Rawk on, Lorraine! Let the neighbors know: guac here is 10 outta 10. Divine and fresh. Fresh and…read moredivine, also. Tortilla chips prior to the chow were plentiful -- like, an abundance of chips. Yummers, Old Lorraine. The house margarita was a delight; tasty; refreshing; lime; tiny bubbles; simple syrup; tequila. The veggies in the fajita were heaping + so so fresh -- slappin'. The chicken in the fajita was not a highlight -- just a mere supporting character in this story of flavorful cuisine found at Bandoleros. Love food? Chow down at Bandoleros next week, Hal. Burp.

Holy guacamole, this place is fantastic! My husband and I…read morerolled into Bandoleros in Andover for lunch and rolled out very happy (and very full). I went for the poblano chile, which was absolutely delicious--perfectly stuffed with great texture and draped in a red sauce that made me want to lick the plate (I refrained, but barely). My husband ordered the tacos al pastor on blue corn tortillas with avocado crema, and based on the speed at which they disappeared, I'd say they were a hit. The rice side dish was so good we were both fighting over the last bites--who knew rice could cause marital discord? Drinks were on point too. He enjoyed his beer, and I was living my best life with a spicy margarita rimmed with tajin. Chef's kiss. The space itself is absolutely beautiful, and our server was amazing--attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. We're already planning our next visit. Bandoleros, we'll be back!

This is such a great neighborhood restaurant. Don't be fooled by the smaller bar area up top, the…read morereal action is one floor down in the massive dining rooms. No matter when I go, this place is always hopping, so definitely make a reservation, especially for Friday and Saturday nights. The restaurant is always is bustling, lots of laughter, people go here to celebrate and kick back. I always feel like a real housewife of Reading when I'm here (I mean that in a good way ). I love the arancini here, the flavors do change as a special. Entrees are excellent, never had a bad meal here, but food is definitely filling. The real star is the martini menu. These drinks will have you feeling no pain really quickly. The hardest part is just picking which martini to order! Wish they did flights!

Hadn't been here in years--happy to return with a large party for a birthday. Our server, Jim, was…read moreawesome--attentive, anticipatory and funny! Various martinis and entrees were enjoyed. My Haddock Puttanesca was the best thing I'd eaten in a while! Desserts were very good--the table fav was the cannoli chip dip.

What a lovely restaurant. Just for a tip if you find the apothecary it's down the stairs right…read moreafter it. We did have a little bit of trouble finding it but that was kind of fun. Reservations recommended we were seated at a beautiful table for two right near the bar and started off with a Pinot noir and a cabernet. Both wines were delightful. For appetizers we had the braised lamb crepe and the octopus... Both dishes were delicious, presented well with sauces to die for. Followed by the pasta dish and the duck. These were the best dinners of the year for us. The blending of flavors were fantastic and it was augmented by the owner coming over and talking to us about how the food was prepared. I won't bore you with all the details but the octopus is slow boiled for 5 hours.. complete with wine. Corks it was tender and delicious with the Mediterranean flair. We go out to eat our fair share from high end to diners anywhere. The food is well prepared and delicious... This was the top for the year! From the service to the presentation to the wine to the ambiance, everything is top notch here. I will provide a warning. You will drop a pretty penny if you partake in all the courses, but we thought it was well worth it. Thank you to the staff and ownership. We enjoyed our evening.. a true date night.

So, we finally got to try the chef's table, or "Chef's Whim" as it's officially titled. Eight…read morecourses. In addition to the food, we added the suggested alcohol pairings. I say alcohol because it wasn't all wine but ... since it's a bit of a surprise in terms of what actually appears I'll just leave it at that. However, as to the food ... I'll give a taste, a flavor, a wisp of a whisper of the full culinary adventure. For complete details, see your local sous chef! Here's what we had. In the middle of my photo collage, a blood sausage slider with fennel/jalapeño sauce on toasted brioche bun. Then clockwise from top left - cornbread with maple glaze in a Barbie sized personal cast iron skillet; beet salad with goat cheese half spheres; a dessert tray of black apple cake with hay ice cream (yes, seriously), chamomile pot de creme and a duck fat beignet; an assortment of ice creams - fenugreek, fennel/maitake mushroom/burnt hazelnut (all tasted fabulous and in each you could taste the listed flavors); entree of duck and wild mushroom tart; white bean soup and finally a pasta dish of ravioli with two fillings. Just a note on what it would take to make it yourself. See that hexagonal white blob on the bottom row, middle pic? That's a potato foam. Forgive me for not recalling the full procedure but the prep is roughly 7 hours long. First, the cut potatoes are cooked in a sous vide for 2 hours so that no moisture is added to them. Then a succession of ricing, smoking, drying, undrying, mashing, placing in a foam machine that looked like a whipped cream dispenser and boom - a tiny dollop of potato. It tasted great. But man - that's a lot of effort for a mouthful of potato. I don't think I'll be trying it at home. Over two hours of eating and chatting. I brought a couple of my restaurant-based cartoons as my personal thanks for the meal and was shocked that Justin, their sommelier, had done a cartoon of his own ahead of time for me! Just stick to wine, Justin - I don't need any MORE competition with my magazine editors ... With Dylan ably providing the primary chef duties and Amaya and Justin handling the booze, the meal was a smashing success. The food pairings were masterfully chosen and timing of the dishes meant we were always primed for the next one. Although the succession of what I'd call dessert dishes made me start to feel like a Hobbit enjoying dessert, second dessert and then post seconds. As Anton Ego said in Ratatouille (and they have a cute Reme rat under glass on a shelf) "I shall be returning, hungry for more."

Food is is very many style is new experience of this style but good thing to try recommend service…read moreis very nice or check it out they have happy hours too

Tried Sala Restobar in Beverly and overall it was a pretty underwhelming experience…read more We started with drinks -- I ordered a piña colada expecting it to be blended, but it came unblended. Nothing on the menu or from the server mentioned that, which was disappointing right away. When I told the server I didn't like it and wanted something else, he literally tilted his head and said, "ummm what do I tell the bartender?" That honestly rubbed me the wrong way -- just felt unprofessional and awkward. Jenny got a tequila cosmo, which was fine, nothing special. Food-wise, everything was just average. The bao buns were overcooked and the bun fell apart, though the flavor was decent. The pineapple fried rice was probably the best thing we had, but even that was just okay. We also had dumplings -- Jenny liked them, but I thought they were just alright. Dessert was the biggest miss. The blueberry cobbler was not good at all -- maybe a 3/10 at best. One thing that really didn't sit right was when we asked to split the tasting menu and were told no. That doesn't make much sense -- if people want to share, especially for a tasting menu, it should be allowed. Overall, nothing stood out in a good way, and between the service and the food, solid ambiance , it just wasn't a great experience.

We went to the restaurant next door but they had an hour wait…read more Our hostess suggested we try the bar next door. Great vibe, cool tables walls filled with dog art . Our drinks came out perfectly concocted and tasty. Our food was incredibly delicious and large servings that satisfied all our appetites. All the baked items weee made in house!

Fun staff, kind, inviting atmosphere and a fun vibe. The drinks are well done and creative, the…read morefood, delectable. Go, it's a place to write about.

I enjoyed Luna Mare. My boyfriend and I order three small plates (tuna crudo, lamb lollipops, and…read morebriam) and shared the half paella for dinner. It was the perfect amount of food for us. The pistachio baklava was delicious, but it was very very sweet! Our waiter, Seamus was very attentive and friendly. He mentioned that the paella was spicy and we were able to change it to a mild flavor. It was really nice of him to mention that to us since it wasn't listed on the menu that the paella would be spicy.

Luna Mare Cuisine has opened in the former Brown Square Bistro in Ipswich. They also operate Ithaki…read moreMediterranean Restaurant in Peabody. The place was redone and the atmosphere is casual modern upscale with the bar/lounge area to the right side and dining rooms to the left side. There is also outdoor patio seating. The menu offers Mediterranean fare including tapas/mezze, charcuterie, large plates (meat & seafood dishes, pasta), sandwiches, burgers, salads, and dessert. The bar offers 4 draft beers, bottle/can beers, wine, cocktails, and mocktails. The prices are moderate high. I stopped by Luna Mare for dinner during their soft opening phase. The place was fairly busy and I took an open seat at the C-shaped bar. The bartender gave me a paper menu to look over Some menu items were not available. I ordered the Mussels Saganaki ($12 plus tax) and Fried Fish Sandwich with Fries ($18 plus tax). I was given a basket of ciabatta bread with olive oil dip. The mussels arrived first, 20 mussels simmered with white wine, peppers, garlic, feta cheese. Next, the fried fish sandwich arrived, which had Turkish tatare, beets & lettuce between chewy ciabatta bread, served with puffed potato curl fries. After that, I got the check which was $32.10 (cash)/$33.38 (card) with tax and before tip. Overall, the food here was pretty good and I would come back when the full menu is available.

I went 2 weeks ago for dinner while visiting my boyfriend in Brookline. We had a reservation for…read more8:30pm, and weren't sat until 9:15pm. Unacceptable really, the hostesses and manager avoided eye contact pretty much the entire time we waited. Don't accept so many reservations if you're going to make people wait 45+ minutes. Food and atmosphere were great though, the only saving graces.

We had a disappointing experience a few weeks back with our reservation, but Victor reached out to…read moreme and invited us back. The staff were fantastic and the food was amazing. Great restaurant with delicious food and top level customer service. Victor was top class. We'll be back.

** Updating previous review with more tapas rankings **…read more Yuca Frita (9.5/10): These are so freaking delicious, wow. The cilantro aioli was an amazing dipping sauce. They really are fried to perfection. Frituras de Maiz: (10/10): Wow, these fritters are also amazing. They come with such a rich sauce. The fritters are exploding with flavor. Cazuela de Coliflor Asada (9/10): Insanely good dish. The cauliflower has perfect texture, complemented by the pistachios. The sauce is SO good. The cauliflower soaks it up so well. Chicharrones (9/10): Melt in your mouth pork belly. The pork skin crust was perfect. The sauces really make most of the dishes here. This dish is no different - I loved the sauce. Ropa Vieja (9/10): Perfectly slow cooked meat. One thing that really stood out to me was actually the white rice. The rice was VERY high quality, and I appreciated it so much. It's rare to come by rice this good. It had the perfect texture, chew, and fragrance. Ropa Vieja de Hongos (9/10): Pretty much the same as Ropa Vieja above. The mushrooms are delicious, and the dish is just as good whether your order the mushroom or steak version. Empanada del Carne (9/10): Oh man, the crusts are so good. This is pretty on par with the ones I just had in Puerto Rico. Chuletas de Cordero (8/10): The seasoning is heavenly. I was licking the lamb chops clean. Croquetas (8/10): Very solid croquetas. Wouldn't say it's a must-order, but you can't go wrong with them. Costillas a la Guayaba (6/10): The first time I had this it was really nicely marinated, and the rib meat is so tender that it almost falls off the bone. The second time, the meat was dry. Maduros con Tocino (6.5/10): This dish was pretty good, but got overshadowed by the other ones. Pulpo (6.5/10): Octopus was tender and savory. The potatoes were too salty. Camarones a la Plancha (6.5/10): Solid dish, but I enjoyed some other ones even more. Ensalada de Aguacate y Pina (6/10): The salad was a bit too sour, and that sourness overpowered the dish. It was a great blend of ingredients, though. *** and one dessert *** Churros con Chocolate (8.5/10): Big crunchy fluffy churros!! The chocolate sauce is amazing (not really spicy at all). You have to get this for dessert!!

Had a great dinner. 4 stars instead of 5 only because the service was a bit slow. They had plenty…read moreof runners but not enough folks taking orders. The sliders, which were not on the menu, were fantastic. The beef empanadas were good. The beet salad was excellent. The mushroom balls were good. Tres leches very good. I'd recommend. Nice place inside. Parking close by.

Food service and ambiance were incredible been many times and looking forward to going again!read more

Where ambiance Meets Tapas…read more If Hogwarts had a lounge in Acton, it would be Velvet Vine. From the moment you walk in, the vibe is equal parts cozy and enchanting -- dim lighting, chic décor, and just enough buzz to feel alive without being overwhelming. We kicked things off with a Witches Brew that was downright spellbinding -- a drink that could charm even the most skeptical Muggle. The Espresso Martini was pure wizardry: smooth, bold, and guaranteed to keep you wide-eyed through the night. A mixed drink rounded out the trio, each cocktail crafted with flair and a touch of mischief. The food was a playful parade of indulgence: * Tater tots that were crispy little golden spells. * Meatballs that packed a savory punch. * Sliders that were small but mighty, disappearing faster than you can say "Accio burger." * Goat cheese that was creamy, tangy, and downright addictive. * Raviolis that felt like little pockets of happiness. * caramel cheese cake was outstanding The staff? Absolute charmers. Attentive without hovering, quick with drinks, and genuinely welcoming. You get the sense they love being part of the magic here. Velvet Vine isn't just dinner -- it's an experience. Come for the cocktails, stay for the tapas, and leave already planning your next visit!

Finally a place in Andover that stays open later, reminds us a little bit of a NYC lounge, and was…read morea perfect date night away from the kids (also no kids were in the lounge). Only missing the impromptu dance floor up front as the DJ came on. The service was amazing, and maybe it also made a difference that it's hard to find good service anywhere around here. Decent cocktails and food too...I highly recommend the smokehouse if you like bourbon!

What a delight! Intimate feel, interesting decor, wonderful service. Background music was present…read morebut did not insert itself as competitor to conversation. And we interacted with neighboring tables on both sides to recommend (when asked) the oysters, and when one received a drink with a big smoke bubble that created a magical flow of smoke when it burst. French inspired drinks and food were fantastic and interesting. The French 75 menu was so interesting-- choose your flavor and your bubbles. I tried two, the classic with rosé was so pretty, and the honey lavender with base level champagne was delicious. The raw oysters were to die for! Perfect little pop of acidity with other flavors delicately added and perfectly balanced. The oysters Rockefeller were also perfectly delicious. The foie gras is not something I would normally eat, but my boyfriend loves that stuff so we went with it. I enjoyed it more than he did. It was not a classic foie gras, it was smoother with a creamier texture and more buttery flavor. Eating it with the fig jam and "light as clouds" toast made it absolutely delicious! I enjoyed every minute and mouthful--would definitely seek this place out again even though I live an hour away! We enjoyed ourselves too much to take pictures!