Category: Food

Where To Dine In Marlborough MA

Welcome to Marlborough. Trying to decide where to dine in the area? Reviews of the local restaurants are listed here.

Whether you are visiting as a hockey family at our world famous New England Sports Center or you are visiting one of our high-tech companies; you will want to know where to dine in Marlborough MA and the surrounding area.

The reviews of these restaurants reflect my personal opinion. I have not received compensation from the establishments directly.

Travel With Sandi is a participant in an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.

Here is what I know about travel. Everyone’s taste is different. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.

Reviews of most of these restaurants can be found on Trip Advisor

Delivery through Grubhub is available for many restaurants.

Family Dining

If you are looking for a restaurant that offers family style dining with a waitstaff and bar, this list is for you.

110 Grill

Part of the new Apex Center, the 110 Grill is the anchor restaurant for the complex. They also have a location in Hudson at the Shops at Highland Commons. The food is high quality, the atmosphere is loud and busy, and the outdoor firepit is a nice draw.

99 Restaurant

There are two 99 Restaurants – one in Hudson and one in Marlborough. They serve traditional chain-style American fair that is priced reasonably.

Bullfinches

For finer dining, try Bullfinches in Sudbury. They also offer cooking classes on Tuesday evenings.

Chill Kitchen and Bar

Located on the East side of Marlborough, Chill Kitchen and Bar offers good American cuisine. The patio is the place to be in the summer months and is dog friendly.

Evviva Trattoria

A fun, lively atmosphere awaits you at Evviva Trattoria. They are conveniently located in the Apex Center and are always busy. The patio is in the parking lot, but it’s still a fun place for a drink and some fabulous Italian food.

Fireflys BBQ

Great southern BBQ in New England, Fireflys BBQ is home to ribs paired with classic sides and Dante’s – an over 21 dance club.

Fish Restaurant and Wine Bar

Beautifully presented, classic seafood dishes are the star of the menu at Fish.

Fix Burger Bar

Fix Burger Bar is the new kid in town. They offer fabulous burgers and when the weather is good, a view of the lake.

Fugakyu Cafe

Fugakyu in Sudbury offers classic Japanese cuisine: sushi, sashimi, tempura.

Horseshoe Pub and Restaurant

The Horseshoe Pub in Hudson offers fun pub fair and a separate bar area that has wide selection of draft beers for your enjoyment.

Kennedy’s Restaurant and Market

Kennedy’s Restaurant is where the townies go. A longtime, family owned establishment, you will find classic American favorites on the menu.

Linguini’s

Family friendly Italian dining at its best, that’s Linguini’s in a nutshell. I once recommended it to a visitor; their comment “The braciole is better than my Italian grandma’s!”

LongHorn Steak House

At the Longhorn you know what you will get, since each location offers the same great steak and proprietary seasonings.

Lotus Blossom

The Lotus Blossom restaurant in Sudbury is the perfect spot to enjoy Chinese and Japanese cuisine.

Marlborough Country Club’s Eastside Grille

The Eastside Grille offers indoor and patio dining overlooking a beautiful 18 hole semi-private golf course.

Okami Sushi hibachi

Okami is located in the Apex Center.

Olive Garden

Just beyond the Mall is the Olive Garden offering classic, tried and true Italian dining.

Rail Trail Flat Bread Co.

Great flatbread, fabulous entres, and fresh draft options make the Rail Trail in Hudson a great casual dining spot. Delivery offered by Grubhub.

Silk Road Bistro

The Silk Road Bistro is a family run downtown restaurant offering Northern & Szechuan-style Chinese food

Sofia Restorante

A staple in the downtown Hudson restaurant scene, Sofia’s has been serving authentic Tuscan inspired Italian cuisine for over 20 years.

Tavern In The Square

Offering gastro pub fair, Tavern In The Square is lively and has lots of TVs in the dining room.

TGI Fridays

Everyone knows TGI Fridays, Marlborough’s is in the Mall. GRUBHUB DELIVERY AVAILABLE

Wayside Inn

Longfellow’s Wayside Inn is a traditional wayside inn and tavern that has been serving the since 1716. It is a nice spot to enjoy a comfortably upscale meal.

Welly’s Restaurant

Welly’s is like Cheers – frequented by locals and offering amazing weekday specials. They are so popular, they just opened a new spot in Hudson. GRUBHUB DELIVERY AVAILABLE

Grubhub Delivery Available

Westender

More of a sports bar, the Westender offers sandwiches, darts, and sports.

Wildwood Steakhouse

Wildwood embodies relaxed finer dining where the focus is steaks done expertly.

Zarape Mexican Restaurant

Zarape offers yummy classic Mexican entres and has indoor and patio seating.

Casual Dining

Below are dining options that are classic takeout and may have seating and some have a small waitstaff.

Chick-fil-a

Chick fil a in the Apex Center. GRUBHUB DELIVERY AVAILABLE

China Taste

China Taste is the best place to get excellent, classic Chinese food. Make sure to call ahead, they are usually very busy.

Five Guys

Five Guys across from the Apex Center. GRUBHUB DELIVERY AVAILABLE

Friendlies

Friendlies in the Apex Center. GRUBHUB DELIVERY AVAILABLE

Hot Table

Hot Table in the Apex Center. GRUBHUB DELIVERY AVAILABLE

Jersey Mike’s Subs

Jersey Mike’s next to the Apex Center

Panera

Panera Bread across the street from the Apex Center. GRUBHUB DELIVERY AVAILABLE

Protein House

Marlborough’s healthy alternative to fast food, the Protein House is located in the Apex Center and will have you feeling good about your meal choices. GRUBHUB DELIVERY AVAILABLE

Mirchi Nation

Mirchi Nation is across the street from the Apex Center

Qdoba

Qdoba is across the street from the Apex Center

Vin Bin Cafe

The Vin Bin Cafe is the place to go if you are looking for great local eats. They are located in downtown Marlborough and Southboro.

Card Options

When you ar dining out, it’s always a good idea to get Marriott points by using the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card. The offer lots of different plans and the dividends are hotel points – something hockey families and traveling visitors need.

Other Places To Visit

If you are looking for something to do, a visit to Tower Hill Botanical Garden might just be the thing. You can check them out and view some of their Orchids here.

Restaurantuers

If I have missed your establishment or you would like to make a special offer to our readers for the where to dine in Marlborough MA list, email me at Sandi@travelswithsandi.com.

How To Spend 48 Hours In Barcelona

Experiencing everything Barcelona has to offer in just two days is impossible. However, you can absorb the vibe of this hip, vibrant city with careful planning paired with wild abandon!

Experiencing everything Barcelona has to offer in just two days is impossible. However, you can absorb the vibe of this hip, vibrant city with careful planning paired with wild abandon! How to spend 48 hours in Barcelona offers itinerary suggestions for your short visit.

Travel With Sandi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Travel With Sandi also participates in the Awin and CJ Affiliate programs.

Barcelona has two tour bus companies, the Big Red Bus City Tours and the Bus Turistic. Both companies offer great service covering all the hotspots in Barcelona. We chose the Big Red City Tours Bus because we observed two Big Red Buses for every one Bus Turistic, which meant less waiting time between pickups. We booked our tickets through Viator, that way they were in my email and ready to go when we arrived. With a two day ticket, we were able to traverse the city, have a guided audio tour, and take in the adventures that struck our fancy.

Tour LA Sagrada Familia

Get off at stop number 11 on the green line of the City Bus to visit Antonio Gaudi’s Sagrada Famillia. Construction of the Basilia began on March 19, 1882, and is scheduled to be completed in 2026. Whether the building will be finished then is up for debate and many Spaniards are sceptical about this timeline.

How to Spend 48 hours in Barcelona
La Sagrada Familia

Interestingly, the Basillica does not tower over the city; her decorative towers take you by surprise as you ascend up Avenue Diagonal to Mallorca Street. The towers rise seemingly from nowhere, and the tallest towers are still unfinished. They will most certainly change the shape of the Barcelona skyline when completed. The middle and tallest towers represents Jesus Christ, there is one for each apostle – 12 in all, one is for the Virgin Mary, and four represent the evangelists. The largest, central towers are under construction and the ever present construction cranes detract from the wildly artistic facade.

In 2019, Barcelona finally granted the building permit for Sagrada Familia that was submitted in 1885. To tour this magnificently eclectic church, it is best to purchase tickets in advance. I ordered our tour tickets through Viator, they have lots of options. You should consider a skip the line tour, as the lines can be very long. You can wander around the church on your own,;but to have a true grasp of the magnitude, symbolism, and history, a guided tour is best.

LA Rambla

La Rambla, the heart of the city center, is a wide boulevard filled with shops, restaurants, and hotels. It stretches from Port Vell, near the cruise terminal, to Placa de Catalunya. At night the area comes alive with hawkers, lots of tourists, and pickpockets (be attentive). A must do is to grab an outside table at a touristy bar and sip on sangria; it’s a fun place to people watch.

Barceloneta Beach

The beach in Barceloneta is a wide swath of crystal sand. Retirees playing cards and dominos camp out all day in private clubs that line the beach, while the younger set hits the beach to surf, play volleyball, and soak up the soul warming Meditarranean sunshine. Stop for a glass of Cava and a few plates of tapas at one of the many restaurants planted at the beach’s edge.

FC Barcelona

Football (soccer) fans can enjoy a tour of the home stadium for FC Barcelona, Camp Nou. Stop number 14 on the red line of the City Bus, Camp Nou is smack dab in the middle of the city. The tour, complete with VR glasses and audio guide will have you right in the middle of the action.

Casa Batillo

Gaudi’s work dots many of Barcelona’s neighborhoods. Casa Batillo on Passeig de Gracia is one of his most famous homes. If you want the perfect tour, book the 8:30 preview where you can visit before the throngs of tourists arrive. Casa Batillo can be reached by either the red or green line, stops 19 and 16 respectively. You can view the facade restoration in this video from the Casa Batllo website, the colors, design, and craftsmanship are fascinating.

Port Cable Car

Want to experience the best views in Barcelona? Take a ride on the Port Cable Car. For about $20 you can take a round trip cable car ride from the port to the five star Miramar Hotel on Montjuic. At the top, you can sip a drink at the bar perched on the side of Montjuic, visit the Miramar hotel, wander the gardens taking in more spectaular views, or hike further up the mountain. You can take the red line bus (stop 6) to enjoy this vantage point if you are a little cable car timid.

How to spend 48 hours in Barcelona
Bistro view from Montjuic

Dining

When choosing a restaurant, avoid the establishments that have pictures of the food pasted on the windows or on a kiosk. In general, they are tourist traps. Look for authentic Catalonian cuisine a block or two off the main drag.

For a fun night out, try The Paella Club. Here you will join a dozen other couples to create several different types of paella paired with bottomless glasses of Cava, Spanish sparkling wine. After the cooking lesson, join your new friends for a family style dinner to taste your creations along with dishes crafted by Chef Alex.

Hubbies Cooking Paella

If you are in the Gothic Quarter, the Firebug Bistro is a local hangout with good food and a causal vibe. Try the “Sexy Bravas” and the “Civiche Pow! Pow!” for a Spanish flavor bomb!

We Bistrot is a classic tapas spot with sidewalk tables, a pass-through kitchen, and a well stocked bar. It’s a great spot to enjoy a slow, relaxing meal. The potato salad with tuna was the hit of the night. We tasted most of the menu and loved everything.

Where To Stay

We stayed at this Airbnb in the Gothic Quarter, El Gotic. It was in a old classic building with beautiful, traditional tile work; marble floors; and dark, imposing woodwork. We could walk to great restaurants, Placa de Catalunya, the Zoo, La Sagrada Familia, and more. Airbnb is a great resourse for Barcelona.

How to spend 48 hours in Barcelona
Kitchen at our Airbnb Barcelona

Of course, there are lots of great hotels too. Check out the Hotel Barcelona Universal, a four star hotel in the Gothic Quarter.

No matter where you stay, or what you see, I know you will enjoy your 48 hours in Barcelona.

Lost in the journey,

Sandi

Impossible Burger Coast To Coast

We were visiting Santa Barbara, CA, in August – it is like one of the most beautiful places in the world! The sunshine, the food is amazing, and the people watching – what can I say! I found myself in search of a great veggie burger and wondered if there was a difference in the Impossible Burger coast to coast.

Travel With Sandi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Travel With Sandi also participates in the Awin and CJ Affiliate programs.

I am mostly a vegetarian/pescatarian – once or twice a year I may have a piece of bacon (zoiks). One thing I miss is a really great burger. Even if you order a meatless burger made on site, it still doesn’t have that burger unctuousness. I had been reading a lot about The Impossible Burger and in the early days it was difficult to find on the East Coast.

I was in search of a West Coast pub that served The Impossible Burger. Jackpot! Around the corner of our hotel, The Hotel Milo was Finney’s Crafthouse & Kitchen. We are always on the lookout for a great pub and I was delighted to find they had The Impossible Burger on the menu. Theirs is served with grilled onions, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and house spread; I ordered it with a fine dark draft. The Impossible Burger did not disappoint. It was “meaty”, juicy, tasty and totally hamburger, you will be asking yourself: Where’s the Beef?

West Coast

Impossible Burger coast to coast - Santa Barbara
Finney’s Crafthouse & Kitchen Impossible Burger

East Coast

In February, we went to our local Tavern in the Square. I ordered what I thought was The Impossible Burger with bacon, onion jam, aged cheddar, and a fried egg, sounds great right. Not so much. It was dry, the bacon was hard not crisp (how do you do that?) had no flavor and they overcooked the egg! When I was getting ready to write this review, I revisited the menu at Tavern in the Square. The burger is not an Impossible Burger, but an Impossiburger. A little play on words?

Impossible Burger coast to coast -
Not The Impossible Burger

Today I headed out for more research (Yum) and visited the Rail Trail Flatbread Co. to try their Impossible Burger. Which comes with chao cheddar (dairy free), green leaf lettuce, pickle, onion, tomato, vegan aioli, and potato bun. I substituted muenster cheese and added avocado. I ordered a Berkshire Beer Company Halidale Stout to go along. They were both  scrumptious – the beer and the burger.

Impossible Burger coast to coast - Rail Trail
The Impossible Burger – Rail Trail Flatbread Co.

The Impossible Burger is made by Impossible Foods . According to their website “We’ve been eating meat since we lived in caves. And today, some of our most magical moments together happen around meat: Weekend barbecues. Midnight fast-food runs. Taco Tuesdays. Hot dogs at the ballpark. Those moments are special, and we never want them to end. But using animals to make meat is a prehistoric and destructive technology. Animal agriculture occupies almost half the land on earth, consumes a quarter of our freshwater and destroys our ecosystems. So we’re doing something about it: We found a way to make meat using plants, so that we never have to use animals again. That way, we can eat all the meat we want, for as long as we want. And save the best planet in the known universe.”

Caveat Emptor – Let the buyer beware! The Impossible Burger is fabulous, the Impossiburger – tastes just like a regular frozen veggie burger – Blah!

It is a lofty promise, and the Impossible Burger totally lives up to expectations!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry,

Sandi

Vail Food Tour

In between the food tastings, Matt regaled us with stories of Vail’s history, how it came to be, who were the major players and what it was like in the beginning. Did you know that Gerald Ford had a residence in Vail?

Does your family love to ski? Snowboard? Do you wonder what the heck you are going to do with two or three days while they are on the slopes? When in Colorado, my favorite thing is the Vail food tour.

Travel With Sandi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Travel With Sandi also participates in the Awin and CJ Affiliate programs.

I know, the first day it’s great, right? Peace and quiet, time to read, reflect and relax.  Day two and three can become a little tedious.

We just spent three days in Vail, Colorado. All I can say is gorgeous!

Vail Food Tour

The Stay

We found an Airbnb in Lionsgate which is part of the overall Vail complex comprised of Lionsgate and Vail Village. Both areas are anchored by a gondola. A steady stream of free buses connect all the points of interest and the two villages.

The view from out Airbnb was so cute!

Vail Food Tour

The Food

I was lucky enough to find an amazing Vail Food Tour; a 2 ½ hour food and history tour (with added libations ). Our guide, Matt, was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive.  I was on the tour as a single with a friendly group of four women celebrating their annual reunion.

We began our tour at Terra Bistro with Ahi Poke with Fried Rice Tots and Prosecco.  I had never tried poke before – but since this was a tasting, I gave it a go. It was refreshing, light and flavorful. Of course, it was perfect with the Prosecco pairing.

Our dining experience included mouth watering salted caramel chocolates from Fuzziwigs Candy Factory , we had a custom brew at Vail Brewing Company who partners with Bol who delivered ancho chile marinated lamb lollipops for our happy little group, and gnocchi with white truffles paired with a crisp chardonnay at La Botega.

My favorite – a vegetable grilled cheese served with curried roasted cauliflower soup and a beet cocktail. If you want to eat at the White Bison – make reservations – you will certainly enjoy your meal.

Vail Food Tour - the White Bison
Lunch at the White Bison

In between the food tastings, Matt regaled us with stories of Vail’s history, how it came to be, who were the major players and what it was like in the beginning. Did you know that Gerald Ford had a residence in Vail? That there is a mini “Bellagio fountain”? That the WWII ski rangers had a part in making Vail – well, Vail as we know it today.

If you think it’s busy during the snowy months, you need to check out what’s happening during the other seasons. More tours from Matt’s company, lots of fun festivals and races.

If you want to take this amazing walking food tour, check out the description here.

This tour company also does a Booze, Brews and Bites tour which I am sure is amazing. Next time!

Getting lost in the journey,

Sandi