What is underwhelming about the pizza in Tewksbury? And what makes Deerfield’s superior?
We had a couple of errands around Dedham so we looked for new-to-us places and a search resulted in Roundhead Brewery in neighboring Hyde Park. It’s the first (only?) Latino-owned brewery in MA. The space is cool—an old mill outbuilding (there’s a large main Westinghouse building) a hoops arcade game (I totally beat Spring Onion into the ground…did I ever mention that I’m competitive?), Simpsons arcade game, skeeball, foosball, ping pong table, board games. Really pleasant staff, beers were just ok (a pils and a DIPA that was a bit too malty for our tastes but that didn’t stop us from having 2 rounds). Pizzas were tasty, if a bit underdone on the underside. Cheese for me and SO, a carne asada/chimichurri/chipotle aioli one for B. We got a trio of empanadas to-go (sweet potato, beef, and chicken), which we haven’t tried yet but strangely, they appear to be sprinkled with powdered sugar.
If we were in the area, we’d go back.
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Interesting. The tops certainly look properly-done.
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Been awhile since our last adventure. Here’s the latest: True West in Acton, MA. This one’s a gastropub and a neighborhood brewery, and it hit the marks for us.
The two of us shared a flight of six beers to sample their offerings. The paddle holding the glasses was helpfully numbered, accompanied by a paper list so we could keep track of our favorites.
True West Ha-Czech pilsner and True West Ruckus IPA were the pours we liked best from this flight.
Any that we wouldn’t choose again? True West Happy Abbot Belgian tripel was missing the bready, yeasty wildness and multidimensional flavors we look for in a Belgian style.
On to lunch. When I see a fried chicken sandwich on a gastropub menu, it calls to me even though I’ve learned to expect a letdown. Because I might find a sandwich I really like. This time, success! True West offers a (moderately) hot style and one that’s not. I chose the hot, dressed with condiments that seem over the top but played delightfully well: dill pickle ranch, shredded romaine, and pickles that seemed house made.
My husband got a pork banh mi burger from the menu of monthly specials. Also very tasty.
Shoutouts also for the outdoor patio option, kind service, and appealing vegetarian menu items including a beer grain pierogi appetizer that I want to try on a future visit.
I imagine this place draws plenty of local diners, so I’d use their Open Table option to reserve if visiting at dinner or on a weekend.
Worth checking out if you find yourself in the area.
ETA: A couple other spots a few steps away from True West that we want to check out are West Side Creamery (need to save room for ice cream next time) and Eve and Murray’s Farm to Home that specializes in American-made cheeses.
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You adventure more in 6 minutes than I do in 6 years. But, I’m happy to live through you. Adventure on!
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Useful intel—we’ve been a little disappointed by True West that last couple of times we’ve visited but it’s been a while and usually opt for Rapscallion when we’re in that neck of the woods. It’s back on our radars!
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This visit was our first to True West, so I haven’t tested how well that good first impression would hold up over time. So there’s that.
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I don’t know how to split out/link to another a post so just adding a hyperlink to my original post for accounting purposes.
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Has anyone tried Absolem Cider in Winthrop ME? Pretty awesome place. They make a wide variety of ciders from mostly local apples (some really strange varieties) but also out of state apples if needed. Their latest creation is a smoked cider that I hope to try this summer.
As a bonus, they also have a massive collection of liqueurs from around the world, some truly bizarre, and their talented mixologist will create a cocktail for you out of any of them.
Food is either from a rotation of food trucks or a refrigerated case stocked with local meats and cheeses.
It’s really a great place!
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We had lunch here back in the fall before apple picking (Shelbourne Farms) - I really liked it, though I only vaguely remember that I had a salad of some sort.
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