Sunday Lunch in Watertown

[phelana]

We are seeking a lunch spot in Watertown this Sunday. Any recommendations, please?

[veggielover]

So, where did you go? :-)

[Jpan99]

There's also Halfway Cafe on Main Street. Of the ones mentioned above I'd go to Not Your Average Joes. I know it doesn't get favorable Chow reviews but I always like it. I can live on the bread and oil dip alone.

[CookieLee]

How about the Aegean? Their website says they're open 11:00AM - 11:00PM daily.
http://www.aegeanrestaurants.com/aege...

[veggielover]

I think the Aegean is the best bet. It is relatively quiet and she can have a big Sunday meal if she likes and you can have a big Greek salad if you don't want a big meal. There are many older adults there.

[phelana]

Has anyone been to the Aegean lately? The Yelp reviews are abysmal. http://www.yelp.com/biz/aegean-restau...

Mom is a very hip "young" 89 ...I am finding this to be such a challenge....there does not seem to be a place that is a great fit for us considering time and day and options...awell, we will wing it and see where we end up..thanks all..

[CookieLee]

I am a regular at the Aegean. We've been going for many years, and have never had a bad meal. I love their lamb riblets entree. The saganaki is great. They have their own salad dressing, not a creamy one, and you can get it on the side. You can get the feta on the side. The seafood is very good. My dc also vouches for the kebabs.

[StriperGuy]

Most other hounds tend to agree with the poor reviews on Yelp.

[CookieLee]

StriperGuy, when were you last there?

[StriperGuy]

Don't really need to go again. Have you seen any of the recent Yelp reviews. Most folks still find the place pretty terrible.

[CookieLee]

I'm sorry to sound snappish, but I find it frustrating on chowhound when posters dismiss a place they haven't been to for a while. I have to disagree with the reviews of others. I go to the Aegean, about 6 times/year, and have been for about 6 years. It's a family style restaurant. The food is delicious. I go with all ages, and no one I've dined with there has ever complained about anything. The place is always full.

[StriperGuy]

It's been a couple of years. The food was so bad when I went I could not imagine giving them another whirl. Enough hounds have had similar experiences RECENTLY, (see opinionated Chef's recent blech meal) that jibe with mine, and then the Yelp reviews reconfirming.

Life is to short to risk another lousy meal with say Strip T's serving up world class chow right near by.

[CookieLee]

... except that Strip T's which is fabulous, isn't open for lunch on Sunday.

phelena, another suggestion is Joyful Garden, on Western Ave in Brighton. Not too far from the Watertown border. It is Chinese food, a combination of authentic and Americanized choices.

[opinionatedchef]

oooooh, CL, there exist very different tastes in the world. VERY diff tastes. And that's what makes the world go round. Given that, I now know that your and my tastes prob have little in common. I wouldn't return to Aegean ever. I have ordered and tasted the foods you and your husb like, not too long ago, and we will never ever go back; and I will always counsel people to not eat there. But i am really glad that you like the restnt.

[CookieLee]

It's true, we don't like the same resto's, oc. Luckily for both of us, we both have lots of friends who share our tastes.

[LStaff]

I've been going a couple times a year for the last 4-5 years, and have never had a bad meal there. Sure, there's nothing that's going to excite a jaded chowhound -especially when they know the ch approved flavor of the day, Strip T's, is around the corner - but they make solid, straight forward food on a consistent basis in my experience. Love the house dressing there - so light with a nice garlicky flavor - and I can never get enough of those roasted lemon potatoes.

Beats Demo's for sure - and for some things, like roasted lamb, better than the Greek Corner imo.

[Alcachofa]

Have you looked at Stellina?

[veggielover]

They don't serve lunch on the weekends.

[veggielover]

I must admit that I haven't been to the Aegean in about 6 months and it isn't my favorite place in Watertown, but if I was taking my 89 year old mother for lunch on a Sunday in Watertown, I think that this would be the place to take her. One just has to order carefully, nothing too complicated. It is relatively quiet restaurant for conversation, no matter how crowded and you won't have to wait unlike at the Diner or vegan restaurant. Good luck! This is not a slam dunk decision.

[phelana]

honestly, I am not feeling so optimistic or enthusiastic about any of the options...or lack of

[teezeetoo]

I don't know if ethnic will do, but the Wonder Cafe is quite good Thai and is open on Sunday. Right off Main on Mt. Auburn. I have not been to the Aegean in several years so I won't comment on it's current quality. I have never been to John Brewers but if you want burgers, beef and beer, it probably will do. I have never been to Verona's and haven't heard anything that would send me there, but you can go on line and check whether they are open and what's on the menu. Sorry Sunday lunch seems to be so hard to pin down in Watertown! Good luck and enjoy your family.

[Crazy Egg]

Wonder Cafe is Chinese/Taiwanese, not Thai. Right next to Super Fusion 2 (an option for OP that I mentioned in my reply above). For Thai, one would have to venture to Newton Corner (Amarin, which is not open on Sundays) or Waltham (Baan Thai, Lemon Tree, though I do not know their hours on Sunday).

[phelana]

Ok can someone synthesize this for me..it's rather confusing based on recs that are closed, recs for places folks have not been recently, recs that are outside Watertown..LOL..I will buy someone a coffee if they can!!

[Crazy Egg]

Watertown open on Sundays for lunch:
Red Lentil: Vegetarian, Brunch
The Spot Cafe: Sandwiches, soups, breakfast food (pancakes, waffles, etc)
Victor's: Breakfast food
Aegean (some have not been in a while): Greek
Molana: Persian (has kabobs and really good rice)
Wonder Cafe: Chinese/Taiwanese
Super Fusion 2: Japanese (sushi/sashimi decent; cooked food mediocre)
New Ginza: Japanese
Shangri-La: Taiwanese (order from the menu dim sum for weekends brunch)
La Casa de Pedro: Latin American (Sunday brunch)
Not Your Average Joe's: New American

Belmont open on Sundays for lunch:
StoneHearth PIzza: PIzza with other entrees
Gustazo: Cuban (Sunday brunch)

Brighton open Sundays for lunch:
Joyful Garden

I think I got it all. Not too bad in getting it together. Just takes a little patience. :)

[phelana]

Crazy egg, you get the prize and coffee..when are you coming down Cape Cod to claim it...

MUCH appreciation,,,

[Crazy Egg]

You are welcome! Would love to look you up when I am in your corner of MA. :)

[lergnom]

Jasmine is also open on Sundays. Persian food. Same block as Red Lentil. I saw their sign said open.

[mohotta]

It is too bad about Stellina, that would have a been a solid choice. Thanks to CookieLee and L, I will be trying the Agean for lunch soon. Love a good garlicky oil based dressing for my greek salad! I actually work right around the corner from Strip-Ts and am not sure I get the near mass hysteria. We go occasionally for lunch and it is usually pretty good, although the last time I went I got the salad special of the day which which contained cold pasta and shrimp...and that's it. Not much flavor or creativity there. For $9 I was dissapointed. Ducking for cover...

[CookieLee]

phelena, I think it will be totally fine. It's just one meal, and you and your mom will have a nice time together!
Thanks for articulating my feelings, veggielover. :)
mohotta, I think it's the dinner menu where Strip T's shine. That's when the son cooks.

[okra]

CookieLee - Tim (the son) has taken over both lunch and dinner. The latest menus are at:

http://www.stripts.com/

and yes, they are closed Sunday.

[bear]

You can also check out some suggestions from this thread.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/844085

[opinionatedchef]

phelana, is belmont possible (right next door to wattown)?If so, Il Casale is the best of all the options i think. Excellent Italian food. Lots of seafood. Best arancini (risotto balls filled with cheese) in Boston, Friendly, comfortable banquettes (you need to request.), excellent service.In a restored fire station in Belmont Center.

[phelana]

Thanks all..I am driving up from the Cape to meet family in Watertown to visit my grandmother's friend who is celebrating her 100th b day....really prefer Watertown...could do brunch. How is Victor's?

[tartandfit]

Victor's is great for breakfasts, but short on ambience. I'd go with one of the other restaurants mentioned.

[okra]

From what I've seen, the best option might've been Greg's.
821 Mt. Auburn St
Watertown, MA 02472

http://www.gregs-restaurant.com/

Grrr, but they're closed on Sunday!

Popular with those that like decor / waitstaff from 30 years ago. :)

[teezeetoo]

Don't mean to sound like a broken record but Sunday lunch is tough and folks who are responding aren't checking the sunday lunch times: Il Casale and most others are closed. Casa Pedro is, at least, open and Watertown-central. I like Victor's for breakfast but it's regular menu is ho-hum and it is a basic, if likable, diner. Case pedro is a pretty room with booze if you want it.

[phelana]

thanks...trying to synthesize all these great recs. The Spot and Victor's intrigue me. I have given up hope for a "nice" sort of Sunday lunch and can go for a great greasy spoon diner sort of place again if the food is great.

[teezeetoo]

The Spot has excellent food. Victor's has very good diner food, at the breakfast end, and average non-breakfast food. The Spot makes its own soups, etc., and while it is small and not terribly comfortable (think small tables and hard wooden chairs) the food is quite good. If the age of your guests affects their comfort, Victor's has old-fashioned booths, more room, and is more comfortable.

[mcel215]

The Spot Cafe has home made bread and soup. Their breakfast is amazingly good, the lunch menu is pretty basic with sandwiches, etc. But, everything is delicious. It is a very small place and can tend to be noisy and a bit cramped. If that doesn't bother you, then it's great. My DC couldn't hear me much when we went last week. However our Chicken Salad sandwiches were great.

Don't know if they are open on Sundays though.

[Crazy Egg]

The Spot Cafe is definitely open on Sundays. I believe Sunday is their most busy day. It starts getting crowded around 10am. I spoke to the owner's son who waits the tables and he says that is when the after church crowd starts coming in. The crowd starts to thin at about 1pm.

[Aromatherapy]

Il Casale is dinner only.
ETA: I'd check out Molana and Casa de Pedro. Molana has been pretty quiet when I've been, and they're fine with lingering.

[opinionatedchef]

I don't think i've read anyth negative about Red Lentil; lots of positive reviews on CH.Town Diner is across the street, but we lost our love for it a while ago.For dimsum, there are many fans of Shangri-la on Belmont St. The Spot is a well liked brkfst/brunch place in Watertown Sq.

If Belmont Ctr. is possible, StoneHearth Pizza is our wkly appt w/ pizza paradise. And there is a new Cuban resnt w/ Cubano sandwiches as well as full menu, on Belmont St. at School St.

Shangri-La

149 Belmont Street

617-489-1488

[phelana]

are there any Sunday dinner kind of spots vs casual dining..don't need fancy but mom would most likely love a sit down dinner vs sandwiches...great recs for a future trip..thanks

[veggielover]

I am having a difficult time thinking of such a place in the Watertown area. How about a drive to the Wayside Inn in Sudbury?

[teezeetoo]

La Casa de Pedro in Watertown Mall is not a dreadful choice. The room is very pleasant, the bar is decent, and parking is easy. check their menu on line and see if you think it will appeal.

[Stride]

I'm not sure if it's open for lunch, but The Talk on Main Street near Watertown Square might fit the bill.

[Crazy Egg]

Gustazo is the Cuban restaurant opinionatedchef is referring to. They have a brunch, but I haven't checked their menu.

For Sunday dinners: Molana's is a Persian place on Spring Street in Watertown, which is a favorite with our household. In the vicinity, there is Not Your Average Joe's for New American. Okay, but not great. 2 sushi/Japanese places a few blocks from each other right by Watertown Square: New Ginza and Super Fusion 2. New Ginza is a branch of Ginza found in Chinatown. OKay Japanese and certainly nothing close to places like Fish Market. Super Fusion has good sashimi in general. The sushi is quite large. Cooked food is not a strong suit. Do not know whether OP's mom would like the cuisines, but these are the few places I can think of.

[lergnom]

I had lunch today (Sunday 4/22) at Red Lentil. They have a brunch menu that takes their usual menu and adds a few dishes. Vegetarian with some vegan options. One of my favorite places these days because the food, though not exquisite or awe-inducing, is cooked well so the ingredients taste good and yet blend together.

[taterjane]

2nd Red Lentil. I've only been there twice for brunch and never for a non-brunch, but I've loved everything I got. Cute and cheerful room, also.