The new Papa Razzi location in Framingham doesn’t disappoint.  Having visited the first night of their opening, I expected to have less than average service but was delightfully surprised.  Papa Razzi and the restaurant group was smart enough to move some veteran staff from other locations to the new Framingham location to insure that the service experienced at the new location would be as high quality as their other established locations around Massachusetts.

The wine list is markedly Italian but interesting and different and they even offer several wine flights to give lesser known varieties a try. 

The gnocci and ravioli were quite good and the offerings on the menu had a nice offering of Italian dishes to choose from.  There are specials every night that differ and the menu should be sure to offer something for even the most discerning palette.

The atmosphere is upscale but still warm and the bar area is large enough to accomodate 18 at the bar with several hi-tops surrounding it. 

I would recommend that if you are in the mood for a nice Italian meal with a warm atmosphere and accomodating staff, to give Papa Razzi a try.

A small children’s menu is offered however, the atmosphere is less accomodating to families over other local restaurants.

Not yet reviewed. Feel free to share your comments here!

Not yet reviewed here. Feel free to share your comments!

Review on yelp with link below.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/yama-japanese-restaurant-wellesley

Recommended for: Couples, Large Parties, Private Functions, Lakeside Dining, Bar Scene

Food: Excellent

Service: Excellent

Cleanliness: Good

Wine List: Excellent

Beers on Tap: Just OK

Prices: Appetizers $9, Salads $5 - $7, Entrees $15 - $24

Awards: 2007 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence

Alicante is a Lakeside, upscale casual restaurant that serves contemporary Spanish, Mediterranean/Iberian cuisine.

The first thing you notice when driving to the restaurant are the cars lined up and down the street, then it’s the full lot. Luckily, there’s complimentary valet parking available. Upon entering the restaurant, the smells of garlic, lemon and fresh rosemary wash over you as if to let you know you’re in for something special. The atmosphere is inviting with vaulted ceilings in the dining room containing properly spaced tables with white cloths and brilliant blue glassware.

The menu consists of a wide range of Mediterranean and Spanish items that one might describe as “comfort food”. Stuffed artichokes, bacon wrapped scallops, mushroom caps stuffed with crabmeat and the calamari are all worth a try for appetizers. At my last visit, a special consisting of a veal chop stuffed with Maine lobster made my night. Portions are usually large enough to take a second day’s meal home with you.

The servers in the dining room are what you would expect at a fine dining establishment, very professional and informed.

Alicante also has a bar scene, although it is a different experience than in the dining room. There is a small area of cocktail tables and a horseshoe bar. Trying to find a seat at the bar is as hard as parking legally in Boston but eventually someone pays their bill while a small crowd builds up behind them jumping at their stools like an adult game of musical chairs. They pump music into the area at a level that makes it hard to talk but most people don’t seem to mind, not even the healthy percentage of pre and post retirees that claim one end of the bar.

Although Alicante is a bit of a drive from any major highway, if you’re in the mood for a satisfying meal with an ethnic flair, this restaurant is worth a try. Dining al fresco by the lake will be available this summer.

http://legalseafoods.com/index.cfm?cd=LOCATION&pid=11279&cdid=11848

Reliably fresh seafood with innovative preparations is what Legal Sea Foods is all about. Although Legal Sea Foods is a chain, they do a great job at masking that well with a funky neon, and brightly lit decor, excellent service, and freshly prepared seafood and fish. The Framingham location has established a relationship with a small cheese shop in Wellesley as well bringing in a variety of unusual and hard to find cheeses for an appetizer or after dinner delight.

The wine list is very good, often bringing in new selections each season. You can choose a wine flight as well here and the waitstaff does a fantastic job of describing the wines before trying them. The staff also knows the menu well and is very comfortable offering suggestions based upon your mood.

Legal’s does offer a kids menu. Although you won’t ever find the place packed with little ones, you can feel comfortable bringing the family here. And for business travelers from out of town, looking for that authentic New England clam chowder or crab bisque, you will find it here along with fresh lobster and a variety of other seafood and fish dishes to choose from. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, try one of the salads and have grilled shrimp or fish topped on it. One of my favorites is the pear and blue cheese salad with a bit of grilled shrimp. Legal’s knows how to cook and not once have the shrimp ever come out to me at anything less than perfectly cooked.

Legal Sea Foods can be expensive depending upon your ordering preferences but it is well worth the cost for the fresh and pleasantly prepared meals. A great place to go for a business dinner or lunch with out of town clients.

http://www.fireflysbbq.com/Marlborough.htm

View the review of the Framingham location. Link below.

http://metrowestbostonrestaurants.com/category/framingham-restaurants/fireflys-bbq/

http://www.altastradarestaurant.com/

Located on Rt. 16 in the heart of Wellesley center you’ll find Alta Strada (which was once the home of Fig’s). The friendliest and most attentive waitstaff that I’ve encountered in a long time. Customer service was excellent and the staff is hugely knowledgeable about the offerings. Our server even knew the wine list well enough to describe the grapes and the regions in which the selections came. Impressive for the ‘burbs.

The menu is well comprised of Italian selections from anti-pasta starters, a good selection of salads, pizza, and pasta dishes from which to choose.

I ate out with a group of 5 and we all enjoyed our meals. We started with a homemade ricotta appetizer served with sage and olive oil along with some marinated eggplant. I recommend the ricotta. It was wonderfully creamy with just the right amount of sage. We sampled a chicken dish, beef, pasta, and seafood dishes which were all well prepared and tasty with proper portion sizes - not the crazy overloaded plates you’ll find at some Italian restaurants.

The restaurant is a bit tight. Tables are close together and the restaurant does tend to get a bit loud on a weekend night. Alta Strada tried to counter this by lining the brick walls with acoustic tiles to cut down on the noise but it doesn’t help much. The decor is clean and modern with accents of brick and stainless steel. Most patrons were in jeans so you didn’t feel as though the place was too pretentious but yet it still felt sophisticated.

If you don’t try dessert, be sure to stop downstairs in the market for a bag of their freshly made chocolate chip cookies to take home with you. Alta Strada should offer these as a dessert served warm with ice cream because they are some of the best around, topping a few of the local pasty shops.

Reservations are highly recommended. It is a popular place, in an easy to access location and small so be prepared to wait if you haven’t reserved a table. If you are trying to make your reservations on Opentable.com; the hostess has informed me that you can’t make them for over 4 people so you’ll have to call the restaurant directly.

Alta Strada is a wonderful little restaurant with freshly prepared Italian food and incredibly great customer service. Not to be missed.

198 East Main St, Milford 508-482-1700

http://www.trufflesgrille.com/

This chef owned restaurant is an American contemporary bistro and wine bar. Chef Anna Wallach is brilliant in the kitchen while her husband Howard skillfully handles the front and tends to the wine.

The atmosphere is warm and inviting, upscale but comfortable, lit by a candled fireplace and set around an open kitchen. The bar area is small but cozy, and perfect for striking up conversation with other folks in for a drink or a casual dinner.

Everything from salad dressings to desserts are made in-house and the menu consists of clean, fresh, inventive dishes with a focus on flavor and texture. The tenderloin bruschette appetizer is exceptional as well as the rack of lamb and duck. The attention to detail is also superb as noted by the selection of flavored salts available from around the world.

For lovers of fine wine, you won’t be disappointed. The inventory is huge with many affordable options. Flights are available as well, artfully selected for you, making it the perfect way to turn a wonderful dinner into a wine tasting.

In an area suffocated by chain restaurants and sports bars, Truffles is a gem serving Boston food without the pretense. Howard and Anna always make you feel like family.