Beal's Lobster Pier - Southwest Harbor, ME

★★★½

A lobster pound - where you pick a lobster from a tank and pay by the pound. This was the only lobster pound I ate at, so I can't compare it to others...

The menu is both limited and extensive: limited because the only non-fried foods available were lobsters, clams, and corn, but extensive because they offered a wide variety of fried foods (including chicken tenders and fries), plus hot dogs and hamburgers.

Super kid-friendly because of the menu, plus you eat outdoors at picnic tables, which means the kids don't have to be well-contained in their seats and can run around.

No lobster crackers or wet naps, but they do have a hand washing station. Great view of southwest harbor.

T. W. Food - Cambridge, MA

★★★½

I think my rating is artificially low because I didn't order well. My squash soup was good, but nothing special, while my friend Sarah's charcuterie was excellent. My gnocchi with capers and cauliflower was flavorful, but not as flavorful as Sarah's cod. Also, the gnocci was a bit too "browned" for my taste. The wait staff forgot about us between clearing our dinner plates and giving us the dessert menu, but I actually don't hold this against them because Sarah and I had plenty to talk about and weren't in any rush, plus the server apologized once she realized what had happened. The hostess was actually very helpful even before I entered the restaurant, telling me on the telephone, as I looked for parking, that I could park anywhere that required a permit, and if I got a ticket, they would pay for it. Finally, I don't know if it's my own personal poor eyesight, but I felt the restaurant was very dark - I actually had a difficult time reading my credit card receipt.

Full Moon - Cambridge, MA

★★★½



The food is good, but nothing special. The real draw is for families with young kids. The restaurant has a play area with a train table, play kitchen, and plenty of accessories. As with any public play space, however, you really have to watch your kids, in part because other parents (who might be sitting farther away and/or out of view of the play area) may not be watching their kids. Opens early for weekend brunch, which is convenient for early-rising babies and toddlers. Street parking at that hour is easy, too.

Kingfish Hall - Boston, MA

★★★½

Not as fantastic as I remember it, from being there 6 or 7 years ago. The lobster corn chowder was generous with the lobster, but somehow still lacked flavor. My main dish (Rhode Island Black Bass) was perfect and filling, but Ken said his scallops were overdone, and his sparsely portioned dish was not completely satisfying. The chocolate tart dessert was good, but nothing special. Location and decor were the highlights.

L'Andana - Burlington, MA

★★★½

Excellent food (Ken's scallops were perfection), prompt and knowledgeable wait service, confusing decor. Very expensive.