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Quote:

Originally Posted by lancebanyon (Post 20128782)

If anybody has any recommendations for great restaurants within about 50 miles of Boston that might provide an outstanding dining experience (maybe even off the menu?), please PM me. Will be back in Portsmouth, NH in March...We mainly look for off the beaten track, non-chain, places, for example, Joe's Boathouse in Portland, although it looks to be taking a beating in the online ratings of late...we liked it the last time there

Just up the road from Portsmouth, NH:

http://www.arrowsrestaurant.com/index.cfm

^

Quote:

Originally Posted by geo1005 (Post 20140305)

Just up the road from Portsmouth, NH:

http://www.arrowsrestaurant.com/index.cfm

^

Well, it looks good anyway, but not open until April. Will try to hit it on the next visit.

By the way, geo1005, you've been to this place - is it not clear what sort of restaurant this is before you go there? I only ask because the TA reviews are so typical of people who go to high end places then ..... about the prices. My favorite quote of one diner paraphrasing another "All I want is a salad with blue cheese and a steak.."

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancebanyon (Post 20143935)

By the way, geo1005, you've been to this place - is it not clear what sort of restaurant this is before you go there? I only ask because the TA reviews are so typical of people who go to high end places then ..... about the prices. My favorite quote of one diner paraphrasing another "All I want is a salad with blue cheese and a steak.."

Sorry to have missed the "closed until April" part!

Arrows is upscale. The chefs are big on local ingredients and freshness across the board. They are also very flexible with the menu in that you can mix and match from their pre-set menus with no problems.

Regarding TA, I question the validity of those reviews all the time. And I don't pay much attention to them quite honestly. Most of the posts come across as complaints about a restaurant not being what someone expected rather than the restaurant not being good at what it tried to accomplish. There is a big difference IMO.

A steakhouse review from someone who doesn't eat in steakhouses regularly and uses The Outback as their point of reference is not really helpful. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by shizzy (Post 20128569)

The only true menu-less restaurants I've been to were in Italy also. Though when I go to Japanese restos I usually just do Omakase style and let the chef take care of us. It adds that element of anticipation and surprise to your meal which for me, adds to the whole experience.

Family run restos in both cases, with chefs and proprietors who tend to be proud of their origins and skills. Korea is also a good place to try this approach...

Quote:

Originally Posted by fwoomp (Post 20104434)

I've been to a Chinese place in San Francisco that just brought food when they were very busy (which was most of the time). The waiter would ask initially about some basic things you did/didn't want--chicken? Yes! Beef? No! Spicy? Yes!--and bring food accordingly. Their food was very, very good, so it tended to work out!

House of Nanking?

My family has been going to this place in NYC for 40 years.

No menu, but the meal is always the same.

Great price point for the quality and quantity.

The only issue (for some) is that the decor is straight out of 1965, but it sets the stage well for the meal.

http://www.marchirestaurant.com/