Wednesday, June 3, 2009

California Pizza Kitchen

California Pizza Kitchen is an American family style restaurant in Wellesley, Massachusetts. When you walk inside you will notice painted pizza boxes usually painted with ingredients such as scallions, tomatoes, and olives in special glass cases with spotlights beaming down on them. You will also notice the big yellow-tiled pizza hearth in the kitchen. The seating is a combination of booths and tables. Both booths and chairs have comfortable cushions. On the tables you will find salt and pepper shakers, a small stack of little plates for appetizers, and two forks and a knife wrapped in a paper napkin. There are windows in the front, but the blinds are usually down and the view is only across the street. While you eat you might hear talking, soft music, and sometimes even kitchen noises. You can also order take-out on the phone and have it delivered to you in your car.

The food at California Pizza Kitchen is to die for. Starting off with drinks you can go from a fizzy Diet Pepsi to a refreshing glass of ice-cold lemonade. For appetizers, their soft fresh white bread with cold smooth butter is amazing. So is their warm artichoke dip with crispy large chips.

For main courses you can go from a casual chewy fusilli pasta with tangy warm tomato sauce topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese, to a fancy mouthwatering Portobello mushroom ravioli served with your choice of amazing marinara sauce or creamy fettuccini. My brother usually gets the Hawaiian pizza with delectable pineapple chunks and crispy Canadian bacon. My mom usually gets the half size Chinese Chicken Salad packed with juicy chicken and cold crisp lettuce. For dessert, I enjoy getting the M&M Sundae with a scoop of soft vanilla ice cream served with warm gooey hot fudge with little tasty M&Ms and topped with fluffy light pillowy whipped cream. When you leave, you will be so sad you will want to come back soon for more.

The service at California Pizza Kitchen is amazing. When you first walk in there is a host or hostess dressed in black showing customers to their tables. Usually there is no wait at all so getting to a table is quick. Servers, wearing a white long sleeved polo shirt with a nametag and a pair of black pants, will greet you with a friendly smile and tell you their name. They will also bring over adult and kid menus. They’ll ask you what you would like to drink and then give you some time to look at the menu. They are always on top of what the specials are and will suggest a meal if you are having trouble picking one and you usually only have to wait 10-15 minutes for your food to arrive.

If you like authentic food, friendly service, and a great place for family, the California Pizza Kitchen is the place to go.

Cast Iron Kitchen-Maynard, Massachusetts

The Cast Iron Kitchen is an upscale home cooking style restaurant in Maynard. In the restaurant there is one big room with a bar to the left and straight-ahead are the booths and tables. On the brick walls are lights and framed pictures and candles. The tables have pretty comfy chairs and the booths are sweet. On the tables are flowers, the wine list, silverware, and the dessert menu.

When you walk into the Cast Iron Kitchen, your jaw will drop when you see the food. Start off your meal with an ice-cold glass of water or a bubbly Sprite. This will certainly quench your thirst. The best appetizer in my opinion is the artichoke hearts. They are deep-fried to perfection and are served with a creamy Ranch like dressing. For an entrée you have to try the Steak Fritz. When your teeth meet the meat, you will think it is a piece of heaven from above. The steak is served with a special chunky sauce that tastes great. When you think dessert, you will automatically think of the Brownie Sundae. The thick chocolaty, soft, sticky brownie is so yummy it will melt in your mouth. A scoop of French-vanilla ice cream sits on top of the brownie, which is topped off with a thick, rich, and gooey chocolate fudge sauce. After that filling meal, you will always want to come back for more!

The service at the Cast Iron Kitchen is good. The servers know the menu and give you great suggestions on what to pick. The servers always serve the food with a smile and get the food orders right. They are fast and efficient and the food they serve is hot and delicious.

The Cast Iron Kitchen is a great place to be if you want mouth-watering steak. This is the reason why I recommend the Cast Iron Kitchen.

Chang An- Concord, Massachusetts

Chang An is a Chinese restaurant in Concord, Massachusetts. When you walk in through the double doors, the first thing you see is a marble statue of a Terracotta Warrior and a big check in/pick up desk waiting for you. Off to the left are a bar and a small dining room. The bar, which serves appetizers and drinks, has high leather stools and a shiny wooden countertop. Tables sit about six feet behind the stools for parties and celebrations.

The main dining room will make you speechless. For seating, you have the choice between comfortable green leather booths or wooden chairs. Windows surround the dining room, adding plenty of light. The view is a garden, but behind that is a busy street with cars zooming up and down. While you eat you can hear glasses clinking, dumplings sizzling (if you are right next to the kitchen) and the sounds of people enjoying their meals.

The food at Chang An is indescribable. If it is hot out, you can start off your meal with a crystal clear ice-cold glass of water, or a fizzing bubbly root beer. For appetizers, you can order steamed dumplings with vegetables and soft doughy bread cooked to perfection on the outside. If you want your appetizer cold, you can order the noodles with the amazing thick peanut sauce.

The entrees are superb. You can order the Four Treasures Vegetables with scorching peapods, golden water chestnuts, and baby corn in a drizzle of brown sauce. Also available is the incredible tofu, served again, with brown sauce. At last, for desert, you can get a free Fortune Cookie, or if you would like to pay for desert, you can order the perfectly scooped ginger or chocolate ice cream. When you leave you will feel full, but you should promise yourself that you’ll come back again soon

As soon as you walk in the front doors, a friendly host or hostess greets you and leads you to your table. When you sit down, you are handed a menu. If you want to try something new, you can ask the server who will be wearing black pants, a black vest, and a white shirt, what it tastes like. Your server will bring your food in 10-15 minutes and they always get your order right.

If you like tasty food and superb service, Chang An is the place for you for lunch or dinner.

Chez Henri-Warren, Vermont

Chez Henri is a French restaurant in Warren, Vermont. Inside the restaurant is a theme of how to make Vermont Maple Syrup with painted murals of old-fashioned people carrying big barrels of sugar maple sap.

At Chez Henri there is a regular dining room and a nice dining room. Even though you don’t have to dress up, a lot of people do. The tables have a tablecloth on every table and the seats are padded and comfortable. There are candles, flowers, menu books, place setting, and sugar on every table. There are no windows except for one in the front of the restaurant with the view of the ski mountain where you can see Snow Cats grooming the mountain. The mellow music soothes the mind. Don’t miss the fireplace in the middle of the regular restaurant and the mirror right next to it.

The food at Chez Henri is to die for. If it’s a hot summer day you can get a nice fizzy Coke or a sparkling Pellegrino. For some appetizers you can get a juicy stuffed mushroom or a long, slender breadstick right out of the oven. For some salads you can get fresh crispy Romaine salad with Roquefort dressing or you can get a Caesar Salad with Caesar dressing.

The entrees are amazing. Try the lemony Escargot, cheesy Cheese Fondue, and delicious Beef Fondue. The server brings a pot with oil in it and lights the flame. Take your fondue fork and cook your own tender beef. For the Cheese Fondue, there are thick cubes of heavily baked bread to dip in cheese. For dessert you can get Chocolate Fondue or exploding lava cakes with brownies on the top.

As soon as you walk in the door a host or hostess greets you and leads you to your table where you are handed a menu. The servers wear snow-white shirts and jet-black pants and always remembers what each person ordered. Even though they make you wait ten minutes for your order, the food is very rewarding.

If you like French food, Chez Henri is the place to go where everything is just perfect. From the escargot to the delicious lava cake, nothing can be better than Chez Henri.

Crossroads Cafe-Acton, Massachusetts

Crossroads Café is a family restaurant in Acton, Massachusetts. Inside it is decorated with Red Sox pictures and antique photos from the 1900’s.

The seating inside is a combination of booths and dark wooden tables. The booths have good leather cushions and the tables have black wooden straight back chairs for your back. The condiments on each table are ketchup and sugar. In addition to the main dining room is a bar with tall stools where you can enjoy a drink. Crossroads is a great place to eat.

The food at Crossroads is amazing. If it’s a blazing hot day you can cool down with a bubbly Coke or cold refreshing milk. For an appetizer you have a choice of freshly baked bread, hot homemade soups, a chilled shrimp cocktail, and crunchy salad with extra croutons and fresh cucumbers.

The entrees at Crossroads are fantastic. I usually get the grilled foot long hot dog with crispy French fries. My Dad gets a juicy cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato. My mom gets a Cob Salad with salty bacon and egg. My sister gets a grilled chicken sandwich with green beans and mashed potato. For dessert you can get a giant three-layered chocolate cake or an ice cream sundae. Another dessert they have is rice pudding.

The service at Crossroads is fantastic. As soon as you walk in the door, a host or hostess greets you and leads you to your table. If you are having trouble picking out a meal, they will help you. Then you only need to wait 10-15 minutes to get your food. The servers at Crossroads are very generous. If you spill your drink, they always give you another one.

If you like family restaurants, Crossroads is the place to be.