663570 Fri Oct 30 12:10:46 -0700 2009 5 12 Boston Area 0 5143489 I am not a huge grilled squid or even octopus fan, preparing fried or stewed preparations. However, our waitress at Abbondanza recently only told us the entree specials, then when she covered another table mentioned the appetizer specials they included Grilled Calamari and Vinegar peppers. I had already almost ordered the fried calamari, so this got my heart racing but how to order it after starting into our main course (with plenty of bread preceeding it). In any case another table ordered it -- it came with nice whole tubes of squid (pretty curved tubes), lettuce and other items. And I think the grilled would go a lot better with their vinegar peppers (they have a strong vinegar bite, not very spicy, shaped more like a bell -- possibly a st nicks or cheese pepper) than a RI style. I'll have to go back to actually try it, but I know a couple of hounds who would be into this. Their pork chop and vinegar peppers is also one of my favorite (more like I am used to: just chops with peppers and potatoes, not like Vinny's), good baked stuffed seafood, sausage and rabe... so plenty of reasons to go to Abbondanza, but I got excited with this and a couple of other appetizers that she mentioned. Fri Oct 30 12:10:46 -0700 2009 12962 itaunas 1 5150877 I'm going to have to try this. I've been obsessed with grilled calamari since I had a really good version at piccolo nido. I actually preferred it to fried. Mon Nov 02 18:47:47 -0800 2009 5143489 23376 nsenada 2 5151280 In the recesses of my mind is the memory of a super fresh calamari grilled over wood, eaten at a roadside resto in Spain in my youth. It was that good... I'd eat it over Madelaines any day. Tue Nov 03 02:03:31 -0800 2009 5150877 10169 StriperGuy 2 5152668 nsenada, keep in mind its the Abbondanza in Everett, not the Norwood Abbondanza II/Cafe. I was hoping that today I would get back over there to give this a try if still being offered, but it didn't happen yet. Like SG I have had some excellent fresh wood-grilled squid, but most that I have had is a disappointment. I do try to avoid lousy fried calamari though, in my preference to fried I am thinking of places that do it properly and don't serve it with marinara sauce. Tue Nov 03 12:14:46 -0800 2009 5150877 12962 itaunas 3 5152731 Remembrance of squid past...must make the trek to Everett. That combination of char and perfectly-cooked calamari tubes has ruined fried calamari for me. Tue Nov 03 12:40:16 -0800 2009 5152668 23376 nsenada 4 5152904 Proust is probably rolling over in his grave, but I laughed out loud at that one. Tue Nov 03 13:21:46 -0800 2009 5152731 10169 StriperGuy