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The supposedly haunted Country Tavern at 452 Amherst Street in Nashua may be a historic restaurant, but their menu is brand new. Instead of adding a few entrees to their already successful menu, The Country Tavern has revamped their entire list of offerings. I haven’t tried the new dishes myself yet, but it’s always good to see an old restaurant modernize their cuisine to accommodate today’s palates. From Buffalo Chicken Pizza ($8.99) topped with crumbled bleu cheese, to Chicken Mediterranean ($17.95) made with sun dried tomatoes, Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, lemon and capers, to even Mini Beef Wellington En Croute ($8.95), the new-spin-on-traditional-classics menu is sure to keep the diners (and ghosts) coming.

Beer Works in Lowell, Mass. (with additional locations in Boston and Salem) Is just another good reason to venture into the “other city” over the state line. The simple, pub-style menu offers the traditional burgers, steak tips and nachos, but Beer Works’ uniquely delicious menu items is what makes this local chain stand above the other restaurant/breweries in the area. I go there more for the beer most of the time, but when I do go for dinner, I can’t resist their addicting Fried Pickles (see “5 & Dine” in Feast this week for a full review), and a Beer Works New Classic Burger with cheese, tomato and pickles with a side of perfectly seasoned and crispy Sweet Potato Fries. My favorite beer brewed by the Beer Works’ folks is their summer time beverage, the Watermelon Ale. It’s refreshing and fruity, while still tasting like a good, solid brew. Throughout the year, I enjoy their Bluebeery Ale, with whole, fresh blueberries floating throughout the glass, as well as their hoppy Back Bay IPA. I also recommend ordering a sampler of 4 smaller-sized beers to try out a few of them while you’re there.

It’s always nice to hit up downtown Nashua during the week (and even the weekends) to enjoy a great meal (or two), but sometimes, some meals are worth a longer drive. Burton’s Grill in North Andover, Mass. (with additional locations in Boston and Hingham) is one such restaurant serving drive-worthy meals. Since I work full-time in Andover, I have paid my fair share of visits to Burton’s for lunch, dinner and/or drinks, and have never left disappointed. Their signature martinis are generous and should be drank with caution. My favorite is the Canteloupe Martini, made with hammer & sickle vodka and watermelon liqueur, orange juice and lime. When it comes to the food, I usually order the heart-unfriendly Philly Spring Rolls for an appetizer, which are basically steak and cheese in a fried wonton, served with onion rings and spicy ketchup. The complimentary rolls are always hot and fresh, and I could easily eat the side of whipped garlic butter with a spoon. I’ve tried just about everything there for lunch and dinner, but their Beet Salad (chopped beets layered with goat cheese, borretane onions, micro greens and candied walnuts) and Crab Cakes are must-tries.

I realize many of my recent posts have been about local restaurants offering great meal deals, but there are so many out there I have to mention one more (at least). Ocean Garden at 337 Amherst Street in Nashua may just have the best deal out there right now. From 3 p.m. on, you pick the price of your dinner. The meal doesn’t include drinks, take-out or tax, but come on; that’s a good deal! Ocean Garden is offering this special as a part of their Customer Appreciation Month, and it runs until January 31st, so you only have a few more days to try and get Curry Chicken for $5 (originally $9.95). The Chinese/Japanese restaurant also has a new chef, so if you can’t make it there before Saturday, I recommend making a visit soon to try the new guy’s food.

Joe’s American Bar & Grill in the Pheasant Lane Mall has made many of us foodies’ dreams come true: food delivered to our house that is not pizza. Not only is the restaurant offering weekly specials, but it is also now delivering their menu items to Nashua residents. The restaurant, which prides themselves on offering American cuisine using fresh ingredients, is showcasing their Korean Steak as this week’s “Local Favorite.” The Korean Steak ($18.99) is tender, marinated skirt steak topped with mushrooms and caramelized onions, served with garlic mashed potatoes and veggies. The best part: you can order it to come to your door.

They say that restaurants, like many businesses, aren’t doing too well these days thanks to the recession and thus less diners wanting to spend the extra money on going out to eat. But I dine out several times a week, and I must say that almost every restaurant I go to is just as busy on a Tuesday night as they are on the weekends. With that being said, for any consumers who have been trying to save a dime by eating at home, many local restaurants are offering great meal deals to accommodate the current economic situation. Giorgio’s in Merrimack and Milford is one such restaurant, having great deals several days during the week. On Mondays, Giorgio’s is offering 1/2 off all of their entrees between 4 and 9 p.m., not including their pizzas, salads, soups, appetizers or desserts. On Wednesdays, the Mediterranean/Italian restaurant is offering an Italian Family Feast between 4 and 9 p.m., at only $16.99 for adults and $8.99 for kids under 12. The feast includes a side salad, appetizers, a pasta course, an entree and dessert. The only catch: the entire table must order the feast. On Sundays, Giorgio’s is giving 1/2 off their Brunch Buffet between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Milford location. Adults are $19.99, while kids pay $7.99. The brunch includes salads, breakfast and lunch entrees, egg and carving stations, and even a chocolate fountain and dessert buffet. Not bad prices for all that food.

I had dinner at Pizzeria Uno last week for the first time in years, and I was thoroughly impressed with the atmosphere and then-forgetful menu. The Chicago-based pizzeria makes an almost sad attempt at being an Italian-style restaurant (the location I dined at, in Framingham, Mass., had a single row of bottom-shelf wine separating tables), but the food is anything but sad. I ordered a glass of the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling (bad wine is still wine!) with the Roasted Eggplant, Spinach and Feta flatbread pizza. And yes, it was as good as it sounds. The crispy, perfectly-cooked crust was covered with just the right amount of fresh, thinly-cut eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions and mozzarella cheese, without making the flimsy crust…well, flimsy. The flatbread also had a generous amount of pesto on it, causing me to taste the garlic for days, but luckily for me, I love garlic.

The town of Milford has gotten an unexpected splash of culture: The Elm, an authentic Indian restaurant, located at 286 Elm Street. Being a new restaurant to the town, The Elm is serving up traditional Indian cuisine such as samosas, naan and chicken tikka masala, but is also offering non-Indian dishes for the hesitant palates, like Italian and American finger foods and even pizza. Like most Indian restaurants, vegetarian options are available, as well as some Kosher items; they even offer catering services. The folks at The Elm have not created a website yet, but to see some customer reviews on the restaurant, visit Chowhound.

Joey’s Diner off Route 101A in Amherst offers the best breakfast deal in town (that I’ve found). I’ve been there several times over the last few months, and have never been disappointed in the food, portions, prices or even the customer service. The 50’s-inspired diner has an atmosphere you won’t find many places these days, with the juke box and silver interior, but the food is downright delicious. Plus, they serve breakfast all day so you can sleep in without having to worry that Bickford’s will be the only place in town serving up pancakes after noon. Last weekend when I visited Joey’s, I got the Create an Omelette, with three eggs stuffed with American cheese, peppers, onions, and tomatoes, with homefries and raisin toast on the side. The omelette could have easily fed two people, and the homefries were thick-cut and well seasoned. Wash down with delightfully strong coffee, this gut-busting meal only cost me $10 (give or take a few cents). Eat that, Recession.

Sky Lounge & Bistro at 522 Amherst Street is an upscale sports bar with gigantic televisions, a pool table, live music and dancing (though I’ve never been there late enough to experience the dancing part). I went to Sky Lounge last night with a friend of mine to grab a quick bite and some drinks, and was immediately satisfied with the food and beverage options. For starters, Sky has an extensive list of martinis, including watermelon, one of my favorite tini flavors. The cocktail was intensely sweet and juicy, with a potent punch of middle-shelf vodka. For a meal, I ordered the Mini Tacos appetizer, which was basically nachos but less messy with less toppings. The tacos were nacho chips filled with chicken and spices and folded over to look, and taste, like bite-sized tacos. Dipped in sour cream and fresh, spicy salsa, these unique treats were the perfect accompaniment to the Shock Top draft beer I ordered (my martini was long gone at this point). Sky Lounge is open until 1 a.m. Tues. through Sat., but I don’t recommend going later than 8 or 9 if you just want to get dinner, as it becomes more of a club scene after that.