A good place to dine south of Boston?

[roxlet]

We're in the Milton area and just had a hideous meal at a restaurant in Milton. It looked nice, but wasn't, and I can't remember the name because I tried to forget it as soon as possible. Right now I have a reservation for Legal Seafood for tonight, but I would love to find something a bit more interesting without actually driving into Boston, since I don't know the city at all. We're open to almost anything -- Italian, Bistro, Thai -- anything good where we can get a rez for a Saturday night.
Thanks all for your help!

[kobuta]

Did you hit Abby Park? Not a lot in Milton. South Shore has a number of good options, if you don't want to drive to Boston, but most right in the neighborhood tends to the casual vs. nice space or fancier locations.

Nicer places:
Tosca in Hingham - great food, nice room - might be packed so need to call for a resv.
Sintra in Braintree - it's been a while for me, but laid back restaurant, good food when I was there
Siros in Marina Bay - nicer restaurant, though haven't heard an updated review in years
Alba in Quincy - I recall some nice reviews, but none recent again

Really casual, not sure reservations avail, but I like their food:
Basta Pasta Enotecca - really like their homemade pasta
Fat Cat in Quincy - bar/pubby feel, but nicer; excellent comfort food

Lots more recs at this thread about South Shore: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/685786

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Fat Cat
24 Chestnut St, Quincy, MA 02169

Sintra
906 Washington St, Braintree, MA 02184

Siros
Marina Bay, Quincy, MA 02169

Abby Park
550 Adams Street, Milton, MA 02186

Basta Pasta
150 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171

[roxlet]

Yes, I believe it was Abbey Park. Ick, and a server who must have said "awesome" about something each time he returned to our table.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe I will see if I can get a rez at Tosca. Is that Italian Food?

[roxlet]

No dice on Tosca. The only rez they have is too late for us...

[roxlet]

I made a reservation at Siros, which sounded quite nice on their web site. Thanks for the help!

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Siros
Marina Bay, Quincy, MA 02169

[roxlet]

We ate at Siros. We liked it, didn't love it, but felt it was definitely the best restaurant we have eaten at in the area. Very credible, but not outstanding...

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Siros
Marina Bay, Quincy, MA 02169

[kobuta]

Thanks for the update. Tosca is great by the way. Yes, more Italian. Worth trying again to go there - it's a really nice comfortable lively space and great food.

[teezeetoo]

pho yuen dong is very good vietnamese - not fancy and don't count on much by way of service. but the food is darn good.

[Pegmeister]

There are a lot of good suggestions here, especially the Fat Cat in Quincy Center. The Fat Cat is consistently good, nice gastro pub atmosphere. I would add Port 305 at Marina Bay which is relatively new. It's owned by the same people as Siro's but is much more casual. They have beautiful views of the ocean and Boston Skyline and some of the best fried clams I've had in recent years. Lobster sliders and steak tips are good as well. I would pass on Basta Pasta they just don get it IMO. Asmonth Grill and Tavalo are good suggestions if you don't mind a short drive. In that area I would add the Ledge Kitchen. Also, if you like Tosca in Hingham, I'm sure you would like Cafe Tosaca across the street. It's more casual and has a smaller menu but their pizza is quite good as is their lobster mac & cheese.

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Fat Cat
24 Chestnut St, Quincy, MA 02169

Siros
Marina Bay, Quincy, MA 02169

Basta Pasta
150 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171

Port 305
305 Victory Rd, Quincy, MA 02171

[trufflehound]

Is the Jury Room still around and is it good? A few doors away from the Fat Cat.

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Fat Cat
24 Chestnut St, Quincy, MA 02169

Jury Room
39 Cottage Ave, Quincy, MA 02169

[jjbourgeois]

Jury room is long gone. They had a good start, but let their good chef go and cheapened their menu. Kama Lounge is now in that space. Never been, but never have seen a crowd there.

[jjbourgeois]

I would hesistantly recommend Tosca. Two, maybe three years ago I would give them a glowing recomendation. But lately the menu is tired, little change and just a rehash of previous years menus. The chef has become tired and lacks the culinary ambition he displayed years ago. You can't go wrong with a pizza there, but anything else is pretty pedestrian and for the price point, definitely not worth it.

[T.Clark]

So true. When I see a Tosca rec I wonder if the poster had been there recently, or are they going on past experience, or are they regurgitating media hype. I have seen Chef Long referred to recently as Co-Chef or something. He has his hands full with the Casino gig and Eat Well's other ventures so I can understand the drop off. But even still Tosca garners lots of attention and I scratch my head.

[CocoDan]

Was actually heading Tosca Saturday night, but wound up at Sapporito's Florence Club Cafe in Hull with good results. Very well made cocktails to start with the daily special pizzetta topped with ricotta, mozzarella, spinach and mushrooms. Delicious! Next was the little necks in an herby broth and spices. Very nice (and fresh). Dipped the home baked pane rustica in the broth to finish it off. A half order of cavetelli with pine nuts, raisins and perfectly cooked broccoli was plenty to round out my dinner. Can't imagine how big a full order would be?? Wine list by the glass was adequate, service was very acceptable. All made for a very nice dining experience. Will be going back soon.
Enjoy,
CocoDan

[T.Clark]

That's good to hear. I went shortly after the ownership change and wasn't thrilled. I guess I should've cut them some slack. It wasn't bad, but it just wasn't at the previous level (over cooked pasta/fish). I'll try it again soon based on your experience. I've always liked the quirkiness of the location/space/name. My wife and I had a standing "date night" there once a week back in the day. We never liked the uncomfortable straight back bench seats but we always loved Maryann's cooking.

[CocoDan]

I agree about the straight back booths, which is why we took a two top with chairs. My wife had the mushroom soup special and we shared the other items I mentioned. Also, the party at the table next to us were ooing and aahing over their meals. Would like to hear your take on it. A fun, quirkie place.

Maryann's Hola small plates bistro in Marshfield is quite good and we get there occasionally.
Enjoy,
CocoDan

[T.Clark]

I like Hola. Also kinda quirky. I heard they expanded a little but haven't been in a few months...maybe before summer.

[cannedmilkandfruitypebbles]

great summer time place. Hola is solid.

[GretchenS]

We find Tosca pretty reliable except on Sunday nights when I think the head chef is not in the kitchen. Agree it's not ambitious but reliably good food, and we've been 5 or 6 times in the past few months. And yes, that pizza is really good!

[T.Clark]

I haven't seen Kevin Long in the Tosca kitchen (for those that don't know it's an open kitchen) the handful of times (weeknights) I've been this year. I used to be a regular when I lived up that way so I've asked for him.
I agree the food is reliably good, but I'm with JJ's thinking that it's a premium price for just good. The wine list is and has always been in gouging territory.

[Pegmeister]

What are your thoughts on Cafe Tosca? I like it because it's more casual, and I love their lobster mac & cheese. When I was there over the summer the bartender suggested ordering a half portion for just $10. There was plenty of a lobster so I was perfectly happy with it. They also do a good pour.

[Delhiwala]

You really should should try the Ashmont Grill and Tavolo in Dorchester. Both of these places are a short drive from Milton, and have very good food and service.

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Ashmont Grill
555 Talbot Ave, Dorchester Center, MA 02124

Tavolo
1918 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester Center, MA 02124

[winedude]

Cafe Bella in Randolph is really good, but it doesn't take reservations, and the wait on a Saturday can be an hour and a half or more.

We like Bon Caldo in Norwood, right on Rte. 1, for upscale Italian, fair prices, great wine list.

Aquitaine in Legacy Place in Dedham is good for French Bistro food, nice atmosphere.

Davio's in Foxboro at Patriot's Place is an exact duplicate of the one in Boston, right down to the high prices, excellent service, and very good food.

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Davio's
75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116

[cannedmilkandfruitypebbles]

Square Cafe in Hingham- Taken the place of Tosca as the best in Hingham

Tosca and their cafe in Hingham- still good despite some, ocassionally valid, criticisms

Bia Bistro in Cohasset- small bistro that has a really nice setting. Food can be inconsistent..

Scarlett Oak in Hingham- They have a great bar area with two top tables. I like it as a casual Steak Frites type of place. Never enjoyed eating in the dinning area.

224 Boston Rd. in Dorchester- The food won't blow you away but i've always like the atmosphere.

Oro in Scituate- Very good creative american food. The setting is more modern than you tend to find on the South Shore but it's not over the top- very nice room and excellent food.

El Sarape in Braintree/Weymouth Landing for respectable Mexican food.

Fat Cat in Quincy for a burger and beer kind of night.

Great Chow in Wollaston for good eat in chinese..

Fuiji in quincy for sushi...but for the love of god....I wish they would spruce up the dinning space. Food is great but the space is getting a bit tired.

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El Sarape
5 Commercial St, Braintree, MA 02184

Fat Cat
24 Chestnut St, Quincy, MA 02169

Bia Bistro
35 S Main St, Cohasset, MA 02025

Great Chow
17 Beale Street, Quincy, MA 02170

[emilief]

Have not been but Summer Shack has a new location on South Shore- I believe Hingham.

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Summer Shack
310 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210

[cannedmilkandfruitypebbles]

The Bar area at Summer Shack is nice.

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Summer Shack
310 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210

[southofboston]

My two cent list for restaurants close to you:
Caffe Bella, Randolph
Isabella's, Dedham center
Delfino's Roslindale center
Ashmont Grill, Dorchester
Possibly 224 Boston St. though I haven't visited in quite a long while.

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Ashmont Grill
555 Talbot Ave, Dorchester Center, MA 02124

Caffe Bella
19 Warren St, Randolph, MA 02368

Delfino Restaurant
754 South St, Roslindale, MA 02131

[catsmeow]

Townsends in Hyde Park is very good. It can get pretty booked on weekend nights, so suggest calling first. I think they take reservations. Annabelle's just opened and I haven't been yet but the owner of the now closed CF Donovan's that was in Savin Hill is rumored to be actively involved.