Eatables

The other day my husband Lee and I were out shopping, and on our way home we passed a local Chinese restaurant. We’ve heard good things about it and whenever we drive by, we usually say we should give it a try sometime. Well, sometime happened and we actually went!

Cuisine: Chinese, sushi, Japanese (for lunch)
Avg rice: $8-$15 per entree (less for lunch)
Atmosphere: Family friendly
Pros: Courteous service, prompt seating, free delivery
Cons: n/a
Rating: 9 out of 10

United Chinese Restaurant is a local, family owned business with two Colorado locations: one in Broomfield and the other in Thornton (the one I went to). Admittedly, the interior was nicer than I expected, they even had a relaxing fish pond near the entrance. The atmosphere was well lit and family friendly. The background music wasn’t obnoxious and the seating was comfortable. Our waitress was great too—attentive and quite speedy. Being somewhat unfamiliar with Chinese cuisine, she took the time to explain certain dishes and made recommendations. She even offered us some Chinese hot tea; definitely not something I would have ordinarily tried, but it turned out to be quite tasty!

As per our waitress’ recommendation, Lee and I decided to go with the United Family Dinner for Two (version A), which provided us with a variety of different dishes. First thing up was the perfectly sized wonton soup, served with fried wonton chips. Next was the United platter appetizer which had a little bit of everything; my particular favourite was the Beef on Skewer; the meat was tender and juicy, and I loved the sweetness of crust. Following our large, delicious appetizer were our two flavourful entrees: sesame chicken and garlic three meat (shrimp, beef, and chicken). Our waitress was kind enough to serve the fiery chili sauce on the side (yummy, but too spicy for me). There was certainly no way we could finish all this food, but it made for great leftovers!

They also have a sushi bar, complete with cocktails, which we didn’t try out (at least not yet) and a decently priced lunch menu. They offer free delivery to orders over $15, so they seem like the perfect place to order in for lunch while at work or for a night in at home. I definitely recommend you try them out; they have great food, pleasant service, and a comfortable atmosphere, not mention great prices for the amount of food you get!

During my stay in Boston, my husband and I tried a few different local restaurants. The next few posts will be my review of each restaurant.

My first review is of Joe’s American Bar and Grill in Franklin, Massachusetts. Joe’s provides a well-lit and relatively quite atmosphere, friendly to families but no so much on the romantic side. They have a bar offering several different types of drinks and a menu offering a variety of American staples like steaks, burgers, and fresh seafood.

Cuisine: American
Price: $20 or less per entree
Atmosphere: Family friendly
Pros: Courteous service, prompt seating
Cons: Food was so-so, uncomfortable seating
Rating: 6 out of 10

As an appetizer, we ordered New England clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. It was quite delicious with a rich, creamy stock. The chucks of clam were fresh and meaty. The bread bowl was a wonderful compliment to soak up the chowder.

For the entree, I had filet mignon with a baked potato and caesar salad. The filet mignon was cooked to my specifications, but it lacked an overall flavour. It was rather bland, lacking any sort of spices or flavour whatsoever. I honestly felt I could make a better steak at home and would not recommend it. My husband had the the crab cakes, which also lacked a variety of flavours. The sides were could have been better. Overall, Joe’s wasn’t bad, but I wouldn’t be expecting a huge culinary treat.

When I want delicious Italian food I go to Maggiano’s Little Italy. They have good service, the prices are decent (even better when you split the generous portions), and the atmosphere is romantic with Sinatra playing in the background and low lighting. I highly recommend reservations, especially on the weekends. It can get a little crowded between the tables so go for an early or late dinner to avoid the typical dinner rush.

My food recommendations

Bombalina Platter
An assortment of appetizers, including stuffed mushrooms, crispy zucchini, bruschetta, and spinach artichoke al alforno. This appetizer is a nice way to sample several different appetizers. The bruschetta is particularly delicious.

Chicken & spinach manicotti
Savory crepes filled with chicken, ricotta cheese, fresh spinach and asiago cheese; topped with alfredo and baked until bubbling and golden. This dish is absolutely amazing. Later this week I may feebly attempt to recreate it.

Creme brulee
Ladyfinger cookies soaked in espresso and coffee liqueur layered with mascarpone cheese; dusted with cocoa powder and served with chocolate. This dessert is a very rich and luxurious finish to your meal. Certainly a dessert to share.