Another Summer Comes to An End

It is amazing how quickly these summers go by. It seems like yesterday that I was kicking off the summer with a Memorial Day trip to Maine. And here it is, almost Labor Day already.

It was a good summer, restaurant-wise. I found some great finds (Duck Creeke Tavern in Wellfleet, Pepe's Pizzeria in New Haven, CT, Loaf and Ladle in Exeter, NH, Dock n Dine in Old Saybrook, CT, and many others). I also returned to some of my favorites (Buffalo Head in Forestport, NY, Docksider Restaurant in Northeast Harbor, Maine, the Dan'l Webster Inn in Sandwich, and Pipes Cafe, way out in Cardiff, CA).


I also got to do a rather unusual trip to Connecticut, hitting several classic hot dog stands, cheese steak joints, and ice cream stands. We hit Doogies, Al's Hot Dog Stand, Super Duper Weenie, Glenwood Drive-In, Kool Cow, and Pepe's, all in one day! I felt a bit sick the next day, but it was worth it, as it was a memorable trip. My favorite? The dogs at Al's Hot Dog Stand, although Pepe's Pizza was amazing, too.

I hope to hit some more good restaurants this fall, including a few more new ones. Perhaps I'll find some classic New England restaurants during fall foliage, which (egads!) is only a little over a month away.

Good Restaurants for Fall Foliage Touring in Northern New England

It's about time once again for (gulp) the cooler weather and the leaves turning, especially in Northern New England (some areas already have some red maples turning). I hope to do a couple of trips up north over the next month or two.

I have some favorite restaurants up north, such as the Foxfire Inn in Stowe, VT, the Red Parka in Glen, NH, and Eaton's Sugar House in, well, some part of Vermont! (near Randolph, I think). Does anyone out there have any other favorites? I'd love to find a place or two that is like the Foxfire; that is, old, New England-y, rustic, and so on.

I can't wait to get up there in September. Stowe, Jackson, NH, Rangeley, Maine, and so many other spots are beckoning me right now!

Decent Boneless Buffalo Wings at Donohue's in Watertown

We went to Donohue's in Watertown on Friday night had a few beers, and some boneless buffalo wings. While their boneless wings aren't quite as good as Cambridge Common in Cambridge, they are very tasty, and go well with pitchers of brew.

If you like spicy boneless wings, their hot sauce is excellent. It won't set your hair on fire, either (though some people like their boneless wings that hot).

Donohue's is a really fun place to go. I head over there a lot these days, whether it is with my softball team or with friends from the local area. It's also a great place to watch a baseball game, though these days, I'd rather not be watching!

New Review for Simco's in Mattapan is Up

Finally, I added a review of Simco's Hot Dogs in Mattapan onto the Boston's Hidden Restaurant site. Simco's is a classic hot dog stand that has been in Mattapan for many decades. They recently opened another one in Roslindale, but to me, the original is the one to go to, as it truly feels like a slice of Americana, with the big ice cream cone sign next to it and its location on Blue Hill Avenue right next to a railroad bridge.

Simco's is one of my favorite places for hot dogs in the Boston area. It's definitely worth checking out!

Another Great Meal at O'Sullivan's, Somerville

We made a trip over to O'Sullivan's in Somerville last night, but this time, I did not get a burger (which they are known for, by the way). Instead, I got their steak and cheese, which was excellent.

Last week, I got their tuna sub, which was also very good, and a few weeks ago, I got their chicken BLT--again, very good.

O'Sullivan's may be all about the burger, and they ARE outstanding, but they have some other worthwhile options on their menu. And, of course, they have all kinds of beer, which is a very good thing.

Let Me Know About Your Favorite Restaurants Around the Country

I have a section on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site that allows readers to tell us about their favorite restaurants in the Boston and New England area. This section, however, is not limited to the Northeast; indeed, we have entrees from places as far away as Chicago and Aruba.

We would love to hear about your favorite restaurants in other parts of the country, or even outside of the United States. Go to our Viewers' Favorite Restaurants section to post it onto Boston's Hidden Restaurants. Thanks very much!

-MH

The Quiet Man Pub in South Boston Is Closing?

I just heard that The Quiet Man Pub in South Boston has been sold and will probably be torn down to make way for condos. We had just gone there two weeks ago and absolutely loved both the steak tips and the turkey tips. It's too bad that they will be closing their doors. Hopefully the owners will open a new restaurant somewhere else.

For now, I guess I'll be going back to C.F. Donovan's in Dorchester, the New Bridge Cafe in Chelsea, Cronin's Publick House in Quincy, and Joe Sent Me in North Cambridge for my steak tips.