Boston Market, Better than Beans and the Red Socks
Written: Jun 03 '05 (Updated Jul 08 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Pretty close to home cooked.
Cons: Some side dishes are a bit too salty.
The Bottom Line: As a change from regular fast food chains and sandwich chains, this is a fine experience.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Boston Market |
So you are driving along and you are hungry. All you see are fast food places like McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Checkers or any of the sandwich/sub specialty places. You want something good to eat but don't want some kind of meat stuck between two pieces-a-bread nor do you want to chew like cow eating the latest salad special. You also don't have a lot of time for table service but what you are really looking for is a home cooked meal. The solution; Stop into the Boston Market.
The Restaurant
As soon as you walk in you can tell you are in for something good. The aromas of the meats cookin' on the rotisseries take over the senses. A quick look at the menus above the ordering area tells you you can get a salad or a sub sandwich, but don't do it. Those aromas are the chicken and turkey slowly cookin' and staying full of flavour. Look into the show case. That's where you see the mashed potatoes, garlic Dill New Potatoes, sweet Potatoes, mac and cheese, creamed spinach, vegetable medley, and more. I have always noticed they keep these bins very clean, fresh looking and well stocked. The food looks appealing.
If you can try the Roasted Sirloin. It's really good. For $7.99 on Long Island you get 5 ozs of the beef and two side orders of the selections I mentioned. They top it off with a piece of corn bread. Unfortunately you have to spend another buck and a half plus if you want a small Coca-Cola product soda in the self serve drink area. They also have lemonade and sell bottled water.
Don't expect table service and except for asking exactly what you want on your plate, you won't get much more in attention or personal expression from the workers behind the counter. Fords idea of the Model-T assembly line lives on well in the Boston Market.
Table and chairs and separate booths make this restaurant comfortable. They even placed small flower arrangements (artificial)on the bare tables and have piped in music. Real salt and pepper shakers are on the table too. It feels like a real restaurant but you have to get up and order and retrieve the food yourself. There are no drive through Boston Markets that I am aware of, wouldn't make sense.
The place I have been to is always clean and the tables are wiped clean after use. They let one of the employees out of the back area to do these chores. It must be a wonderful feeling of freedom for them to be chosen for that job.
I'll also note that then plastic table-ware they give is high quality and won't be snapping in your hand or giving you friction burns as they go in and out of your mouth. The plates are good quality and don't sag either.
Take Home
This place near us delivers so if you decide on a "home cooked" meal to be brought to the house or picked up you may want to try their "Family Style" offerings. They set you up for dinners for 3,4,5,or 6.
The Family for 3 would give you the entre of your choice including the steak, chicken or turkey, and three large side orders of what you like along with three pieces of the corn bread that isn't too dry. It's just right. That goes for $17.99. Each additional person above the 3 will have about a five dollar addition to the price. The portions are hardy enough for me and I do have a good amount of food when I sit at the table, perhaps too much.
Some Sour Notes
Though I do like their chicken and turkey that are always moist and tasty I happen to like the Roasted Sirloin which I believe is fairly new. What I didn't care for was the fact that their creamed spinach was too salty.
I do like that the Mac and Cheese is made with Ritini and holds a lot of the cheeses American, Cheddar, and a bit of Blue Cheese they use, but this too had but it too was salty tasting.
The vegetable medley is cooked well, (not over-cooked and still has some crunch) though the side stuffing is a bit dry.
I read on somewhere that they have Honey Glazed Ham but I haven't noticed it enough to try it. They do have a really good Angus meatloaf, if you like that kind of meat.
Last Thoughts
Though I am easily pleased with so many kinds of foods, when it comes down to it, I'm a meat and potato guy much of the time. The Boston Market gives me that option that many other fast food places don't. They do have a good selection of sides and though ten bucks can seem like a bit much for lunch, it is worth it when I'm in the meat and potato mood. A short line usually moves quickly and the environment with a touch of music and clean tables keeps this guy comfortable before moving on. I can thank Boston for something now, the beans ain't bad but they can keep their Red Sox.
More Fast-Food and Sit-Down Restaurants by popsrocks
Applebee's / Romano's MACARONI GRILL / KFC / OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE / Wendy's / OUTBACK Restaurant / Cozymel's / Cheesecake Factory / McDonald's / Taco Bell / Checkers Burgers / Red Lobster / The White Castle / TGI Friday's / Charlie Browns / Burger King / Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips / Dunkin' Donuts / Starbucks / Ralph's Famous Ices / Cold Stone Creamery / Boulder Creek Steakhouse / Waffle House / Krispy Kreme / Friendly's / Nathan's / Jillian's Blimpies / Katz's Deli / Ruth's Chris Steak House /Don Juan's / Cracker Barrel / IHOP, International House Of Pancakes / Quizno's / Subway / jumba juice / Ruth's Chris Steak House /Don Juan's / Peter Luger Steak House / Don Juan's / Cracker Barrel / Bob Evans / Boston Market / Papa John's Pizza / Domino's Pizza
Recommended:
Yes
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