Where the Subway Lines End

Some of us dare to live in a foreign land where the subway lines end and this sprawling object called the Mass Bay Commuter Rail takes over. Surburbia? Seriously under-rated. A lot of trendy haunts have sprung up south of Boston that claim to be just as stylish as their idols in the Back Bay, which is downright ridiculous. If I want a Boston-like atmosphere, I'll go in to Boston. If I want to experience the sights and sounds of a magical place with plentiful parking and reasonably priced food/drinks, I'll go to one of these uniquely suburban joints:

Fresh Catch Seafood (locations in Mansfield, Easton, and North Attleboro): Is it a fish market? Is it a wanna-be trendy restaurant? Either way, their twin lobster specials, half-priced sushi nights, and $1 Narragansett drafts give Legal and Skipjacks a run for their money. Stop by the adjacent market for lobster priced as low as $4.99/lb, along with stuffies (quahogs), ready-to-cook baked stuffed shrimp, and quarts of clam chowder. Definitely worth the trip from anywhere.

The Fat Cat (Quincy): I gave the Cat a major shout out in a past blog and after a second visit am confident that this restaurant tucked behind the Quincy Courthouse is a hidden gem. Lobster mac 'n cheese = gluttonous heaven.

Bon Vivant Wine (Randolph): When it comes to wine, I want the very best that money can buy (as long as the best doesn't cost more than $10-$15 per bottle). The ladies at Bon Vivant patiently listened to my long laundry list of what I feel a wine should taste like before hitting the nail on the head by suggesting a South African Bukketrause and Argentinian Malbec. If you're up for something a bit more daring that your run-of-the-mill Yellow Tails and Mondavis, be sure to check out this shop on the Randolph/Milton line.

La Paloma (Quincy): You haven't lived until "mahgaritahs" have been forced upon you at this South Shore landmark. Located in Q-town's Wollaston neighborhood, La Paloma serves up more salsa, guac, and fajitas than you can shake a maraca at. If you're lucky enough to live locally, you can often find their La Paloma brand salsa in Stop & Shop. Buy it. Pahkcah02 would never steer you wrong when it comes to salsa.

Thai Thani (Norwood): If you were to look up the phrase "hole in the wall" in the dictionary, I'm pretty certain that a Thai Thani menu would pop out. There are a trillion Thai restaurants in and around Boston, but none of them serve up a more delicious pad thai than Thai Thani. Their lunch portion is worthy of two tasty meals, and a downright bargain at $6.95.

Cheng Du (Stoughton, Mansfield, and Westboro): If it's considered wrong when a Chinese food restaurant in Stoughton recognizes your number and immediately asks you how your family is (and if you want the usual) then I don't want to be right. Cheng Du is so amazing that I would rather not eat Chinese food at all than risk being disappointed by a place that doesn't have the words "Cheng Du" in their title. Cheng Du doesn't cut corners when it comes to quality, and the proof is in the crab rangoon. Though they are a bit more expensive than their "let's triple fry everything" competitors, you'll definitely taste the difference. For a bit of Cheng Du variety, be sure to check out their weekday $7.95 lunch buffet if you find yourself in the (781) vicinity.

Westgate Lanes (Brockton): Ok, let's be clear here people - this is New England, and in New England we play candlepin. Period. None of that big ball (10 pin) crap for us. There isn't a child who grew up in greater Brockton in the 70's and 80's who hasn't attended at least one birthday party at Westgate. Now that we're adults (and Brockton *finally* allows beer in the lanes) we can relive our childhoods by pretending that we're trying out for a spot on next Saturday's Stars and Strikes.

Crescent Ridge (Sharon): If the haters on the North Shore love to brag about Richardson's, it's only because they haven't cow tipped at the 'Ridge. Yes, I'll admit that I was disappointed when I learned that their ice cream comes from a farm in Vermont (the cows that dot the property are yearlings, and incapable of producing milk), but that doesn't stop the locals from queuing up 20 deep on a hot summer night. The Crescent Ridge also earns marks as one of the last local dairies in America to still offer home delivery service.