I have been a very bad blogger and haven’t updated for a loooong time, so I decided that I needed to change that.
I haven’t been out to see very many movies lately, so I’m going to skip the movie reviews for a little while, because I plan to see Spiderman 3 and Shrek the Third very soon. I have been out to eat a lot lately, since the past two weekends I’ve had a graduation and a wedding, so people like to take me out. Any time I can have a meal for free, I’m all over it. The problem is, I can’t remember them all, but I’m going to review All Fired Up Pizzeria in Barre, VT, Waterbury Wings in Waterbury, VT, Joe’s American Bar and Grill in Woburn, MA, and Brother’s Restaurant and Deli in Wakefield, MA.
We’ll start with the food since I’m hungry and they tend to have a larger impact on my opinion.
All Fired Up Pizzeria: A-
Oh, if only there were more space for bigger parties and quicker service. I’m not usually a huge pizza fan, so I was a little hesitant at first to go with a bunch of Dan’s friends before a ball a few weeks ago. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. The Meat Lover’s Pizza had just the right balance of meat, cheese and sauce so that it was hearty but still easy to manage. The pizzas come in one size, and it’s perfect to split with another person, or eat by yourself if you have a larger appetite. We went back with another large party- Dan’s friend’s family from Colorado- two weekends ago, and I was even more impressed. I split an All Fired Up pizza with Dan, and now wish I had found it sooner! The All Fired Up pizza features a thin crust, white sauce, fontinella cheese, caramelized onions, and prosciutto. It may sound a little “gourmet,” and I would normally stray away from “designer” pizzas, but I can’t recommend this pie enough. I’m going to have to figure out the recipe so I can make it at home. If you’re in the central Vermont area, I definitely recommend heading over to Barre’s Depot Square and grabbing a pizza and locally-brewed Vermont beer– All Fired Up features Long Trail and Magic Hat, both great beer brands. I enjoy Long Trail’s Black Beary Wheat, but I’m not 100% positive they serve it at All Fired Up. I first had it at Waterbury Wings, our next location.
Waterbury Wings: A
The bartender and waitstaff was extraordinarily friendly, the food was excellent, and the prices were perfect. My only gripe is that it isn’t closer to home. Waterbury Wings also features Vermont beers, and has 30 different types on tap. If that’s not enough variety for you, check out the 20 different types of wing sauces! The bartender and waitstaff were really friendly and helped our large party (again, I know… maybe I should try going out in a smaller group sometime) figure out which were the best and even gave our friend Will a friendly warning on the Fire sauce, coming back to check on his progress– he’ll tell you that they’re probably the hottest wings he’s had. I had the 5 oz. boneless chicken chunks with mild sauce since I’m a bit of a chicken- no pun intended- and don’t like to fuss with the bones. They were perfect bite-sized pieces, and absolutely fantastic. I also had the Black Beary Wheat Long Trail, as I mentioned earlier, and was looking forward to trying the Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, but one of the kegs wasn’t quite finished, so it wasn’t ready. The guys I was with sampled the Switchback and Magic Hat Singlechair, both of which earned rave reviews. We also had plenty of Medium sauce on the wings, which was apparently very tasty, and a roast beef sandwich that disappeared before I could ask how it was, so my guess is that it was good. If you’re in the area, definitely check it out, and if you’re not in the area, check out www.waterburywings.com for the full menu and other information.
Joe’s American Bar and Grill: C-
I have only been to Joe’s one other time, and I remember it being bland. That was a few years ago, so when my family proposed dinner there with my visiting grandparents, I mentioned the iffy food, but only in passing. I should have been more vocal. Generally, I can tell how good the food will be at a restaurant by the quality of the bread it serves. Joe’s bread was delicious. The food was not, so I might have to reevaluate. I had the Angel Hair Primavera with Shrimp, which looked delicious, and was all right, but it was lacking something. It needed more garlic and less lemon, I think. I’m going to try to replicate the recipe at home with the same ingredients- angel hair pasta, shrimp and matchstick veggies- but tweak it for more flavor. My clam chowder was good, but nothing to rave about. My iced tea was very tasty, but I only ordered it because I was trying to find a list of beers on tap in the menu- there wasn’t one. No one in my party of 7 was particularly impressed with his/her meal, ensuring me that it’s not my prejudice against the restaurant from the first go-round. We were all squeezed in at a table that normally sits 4 comfortably, but had wings to expand to make room for 8. Let me tell you, there is no way that 8 adults could comfortably sit at that table and eat dinner. If you’re in that area, skip Joe’s. TGI Friday’s up the street is tastier, from what I remember… looks like we have another location to review!
Brother’s Restaurant and Deli: B+
Brother’s is a Wakefield staple. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all in the same line-up-decide-what-you-want-and-tell-the-man-behind-the-counter-what-you-want-ASAP-type format. The minute you step up to the counter, the same man will ask “What can I do for you today?” in his friendly tone, but make sure you know what you want, because he’ll skip over you if you take too long. Those who have been to Brother’s know the drill, but it’s daunting for newcomers. It just takes some getting used to. The food is great, the prices are reasonable, and the service is always friendly. Just don’t go if you’re hungry on a Sunday morning for brunch, since you’ll be waiting in line for at least 15 minutes, usually more. It’s worth the wait for bunch, though. the French toast, eggs, hash browns, bacon, omelets, sausage, and on and on are all excellent. I haven’t been for lunch or dinner in years, but I remember a chicken or turkey club also being delicious. If you’re in Wakefield and you’re looking for brunch, head straight to Brother’s. Just be prepared to rattle off your order once you hit the counter.
Check back next time, where I’ll review a few movies to balance things out!
