Billy’s Roast Beef and Seafood (Melrose, MA)
A
Oh, how I wish Wakefield could claim Billy’s as our own; alas, it belongs to our neighbor Melrose. Growing up in the Greenwood area of Wakefield, you know that Billy’s is the best roast beef and fried seafood in the area, and beats Kelly’s hands-down.
The prices have gone up over the years, like anything else, but they’re still reasonable, especially when considering the quality of the food. On a Friday during Lent, after weeks of pizza, Billy’s is a glorious change of pace. The fried seafood is crispy and hot, the rolls are buttered and grilled golden brown (many argue that the roll itself is the best part of a clam-strip or scallop roll, and I must say, I agree), and the fries and onion rings are flavorful and a perfect accompaniment. Don’t like the bounty of the sea? No problem– Billy’s has plenty of other options, particularly their roast beef sandwiches. The meat is warm and tender and the roll is soft. I like them with ketchup, but I’ve seen people pair the Perfect Roast Beef Sandwich (yes, the capital letters are completely necessary) with barbecue sauce, mustard, mayo, or just plain ‘ol salt and pepper.
Trust me, if you’re in the Melrose-Wakefield area, make a beeline for Billy’s Roast Beef and Seafood, although you may be better off calling ahead, since it’s always hopping.
There are a few tables off to the side of the restaurant for eating there, but most people order for takeout, which is what I would recommend. Dan (my boyfriend, you’ll be hearing a lot about him) and I went on Friday night, and our dinner was graced with the presence of six middle school-aged girls, who were, shall we say, talkative. I prefer a more relaxed environment, so again I recommend taking Billy’s home and watching a good movie while you eat.
Speaking of movie… that brings me to my next point. I love when transisitions work out that well- I swear I didn’t plan it.
Shooter (with Mark Wahlberg and Danny Glover)
$$$$ 1/2
Go see it now. If you even remotely like action or conspiracy theory, this film will be worth your time. Don’t like action? Go anyway. Mark Wahlberg is generally excellent and quite believable in his role of Bob Lee Swagger, retired Marine Corps sniper.
I wasn’t as impressed with Danny Glover, but he made a decent bad guy. I was a little confused by his mouthpiece or whatever it was- it made him sound like he was wearing a retainer, which he might have been. I’m not sure if it was for character development or if it was for personal reasons; nonetheless, it was a bit irritating as it slurred his speech.
The plot moves quickly and carries you along its twisting turns. I love a good bit of conspiracy theory, so I found Shooter fascinating and thought-provoking. Can we really trust the government? I’d say “yes,” on most occasions, that there are enough people in politics who are truly trying to do good in our country, but there are always those who you know you can’t really trust. And I wouldn’t be surprised at how much information is out there but is so classified the American people have no idea anything’s going on.
But that’s a bit of personal rambling and has little to do with the movie, so let’s get back on track, shall we? I heard that Mark Wahlberg went to Army Sniper School as preparation for his role, which did him a whole lot of good. From what I understand about Sniper School, it’s no carnival, nor is it remotely easy. Nor should it be! The training that Wahlberg either witnessed or participated in made him all the more believable in the role, even if some of the situations he finds himself in require a fair amount of suspension of disbelief.
Without a doubt, though, the coolest thing is watching Wahlberg (or his professional sniper stunt stand-in or, most likely, the computer) hit his targets. There’s a whole lot of blood spraying out of backs of heads, so be prepared if that makes you squeamish at all. And a whole lot of Zapruder-type repeated replays of an assassination.
All in all, I would say: GO! If not, definitely rent/buy the DVD as soon as it hits stores. This is a flick I plan to purchase ASAP.
