Tired of the usual cuisine, and in dyer need of some good old fashioned southern cooking? The closest thing to southern fried chicken, besides KFC, is Chicken ‘N Chips on West Hollis Street. May I add, that KFC doesn’t come close to competing with Nashua’s bred restaurant! I dinned at Chicken ‘N Chips the other day, and found that I was pleased.
I ordered the “Chick-Stix,” golden chicken strips fried to perfection, with French Fries and Cole slaw. I savored the tangy, home made barbecue sauce, (which I drenched my chicken strips in.) Besides the appetizing menu, the service was prompt. I was so delighted to find a taste of the South in downtown Nashua, and recommend this restaurant to any one who has an acquired taste for smoky, southern cooking.
Their coffee makes you realize Dunkins’ is 80% watered down, and their donuts are twice as big. Not to mention Honey Dew has a longer choice of coffee flavors, and none of them are in the form of flavor shots. One recent weekend morning I was so sick of drinking Dunkin’ Donuts coffee that I took the trip to Windham to indulge in Honey Dew Donuts (they also have locations in Tyngsboro and Tewksbury, Mass. as well as Londonderry, N.H.). New on the lengthy coffee list at Honey Dew is their take on Mudslide iced coffee, made with Irish Cream, Chocolate and Kahlua flavored coffees. The flavors balanced so well that the iced treat was sweet, but still had the strong taste of real coffee. For food, I opted for one of Honey Dew’s seasonal items: a peach pastry stick. Lighter on the stomach than a donut, this glazed stick of flaky perfection was moist and popped with fresh peach flavor.
The Common Man in Merrimack offers comforting food, strong cocktails and a cozy atmosphere. But the strongest quality The Common Man possesses is its customer service.
Last weekend, my large family and I visited the restaurant for dinner. Not only were we a party of 6, but one of our members is a mere 1 years old; i.e., fussy, likes to throw stuff, and will talk…and talk….and talk in his own, 1-year-old words. Our hostess sat us in a dining room where no one else had been seated yet, carefully choosing this location due to the noise that was to come from this upbeat baby. Our waitress that night was patient, accomodating and understanding of what it’s like to enjoy a meal at a restaurant with a toddler.
But let’s get to the good stuff: the food was, as always, outstanding. I had the salmon that was the special for the evening, coated in a creamy, garlic sauce with a side of creamy, clearly homemade cheddar and sour cream mashed potatoes. Delish. I washed it down with a mandarn martini that was refreshing and unique; yet undeniably full of vodka.
Commenting on restaurant chains’ seasonal menus will not be a trend for me, but, coincidentally, I tried some of the 99 Restaurant’s summer desserts while I was there for lunch early last week. Normally, I’m a huge fan of the 99…the big, juicy burgers; large, ice cold beers; and of course, the free popcorn. However, their new summer desserts are anything to be desired.
The Wild Berry Margarita Mousse and S’mores desserts looked insanely appetizing on the colorful, glossy page. The S’mores dish (tiny dish) consisted of rich, creamy chocolate chip mousse, but with few-and-far-between chocolate chunks, as well as chewy marshmallows and perfectly ground graham cracker crumbs at the bottom, with some chocolate and marshmallow syrup drizzled on top. The Wild Berry Mousse was made up of wild berry margarita mousse and garnished with a vanilla wafer, berries and mint. Both sound delicious, right? Don’t be fooled: both dishes were chock fulled of generic ingredients, and I could easily make either dessert at home; and probably better. I must admit though, the serving size is perfect, and the price is right at $1.99 for each.
To check out places in the area offering spot-on summer refreshers, click here.
While on my travels, I stumbled upon a quaint Cantonese restaurant called New Lucky Panda. Conveniently located on 2 Pauls Way in Amherst, New Lucky Panda is a Chinese restaurant unlike any other. Immediately, I was enthralled by the hospitality, as Andy Mei, the manager of the restaurant, greeted me with a friendly hello, and an amazing sense of humor. Andy was most helpful; he even kindly suggested the restaurant’s "specialty" Cantonese and Szechwan dishes. Boy, did I feel right at home!
As I deliberated, and mulled over what I was going to order, I finally decided on the General Tso’s Chicken with shrimp fried rice. As soon as my plate was placed in front of me, I was greeted by the invigorating aroma of sweet spices. The chicken was prepared by my request, extra crispy, with sauce on the side. The General Tso’s Chicken was deep fried, seasoned with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and chili peppers on a bed of rice and broccoli. The food was so divine, that I requested to speak with the owner, and thank him personally for the amazing food, and amazing service!
The owner/chef, Fu Quing Chen, shared that he “not only enjoys owning his own restaurant, but also likes cooking for people.” Upon my praise of his restaurant, Fu also said that “what pleases him the most is seeing the happy faces of the customers.” I have never been to such an amiable, delightful restaurant! Even the chef, and the deliveryman, David, came out and greeted me on the way out, “saying thank you, and please come again!” Come again? You bet I will! If you want smiling faces, great Cantonese food, and great service, then New Lucky Panda, awaits you!
One of the perfect restaurants to quench those summer hunger pains is undoubtedly Chili’s. Every time I go there, I order the same meal: The Triple Dipper with two sides of their mouth-watering Crispy Honey-Chipotle Chicken Crispers, along with a side of Southwestern egg rolls. This dish is as invigorating and delicious as it sounds—the crispy chicken fingers are fried to perfection, tossed with Chili’s world famous spicy honey-chipotle sauce.
Not to mention, the Southwestern egg rolls, are out of this world! The egg rolls are stuffed with smoked chicken, black beans, corn, jalapeno jack cheese, red peppers, and spinach, wrapped inside a crispy flour tortilla. Chili’s menu offers something for everyone, form seafood to the “guiltless grill,” (a special portion of the menu where health-conscience food consignors can order without guilt.) You can even create your own combo with your choice of Baby Back Ribs, Shrimp, Sirloin, etc. At Chili’s you are encouraged to double dip, as a majority of the dishes allow freedom to mix entrées! Where else can you do that? To quench your thirst I suggest trying the Strawberry Lemonade, and for dessert: the White Chocolate Molten Cake. Sound delicious? You bet it is! Nashua’s Chili’s is conveniently located on Daniel Webster Highway, in the heart of the shopping district, next door to the Phesant Lane Mall. Enjoy!
Bertucci’s usually tends to be a fast food version of authentic Italian food, but their new summer menu defies their generic stereotype.To celebrate the season, Bertucci’s is offering four new entrees, as well as one refreshing dessert. The entrees include Chicken Messina, Sacchetti Palermo, a new recipe for Tomato Bruschetta, Tomato and Mozzarella Caprese salad, and Strawberries and Lemon Cream for dessert. I tasted the fresh and surprisingly filling Tomato and Mozzarella Caprese salad, with juicy, plump grape tomatoes, large chunks of fresh mozzarella and just-picked-from-the-tree baby field greens, all tossed in balsamic vinaigrette. I also tried the "new recipe" for Bertucci’s Tomato Bruschetta, which tasted like most bruschetta I have tried in my lifetime: crispy bread covered in olive oil, topped with chunks of tomato, basil and garlic. Unoriginal, but still flavorful and delicious.
If you wake up Saturday mornings and your mouth waters for Parker’s Maple Barn’s homemade pancakes and maple syrup (so much so that you’re willing to wait in line for a table), don’t fret that the place is up for sale for a mere $2.2 million: the place has been on the market for years, and has no plans to close.
Upon my visit to a friend’s home in New Ipswich last weekend, I was given the traumatic news that Parker’s, one of the few restaurants in the Mason area, was up for sale. Battered dreams of a future visit to one of the most authentic and delicious breakfast joints in Southern NH flew threw my mind. So much so that I called the restaurant myself to find out the what was really going on. The result: the place IS up for sale for $2.2 million, but it WILL remain open. The place has apparently been for sale for several years now, but no pancakes have gone uneaten in the process.
In addition to Parker’s, check out 5 & Dine in Feast to read about other local places offering delicious eats.
The more I become acquainted with Nashua, the more I realize how many amazing multicultural restaurants there are left to discover. Last week I went Thai, now this week I went Mexican! Ole!
I had the opportunity to visit one of La Carreta’s beautiful locations on 139 Daniel Webster Highway. Immediately, the rustic scenery of the restaurant enthralled me; an elegant water foundation, along with complimentary earth tones, added to the villa décor. A spacious bar, and preferred seating were accessible, with roomy tables and booths. The menu, like the atmosphere, was pure perfection. I ordered the “Quesadilla Rancheras,” a cheese quesadilla stuffed with chicken, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and salsa ranchera. I am usually skeptical about Mexican food, but found that I was pleasantly surprised! The cheese quesadillas were so mouth-watering, so much in fact that I ordered an additional one to go! For dessert, I feasted on a delicious Mexican specialty: Fried Ice Cream! The dish was overflowing with vanilla ice cream fried to perfection, topped with hot fudge and whipped cream! Delicioso! If you ever need to experience gourmet food, Mexican style, then make La Carreta’s your destination.
The Lowell Brewery is getting a makeover, and if you like tasty American food and good beer, you should be celebrating.
Beer Works, which has been operating already in Fenway, Canal Street, and Salem, MA has just moved into the former Lowell Brewery at 203 Cabot Street. I myself have frequented the Beer Works in Salem, and continue to drive the 45 minutes several times each year, just to enjoy their burgers, uniquely addicting fried pickles, and sweet potato fries. For the summer, they are even offering watermelon beer, which is surprisingly refreshing, and meant for us "lighter" beer drinkers. No word yet on the exact opening date; but keep your eyes, and palettes, peeled for this exciting new, local eatery.
For other restaurants to try in the Southern NH area, click here.
Correspondent Michelle Collins is known for her ability to eat, and she isn't afraid to be honest about Nashua area restaurants' perks and failures. Contact her at michellepcollins@
gmail.com.
