Restaurant Review
Has everyone had some time to go to The York River Landing in York, Maine? (150 US Route 1 ). If you have not been there I highly suggest making a trip over! We went for lunch a few weeks ago and not only is the location on the water…just gorgeous, but the food and service were top notch!
We were seated in the bar 
area by the window, next to the fireplace. What a great place it was on a snowy winter day! The fireplace was going, the trees filled with snow and the water outside glistening. We had the menu in our hands, water at the table and crackers with a tomato butter ready for us to snack on! I really liked the York River Landing menu, it was not huge, very easy to follow and something on there for everyone no matter what you might be in the mood for!
Jim started with a couple of oysters! I don’t care for them, so it was great to see that you could order just one for $3.00 or 6 for $16.00 (or more). This was served promptly and delicious just as expected!
I decided on ordering the fish taco trio ($14.00), I loved that these fish tacos were made with 
breaded haddock as that is my favorite fish. This also has mango slaw with a sriracha aioli for a little bit of heat! The fish tacos were excellent, crispy, sweet and spicy, all in one bite. I was not able to finish my portion and brought it home where Robby promptly finished it and expressed how delicious they are! I could not agree more.
Jim had the blue cheese burger ($13.00). This is served with arugula, carmalized onions and of course blue cheese. This also had waffle friess on the side. Jim ordered this cooked medium and it came out spot on, cooked just right! That does not happen often so it’s always great when it happens. The addition of the arugula added that peppery flavor and the onions the sweet flavor. Jim really enjoyed his burger and I would not be doing the entire meal justice without mentioning the waffle fries. I don’t typically like waffle fries very much but these were very good, crispy on the outside and perfectly soft on the inside. Jim offered me one but I found myself reaching over for a couple more…so glad Jim likes sharing!!
We did not have dessert this time as we were both full from lunch but after eating there I am looking forward to going back and having not only lunch or dinner, but a dessert!! If the lunch is this good I can only guess how terrific the dessert would be!!
I can’t end the post without talking a little more about the menu. The menu is not huge but has great selections. I mentioned how much I enjoyed the waffle fries…well guess what? They have Irish nacho’s using their waffle fries instead of the chips! I think those would be very tasty!! They also have your typical boneless chicken tenders, plain, buffalo and a cayenne BBQ flavor for a twist.
How about soups and salads? Yup! Those too. Clam chowder or lobster bisque anyone? How about a roasted beet salad or maybe Caesar or Arugula? I would not mind any of these options!
They also have prime rib on the menu. I have heard from other friends that have been there the prime rib is excellent. Other options are grilled chicken, lobster roll, pulled chicken, buffalo chicken wrap, steak tip wrap, mac and cheese or maybe you would like marinated beef tips?! So many great items to pick from!
I also need to mention the variety of seafood dishes. They offer a seafood jambalaya with lobster, shrimp and sausage.
One of my all time favorite dishes to order is Alfredo but they have a lobster and shrimp Alfredo. They are speaking my language with that dish! Shall I also mention the fishermans platter, lobster pie or how about the lobster dinner? Great seafood is definitely expected in any restaurant and York River Landing does not disappoint!
If you find yourself in York Maine, stop in at York River Landing…you will be very happy you did! Feel free to find them on the web and check out everything they have to offer.
Enjoy!
Have any of my Salem, NH friends been to the Tuscan Kitchen Restaurant and the Tuscan Market? They are located at 67 Main Street (along with a location in Burlington Massachusetts) and the restaurant is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. I have been to the restaurant and absolutely love it. The menu has the most amazing pizzas, panini’s, salads , fresh pasta, cod, ribeye, risotto and chicken to just name a few. I would also mention the desserts are made in house and are just as spectacular! I thought I might share a little bit about the market! Are you wondering why?? Well, the BIG news is that the Tuscan Kitchen and Tuscan Market are coming to Portsmouth NH! I can’t even begin to contain my happiness with this as the new location will just be a stones throw away! I will give you a little more info on the new location a little later, but let’s get on to the Tuscan Market!
You already know I am a huge fan, so every time I go to the Salem Mall I grab my cooler and put it in my trunk so I can bring home some tasty food! The Market also has a small cafe inside and serves much of what the full restaurant serves! Amazing right?! The market is open everyday at 8 am.
I will admit when I walk in the market, I am like a small child at Christmas with the various selections of fresh made bread, imported cheese, cured meats and the most scrumptious desserts and gelato as you can see by the picture to the left. My family knows that when I get home we will be having some kind fresh pasta, home made sauce, meatballs and of course some Italian cookies! Everything I have bought from the market has been delicious. In fact a couple weeks ago I was feeling a little lazy and had bought some already prepared sausages with peppers and onions so we could simply heat and serve. Even the prepared food is full of flavor and delicious! They also offer catering, a cooking school and a full website that you can order a number of items and have them shipped directly to you! The Website: http://www.tuscanbrands.com/
Now on to the Portsmouth NH location. The location broke ground on December 9, 2015 at 581 Lafayette Rd. This location is going to be their biggest location at 17,000 square feet. This location will be slightly different as they will be open for breakfast as well lunch and dinner daily. They will also have a patio and will bring nearly 150 jobs to the area! If things stay on schedule they are looking to open this fall! I’m not counting down or anything! So to friends close to the Salem, NH and Burlington, MA locations go and check them out and to my Portsmouth, NH friends stay tuned for a fall update and review of the new location!
Enjoy!
I can’t believe it has taken me so long to review the Roundabout Diner in Portsmouth N.H. It is one of our favorite places to go anytime of the day or night! The Roundabout is located at 580 US Highway 1 bypass, Portsmouth traffic circle in Portsmouth NH. They are open 7 days a week starting at 5:30 am. One of the things I love about the Roundabout is that they serve breakfast all day and with breakfast being my favorite meal, I know I can go here and get a delicious breakfast anytime. On the day my friend Rosalie and I went it was in fact breakfast time, so that is what I am reviewing today!
Because I have been there many times and know the portions are huge, I ordered a short stack of banana walnut pancakes with a side of maple sausage. The pancakes for me are about as perfect as it gets! They are soft, fluffy pancakes filled with bananas and walnuts drizzled with real maple syrup! This is the best way to start the day. BUT, that’s not all, the maple sausages are best sausages around! No joke! First off, they are huge, second they are locally sourced in Vermont, but most importantly they are tender, sweet with the maple, and down right delicious! I have actually bought a case of these sausage’s from them when we were expecting out of town guests.
My friend Rosalie had the Mediterranian omelette with hash browns and a grilled English muffin with a side of the maple sausage as well! Rosalie’s portion was huge and just as tasty and filling as my breakfast. The Roundabout Diner’s menu is absolutely gigantic! They have everything you would expect at a diner and more! They even have blue star specials Sunday through Thursday! Sunday’s you can get all you can eat ribs for just $14.99. Did I mention the diner is brought to you by the same people that brought you Muddy River Market Place, as well as the Chill Catering Company! If you know anything about Muddy River you know the ribs there are crazy good, mouthwatering and tender!
I should also mention that the Roundabout Diner has won several awards ncluding one from the Phantom Gourmet for their BBQ, so not only is breakfast terrific but you will not be disappointed in their lunch or dinner plates either! I can’t possibly list everything on the menu but the breakfast variety alone is amazing. The pancakes ,with a number of add on’s is a great place to start. You can add Maine blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, brown sugar, walnuts, granola, strawberries or shredded coconut! Great variety! They have French toast, lots of omelettes and some terrific looking specials including Monte Cristo, steak and eggs, breakfast bowls and oatmeal
Are you wondering about eggs benedict? Or “Ben’s Addiction” as they are called on the menu. They have a great variety including the classic benedict, portobello benedict, pulled pork and even a salmon cake benedict! I have had the classic benedict here a number of times and it’s perfectly cooked everytime! I also love the full list of breakfast sides you can order, including the maple sausage, eggs, short stack of pancakes, grilled cornbread, bagel and cream cheese, sugar cured bacon, applewood ham as well as baked beans to just name a few!
If you are thinking about having lunch or dinner? You will love the variety for that as well. They have some great hand crafted appetizers like the bleu cheese chips for $9.99. The chips are house made with blue cheese, cheddar cheese and scallions served with ranch and blue cheese dressing! How about truffle fries, chili cheese fries, sweet potato fries? They have all of that too! Soups and salads are not in a short supply either. Clam chowder, chili and vegetable soup will satisfy you on a cold New England day. The choice of salads is phenomenal with the classic’s Caesar, House, Asian, and spinach. You can also add grilled chicken, pulled pork, salmon, tuna and sirloin. If you are looking for sandwiches and burgers there is no surprise that you have plenty to choose from! Corned beef Ruben, salmon cake, BLT, Cuban, hot turkey, meatloaf, pulled pork, grilled cheese and lobster roll are just a few sandwiches that can be had. Classic burger, mushroom onion and Swiss, black and blue along with the chili cheese burger are also some filling tasty options!
As with many diners you can also get some retro classics such as chicken pot pie, fish and chips, chicken tenders and a New England favorite…the lobster mac and cheese. The Roundabout also offers several signature entrees to choose from grilled salmon, sirloin steak, turkey dinner, country fried chicken, pulled pork and turkey meatloaf. Earlier I mentioned their number of breakfast sides…well the lunch sides are no different, lots to pick from! Fries, beans, mashed potatoes, slaw, sweet potato fries and onion rings to just name a few. I should also mention they have plenty of kids meal portions!
It is hard to imagine dessert after their large portions and so much to pick from but you will love their house made desserts just as much as everything else on the menu! What is not to love about wild Maine blueberry pie or how about the banana cream pie that was featured on the Phantom Gourmet?! Maybe ice cream on a hot summer day, sundae’s, brownie sundae’s, banana splits, frappe’s, malts and floats! The Roundabout Diner is a favorite of our family and a true NH gem!
Enjoy!
A few weeks ago, Jim and I took some time out to have lunch at Cafe Mediterraneo at 119 Congress street in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I have been by this restaurant many, many times and it is always super busy. We went on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch and we were able to get right in and have a front table by the window to watch the hustle and bustle going on outside. The restaurant itself is very well kept and very clean. The table was nicely set with water, warm bread and menus in our hands as soon as we were seated. The lunch menu had a number of things to choose from, but I went with one of my all time favorite dishes, Fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp ($18.00) and Jim chose the Italian Sub ($9.00).
The Fettuchini Alfredo is made with their special blend of cream, romano cheese and butter. You can add chicken or shrimp as I did. This lunch did not disappoint… it was excellent. The pasta was cooked perfectly, shrimp just right and the cream sauce was rich and flavorful! Excellent dish !
Jim’s Italian sub was filled with spicy cappicola, salami, mortadella, fresh provolone cheese, lettuce, onions and red peppers…this was also very good. There was not a crumb left when Jim was done! The bread was just right and filled with some of the most flavorful meats available, the cheese was just the right amount to balance all of that meat! Excellent !
I had some time to look over their menu and I already want to go back as there is so much more to try. They are open for lunch and dinner with daily specials. They had some great looking appetizers. Everything from bruschetta ($9.00) with garlic bread, tomato, basil, red onion and balsamic to an antipasto plate ($12.00) with assorted Italian meats and cheeses, hot cherry peppers, mixed greens and a balsamic vinaigrette. They have a number of house specials as well, these all looked fabulous! Pork Osso bucco ($22.00), seafood risotto with muscles, lobster, scallops, shrimp, spinach roasted red peppers, black olives in a feta cream sauce ($24.00), or how about a roasted half duck ($22.00), maybe baked salmon ($22.00) or another one of my favorite dishes lobster ravioli ($19.00). So many great house specials, this is just a glimpse of what they have! They have a number of pasta, seafood, chicken and veal dishes.
If you are looking for something a little smaller they have plenty of soups and salads to choose from as well. The Cafe Med soup ($5.00), Pasta e Fagioli ($5.00), along with Caesar salad ($6.00), Caprese salad and a house salad with tuna, eggs, cucumbers, tomatoes and black olives on a bed of mixed greens ($8.00).
So if you find yourself in Portsmouth, give Cafe Mediterraneo a try, they do have a website and also take reservations at 603-427-5563.
Enjoy!
Have all my local friends noticed the new pizza place in town? Dover is not in short supply of pizza places, but not all of them deliver. If you have kids or teenagers pizza delivery just has to happen sometimes! Suppa’s is located at 368 Central Ave. in Dover. This review is mixed as there are some good and some could be better things happening here. The first thing was when I pulled up the website for the menu and phone number, the phone number on the website, the 978 number is for their Massachusetts location! The number for Dover is 742-9283. So not a great start as I called the Massachusetts location!
The food! Their menu is huge! I mean really huge, I always worry with a menu that big is the food really any good?! Well with two adults and two hungry teenagers we ordered two large pizzas. We had the meat lover pizzas (small price is $12.75 and the large price is $18.25). This pizza had hamburger, sausage, ham, pepperoni and bacon! This will certainly fill you up! Our second pizza was the Taco pizza ($11.25 for a small and $15.75 for the large). The taco pizza has mozzarella cheese, hamburger, salsa, nacho chips with lettuce and tomato and a side of sour cream. Great flavors happening!
We ordered the pizza for delivery, it was just that kind of day! The delivery driver was prompt and very courteous , this part was going very well until we opened the pizza boxes. Both pizzas had been flipped on their sides dropping all of the toppings to one side of the pizza. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT! But we were all tired and hungry so we dove right in and ate the pizza. I will say that I did not call to let them know this happened but I have a feeling if I did it would have been taken care of as everyone I had interactions with were very friendly and accommodating.
On to the pizza. The meat lover’s pizza had plenty of toppings and the flavor was great. This is a hearty pizza that will fill up any hungry teenager! The taco pizza also had plenty of toppings although it did not fair as well as the meat lover’s pizza. That is why I don’t have a picture, but what we pieced back together was very good! The crunch from the chips were a great addition and the fresh lettuce and tomatoes were very refreshing! Overall excellent pizzas!
The menu, have I mentioned, is gigantic ! I can’t possibly list everything on it but will give you a run down!
The menu has all, of the usual cast of characters, pizza, specialty pizzas some of the speciality pizzas include a breakfast pizza, Hawaiian BBQ pizza, chicken Alfredo and a Greek pizza. Speciality pizzas range in price from $8.75 for a small to $24.25 for a large. They have a number of calzones, salads, and potato skins!
They have a HUGE amount of sides orders with the price ranging from $2.00 to $10.99 some of the sides include fried pickles, jalapeño poppers, spinach artichoke bites, garlic bread, spicy fries and broccoli cheddar bites.
They have hot, cold and speciality subs, sub prices range from $4.50 to $10.00. Some of the speciality subs are philly steak and onion, bacon double cheese and a heart stopping porky revenge that has steak, pepperoni, ham, bacon and sausage! Club sandwiches and pasta is also offered.
WINGS! No pizza place is complete without wings. The wings prices range from $6.99 to a whopping $52.99 for 100 wings! Now that’s a party! They also have a few flavors to choose from buffalo, honey BBQ, BBQ, spicy Asian and sweet teriyaki! Not a bad variety!
Last but not least dinner plates and lots of them! Chicken finger dinner plates, stir fry, ribs, steak tips, cheeseburger hot dogs and hey, how about some seafood?! Haddock, shrimp or seafood platter!!
So although the menu is huge the pizza we ordered was very good overall. Fixing the phone number on the website and pizza not turned on its side would have made this experience better. The service was polite and prompt, the menu is endless and I think wearing your sweatpants is a must, although you could get a salad but a salad at a pizza place?? Nope not for me! Pizza all the way!
Enjoy!
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