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My biggest complaint about Bao Bao is that they close kind of early, and this is precisely the kind of place that you want to visit at night for dessert and a hot drink. They have all kinds of...
My biggest complaint about Bao Bao is that they close kind of early, and this is precisely the kind of place that you want to visit at night for dessert and a hot drink. They have all kinds of Chinese breads and pastries. I don't think they're too authentic, but they are good and very affordable. The Mango Roll is my favorite, with a light and spongy roll, some airy cream, a little bit of real mango in the center, and a sticky mango topping (like an icing, but chewy). They also serve popular bubble teas in a variety of flavors and also hot drinks. They sell Ovaltine and Horlicks (hot chocolates), so the owners are probably from Hong Kong and showing the British influence. The girls that work there are polite. Very casual atmosphere.
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Lots of long tables where you sit pretty close to strangers, and no real decorations, but you certainly can't beat the food for the price. If the Washington Street location is too crowded (and it...
Lots of long tables where you sit pretty close to strangers, and no real decorations, but you certainly can't beat the food for the price. If the Washington Street location is too crowded (and it often is), you can go to their overflow restaurant just around the corner. I don't know anywhere else where you can get a couple of entrees, a pot of tea, and an appetizer for $25 including tax and tip. The Pho soups are filling and delicious, and they have a lot of varieties. The lemongrass is a favorite of mine. The servers are friendly, although sometimes it can take a while to take your order or bring the check (I think this has something to do with the long tables and it being hard to see people). It's a great stop pre or post theatre with the theatre district just a couple of blocks away. The complimentary pot of jasmine tea is wonderful.
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If you are out shopping at Target or Home Depot, then your dining options are pretty limited. Friendly's is an option, and one of your Cheap Eat options. I ws surprised on a recent visit that...
If you are out shopping at Target or Home Depot, then your dining options are pretty limited. Friendly's is an option, and one of your Cheap Eat options. I ws surprised on a recent visit that service wasn't as slow as it had been in the past, and they seem to be making an effort. The host and waitresses certainly were friendly, and they seemed to care whether or not we were having a good meal. For basic dishes, it's about what you would expect. Some of the ice cream things are a bit expensive for what they are, though. We shared a Cookies and Cream sundae that came mostly melted, and we ended up drinking it like a shake (tasty, and I was happy, but husband really wanted a sundae). The appetizers are not very good. Always lots of kids there. Plenty of parking.
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The draw here is definitely the atmosphere: piano bar with Rat Pack inspired decor and props. The restaurant is shockingly small, and reservations on the weekend would be a good idea. The mixed...
The draw here is definitely the atmosphere: piano bar with Rat Pack inspired decor and props. The restaurant is shockingly small, and reservations on the weekend would be a good idea. The mixed drinks were very disappointing and expensive. The food was a mixed bag in terms of quality, from average to barely above average. It isn't cheap, and it really isn't a place to go for the food. The only reason to go is for the live piano music (and there is a "bar" around the piano, which is nice but VERY crowded and too small. In winter if you have some coats you'll feel claustraphobic). There's nothing really wrong with the food, but the price is out of line with the quality for sure. Still, it's a nice place for a date or for an evening out for a few couples. Parking area is a bit confusing and very crowded.
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It's nice to live in a town/small city with a decent local theatre company. Turtle Lane does about 4 shows a year, some very familiar works (Broadway Musicals) and some less familiar. Generally...
It's nice to live in a town/small city with a decent local theatre company. Turtle Lane does about 4 shows a year, some very familiar works (Broadway Musicals) and some less familiar. Generally the quality of the performance is good for a small theater. Occasionally they get people with a really terrific voice. The small stage can pose a challenge for some shows, but they manage. Occasionally they have a show where the seating is cabaret-style, and that's quite comfortable and nice. The place is so small that no matter where you sit, you'll be able to see well. They have discounts for students and seniors, their shows are always available at a discount through ArtsBoston.org, and often they have specials (like a recent 2-for-1 opening weekend special). There is a small bar with some slightly surly bartenders (they offer some food/snacks, but be aware that generally whenever we've tried to order they've "just run out."). There's no place really near to get a meal, so plan to eat elsewhere if you're making an evening of it.
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I stumbled upon this market completely by accident when taking a wrong turn one day. Lucky wrong turn! I'm a sucker for a market stand, so I had to see what was inside. It's a small place, but there...
I stumbled upon this market completely by accident when taking a wrong turn one day. Lucky wrong turn! I'm a sucker for a market stand, so I had to see what was inside. It's a small place, but there is plenty to choose from. Local produce is the specialty, but they have other local products (baked goods, specialty foods, and in the freezer case they carry Captain Marden's Seafood products so you can cook at home instead of going to the restaurant). You have to look closely because you just don't know what you'll find. Friendly service, and you really feel like you're in a local, family place. Great. Prices are quite fair, and occasionally you can get a good deal on sale items. This isn't in a central location, so you need to plan to go there since it's unlikely that it'll just come across your path.
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The move to the new location from their small place on Main Street is very welcomed. Now there's plenty of parking and less of a wait (it's a little confusing where to enter and where to park, so...
The move to the new location from their small place on Main Street is very welcomed. Now there's plenty of parking and less of a wait (it's a little confusing where to enter and where to park, so drive around a bit to familiarize yourself). People really rave about the food, but I think it's only slightly above average. It's been a long time since I've had their paella, but the rice was mushy. The fish dishes end up being a little watery though tasty. They are good about making substitutions. The new location is nicely decorated but is a little loud. Fun drink menu. Portions are average-sized. We've complained about the food in the past, and Pedro was very defensive and a bit rude. Over the years the menu has transitioned away from traditional and basic foods to fancier dishes.
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The store at the Chestnut Hill Mall is really tiny, but there's plenty of stuff to check out. The merchandise is a little on the expensive side, but some things are not too bad, and prices are in...
The store at the Chestnut Hill Mall is really tiny, but there's plenty of stuff to check out. The merchandise is a little on the expensive side, but some things are not too bad, and prices are in line with better cosmetics. You can test most anything, and usually they'll also give you little sample packs to take home. The Shea butter line is very moisturizing. The scents are typical of items from Provence (lavender, honey, citrus). What is disappointing is that they occasionally discontinue an old favorite (like my favorite foot cream). And some items seem like a great idea but then are just okay (an olive paste for the hair was recommended to me, but it was no better than any other conditioner). They always have nice gift packs and holiday promotions. It's fun to look around. The salespeople are very friendly, but sometimes they're a little too helpful.
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The food off the regular Chinese menu (standard fair) is above average. The decor is pretty much non-existent and the place has no atmosphere whatsover, but unless you're on a date or something I...
The food off the regular Chinese menu (standard fair) is above average. The decor is pretty much non-existent and the place has no atmosphere whatsover, but unless you're on a date or something I don't think it matters much. The people who work here are quite friendly and accomodating. The reason to come here is for the Dim Sum, served on weekends until 3 p.m. We arrived one Sunday right at 3:00, but they served us Dim Sum anyway. The food is good, not greasy, and I've been told by Chinese people is quite authentic. The delight of 3 (which is really just 2 different things, so I'm not sure what the 3rd is) was truly delightful (well, one delight was a nutty bean paste filling that was okay, but the other was a nutty honey sesame filling that was delicious -- they are glutinous white balls with a filling. YUM). They're far enough down Main Street that parking doesn't seem to be too much of an issue.
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This place is an absolute must visit if you are a fan of pottery or tile or of the Arts & Crafts movement in general. Try to visit during regular business hours so that you can see the artisans at...
This place is an absolute must visit if you are a fan of pottery or tile or of the Arts & Crafts movement in general. Try to visit during regular business hours so that you can see the artisans at work (it's a small, self-guided tour). Upstairs is a small exhibit of pottery from the Pewabic collection. You can get just about anything they make in the shop (and they also sell a nice selection of tile frames) at quite fair prices. One of the bests things, though, is that they also have a large selection of tiles from other artists, many of them local. If you're a fan of decorative tiles, you'll be like a kid in a candy store (I haven't been anywhere of this type with such a great selection). I had a very hard time narrowing down my purchases. Everyone is friendly, from the parking attendant to the people in the retail shop. It's a bit of an off the beaten path location, but it's easy to find, and is convenient if you're planning to be driving along the lake front.
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