Lunch Tomorrow in Northampton

[BerkshireTsarina]

Not much notice, sorry, but
Two college-age granddaughters, one needs gluten-free, to take to lunch.
Our thoughts:
Moshi Moshi.
Local Burger?
Amanouz?
We've done Noodles and Viva, not on our hit parade. Wondering about Ibiza Tapas, but can't find any information.

Anybody's strong opinions or recommendations?
TIA!

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Moshi Moshi
4 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060

Amanouz Cafe
44 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060

[Foodie_BBQ]

Just wanted to thank everyone on this thread. I was in Northampton this weekend, and took my cues from this and a couple of other threads. I had an amazing foodie day, and wanted to share...

Breakfast - Green Bean was so tasty and fresh. I had the Green Eggs (mixed w Collards / Kale) and my wife had the homemade granola and fruit. We ate every bite. Just the right amount of garlicky bite in the eggs from the greens.

Lunch - I had a lamb kabab sandwich and "Royal Feast" (Falafel, Hummus, Tabouli, etc.). Way too much food for one person, but I wanted to try a couple of different things. The lamb was forgettable (a bit chewy - no real flavor), but the Royal Feast was delicious. So much tasty food for $6 or $7. I would just get that next time.

Snacks / Coffee - I walked around all day so needed some snacks along the way. Haymarket was recommended for coffee, and I also picked up a madelleine (sp?) and chocolate covered caramel cookie. Unbelievable sweets. Really good coffee. Highly recommend it.

Dinner - We went to Paul and Elizabeths and enjoyed that it was "real" food. We shared a hummus salad and had teriaki scallops and a cajun mixed seafood dish both with brown rice. Not what we were expecting to order, but the flavors all worked. I don't know why they charge $1 for bread, but it was very good honey wheat. Shouldn't they just give that away at the table? Strange menu decision. Overall, highly recommended (not sure if that came out in the notes above, so wanted to say it clearly).

Thanks again!

[jzzy55]

Glad we helped you enjoy your time in Northampton. Whenever my family comes to visit they insist on going to Amanouz (where I think you had lunch). My brother in law would eat there three times/day if he could. If you ever try Amanouz again, consider their tagine (moroccan clay pot cooked stews). Those are really their signature and not as widely available as shwarma. Although I suspect that they aren't cooked in the clay pot, just served in one. The chef at Amanouz is very talented (I think he's Ecuadorian or Salvadoran).

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Amanouz Cafe
44 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060

[Foodie_BBQ]

Yes - Amanouz for lunch. Should probably have mentioned that! Thanks for the tip on the tagine. I'll be sure to try that next time.

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Amanouz Cafe
44 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060

[fame da lupo]

Specifically, their goat tagine is incredible (it's a special, not always available).

[BerkshireTsarina]

Ended up at Sylvester's, thanks to one g.d.'s online search for gluten free. So-so okay, pleasant enough surroundings.
Husband and I will get to Paul & Elizabeth and Moshi Moshi ourselves. Yelp commenters do a number (negative number!) on Osaka service which kind of chilled us. But they're not chowhounds; I wonder what the different appeals of Moshi Moshi and Osaka really are.
So far the only restaurants that really meet the high bar are Green Street, Butterfly, and Arigato. And the Williamsburg Snack Shack!

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Moshi Moshi
4 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060

Williamsburg Snack Bar
93 Main St, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Green Street Cafe
62 Green St, Northampton, MA 01060

Paul & Elizabeth's
150 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060

[saintp]

We've always gone to Osaka, but have friends who prefer Moshi Moshi. I guess we are creatures of habit!
Where/what is Arigato?

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Moshi Moshi
4 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060

[BerkshireTsarina]

Oops, I guess it's no fair. Arigato is in Amherst, and we like it a lot. One of said granddaughters is at UMass, so in term time we used to take her to lunch in Amherst (where the dilemma is not much easier than in N'hampton).

[jzzy55]

The Dirty Truth has great burgers and fancy beers. Much better than the Brewery, which feels like a chain restaurant to me, albeit with a nice roof deck. Green Bean has delicious "health" food, which sounds like a slam but I've never had greens cooked as well as they make them there. I happen to like "health food" though when it's well-cooked. Much fresher and more unique than Sylvester's. Also typically just as crowded. I tried Green Bean's sister restaurant (same owners), Roost, once, and it was VERY noisy, something strange about the acoustics. Not a great place for conversation if your hearing isn't 100%. 40 Green Street/Lunch (not the same as Green St Cafe, but nearby) is a gem. Their croissants are the real deal (the chef trained with his wife's uncle, a retired French pastry baker who came to live here for three months). They have nice sandwiches and snacks and have outdoor tables in good weather. Highly recommended. We have hired the owner of 40 Green St as a private caterer too. He's a real pro at nouvelle type food that tastes good.
Japanese food in Northampton is what it is -- far from its roots and rather ordinary. The service at Osaka isn't great, agreed. I have had some terrific hand rolls there but then at the same meal, rolls that taste like nothing at all, although they look beautiful. Bistro les Gras and Eclipse are both good, but pricey, and I'm not sure if they do lunch.
If you are willing to drive about 15 minutes out of downtown Northampton, Bread Euphoria on Route 9 just past the Northampton line going west is delightful. It's a bakery that has expanded into a casual sandwich/salad sort of place. I had a turkey reuben there today that was yummy. Not greasy, just the right amount of meat and kraut, light on sauce. And you can buy wonderful bread and treats to go.

[magiesmom]

Sushi is better at Moshi, though expensive. osaka has a broader menu, the porch is nice, service is iffy. That said, I like Osaka better, maybe it is that Moshi is precious. Both are better than arigato, IMO. I have gotten still frozen fish in Sushi there.
Sylvester's is blah, although pancakes are good. I am sure P&E's has much more gluten free stuff and food is much more real. I would never eat at the Brewery.
Have you tried the new veggie Butterfly? Or Mosaic?
Someone I respect a lot told me the hand cut fries at Scottie's near the VA are excellent and lobster rolls good.

[saintp]

you could try the Green Bean. They have a varied breakfast/lunch menu with lots of options.
Osaka would be great....nice atmosphere.
I would stay away from the brewery. I don't ever recall having a good meal there. The outdoor patio is lovely, though.

[masha bousha]

I love Paul and Elizabeths and I've never had a bad meal at the Brewery.

[rudysmom]

do they like Japanese? what about Osaka?

[magiesmom]

I like all three of those restaurants, though local burger is very spotty.
I'd go to Paul and elizabeth's myself.