February 4th 2014: Lunch in Worcester, Dinner in Westborough

Today, I headed out for lunch, checking out Annie's Clark Brunch on Main Street in Worcester. This place is pretty much a simple diner located on the Clark University campus.

The Pilgrim's Pie (layer of mashed potatoes, layer of corn and layer of ground turkey burger) I got wasn't much to look at, and wasn't that great either.

At least I paid less than 5 bucks for it, and it was very filling.

After work, I decided to go to Westborough for dinner before the impending snow storm arrived late tonight, heading to Mirchi for some Indian food. This place has taken the place of Khatta Mitha and Ming III in the town of Westborough, both of which I had visited in the past.  This place, which has a few branches across the States, actually has much of the same decor, recycled from its predecessors.

For food, I decided to try the Punugulu (spongy dumplings made from rice and lentils) for appetizers, and the Gongura Mamsam (Goat cooked in traditional Indian curry sauce with ethnic leafy vegetable) for my main dish.

Punugulu

Gongura Mamsam

One thing about this restaurant is that everything had a significant amount of spice to it, even the starters and the sauces accompanying the appetizer. I guess I should have known, from the 2 chilis in the restaurant name. Otherwise, both dishes were actually pretty good, although the gongura leaves in the curry were a little annoying, as were the goat bones. Overall, not a bad experience at all.

Now to stay at home and out of the way of the snow storm that's coming my way.

January 30th 2014: Dinner at Punjabi Dhaba, Westborough

Today after work, I decided to get my Indian food fix for the week by checking out Punjabi Dhaba in Westborough. I was the only one in the simply decorated place the entire time, a clear sign of the intense competition between Indian eateries in this area. After looking at the menu, I decide to try their Special Punjabi Chicken Naan (made with chicken, ginger and fresh green chilis), along with their Bangan Bharta (smoked eggplant cooked with fresh herbs and spices) dish.

Both things I got weren't  too bad, although I should have asked for a higher spice level for the eggplant. However, due to the simplistic look of the place, there are many others that are better in the area.

January 16th 2014: Dinner at Paradise Biryani Pointe, Westborough

Today after work, I decided to go try out a new Indian restaurant in Westborough, Paradise Biryani Pointe, which apparently is a chain restaurant all over the United States, famous for its Biryani. The place looks a little like a fast food place with simple decor, so I could only hope that the food was better. I decided to get the Gobi 65 (crispy snack made by dipping cauliflower in yogurt cornflour batter made with ginger, cayenne pepper and lime)  for an appetizer, the Goat Biryani (marinated mutton and rice cooked in 30 different spices), and finally the Qubani ka Meetha (Hyderbadi dessert made with apricots and topped with ice cream) for dessert.

Gobi 65

Goat Biryani

Qubani Ka Meetha

The cauliflower was really good, with a spicy kick to it, made even better with a splash of lime. The rice was a little disappointing though, though not too bad either, just not having much flavor. The apricot dessert was pretty interesting though, and I wish I had the stomach to try the other unique desserts on the menu, but could not.

Overall, given the simple decor and the average biryani which should have been the signature dish in this establishment, I probably will not come back again, although I might still want to have a go at those desserts.

December 20th 2013: Fried Seafood Dinner at Harry's Restaurant, Westborough

Today after work, I decided to grab some seafood takeout from Harry's Restaurant in Westborough, getting the Three Way Combo with clam bellies, oysters and sea scallops, and a Cookies and Cream Hot Fudge Sundae.

Three Way Combo

Hot Fudge Sundae

The place was crowded with people when I arrived at the pretty small place, attesting to how good the food here is. The stuff I got was pretty fresh, to say the least. Still a bit unhealthy though.

December 9th 2013: Dinner at Sake Hana, Westborough

Today after work,  I decided to  have dinner at Sake Hana, a Japanese restaurant that has taken the place of Hisa, another Japanese restaurant which I have been to in the past, in the town of Westborough. The decor looks pretty much the same before, and the menu was pretty interesting as well. Still, I decided to get the Pink Mussels (New Zealand Mussels baked with spicy mayo sauce) for an appetizer, and the Autumn of Alaska (spicy snow crab, crunch, avocado, soy bean wrapped salmon on top with pepper honey sauce) and Sake Hana (tuna, salmon, yellowtail inside  topped with spicy crunch king crab, avocado, caviar and gold leaf) Rolls for my meal.

Pink Mussels

Autumn of Alaska (bottom), Sake Hana (top)

The mussels were actually pretty good, and I just slurped up all the spicy mayo from the shell. The rolls were delicious as well, although I wasn't too much a fan of the pepper honey sauce, which was more wasabi than pepper.

Not a bad meal on a gloomy night though.

August 26th 2013: Dinner at Lago Grille, Marlborough

Today after work, I decided to use my groupon at Lago Grille, located within the Holiday Inn in the town of Marlborough. Before that, I decided to go hiking at several places in Westborough and Southborough.

The first place I went to was the Westborough Wildlife Management Area, located at ~246 Milk Street. The path I took here to view the water bodies here is shown below in pink.

The water bodies themselves were not much to look at though.

Next, I headed to the Veterans Freedom Park, which is more an open space field than a proper park, with trails leading to a view of Mill Pond.

The last place I headed to in Westborough was the Hidden Meadow Conservation Area, where the path I took view the water body here after parking at the corner of Long Drive and Cook Street is shown below in pink.

The puddle of water here was not even worth a picture though. From here, I decided to go check out Crystal Pond near 9 Crystal Pond Road in Southborough. In order to get to the pond, one must actually get out of the car and walk a dirt path to it, but as it was getting dark, I decided to bring along my torchlight as well. The path I ran is shown below in pink.

It was pretty dark though when I finally reached the one spot to take the picture of the pond.

From here, I finally headed to dinner in Marlborough.  As one can expect of a restaurant in a hotel, the decor was pretty nice, but on the same note, the number of people here this time of night was very little as well. After looking at the menu, I decided to get the Hand Cut Choice New York Sirloin (center cut, grilled, mushroom demi glaze,mashed potatoes), which came with a side caesar salad as well.

Unfortunately, the sauce was a little too salty, although the meat was tender. Not coming back here again I guess.

Recommended Places to Visit: Westborough

Recreation

Cinemas
Regal Westborough Stadium 12
231 Turnpike Road

Parks

Minuteman Park/Sandra Pond
~90 Upton Road

Shopping Malls
Bay State Commons
24 East Main Street

Beaches
Lake Chauncy
Lyman Street and Chauncy Street


Badminton
Boston Badminton
169 Flanders Road


Hiking
Upper Jackstraw Brook Reservation
End of Isaac Miller Road

Mill Pond Area
End of Fisher Street

Lake Chauncy
Lyman Street near Talbot Road in Northborough

Westborough Wildlife Management Area
~246 Milk Street

Veterans Freedom Park
169 West Main Street

Architecture

Monuments

War Memorials
~45 West Main Street

Soldier's Monument
~30 West Main Street

Memorial
West Main Street and Milk Street

Places of Worship

St. Luke's Church
70 West Main Street

Congregation B'nai Shalom
117 East Main Street

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
183 West Main Street

First United Methodist Church
120 West Main Street

Evangelical Congregational Church
57 West Main Street

Schools
Mill Pond School
6 Olde Hickory Path


Commercial Buildings

Astra Zeneca Westborough
70 Otis Street

Town Facilities
Town Hall
34 West Main Street

Public Library
55 West Main Street


Fire Department
42 Milk Street


Historical Buildings
Old Westborough State Hospital
Hospital Road

Old First Baptist Church
46 West Main Street

Siloam Lodge
12 Church Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Japanese

Sachi
200 Union Street B106
Recommended Dishes:
Duck Buns
Baby Octopus Salad
Paradise Roll
Royal King Roll

Sapporo Korean BBQ and Sushi Restaurant
50 East Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Volcano Roll
Avocado Ball


Korean

Westborough Korean Restaurant
7 East Main Street

Western

Not Your Average Joe's (Chain)
291 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Chicken Marsala

Italian

Arturo's Ristorante
50 East Main Street

The Chateau Italian Family Dining (Chain)
95 Turnpike Road

Tavolino
33 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Wild Boar Gnocchi
Beef Short Rib Ravioli
Cream of Beet and Cranberry Soup


Chinese

Mandarin
132 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Grilled Beef Roll
Oriental Crispy Pad Thai
Exotic Bomba


Breakfast
South Street Diner
38 South Street
Recommended Dishes:
Farmer's Omelette
Cabot Cove Benedict

Christina's Cafe
22 South Street


Indian
Mayuri Indian Cuisine
30 Lyman Street
Recommended Dishes:
Goat Gongoora
Andhra Shrimp Curry
Poori
Tandoori Mixed Grill
Ravva Onion Masala Dosa

Khatta Mitha
291 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Keema Mutter
Jalebi


Tried:
Indian
Paradise Biryani Pointe
127 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Gobi 65 
Goat Biryani
Qubani Ka Meetha


Punjabi Dhaba
164 Milk Street
Recommended Dishes:

Special Punjabi Chicken Naan
Bangan Bharta

Japanese

Hisa Japanese Cuisine (closed)
21 South Street

Tenka Asian Bistro
153 Turnpike Road

Italian

Ziti's
290 Turnpike Road

Western

Outback Steakhouse (chain)
227 Turnpike Road

Uno's Chicago Grill (chain)
225 Turnpike Road

Ted's Montana Grill (chain)
400 Union Street
Recommended Dishes:
George's Cadillac Burger

Chinese

Cheng-Du Restaurant
157 Turnpike Road

Ming III
291 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Crispy Lamb Beijing Style
Kid's Bear
Hakka Noodles


Deli
The Bagel Bistro
72 East Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Turkey Club
Veggie Burger
Pecan Lovin's Bar
Elvis Bar


Seafood
Harry's Restaurant
149 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Three Way Combo
Hot Fudge Sundae

Breakfast
Christina's Cafe
20 South Street

May 25th 2013: Spending My Memorial Day Weekend with My Best Friend

The first day of the Memorial Day weekend started with my friend and I looking for a place to eat breakfast in Westborough before heading to Regal Cinemas in town to watch the movie Iron Man 3. After looking at Yelp, I decided to go with South Street Diner, a really nice place which looks more like an upscale restaurant than a diner.

The place was crowded, but thankfully there was still one table available for us. After looking at the menu, my friend decided to get the Farmer's Omelette (Sausage, ham, bacon, peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes & cheese), and I got the Cabot Cove Benedict (2 Dropped eggs, Maine Lobster, tomatoes & Asparagus on a English Muffin topped with Hollandaise Sauce served with Homefries).

Cabot Cove Benedict

Farmer's Omelette

Both dishes were pretty okay, but I don't think lobster goes well with eggs benedict. I still think this place is worth coming back to though.

After watching the movie, which both of us felt wasn't really that great, we headed home to play some video games. Later in the evening, I had to go to the airport to pick another friend up for the weekend, so my best friend and I decided to get some Korean food at Dabin, a restaurant in Lexington that my friend recommended to me once, and today was finally my chance to try it out. This place  is pretty nicely decorated, and there was quite a few items on the Japanese Korean menu I have never tried before. 

We decided to share the appetizers, getting the Toban Yaki (Seafood and vegetables, cooked on a ceramic plate) and the Sam Sek Jun (Pan-fried cod, zucchini, and shitake mushroom, stuffed with beef). I also got the Fish Egg Nabe (Fish egg stew with house-made hot & spicy sauce), while my friend got the Soft Tofu Geegae (A stew of uncured tofu, oysters and pork).

Side Dishes

Toban Yaki

Sam Sek Jun

Soft Tofu Geegae

Fish Egg Nabe

All the food was really good, and the fish was really fresh. I only thought that the Toban Yaki was a bit too expensive for a few pieces of salmon and vegetables.

With that, we headed to the Boston Logan Airport to pick my friend up, and head home for the night. I ended up sleeping early, as we had All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) driving to do tomorrow in New Hampshire.

February 7th 2013: Dinner at Sachi, Westborough

Today after work, I decided to have some sushi for dinner at Sachi Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Westborough.

This place is really fancy, though not as nice as Feng Asian Bistro in Millbury.










I decided to get the Duck Bun (marinated duck in a steamed bun) and Baby Octopus Salad (whole baby octopus marinated in sweet sesame sauce  for appetizers, while getting the Paradise (spicy lobster, shrimp tempura, fried banana wrapped with soy seaweed with puzu mango sauce) and Royal King (Deep Fried king crab and avocado inside topped with tuna, shrimp, salmon and yellowtail with chef's special sauce) Rolls for my sushi dinner.

Duck Buns

Baby Octopus Salad

Paradise Roll

Royal King Roll

The duck buns which came first were absolutely scrumptious, although it was pretty filling. Next came the salad, which felt disappointingly small, although it was relatively cheaper as well. The Paradise Roll was pretty interesting with the fried banana in it, while the Royal King Roll gave me my dose of sashimi.

Overall, this is definitely one of the better Japanese restaurants in the area, although I still think Feng is the best in the area.