Overview: TreMonte, an Italian restaurant in Woburn Center, is a popular hot spot for foodies and Woburnites alike who enjoy their Italian cuisine a little more upscale. Run by chef Anthony Contarino, the restaurant has been a staple in Woburn for eight years. Chef Contarino trained as a French chef at Johnson & Wales but was inspired by his Grandma’s Italian home cooked food. TreMonte serves up Italian classics that we are all familiar with while also peppering the menu with fancier fare inspired by the regions of Florence, Naples and Tuscany. On weekend evenings the place gets really busy, …

Overview: Great Mandarin Restaurant overlooks Four Corners in Woburn from its second story balcony. The restaurant is known among Woburnites for its Luncheon and Dinner Buffets. They serve a variety of cuisines including Mandarin, Hunan, Szechuan and Polynesian. The prices are reasonable, the selections are abundant and the view of Four Corners can’t be beat! Decor: As you enter Great Mandarin, the takeout counter is on your right and you get a fabulous view of the buffet right smack in front of you. There is plenty of seating for dine-in including plush burgundy booths. White flowers and …

Overview: Sea Dog Brew Pub is the most happening place in Woburn. They top off their menu of specialty brews, surf and turf dinners, plus eclectic pub fare with lots of events that will keep you coming back for more. They have something going on for every holiday, Stump trivia on Mondays, a Bloody Mary bar on Sundays and members of their Mug Club get half-priced appetizers on Wednesdays and Sundays. This small local chain is very active on the web and you can receive updates for their events and new specials through Facebook, Twitter and its Web site. Decor: Sea Dog’s mascot Barney is branded…

Bill & Bob's Famous Roast Beef Bill & Bob's Famous Roast Beef is Woburn's guilty pleasure. Situated on Main Street near the Winchester town line, this Woburn eatery is a haven for those who crave paper-thin roast beef, delicious and hot greasy food, creamy milkshakes and the convenience of drive-through ordering. It's a place for people to satisfy their cravings for the finer flavors of fast food. Night owls looking for good grub flock to Bill & Bob's which stays open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 2 am on Friday and Saturday. So if you want to put aside the food journal and…

La Posada Restaurante in Arlington is unlike any Mexican restaurant you’ll find in the area. Located on Mass Avenue in Arlington Heights, La Posada dishes up authentic Mexican cuisine. You think you’re an expert on Mexican food? Think you’ve tried it all? Think again! Once you eat at La Posada, you’ll look at Mexican cuisine in a whole new way. And, boy, is it worth the trip! The food is hot, fresh and delicious and priced very reasonably. So what are you waiting for? Décor: The restaurant is tiny, but it makes up for it in it is very open and welcoming dining area. The décor is dark and the …

Overview: Sarku Japan is a nationwide franchise that serves up affordable Japanese cuisine at malls across the country. Sarku takes teriyaki and sushi and serves it up like fast food except everything is made to order. The menu is highly customizable so if you want a quick Japanese meal catered to your tasted, Sarku makes the process fast and easy. Sushi snobs turn away. If you are particular about your sushi or teriyaki, don’t come here. However, if you need a fast bite of something Oriental and you don’t mind ranch dressing on your salad or serving yourself soy sauce from a coffee carafe, …

Overview: Diner in the Park is the newest eatery in Woburn. It’s so new that most folks don’t know about it yet. Diner in the Park serves up breakfast and lunch on weekdays in West Cummings Park off of Washington Street. Owners Jimmy and Mary Katsarikas ran Grecian Yearning in Allston which had been open since 1976 but met an unfortunate end when a fire burned down the restaurant in 2008. That wasn’t the end of the Katsarikas’ restaurant career though. A few years later, they opened up Diner in the Park and started serving their own classic breakfast selections (Jimmy calls himself “the …

On Main Street in Reading under a few red awnings you can find Aroma Café, a safe bet for a quick latte or a relaxed brunch stretching into the afternoon, with modern jazz on the stereo and soft lighting throughout. Inside, expect lots of wood dining services, slick lighting and long glass cases full of freshly baked buttery goodness. The establishment hand presses every espresso, latte and cappuccino and bakes all of their pastries, like muffins and scones fresh daily.  After six years of crafting breakfasts and steaming cups each morning, Aroma Café has built a steady following of locals. …

Massimo Fiume's traditional Italian restuarant right on Main Street in Reading may be new, (it was founded in 2009) but it has already made a name for itself as an upscale yet casual eatery with authentic old world dishes rivaling the big boys in the North End.  Born and trained in Italy, Fiume knows how to whip up a carbonara or some ravioli. Everything served in the restuarant is house made and the seafood is bought fresh every day. There is an extensive wine list and a full bar to compliment the steaming plates.  Under soft lighting, white table cloths and glistening flatware fill the …

Woburn Farmer's Market 2011 marks the inaugural year for Woburn's own Farmers Market. Spence Farm was purchased by the city of Woburn last year in an effort to preserve the land and to use it for the benefit of the community, which includes hosting a farmer's market on the property. Situated on the grounds of Spence Farm on Wyman Street (off of Main Street), the Farmers Market delights Woburnites with local produce, food, drinks and handmade goods every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Open from early June to late October, the Woburn Farmers Market is a great way to tap into your inner …

Each week, Stoneham Patch chooses a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here’s this week’s recommendation: Meadhall, situated in the Kendall Square area within walking distance of the Red Line and Kendall Station, is an ideal destination if you're on the hunt for a place with a wide assortment of beers on tap as well as quality entrees. The establishment, which is casual and doesn't require fancy attire to gain entrance, features roughly 100 beers while the dinner menu is simplistic in nature. The dinner menu consists of three sections: snacks (mostly $6 …

These days everyone is in a hurry. There is so much to do and so little time in which to do it. So tonight, why stress over what to make for dinner or feel guilty about feeding your family from the drive-thru menu again when you can stop at Elia’s Country Store? Elia’s has been family owned and operated for over 50 years. They have a full service butcher shop where you will find everything from filet mignon and porterhouse steaks to marinated chicken, pork, turkey and lamb. They have homemade side dishes ready for you to grab and go. With just one quick stop you can pick up what you need to …

The 99 Restaurant is the place to go when you're meeting friends for drinks or a casual dinner. They offer a well-rounded menu that includes their current "9 meals for $9.99" promotion, their famous Gold Fever wings and a hot fudge sundae to die for. The 99 Restaurant has what hungry folks everywhere are looking for-tasty food accompanied by a bill that won't break the bank. Meals offered in their current promotion include: Eggplant Parmigiana, Panko Crusted Cod and Chicken Dijon. Add a salad and dessert for just $3. Looking to save even more money? "Like" The 99 on Facebook and you will …

Overview: Sal's Pizza is a local chain with 38 locations in the Massachusetts and New Hampshire area, along with a few satellite locations as far as California and Arizona. This chain is always expanding with new locations opening, including one to open in Stoneham this summer. What makes Sal's Pizza special? Their commitment to bring a taste of the North End to places outside of the city. They pride themselves on keeping costs low, using only Pomodoro sauce and serving their famous 19-inch pizzas. Decor: The restaurant is big, with lots of room for dining.  The red and white checkered design…

There’s a reason why Cappa’s Trackside Kitchen (affectionately known in this writer’s family for years as the “Choo Choo Restaurant”) is number one in the hearts and stomachs of breakfast and lunch lovers.  Owned and operating for the past twelve years by the eternally effervesant—even at 5 a.m.—Revere resident, Deborah Penachio (and until recently, her late husband), Cappa's is on the rounded corner of Grove Street, facing the railroad tracks, one block away from the West Wyoming Avenue commuter train stop. This trackside kitchen is open almost everyday year-round (except Easter, …

Wilmington-based Focaccia Restaurant has gotten some major press over the past few years. The Phantom Gourmet called it "a hidden jewel." The Boston Globe said Focaccia is "a great place to eat." Last but certainly not least, Peter and Robert DePesa, the chefs and co-owners of Focaccia Restaurant were featured on "Chefs vs. City," a show on Food Network. Their website even boasts pictures of Mark and Donnie Wahlberg among other celebrities. Which is great and everything but the question remains: How's the food? Two words: Mouth. Watering. Italian is the DePesa Brothers' specialty and boy do …

Open since 2009, Red Lentil, 600 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, has already become a destination for diners coming from adjoining towns and beyond. It proves that there's still strong demand for all-vegetarian eateries--even those with medium-range prices. The food is consistently good and fresh--imagine having a meal in the home of a vegetarian friend who happens to be a gourmet cook. One regular customer recommends calling ahead to find out if there's a line ("and there can still be three or four people waiting when you arrive"). What to eat: It's an eclectic menu that's a vegetarian's or vegan…

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, Stoneham Patch picks a great restaurant either in the city or nearby that is worth checking out in our Bites Nearby feature. Here's this week's choice: Overview: In the middle of an industrial park you'll find Razzy's Deli and Desserts, a little diamond in the rough. With a broad menu of deli classics and specialty fare, you can find everything from a salami and cheese sub, to an antipasto salad and a red velvet cupcake. It's a one stop shop for dine-in, pick-up, delivery …

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, Stoneham Patch picks a great restaurant either in the city or nearby that is worth checking out in our Bites Nearby feature. Here's this week's choice: Overview: Masa Southwest Bar and Grill features an eclectic menu of Southwestern and Spanish delights. You’ll find lots of delicious fusions from their selection of tapas, entrees and cocktails. On Thursday nights, Masa livens it up with Salsa lessons and dancing. Decor: The dimly-lit restaurant has a sleek modern design …

Bob's is a South Medford staple. Pass the butcher counter and through the shelves of authentic Italian groceries to the back counter, where you'll find some of the best and heartiest sandwiches in the Boston Area. The red-shirted men creating the chaotic scene behind the counter make a mean eggplant or chicken parmasean. And their deli meats are some of the best you'll find. Be careful what size you order, though. A small at Bob's would put those fabled $5 subs from a certain chain to shame. There's no seating at Bob's, so it's take-out only. You can order right at the counter or call in …