Dorchester Eats

[Fenway_Frank]

Just moved to Dorchester - looking for some guidance and input...

So far we've checked out...
Blasi's (perfectly decent though pretty basic)
Ashmont Grill (generally love it for burgers and brunch though a recent outing yielded some pretty dismal ribs - totally under cooked and really, really tough)
Tavolo (didn't love my one meal there but am planning on going back and trying other things)
dbar (haven't eaten there recently but have enjoyed meals there in the past)
The Ledge (fried calamari was nicely cooked but came with no dipping sauce of any kind which seemed odd. Burger was perfectly cooked)

We've also had good meals from the little butcher shop in Adams Village.

Abby Park, 224 Boston, 88 Wharf, Blarney Stone and Freeport Tavern are on the To0 Try list.
Spukies and Ashley's Breakfast Shop are on the list, too. Common Ground and Sonny's have been mentioned but with some reservations.

What am I missing? Which of the numerous Vietnamese spots are the best at what they do?

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Ashmont Grill
555 Talbot Ave, Dorchester Center, MA 02124

Tavolo
1918 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester Center, MA 02124

Ashley's Breakfast Shop
260 Bowdoin St, Dorchester, MA 02122

Blarney Stone Bar
1509 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02122

Freeport Tavern
780 William T Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA 02122

Abby Park
550 Adams Street, Milton, MA 02186

[MaggieCat]

FlatBlack for coffee. There's a location in Lower Mills and one right at Ashmont Station. Great local company with great coffee. I think they are one of the few (only?) places in Boston that roast their beans in-house. They supply a lot of restaurants in Boston. Pastries aren't bad either.

[cannedmilkandfruitypebbles]

I've always like the atmosphere of 224. but if you go, stick to the simple menu items. They regularly strech beyond their culinary capabilities and anything listed between $18-22 seems to fall short of expectations.

[MaggieCat]

224 is fine but (IMO) rarely impresses, even with the standard menu items. Just went on Sunday evening and my husband really did not care for his fish cakes (although I didn't try them). I had the salmon and it was just really basic, not exciting at all. I agree the atmosphere is nice though so it's probably worth stopping in.

[Pegmeister]

The only place I would say to avoid is Freeport Tavern, the food rarely measures up. It's a nice spot for drinks though. As for Sonnys, I'm a fan. They make a good Irish breakfast, steak n cheese sandwiches are great especially if you ask for it in a toasted wrap. They also do a good job with baked stuffed shrimp and I also like the eggplant rollatini. Pizzas, not so much. Harp & Bard on Dot Ave just did a major reno and feedback has been good although I haven't been yet. McKennas on Savin Hill is a popular spot for breakfast. Lastly, take a drive out of Dorchester and head to Quincy for the Fat Cat. It's definitely worth the drive.

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Fat Cat
24 Chestnut St, Quincy, MA 02169

Harp & Bard Restaurant
1099 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125

Freeport Tavern
780 William T Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA 02122

[C. Hamster]

Sonny's does have a nice clientele -- like P-Meister!!

[Delhiwala]

You have a pretty good list of the best places in south Dorchester.
In addition, you may also want to check out places in Quincy, since some of these places are quite good, have free parking, and are not that far away by car (e.g., Pho Hoa, Quincy Dynasty, Punjab Cafe and (although this one is somewhat controversial) La Paloma)..

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Quincy Dynasty
49 Billings Rd, Quincy, MA 02171

[C. Hamster]

The Common Ground is weird and the food is really bland, but I guess it would have to be on the list. Sonny's food isn't very good. Go to drink and watch a game and order something that you won't be upset about if it's no good. Freeport Tavern -- meh. Bring your aging aunt and uncle.

Blasi's is a better choice, but IMO has gotten a bit expensive for what is served.

dBar should definitely be on your list. They serve good food.

Mrs Jones for take-out.

Shanti is pretty good but again with the pricy for what you get.

You should drive to Quincy and go to Fat Cat, for sure.

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Fat Cat
24 Chestnut St, Quincy, MA 02169

Freeport Tavern
780 William T Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA 02122

[MaggieCat]

Put Mrs. Jones at the top of the list!

[Pegmeister]

Agreed about Mrs. Jones, nice bbq. Just had ribs the other night along with some sweet potato pie, yum!

[tallullah]

We attempted Fat Cat a few weekends ago and encountered a 2 hour wait at 5:30! We couldn't even squish into the bar to get drinks. It was crazy.

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Fat Cat
24 Chestnut St, Quincy, MA 02169

[Fenway_Frank]

And I forgot to ask - what about Latin American fare? Any little taquerias or that kind of thing that we should know about? This is the farthest away from an Anna's that I've ever lived.