I live out in carlisle- we have no restaurants. Well ok, Ferns country store makes sandwiches and soup, but for a real sit down restaurant I have to go at least as far as Concord or Acton. Now there isn’t much to choose from even there so we treasure the few that we like. My friend Jill and I frequent the Atlantic Sea Grille on route 119, we call it Captain FishHooks but this isnt a story about them really. This is a story about how when your favorite local place isn’t open you realize the awful consequences.
So Jill and I plan last minute to go to dinner at Captain FishHooks- it’s a Monday night also not great to go out. When we arrive it is closed, due to roof repairs. quelle disastre…. Plan B- go to the little French place down the road for crepes… drive by… it’s dark… continue up road on right to Scupperjacks.
Here is the real story- Scupperjacks, never a first choice in any case, has turned into an overpriced, complicated, annoying place with horrid food. We should have left as soon as we walked in and stood in front of the lobby podium for like 5 minutes, eyeing empty tables and told “Donny will be right out”. Whoever the heck Donnie is – he controls who sits where I guess- he was more concerned that he control that then that his customers got to sit down.
Finally seated, the menu is horrifyingly pricey particularly versus our favorite aforementioned Captain FishHooks. We order, they still have that quaint institution the salad bar so we have to get up to get our salads. If I want to get up to get my salad I can make one at home. Food arrives. I am working on my overcooked and possible refrozen sworfish, when I notice Jill picking disdainfully at her lobster pie. She sent it back- said it was like dried out tasteless breadcrumbs.
We get an alternative which is acceptable and finish our meals… The service was fine, although they kept taking away silverware and not bringing new… and they did remove the lobster pie from the check without being asked…
Nonetheless we are never going to set foot in there again. And we are going to make sure to doubly support the Atlantic Sea Grille because I have no idea what will happen if it were to close for more than an evening.
Wow. Atlantic Sea Grill must have changed. I had some horrible, horrible meals there in years past. I swore never to go back. Are you going to make me break a swear?
BTW, I can recommend the Cast Iron Kitchen in Maynard. It is where the Quarterdeck Restaurant used to be.
Well the atlantic sea grill does one thing very well- plain fish. they understand how long to cook it and I have never had an overdone piece. Now they cant actually cook- if you order something with sauce or something like fruit de mere, you will be dissapointed no end. The best deal in town is the recession special. chowder, baked haddock with sides, and bread pudding for 16.95.
they have a weird knack for making really good dessert. The vegetables are uniformly mediocre.
If you go to the Cast Iron Kitchen on the weekend make sure you have a reservation. It’s very popular. Next time you can’t get into the Atlantic Sea Grill, try the new Bella Famiglia where thre old D’Angelo’s was on 119 in Acton. I haven’t been there yet, but I’ve heard from other people that it’s great.