The healthy ice cream: Yogurt. Everyone loves it and as summer is coming to an end, why not head over to Wayland's Frozen Yogurt Innovations for a soft frozen treat. Locally owned and operated, Frozen Yogurt Innovations offers a fun dining experience and a variety of goodies. Yum Factor: You can't go wrong ordering the cheesecake flavor with crushed candy toppings. Cool factor: Frozen Yogurt Innovations cares about your health and the quality of their product. See their explanation of the health benefits of their yogurt. Location: Frozen Yogurt Innovations is located on 131 Main Street, …

Got a sweet tooth? Get ready to make a dentist appointment because Beyond Beans is worth the visit. Located at 171 Commonwealth Road in Wayland, Beyond Beans offers a wide variety of tasty pastries, great coffee and espresso. And... they serve breakfast, including a yummy egg sandwich. Cool Factor: Beyond Beans is connected to JJ McKay's pub and restaurant. Check out the Patch interview with owner, Sean McKiernan.

Do you love subs, pizza, burritos and calzones? TC Lando's Sub Pizzeria is your spot. Established in Acton in the 1990's, Lando's has become a huge staple in the community and is craved by others outside of town.  Food Suggestions: Well, you can't go wrong with their cheese steak, and if you're an average eater and your palate never fully evolved, their pizza is great, too. Cool Factor: See what VB from Fox25 News had to say about Lando's during last summer's Zip Trip. Menue: Click here for a look at their menu. Location: 297 Main St Acton

Maynard's Neighborhood Brick Oven Pizza & Restaurant has all the hallmarks of the perfect pizza joint--no muss, no fuss, and good food at good prices. It's not uncommon to order a table's worth of food with ample leftovers for $30-40. And perhaps best of all, there is much more than pizza from which to choose. The pasta are cooked to order, and the calzones, sandwiches and salads are all generously sized, and reasonably priced. The large menu also features seafood, Italian chicken dishes and much more, so there is truly something for everyone. Greatest Dish Ever: The ravioli specials, …

A neighborhood staple in West Newton for the past decade, Paddy's Pub is an Irish-American pub with a twist: in addition to the extensive beer selection, it offers a varied menu of international dishes, including Italian selections like pasta and pizza and Indian-inspired items like chicken curry with sauteed onions and peppers. Of course, if you just want to grab a beer and a sandwich or appetizer, there are plenty of choices there too, from traditional bar fare like nachos and wings to the Steamed O'Brien, hot pastrami steamed in beer and topped with Swiss cheese, carmelized onions and …

Certain cliches endure for a reason, and "don't judge a book by its cover" is one of them. The 400 Restaurant's exterior could make passersby believe it's just another unassuming pizza joint, but the inside is designed to resemble an Italian trattoria with granite table tops, earth tones and a full bar. The restaurant serves traditional Italian fare ranging from classics like chicken piccata and eggplant parmigiana to specialty fish and pasta dishes. A particular customer favorite is the pizza, believed to be prepared from an old family recipe and more than worth the calories. Greatest Dish …

You know that no-frills, breakfast-all-day diner you wish for sometimes on the weekends, but in the moment, can't think of? Next time, think of Julie's Place, a casual eatery on Route 27 in Acton that offers the aforementioned breakfast all day for incredibly reasonable prices—in fact, it's not uncommon to leave having paid under $10 for a large meal—and also lunch and dinner. A few years ago the restaurant expanded to a larger space serving casual, comfort-food dinners—think spaghetti and meatballs, meatloaf, hamburgers and the like—and also has a sports bar for socializing or watching games…

Last year was certainly a busy one for The Chicken Bone in Framingham. After getting a makeover on the Spike TV reality show “Bar Makeover” in July, some indecision remained as to what to call the restaurant—the show had renamed it The Bone, which locals had long called it anyway, only, in the end, to revert to The Chicken Bone due to licensing issues. Got that? Whether or not their backstory interests you, the chicken wings probably will. How could they not? They come in 13 flavors ranging from original buffalo to chipotle and beer. And if wings are too bone-y for you, chicken is also …

The unassuming exterior of Vincenzo's Ristorante belies what awaits visitors inside. Located in West Concord, for more than 30 years Vincenzo's has offered area diners a warm, artsy interior—they've recently added new colors and artwork—and a full-scale menu that includes plenty of traditional Italian favorites, soups, sandwiches and more. And if your mood calls for a nice place to get a drink and appetizer, Vincenzo's fits that bill too. It offers a full cocktail menu as well as an extensive appetizer list, including "small plates" for those who want to keep it simple. Greatest Dish Ever: …

Large portions of fine-quality sushi and sashimi await diners at Aji Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar in Newtonville, where modern design, a warm atmosphere and variety are sure to please all ages. In addition to raw fish, the restaurant offers plenty by way of cooked dishes, including chicken teriyaki and tempura and chef's specials that include alligator maki. Interested in seeing the process of sushi preparation for yourself? Check these photos of Aji chef Zhi Zhong in action, featured in Newton Patch. Greatest Dish Ever: Sashimi—larger-than-usual portions of raw fish; chicken teriyaki. …

Part fish market, part small restaurant, Twin Seafood has long been a staple in Concord for those who love fresh fish. Owners (and twin brothers) John and Joe Loblundo recently upped the ante convenience-wise by opening a second location in West Acton, where, as with the Concord location, seafood lovers can enjoy all manner of fresh and fried seafood, lobster, and chowder, all available for eating in or carrying out. Twin Seafood also caters clambakes and sit-down dinners and for corporate events, it offers buffets, lunch boxes and cocktail receptions. What's more, the restaurant rated 12th …

For this week's Bites Nearby, we're directing you to a tiny, sidestreet Mexican restaurant in Waltham that repeatedly receives awards for excellent food. We warned you this family-run restaurant is small, so that means the wait can be long on weekends. Get there early and know that the wait is worth it. Taqueria Mexico, 24 Charles St, Waltham, MA Greatest Dish Ever: Tacos Especiales. Four small tacos loaded with your choice of two different meats, onions, cilantro and guacamole. Fresh and flavorful. Don't Miss: The sangria. If you go with a group, go ahead and order the pitcher. If you don't …

Open for more than 10 years, Khushboo Fine Indian Cuisine offers traditional Indian cuisine in a contemporary setting in Lexington center. Diners' choices vary from grilled specialties like tandoori murg (chicken), jhinga (shrimp) and lamb chops to curries and a variety of South Indian selections. If you have any room at the end of your meal, balance the spice profile with a mango sundae or doaba kulfi, Indian ice cream garnished with ground pistachios. Greatest Dish Ever: Chicken tikka masala, and ask for extra sauce—they'll gladly bring it. Don't Miss: The fresh-baked naan—it melts in your …

Sometimes it's fun to go to a festive, social, or formal restaurant. But sometimes quiet, casual and relaxed are more befitting one's mood, especially when the quality and price are right. Quiet and affordability are what you'll find at Benjarong Restaurant, which has served high-quality Thai food at its South Acton location for more than a decade. Using a balance of flavors, textures and cooking methods, Benjarong offers choices that vary from traditionals like Pad Thai to specialites like Tamarind duck. Leave room for a cocktail, if you roll that way—the lounge offers and extensive list of …

Whether you’re looking for a festive spot for a night of wine and appetizers or a nice place to celebrate the holidays, or any occasion, Serafina Ristorante in Concord offers a wide variety of Tuscan fare and savory starters in an environment best described as casually elegant. How’s that? “Casually” elegant? Somehow, it is. Perhaps it’s the stylish food and extensive wine list in combination with the earth tones, lively bar scene and cozy booths—but whatever it is, it works, so much so that Serafina was rated the #1 choice for restaurant for dinner in Concord in the 2009 Reader’s Choice …

For this week’s bite, we thought we’d offer something light to help counter all the turkey, stuffing and pie you’ve likely been eating for days. In terms of calories and fat content for a complete meal, it doesn’t get much lower than sushi. And in terms of quality, it doesn’t get much fresher than Sushi and Hibachi Asian Gourmet in Concord. The restaurant’s sushi house offers everything from a la carte sushi and sashimi to various combinations of each. And if raw fish isn’t your thing, fair enough—there’s also plenty to choose from by way of other traditional Japanese fare like tempura and …

  What’s the best way to practice for our collective upcoming turkey coma? Beer, of course—plenty of beer. Which is exactly what you’ll find at the British Beer Company in Westford and Framingham. With some 120 types of beer available in drafts and bottles on any given day that range from pale ales to dark brews and everything in between, even wine drinkers are bound to be tempted. The food too varies greatly from traditional British fare like fish and chips, bangers and mash and more, to standard American pub fare and dinner selections like salads and burgers—but whatever you choose, make …

Every week, local Patch editors will train the spotlight on a top-flight restaurant.Here's this week's choice: Longfellow's Wayside Inn, 72 Wayside Inn Road, Sudbury Greatest Dish Ever: The Wayside Inn lobster pie—sweet tender lobster meat baked with sherry and cracker stuffing.  Don't Miss: The Sunday dinner menu, with a choice of appetizer, entree and dessert. The Vibe: Historical, cozy, rustic Cool Factor: The inn itself is the oldest inn still operating in the U.S. It started off as a house in 1707 and became a tavern in 1716.

Every week, local Patch editors will train the spotlight on a top-flight restaurant.Here's this week's choice: Bella Costa Ristorante, 147 Cochituate Rd, Framingham Greatest Dish Ever: Fresh cheese ravioli mascarpone—fresh raviolis stuffed with ricotta cheese, served in an alfredo mascarpone cheese sauce with tomato and sage. Don't Miss: Live piano entertainment most nights to accompany your dinner.  The Vibe: Elegant Cool Factor: The restaurant has free WiFi available.

Every week, local Patch editors will train the spotlight on a top-flight restaurant.Here's this week's choice: Savoury Lane, 251 Arlington St., Acton Greatest Dish Ever: From the brunch menu: New England breakfast—Homemade cornbread, our own baked beans and two eggs your way topped with four strips of bacon and a side of real maple syrup. Don't Miss: From the lunch menu: Ham, brie and apple sandwich—Baked ham, slices of French brie and Granny Smith apple slices with your choice of brown or honey mustard. Grilled on your choice of bread or served "as is" in a French baguette. The Vibe: Homey, …