops one time and some fish- I think halibut- the second. It's not a seafood place, I'm just on a perpetual diet! But my husband has lunch there frequently and is always happy with his meal.

Off topic, and not for 10 people with picky children- but have you tried La Vita Mia on Main Street in Saugus? (Off Route 1 take Main Street -Wakefield exit. First shopping center on your right.) YUM. Really terrific food.

[Harp00n]

La Vita Mia, Shhhhhhush! :-))

[Alice123]

I know! There's another thread about being a selfish "hound" It's a pickle, isn't it?

[Harp00n]

Ya, it is a pickle LOL, but I'm not tellin' ya where I get THOSE!

[Hungry GR]

Blues Grill in Melrose does a decent job with some basic food, but I would call ahead to see if they can seat 10. (They might just have booths.) They are pretty reasonably priced. There's Mexico Lindo across the street too.

[chompie]

back on topic. I agree that Mexico Lindo would be fun and delicious. Zaleks is very casual, so depends what you want for atmosphere, but its the best food. The Restaurant is okay, less casual than Zaleks, cafeteria style food line, and okay food. I like Molise, but took relative who didnt. They do have a back area good for groups though. I see a lot of family groups at Capri up the road in Reading. Decent italian and pizza. Comfortable.
Brothers Kouzina up the road on Rte 1 is a little more upscale and better Greek food than The Restaurant. I am getting a same size group together for a birthday and am thinking of going outside Wakefield for the Flatbread Company in Bedford, just outside the Burlington mall. Its just pizza salad and dessert but its amazingly yummy and kids love the giant clay wood burrning ovens with flames shooting out. Also Bostonville Grille in Lynnefield on Rte 1. They are full of TV screens so could be noisey but if you want entertainment they have a large room of sofas and pool tables, a large arcade and make your own sundae bar with Richardsons icecream and a big pub style menu with great pizza, burgers, and ribs, etc.

[LindaWhit]

There's an Italian place called Ristorante Molise on Main St. that might suffice - a little bit on the more expensive side, but would cover all the bases, including the picky kids and those who didn't want fish. http://www.ristorantemolise.com/

A little bit further down Main St. towards Melrose is Porto-Bello's - Italian and Portuguese. http://www.porto-bello.com/index.html

[Chris VR]

I'll second Molise. I also really like PortoBello but I wouldn't go there with younger kids, as the pace of service is leisurely.

Don't, in the name of all that is holy, go to Dockside, on the Melrose/Malden line. Blech. You'd be better off at the 99 in Stoneham if you want that kind of family food. Another family style eating place is D'Agostino's in Stoneham although the food is not great, just OK.

If you head about 10 minutes south to Melrose, you can't do better than Turner's, and there are non-fish options on the menu, although not a lot to choose from. The menu is at http://www.turners-seafood.com

There's also Mexico Lindo in Melrose which is very good and they do have a kids menu although I don't think it's on their website at http://mexicolindomelrose.com/

[4chowpups]

Is D'Agostino's still in existence? I know the family sold the restaurant last year. I'd second all of Chris VR's suggestions.

[Chris VR]

I think it was still there last time I drove by (haven't been back there in a while, since the pups have been keeping us at home). But maybe the sign is up but the restaurant is closed? Well anyway, not a high recommend, so better to play it safe and skip it.

[kate used to be 50]

D'Agostino's is closed. Sign is still up, but there is a big empty space.

Zalek's in Wakefield is good Greek.
There is also Duck Walk which is excellent Thai food, both in Wakefield Center.

Felicia's in Stoneham is very good NorthEnd Italian in the suburbs, but not sure how it would be with kids (depends on their ages I quess).

Haven't been to Georgie D's in Stoneham, but reviews have been good.

Of course of the previous posts, I would recommend both Turner's and Mexico Lindo as no. 1 and 2 choices.

[Chris VR]

Thanks for correcting me on D'Agostino's.

I peeked in the windo at Georgie D's and it might be a tough place to go with such a large group- wonder if they take reservations for large groups?

I like Duck Walk a lot but as a mom of a picky kid we'd never bring him out for Thai food. There isn't a single thing he'd eat. Sigh.

[macca]

Actually, the Duck Walk has other offerings- they have a dish that is just steamed meats and vegatable ( yuck!), and they also have a create your own stir fry option. Duck Walk is one of my moms favorite places, and we go every year for her b'day. Two of my relatives are picky to the extreme- and even they can someting they like. We are a large enough group to be able to use the back room. A group of ten would be seated in the main dining room, and the tables are two tops they put together, so it may be difficult for everyone to be included in the conversations.

[kate used to be 50]

My friends always bring their kids to Duck Walk. It is very family friendly and I'm sure they would prepare a little something for you son.

IMHO, the recommendation for the Blues Grill - stay away. The food is subpar at best.

[macca]

Well- I wasn't going to say anything about Blues- but I have posted before- have been there for both breakfast and lunch and did not enjoy wither meal- and i think it is almost criminal for a place that calls itself a diner to have such bad french fries!

[Hungry GR]

Oh no! Really?? I have had a few good lunches there... That was some time ago though. :(

[Chris VR]

Yeah I wasn't going to say anything either because I've posted before. Those fries are just awful. I don't know one person who has a good thing to say about them.

I've always found the rest of the food to be subpar as well.

[macca]

Agreed-And it really makes me mad when I get bad fries. Fries are something I don't order very often, and when i do, I want them to be great. And our breakfast was even worse- bad service, forgotten order (mine!), lukewarm food, greasy home fries...... end of rant-

[Harp00n]

Agree on all the above recs by both LindaWhit & Chris_VR, to which I would add two Woburn restaurants. I couldn't find individual websites but here's Marc's (Hidden Boston) info:

Tre Monte http://www.hiddenboston.com/TreMonte.html

The Restaurant http://www.hiddenboston.com/TheRestau...

Harp00n