updated suggestions for Waltham/Watertown?

[lovevino]

I searched on "waltham" for a few updated suggestions for Waltham in addition to looking at citysearch and didn't see anything too recent that fits - I am looking to treat one of my best friends to a nice dinner in Waltham as it is a mutually convenient location. She and I have tried Biagio, Il Capriccio, Tuscan Grill, (I guess we like italian), Solea among a few places and I've always enjoyed Stellina's, but agree that it can miss the mark too - so we're eager to try something else - any suggestions? middle to high price? it's a birthday treat after all.....

[hojoro]

Marcellino's, next to the Landmark Theatre.

[content]

I visited Marcellino's for the first time rather recently. While the food looked good, the shrimp/cannelini bean/spinach appetizer was very wet and light on flavor. I was hoping to find a local Italian (non-chain) restaurant now that Yerardi's closed... guess I gotta keep looking.

[Science Chick]

We went to Marcellino's about 3 years ago, lured by a coupon. The food was very bland and pricey. We haven't returned.

[Bighead]

marcelliono's is schizrophrenic! I've had awesome meals there and a couple horrible experinces. you alwat\ys roll the dice there. not worth the risk...

la campania is my fav in waltham....next to taqueria. michale j's made a great burger till the fire chief shut that down!

[podence]

I think between your experience and the discussion below, you've pretty much exhausted Waltham. If you don't mind driving 5 miles (or so) west on Rt 20, I'd recommend the Coach Grill in Wayland. It's a steak house ala Capital Grill or Abe & Louie's (and all those places have become a little formulaic) but it's got a lot of history, is always bustling and fun, and you can park right there. For a carnivore, the food is quite good.

[MC Slim JB]

FYI, the Coach Grill is in fact owned by BBRG, the same restaurant group that owns Abe & Louie's.

[Bighead]

coach grille is good. it's historic in that it was once called Red Coach Grill and was famous for their room that kid showed Deputy Dawg cartoons on a projector non stop! I love those cartoons! my nana loved the baked scrod at thr red coach grill. it was a semi-popular chain back in the 70's thru 80's!

[nmg]

Summer Winter Restaurant in Burlington is upscale and excellent. The chefs/owners Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier, own restaurants in Maine (Arrows, MCPerkins Cove).
http://www.summerwinterrestaurant.com/

[Science Chick]

But doesn't fit the OP's requirement for Waltham......

[sfumato]

The OP names Stellina, and I believe there's only one- in Watertown- so it sounds like s/he's willing to include that area.

[Science Chick]

Agreed for sure......their request was Waltham/Watertown.....*NOT* Burlington, etc. If they were willing to go that far afield, we might as well make suggestions in Boston and Cambridge, which would be closer to Watertown/Waltham than Burlington. The only point I'm trying to make, is that it's most helpful to folks to make suggestions in the geographic area they are interested in.

[katzzz]

Grappa on the side street near the Watertown Target store is a sweet little Italian place with excellent chow and mid-range prices. Very nice atmosphere -- not super fancy, but a cut above casual dining.

[Dax]

It looks like someone's house/kitchen right? I wondered about that place for years when I lived in Watertown (3+ years) but the hours were very odd at the time. I never went. So it's good?

[sfumato]

Since you're close enough, I recommend that you check out Craigie Street Bistrot (http://www.craigiestreetbistrot.com/) in Cambridge. It's closer to the Watertown side, and the food is really amazing. Chef Tony Maws doesn't usually pay much attention to patrons who aren't regulars, close friends, or celebrities, but his staff really are knowledgeable and attentive. And like I said, the food is divine... we've never ever had anything less than a fabulous meal there, and I know that I can always bring people there without that fear of having a bad meal after you've really hyped a restaurant to your friends/family. The prix fixe (aka neighborhood menu) menu is an especially good deal.

[Duster17]

Agree on La Campania, but we have been liking Tempo a lot lately. Regular menu and specials have been very consistently good. Cocktails are also very good and I like the wine list. One of the special apps has been added to the regular menu -- Philly cheesesteak rolls -- they're addictive. And they arrive at your table nice and hot. Porcini's in Watertown is ok, hit or miss for me.

[y2000k]

There aren't that many upscale high-priced places in Waltham that you haven't listed, with the exception of La Campania.

A few other less fancy (but more middle price) in Waltham are:
New Mother India (decent decor, don't be put off by their somewhat tacky website)
http://www.newmotherindia.com/
Elephant Walk
Ponzu (pan-Asian
)http://www.theponzu.com/
Tempo Bistro (I haven't been there yet, so I can't vouch for the food
)http://www.tempobistro.com/index.html

I also have read some good reviews about Molana (Persian) in Watertown.
http://www.molanarestaurant.com/main.html

If you and your friend are feeling adventurous, you can try Karibu for Ugandan food. Here's a recent thread on the place
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/483383

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Ponzu Fine Dining
286 Moody St, Waltham, MA 02453

Elephant Walk
663 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02451

Molana Restaurants
5 Spring St, Watertown, MA 02472

New Mother India
336 Moody St, Waltham, MA 02453

Tempo
474 Moody Street, Waltham, MA 02453

Karibu Restaurant
10 Crescent St, Waltham, MA 02453

[three of us]

While great for an adventure, Karibu is very casual and not where I would go if I was treating a friend to dinner with a nice atmosphere.

[BBHound]

If you can go one town south to West Newton, Lumiere sounds like it would be what you are looking for.

-----
Lumiere Restaurant
1293 Washington St., West Newton, MA 02465

[Pia]

Watertown (where I live) has some great inexpensive and ethnic chow options, but there's no nice restaurant suitable for special occasions that's worth the money. Porcini's and Stellina probably come the closest.

In Waltham, aside from the places you've already mentioned, I've heard great things about La Campania and plan to go there on my next fancy dinner trip.

[LindaWhit]

Just ate at La Campania last night, and as usual, it was superb. We like sitting at the bar, and got seats in the corner opposite the espresso/capucchino machine. I had called at 2pm and we took the 6:30 reservations.

We chose a bottle of 2001 Produttori Riserva "Rabaja" Barbaresco, which, upon initial tasting, seemed a bit minerally to me, but after letting it breath for 10-15 minutes, it mellowed out very nicely and went very well with our meals.

I chose the "Stuffed Prosciutto" appetizer - prosciutto wrapped around thin asparagus spears, shaved fennel, micro greens, and teeny-tiny cubes of fontina in a champagne-shallot vinaigrette. I've had this before, and it is just SO good! My friend chose a special appetizer of clams with a spicy red sauce using guanciale and something else (I really wish their online menu was updated!). It was a LOT spicier than she was expecting, but she loved it, and ended up spooning some of the extra sauce on top of a piece of baguette they had alongside.

We always seem to get a "treat" when we go here - a little pasta in-betweener before the entree. This time, the owner/manager came over with small dishes of cavatelli pasta tossed with a light veal bolognese sauce - simply amazing!

For mains, my friend chose a wood-grilled veal chop with a light glaze of mild gorgonzola cheese melted on top. It was served with sauteed spinach, which she won't eat, and some roasted baby potatoes. I tried a bite and it was done perfectly medium-rare, as she had requested.

I had the 2nd to last special of Veal Osso Buco Milanese, served with a wonderful risotto with peas and I believe a very light gremolata mixed in, along with a few more stalks of new asparagus. While the osso buco could have used just a touch of salt, it was very, very good. And a lot of it - I ended up not finishing it.

Dessert? My friend got her capucchino (we were sitting at the bar and Ray, the bartender, made she she got lots and lots of extra foam on top!), and a small snifter of 100yo Grand Marnier. Yet again, she chose the hot chocolate souffle with vanilla bean gelato and a hot chocolate ganache. While I love chocolate, and while this souffle dessert is light, it's just too chocolatey for even me. She never finishes it, but she does enjoy trying. :-)

I *thought* I was going to go for the strawberry and rhubarb tart, but when I saw the Pear, Ginger & Cranberry Crostata with vanilla bean gelato and homemade caramel sauce on the menu, I knew that was for me. Oh man this was so good! Not as gingery as I would have liked but still, the perfect end to a great meal! My friend kept looking over at it, and I told her "Stop looking at it - you're not getting any!" Ray, the bartender heard, and said "My, a little possessive, aren't we?" and she replied "You just don't KNOW how she is about anything with ginger in it!" LOL

So maybe that will help the OP decide for their birthday dinner. :-) Dinner and wine was $250 before tip (the wine was $110).