Any recos for a special dinner somewhere along the lower 495 loop?
 

My friend is getting married in a private ceremony in June, so us girlfriends want to take her out for dinner the weekend before (on June 8). I'm sure at least one of us wants it to be a proper bachelorette party! But that's not at all my friend's style. We do definitely want a place where we can hear her spill all the juicy details, since we haven't had a chance to catch up since the engagement!

She lives in Maynard; we like a number of the restaurants there, but my feeling is that she's already gone to all of them so they aren't particularly special. The rest of us will be traveling from the Cape, Plymouth, Mansfield, and near New Haven - but we want to make it easiest for her. so the closer to Maynard the better.

If I had to describe her culinary style, I'd say she's willing to try new things, but a good "New American", Italian or French place might be best. She doesn't like seafood but will eat shrimp. Tapas or other small plates would also be good. For example, on a girls weekend we've all enjoyed Fluke Wine Bar in Newport (www.flukewinebar.com).

Thanks so much!

We love Willy's in Shrewsbury. (It's about 30 mins from Maynard.)
It's a steak and sushi restaurant but I like almost everything on their menu.

Here's a link to their website so you can check the menu if you wish.
http://www.willyssteakhouse.com/

Bookings essential for weekends (usually at least a week in advance)

Tomasso Trattoria in Southborough is good. It's on Rt. 9, close to 495.

http://www.tomassotrattoria.com/

We haven't been here but some friends eat at Chloe Bistro in Hudson all the time and really enjoy the food.

http://chloebistro.com/

There's a Davio's in Foxborough. I love the one in Boston but haven't been to the new one at Patriot Place in Foxborough.

http://www.davios.com/

I guess Waltham is too far/difficult for everyone except the bride? There are lots of good choices in Waltham.

This may be SO what you are not looking for, but throwing it out there anyway..... the Wayside Inn in Sudbury has some very cute private-ish dining areas for groups depending on the size. They have modernized their menu--for lack of a better word--and have some very nice dishes that are a departure from old Yankee fare.

These are great suggestions! (As soon as I hit submit, I wondered who else would be cruising around Fodors on the long weekend. LOL!)

Waltham was my first thought - in fact, I know the bride has a number of favorites there - but I think it will be too far for some of us. I love Solea. :)

sw, thanks for the tip about Wayside Inn having modernized. I'll have to check it out! Half the women going, including the bride, grew up in Sudbury - and one got married at the Inn's chapel (an eon ago)! :D

Re: Wayside Inn. Foie gras? Tuna tartare?? This is not my childhood rest stop! And the recent reviews on TA are excellent. Thanks, sw, I would have never considered it if you hadn't mentioned it. I'll pass the reco along with the others to my friends.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...achusetts.html

are you also planning on lodging? I can't imagine a celelbration and then driving all the way back to the Cape or New Haven late at night.

L_G, there was some talk about staying with the Mansfield friend (and some still have family in Sudbury), but I'm not sure what the deal is.

I'm the one with the most flexible schedule, and will be traveling with the New Haven friend... IMO it doesn't make much sense to go all the way to Mansfield in order to head back to New Haven, but I'm kinda just along for the ride. Of course, staying with the bride in Maynard would be best for me - but we're trying to eliminate any additional stress for her! ;)

I am glad that my idea was not out in left field ggreen, as I feared it was. :) I have always loved the place even w/o the menu makeover, but no doubt, the newer items definitely add to its overall appeal.

sw, far from left field: to continue the metaphor, it looks like your rec was a home run. :D

The girls all thought that was a great idea, and one had her brother use his clout as a Minute Man reenactor to get us a table for 6 next Friday. (It was very tight: no availability whatsoever at the preferred time of 6 or 6:30pm.)

To be honest, I'm a little sad not to be able to try out the other suggestions! Tomasso especially seemed right up their alley, with the website emphasizing local seasonal ingredients and plates made for sharing.

However, I can't wait to try some of the Wayside Inn's new items. And now I have a list of places to try in the future! (The bridge and groom will be looking to stay in the area.)

And L_G, we will indeed be heading back to New Haven that night. Good thing, too, since I just realized I'll need to be back in the city lickety-split: the Belmont Stakes is the next day!!

Thanks again everyone! :)

Excellent. I've been meaning to go to the Wayside Inn this past year once I saw they had revamped the kitchen. But have been leary of recommending it as I havent tried it. We have had many 'important' small family events there over the years, and the food always took a backseat. Hope rumours of better food is true. Service has always been gracious. I got my first hicky parking at the Griss Mill! LOL!!!

Safe journey home afterwards.

I hope that you all have a wonderful time, g, and please let me know what dishes your group tries! The updated salad that is served with dinner is quite nice but when it comes to main dishes, I tend to always go with my old reliable broiled (or maybe baked, have not been there for a year or so) scallops but I have been "tres" intrigued with some of the "au courant" choices they added!! :)

I meant to say I'll definitely report back! I too am very curious since my memories of meals there were definitely that "the food always took a backseat". sw, just hearing that about the salad is very encouraging: I remember it as being iceberg lettuce or something. But mmm, now I think I'll need to order broiled scallops - one of my faves.

You know how it is trying to plan one of these group outings. Like herding cats! Taking note of what everyone tries will be a good mental exercise. (You know you've known your friends a long time when you can pretty much predict their order before the event even happens LOL.)

L_G, I love that story!! Made me remember mine - nowhere near as noteworthy (though it was with a Sudbury boy). Sheesh that was a memory long buried!

I could tell you how to break into the little red school house after hours, but times have changed and locks have changed, and what was once a fun prank, is now considered inappropriate! Looking forward to your food report and how well you predict your friends choices from the menu!!! Hope you have time to leisurely stroll the grounds. Mazel Tov to the bride!

Trip Report! Longfellow's Wayside Inn.

Our reservations were for 7:30pm on Friday and we planned to get there at 6pm and meet in the bar. The honoree had a tiara with "Bride To Be" scrolled across it in rhinestones and a pile of presents in front of her, kind of a bridal shower and bachelorette rolled into one... I'm sure we annoyed the heck out of the other patrons, since there were seven of us alternately hooting with laughter and wiping away tears the whole evening! We had a great time and didn't end up leaving until after 10pm.

We didn't revisit the Wayside grounds at all, in part because we were too busy chatting ;) and in part because it had rained earlier and everything was damp.

<i>Bar</i>
For a tiny workspace in an ancient building, the bar had quite a selection of alcohol, including a good number of bourbons (my drink of choice-!). Since the girls were all drinking cosmopolitans, I did too, and was pleasantly surprised by the tart, light cocktail the bartender Dave created. We noticed that a number of patrons appeared to be regulars - an interesting choice of establishment to make one's regular watering hole, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was Dave's skill (both with mixology and personality) that brings them back.

<i>Dinner in the Tap Room</i>
Our dinner, on the other hand, wasn't quite as smooth. They were 20 minutes late in seating us, even though we had mentioned at the time of reservation and again that evening that we would like to be seated early if at all possible. Maybe there was a backup in the kitchen: we also waited longer than I'd expect between the first and second course. (That said, of course we put the time to good use chatting away! And while it made for a very late night at the end, no one was upset about the delays.)

The other wrinkle was that our waitress was a bit dour, though she warmed up a bit as the dinner progressed. It was a big contrast to the amiable Dave! The rest of the staff was attentive, promptly clearing dishes and refilling waters.

A side note: we ended up needing a lot of water refills! None of us remembered that it can get quite warm in those small, colonial-era rooms. (I'm sure the cosmos and wine added to the flush!) And there we had been concerned we might be too cool in sundresses...

<i>Meals</i>
The menu was indeed a change from the past, with the classics included too. I really wanted to try some of their new appetizers - but no one else did, and I needed to make sure I'd have room for the main course - so it'll have to be for another trip.

I was wrong about my friends' orders! Instead, there were lot of overlaps, and while the friend with the most exotic taste did mention wanting to try the signature cocktail, she ordered what everyone else did. I think that's a first!

There were 3 orders of the stuffed chicken, 2 (including me) of the broiled scallops, one crab cakes and one swordfish. They all had salads to start (house with raspberry vinaigrette and also the harvest salad); I had to have the clam chowder. A bottle of wine and coffees at the end but no dessert since one of my friends is a baker and made beautiful white cupcakes.

That clam chowder is terrific. Classic MA chowder: thick and creamy, nicely seasoned and plenty of cubes of potato and chunks of clam throughout. It also was deceivingly sized! A cup of soup, but deeper and more of it than a typical starter. That and a corn muffin from the basket and I was getting really full... I couldn't entice anyone else into having a taste, and I debated not finishing it. But in the end, I succumbed - it was just so creamy! The broiled scallops were good but very hot, straight from the oven. And after all that chowder, I didn't feel compelled to eat much of the baked potato or veggie sides. Everyone finished the salads and most of the meals, though the order of crab cakes were way overcooked.

I'd say overall that the food is about what I remembered. Good traditional fare, but you don't go to the Wayside Inn for the "wow" factor (unless like me you're wowed by good chowder!).

// I'm so happy that it all worked out, and that the bride-to-be really enjoyed the evening. It was good that it was a familiar place so they all felt comfortable there. (My travel companion, especially, since her parents still live up the road. This was a benefit since we did end up driving all the way back to CT that night! At least she was familiar with the route...)

Now I need a reason to have the girls all meet up in the vicinity again in the future. I really want to try the other four restaurants recommended!!!

Thanks again for contributing to a wonderful evening!

I am so glad it turned out well! (Despite the snafus.) Wonderful and comprehensive reporting, g!!! Thanks for the amazing detail.

The last 2 times we ate there, we were in the Tap Room both times and no matter what the season, you are right, it was hot in there. I wonder if it might be right over the kitchen and then of course, the VERY low ceilings

But I too still love the place, in part b/c it was where we would go with my parents each year when they came out to visit from the midwest. My father was the world's fussiest and least adventurous eater in the world, but he was always happy to go there and so that is a nice memory for me.

Also, New England is my "adopted land", since DH and I both grew up in Chicago, and there is just something about the tradition and history of the place! that so resonates with me as an "immigrant". :)