Dec282011

Give Halligans a try, or two, or three

By Fat Phantom | December 28, 2011 | Posted in Around Town, Columns | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Phantom has been away for a while.  There was a mix up in the accounting and finance office at LondonderryNH.net.  After they paid John and Joes salary and EJ’s movie tickets and then helped switch Jack to de-caf , there wasn’t much money left to pay for Phantoms’ dining bills.  So again with his own buck Phantom has returned.  How opportune to have a restaurant review this Christmas (sorry, Holiday, Hanukikah, Festivas and New Years) season and perhaps try a local place you have driven past but not yet stopped at.

The test of any new restaurant you try is to ask the simple question, would I come back here again?  After Phantom and guests first stop a few months back the answer would have been no.  We showed up early one Thursday evening before the rush, ordered a few drinks and attempted to place our order.  No excuse here but our first two requests for appetizers were met with the same reply, “sorry we are out of that today”.  So paying for a few sodas and ice-teas we left.

Wanting to write a review for this local establishment the Phantom decided to give them a second and then a third try as well.

I have been to Halligans Tavern a few times these past few months.  I still can’t figure out why exactly.  The food is a bit un-even, the staff is a bit gruff in a nice kind of way, but the cozy place kind of grows on you.  Located right on 102 in downtown Derry in an old fire house its easy to find, and there is lots of nearby parking too.

Typical tavern/pub  menu covers a wide range of items for lunch and dinner from appetizers to desserts.  They also feature an events menu.  Phantom and guests these last few trips have sampled a variety of items.  Lets start with the good.  A new item added a few months back drew the Phantoms attention.  Irish Potato Skins.  The twist here is that the potato shells are topped with juicy corned beef and cheddar.  Interesting and with a dab of sour cream quickly devoured.  BBQ Flatbread with chicken and cheddar was excellent and much better than many BBQ chicken pizzas phantom has had elsewhere.  Good portions and quickly delivered are the other positives for starters at Halligans.

On the down side are the Nachos, order them without the chili.  The chili was entirely too “wet” and the soggy mess that resulted was left mostly untouched.  On a future visit Phantom will leave off the chili and see how the dish turned out.  Chicken Tenders, Wings and two kinds of Calamari round out some other items.  I see they removed the Poutine from the menu.  Never got a chance to sample my favorite snack from Quebec, as it was never available anyway.

Nothing fancy about either the house or caesar salads.  Some vegetables and lettuce massed on a plate served with standard dressings.  If you must eat a salad for dinner bring one with you.  On the other end the soups are good.  Portions a little small but the New England Seafood Chowder and Onion Soup get good marks for hot and a fresh just made taste.

The rest of the menu is broken down to Sandwiches and Wraps; Angus Burgers; and Tavern Favorites.  From our several trips skip down to the Favorites section.  The meatloaf sandwich disappointed twice.  On Phantoms first trip guest ordered the meatloaf that came out dense, dry, cold, flavorless and served on burnt bread.  The burnt bread the only part of the dish that had any flavor.  On a subsequent trip we gave the meatloaf a second try.  It wasn’t any better.  The issue we have had with the burgers is not the meat, the roll or the accompanying fries, rings or salads.  Basically all good and crafted as solid as one would imagine from any similar menu.  The issues is the cooking of the beef.

Phantom likes his meat dead, non-bleeding and very well done.  There is a difference between well done and burnt.  There is also a difference when items are ordered rare – or medium – or medium rare.  The kitchen does not seem to have this cooking of meat to order down to a science yet.  So as a helpful reminder if a burger is wanted well – ask for medium.  If a medium burger is wanted ask for rare.  Not quite sure how to get a rare burger out of the kitchen.  Let Phantom know.

Tavern menu, that has been updated twice recently, offers good choices and decent serving sizes.  Though the dinner items are a bit overpriced for the portions provided.  Value then is just fare.  Good marks go to the Marinated Steak tips (though slightly over cooked, see note above).  Juicy seared stakes tips with little fat and no observed gristle were served with seasonal vegetables of a mound of hot and creamy mashed potatoes.  The Fish and Chips were as expected.  Crisp non-greasy pieces of white fish served with fries and good homemade cole slaw.  Phantom and guests did try some new items to the menu.  The Maple Bourbon Grilled Salmon was well worth the $18 charge.  The glaze departed a sweet smoky flavor on moist salmon fillets that were excellently prepared and accompanied with mashed and seasonal vegetables.  Equally good and fully devoured by a guest on a recent trip was the Chicken Broccoli Alfredo.  Al-dente pasta with chunks of moist chicken bathed in creamy alfredo.  As a tavern with an “Irish” themed menu one may be tempted to have the Sheppard’s Pie, as Phantom did.  Skip it.  Small, dry, and lacking any flavor not worth the $13 charge.

Don’t  be afraid to try some of the sides or ask for substitutions.  Sweet potato fries were a crunchy yummy sweet switch for regular fries.  The hand-made onion rings weren’t bad either.

We haven’t even mentioned the wide selection of beers and drinks available as one would expect at a tavern.  We just mentioned them.

All around still not sure why I keep going back.  There are still a few items Phantom may want to try.  So maybe on your first visit at Halligans’ you will see the Phantom and guests making yet another trip over to Derry for dinner.  You will know who the Phantom is, the one not eating the Sheppard’s Pie or Meatloaf sandwich.

On our Fat Phantom five-fork scale………

Service – 4  -  Friendly & Gruff
Food – 3 –  Avoid the meatloaf
Value – 2.5
Overall – 3.5

The Halligan Tavern is located at 32 West Broadway in downtown Derry.

Visit them at www.halligantavern.com

Images courtesy of The Halligan Tavern

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By Fat Phantom | Posted in Around Town, Columns | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)
Jun032011

Chipotle (Soviet) Mexican Grill

By Fat Phantom | June 3, 2011 | Posted in Columns | Tagged , , , | Comments (15)

The Phantom has been busy trying local lunch places.  Visiting Wrap Skak and Janie’s in Londonderry and new take-out place on the DW Highway in Nashua called Chipotle.  Posted the review of the Wrap Shak a few weeks back.  Today we take a look at Chipotle in Nashua.

Several decades ago while visiting an Eastern European country the Phantom had the pleasure of standing for several hours in a bread line.  When the Phantom got into the stark looking store there was one item to select from, bread.

I was reminded of that queue at a recent visit to Chipotle in Nashua on the DW highway.  Phantom and guests stood in line for a long time to be presented with just two options.  Taco or Burrito.  Sorry, that would be “Gourmet” Taco and Burrito.  Yes there are other options salad or chips/salsa; but the only thing they serve are Taco’s and Burrito’s.  The corporate chain based in Denver (slightly north of the border) presents a décor in its stores that is as stark as its menu.  Concrete brushed floors, dull steel beams and counters, and communal table and chairs.  Gruff staff and assembly line food construction round out the Soviet style feel of the place.

Now to the food.  Warning, their hot sauce is hot.  Not just hot, but so hot the ‘man vs. food’ guy from TV would have a hard time completing any taco/burrito with hot sauce.  Warning, their mild sauce is hot.  You get the point.  The over-powering heat rendered the meal totally tasteless.  Just as well, as what was left was totally inedible.

Options for taco/burrito fillings are chicken/steak.  Grilled with varying adobe this and adobe that; a profile that just adds to the tongue numbing lip curling heat.  Steak on the burrito was grizzly, tough and chewy.  The chicken on the taco was also dry, over-cooked and over-powered with spices.  Options for completing the taco/burrito included lettuce, tomato, guac, lime-flavored-rice (the only thing all agreed that actually tasted good); black/pinto beans (that were slopped into the taco/burrito, making them mushy); and sour cream.

According to their corporate web-site there are a whole nation of Chipotle fans and they post pictures of their fan-antics.  One shot shows someone throwing a burrito to the crowd.  More appropriately the caption should state throwing away a burrito to the crowd.

Lots and lots of choices for ‘Mexican’ food in and around Londonderry and southern NH.  If you make a list of where to go to next, put Chipotle on the bottom of that list.  Way down.

On our Fat Phantom five-fork scale………

Service – 0 – Soviet Friendly !
Food – 1
Value – 0
Overall – 0 – Like a Moscow bread line in the winter, just stay away

Locally Chipotle is located at 225 DW Highway in Nashua and also can be found at 926 South Willow St. in Manchester

Visit them at www.chipotle.com There you will discover their corporate culture.  Unfortunately, in Nashua they forgot about the food.

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By Fat Phantom | Posted in Columns | Tagged , , , | Comments (15)
Apr222011

Its a Wrap

By Fat Phantom | April 22, 2011 | Posted in Around Town, Columns | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

The Phantom has been busy trying local lunch places the past few weeks.  Visiting Wrap Skak and Janie’s in Londonderry and new take-out place on the DW Highway in Nashua called Chipotle’s.  Here is the first review in a quick series.  Rest in the next few days.

Real men don’t eat Quiche.

With that in mind I had my first visit to a popular Londonderry eatery (more take-out than dine-in) Wrap Shak located at the Crossroads strip shops.

What could be wrong with a sandwich.  Meat, maybe some cheese, little mustard or salad dressing (Phantom favors Miracle Whip over mayonnaise, I blame that on my mother), and some bread.  White bread, wheat bread, rye bread, pumpernickel, butter roll, poppy seed roll, Kaiser roll, sesame seed roll, baguette, bagel, boulé and in an extreme emergency a pita-pocket.  But a wrap.  They even have spinach wraps.

Can some one please explain to me exactly what a wrap is.  Is it Wonder Bread pressed between two cinder blocks.  It a pancake without the cake part.  Or is it some ‘ethnic’ thing my ‘waspy’ sensibilities had wrongly dismissed.  OK, maybe I get the flatbread part, but I will never accept the green wraps.  Spinach in bread, that’s like broccoli on pizza.  What exactly is this world coming to.

Mrs. Phantom and the women at work love the Shak.  So for a late lunch Phantom and #1 son ventured in person to the Wrap Shak.  It is entirely a self service affair.  Menu on the wall (or on menu cards); order at the counter, pick your soup/salad, grab a bag of chips, don’t forget your drink and a cookie or snack to end the meal.  Have a seat and they call your order up when ready.

Must have been a busy day the tables were in need of a wipe down as well as the single-sex restroom that had started the day, one would presume, a little fresher.

Beyond the layers of “wrap” there were all kinds of vegetables.  Tomatoes, lettuce, stuff and eventually some meat and cheese.  All of course customized as needed by the customer.  Would be nice if they had a Miracle Whip option over plain old mayo.  Ordered the standard just to get a flavor of what was all under wraps.  Truth in advertising should have labeled the sandwich, “Vegetables Your Mother Wanted You To Eat – Flavored with Ham, and Some Cheese”.  Salads, macaroni and fruit were average and appreciated by #1 son who ate them down and asked for more.  There is a wide variety of wraps, salads, soups and sandwiches, some served on actual bread-like products.  Hot and cold items and a breakfast menu round things out.   A very long nice list of options.  No need to let them eat cake, when their are wraps for all to go around.  I also had to note that the “wrap” I initially ordered was created wrong.  Phantom brought it back to the counter and had to wait for them to wrap it again.

Phantom widened his horizons and had a wrap.  In summary, real men don’t eat wraps.

Pass me a piece of Quiche please.

On our Fat Phantom five-fork scale………

Service – 2

Food – 2

Value – 2

Overall – 2 – Don’t under stand what the draw is here

Wrap Shak is located in Londonderry in the Crossroads Mall and can be reached at 689-7124.  They do take orders over the phone for pick-up.

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By Fat Phantom | Posted in Around Town, Columns | Tagged , , | Comments (0)
Dec302010

Just Like Home – Over at the Barrel

By Fat Phantom | December 30, 2010 | Posted in Around Town, Columns | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)

The Phantom has been long absent from the restaurant scene.  It is unimaginable that for the past several months the Phantom has not dined out; other than in eateries in far flung cities for business that the readers of this tome are not likely to venture to.  And for good reason my corporate expense procedures preclude eating at most establishments that serve meat.

The dining out drought came to an end the week before Christmas when Phantom had not one, nor two, but three meals in the same Londonderry establishment.  My memories of this place are from travel with family and for business in the South.  Typically stopping for breakfast (that’s served all day – this should be the clue to figure out where Phantom dined locally) with a home-cooked feel.  That’s the rub here.  A home-cooked meal may bring back memories of Granny’s house of warm comfort food; but not all Granny’s are good cooks.  Comfortable, friendly and filling yes, but Granny wasn’t Betty Crocker.

The interstate system that sprang fully to life in the 60’s has been and continues today to be the primary locations for these restaurants.  Travelers quickly came to admire and then search for the consistent quality of food, service and goods offered today at over 600 locations in 42 states.  All this from the first Cracker Barrel restaurant in rural Tennessee that opened in 1969.

I will get to the “country store” later but let’s first talk to the restaurant itself.  Phantom in the past week had three meals at the Cracker Barrel in Londonderry one each of breakfast. lunch and dinner at their location tucked along I-93 just of exit 4.

I must have hit lull times given the holiday season and the cold weather as Phantom and guests were seated quickly with no wait.  My memories from travel had me waiting in rocking chairs playing checkers and browsing/shopping in the country store attached to each eatery.  One unique business feature to Cracker Barrel is that all the restaurants are owned by the corporate entity and are not franchised.  This allows for consistent quality and feel for all the locations, as they are essentially all the same.

How did Phantoms multiple visit go ??  How many forks will the Barrel earn from this review ??

Select the link below to read more.

Our server at breakfast one Tuesday morning confirmed my observations when she noted that, “you should see this place on Sunday”.  Nice to see that locals as well as travelers have taken to Cracker Barrel.  The décor, and I hope you all have made the visit, is simple country like with tiled floors, wobbly chairs (like Grandmas) and a large fireplace.  My only complaint about the décor was the fire place.  On our dinner visit the staff had a bit of trouble lighting the fire.  Though the smell of sweat smoke filled the restaurant it did not go over well for the asthmatic eating dinner with me that night.

Though guests opted for the simple yet filling pancakes and French toast Phantom opted for “Uncle Herschel’s Favorite”.  Prepared to my specifications the eggs were scrambled and fluffy.  Though not a grits connoisseur myself they did seem a little bland though served piping hot.  Buttermilk biscuits and gravy.  Two of my favorite food groups who could ask for more.  Biscuits so-so, but that rich thick peppery and sausage filled sawmill gravy; if I only had the nerve to order a glass full with a straw.  Yummy.  For that left over half a biscuit Phantom made short order of the wonderful apple butter that accompanied the meal.

Uncle Herschel must have been a hungry guy as the meal included a choice of hash brown casserole or fried apples.  Needing to get my daily dose of fruit I opted for the apples.  Finally a choice of other items Phantom opted for the grilled pork chop.  Reminding me of Grandmas the chop was a little dry and tough (like Grandma had time to cook pork chops for breakfast, she warmed the one up that was left over from last nights dinner.  Though I don’t think CB does that).

Bless that Uncle Herschel.

Guests for breakfast had the Wild Maine Blueberry Pancakes served with Blueberry topping and an ordered  side of bacon (other choices are available) and Momma’s French Toast Breakfast.  Hearty eater number one made quick work of the hot fluffy buttery rich pancakes.  Companion number two was overwhelmed with the French toast platter served with two sunny-side up eggs and a side of sausage patties.  After polishing off Uncle Herschel’s breakfast Phantom may have had a piece or two of French toast.  Only if not to offend Grandma by not clearing our plates.

Breakfast was served quickly and piping hot.  Obviously made from scratch and delicious.  Honestly not as good as MaryAnn’s, but well worth the trip especially on those mornings where the wait at MaryAnn’s takes you into Monday.

For space we will limit the lunch discussion as really the options available are the same as for dinner.  Friend opted for a burger and salad that came cooked to order with lots of refills on the drinks.  Noting his caloric challenges around Christmas (sorry, the Holiday’s for those that work for the schools) Phantom opted for the Chicken Noodle soup and a vegetable platter with four servings of steamed carrots as his choice.  Humorous as our friendly waitress indicated the soup had no noodles left and wouldn’t charge us for it.  She wanted to know how a “healthy” looking man like myself get by on four servings of carrots for lunch.  Little did she know that the day before I had Uncle Herschel and some extra French toast for breakfast.

Phantoms final visit for the week came with family for dinner.  Out of the blue son #1 persuaded Mrs. Phantom that dad should take them to Cracker Barrel for dinner.  Aside from a little too much smoke in the building dinner was just as well cooked and served with a smile and chat by our friendly waitress.

Again home cooked, not necessarily well cooked, hot and ample Phantom could not have made a better choice on a frigid night.  And besides Phantom did not want to cook at home that night or drive miles away.

Older son opted for the Country Fried Steak with his choice of three sides.  You can order the same main dish every time and pick from a list 15 items for a never ending combination of choices to make the meal different any time.  Cole slaw, steak fries and mashed potatoes and gravy where his options.  The deep fried tenderized steak was served piping hot and smothered in sawmill gravy.  Tender and delicious the steak was quickly devoured followed by the slaw, mashed potatoes and as always the head was a little bigger than the stomach; the fries were barely touched (except by Phantom).

Mrs. Phantom opted for the Roast Beef dinner.  Tender as promised but a little grizzly around the edges.  Opted for sides included green beans (too greasy for Mrs. Phantom), yummy fried apples and cole slaw scoffed by older son.

Phantoms simple choice was for a well-done burger served on a yummy role and a side of soup (this time it had noodles) and some fries.

Dinners are served with choice of buttermilk or corn biscuits with butter and or apple butter (pick both) and refilled as needed.  Frankly as always Phantom would be more than happy with a big plate of biscuits, butter and a never ending glass of ice-tea.  The meal was just “gravy” on the biscuits.

As Cracker Barrel indicates their mission is to simply “please people”.  On three visits to the Londonderry Barrel, mission accomplished.

Now that store.  If you have never been to a Cracker Barrel the entrance and exit (where you pay your check) is all designed to enhance the “travelers” experience when traveling on the interstate.  Now a stop for diners to shop and buy a few additional country store favorites and tid-bits.  On our family visit we browsed the seasonal items and old-time candy and left with a few ‘treasures’ on top of our meal.

Comfortable, friendly and consistent.  Grandma may not be around any more or maybe she lives a little too far away for a regular visit.  Regardless, do your self a favor and make that visit to the Barrel.  Like Grandma’s you wont be disappointed.

On our Fat Phantom five-fork scale………
Service – 4
Food – 3.5
Value – 3.5
Overall – 4 – Let’s give Grandma the benefit of the doubt

.

Cracker Barrel is located locally in Londonderry off of Route 102 – just behind the Burger King – and their phone is 434-8804

Visit the Barrel on line at http://www.crackerbarrel.com

PS – Note to Admin.  Phantom is asking for an increase in his expense account in order to make more frequent visits to area eateries – and of course to write more articles.

Happy New Year to All !!

Images courtesy of Cracker Barrel

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By Fat Phantom | Posted in Around Town, Columns | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)
Jul302010

Fratellos Fantastic !

By Fat Phantom | July 30, 2010 | Posted in Around Town, Columns | Tagged , , | Comments (7)

Phantom has been on a quest to find just the right comfort food and it appears Phantom prefers ‘Italian’ food as his comfort of choice.  Must be to that good Irish-American up-bringing that had cans labeled “Chef” something or other as true Italian food.  Is it fact or fiction that Spaghetti-O’s will last forever in that can.

After three recent visits to Italian eateries, the wonderful Caberras to the awful Olive Garden Phantom took a suggestion from a reader and made a visit to Fratellos in Manchester.  This will be our second to last stop on the Italian food tour as Mrs. Phantom has suggested other options for out next night out after we visit a spot in down town Derry another reader suggested.

Fratellos is located in the northern end of the Mill Yard in Manchester (easiest to get to off the Amoskeag Bridge exit of I-293 to Canal St. off ramp).  As with most of the businesses in the mill Fratellos was crafted into a red-brick building with exposed beams.  Located on several levels including an out-door eating area Phantom and guests were warmly welcomed and escorted to our table.  On a busy mid-week night the restaurant was hosting several large groups and families.  Busy was the outdoor seating area with several parties enjoying the warm evening air.  Fratellos might not be the place for an intimate dinner for two, but the otherwise roomy restaurant welcomes all.

Our server who promptly greeted us and took a drink order (who used no note pad the entire night for any party he served.  I love it when they can do that).  We ordered simple appetizers.  Bowls of soup and salads were delivered to our table in literally 30 seconds.  Not rushed, just simply efficient service.

The house garden salad was fresh and cold and including a little hot-pepper none of has the guts to try.  The Sicilian Sausage Soup was divine.  Chunks of sweet sausage in a tomato based broth with spinach, rice, and a pinch of red-pepper flakes to balance it out.

What entrees did Phantom and party order, what about dessert?

Click below to follow the rest of the review and of course can you guess how many forks Phantom awarded Fratellos ??

Phantom believes a good chef needs to treat the simplest of dishes with the same attention as their signature dish.  Guest ordered the spaghetti and meatballs.  The dish arrived piping hot with perfectly cooked pasta in a sweet and spicy home made marina.  The softball sized meatballs were moist airy and full of meaty-cheesy-garlicky goodness.  Simply excellent.

The Seafood Sophia, “Maine Lobster, shrimp, fresh scallops and PEI mussels lightly simmered with button mushrooms and roma tomatoes in a lobster sherry cream sauce, served over bowtie pasta, garnished with fresh scallions”, was ordered with marina instead of the lobster sherry cream sauce (“no problem” stated the waiter, “it’s all prepared fresh”).

It smelled like the ocean declared Mrs. Phantom.  Buttery fresh sweet seafood in a delightful tomato rich marina sauce all on top of butterfly pasta.  Phantom was surprised when Mrs. Phantom finished the entire dish with no take-home leftovers for the next day.  That enough speaks volumes.

Phantom enjoyed the Chicken and Sausage Crème Rosa, “Pan seared chicken and sweet Italian sausage, tossed with penne pasta and our Crème Rosa sauce, garnished with fresh shaved Parmesan cheese”.  There was more meat than pasta was my first comment when the dish was delivered in its gooey creamy cheese sauce.  And true to the observation I counted 5 juicy strips of pan seared chicken.  The only issue with the dish involved several pieces of “rubbery” sausage strips.  None the less, all was eaten including the pasta basted in the pinkish homemade alfredo sauce.  Thoroughly enjoyed.

Oh yes bread.  Warm and chewy from the oven and refilled twice.  That alone with the soup made the meal.  The entrée was just “gravy” on the pasta.

Appetites revved up, and not yet full we opted to share several pieces of gooey chocolate cake full of ganache and covered with fudge.  Yummy, yummy, yummy.

The menu at Fratellos is extensive including steaks and a kids menu.  Given their location  in the heart of the mill district they offer a complete lunch menu full of pizza, sandwiches and salads.

Phantom fully recommends the trip up 293 to the mill yard and a visit to the next best thing to mamas kitchen; Fratellos.

On our Fat Phantom five-fork scale
Service – 5 forks – efficient & friendly
Food – 4.5  YUMMY forks
Value – 4 forks
Overall – 4.5 Mama pleasing forks !!

Fratellos
Located in Manchester’s historic mill yard
155 Dow Street (North end of Commercial)
Manchester, NH 03101    (603) 624-2022

Where will Phantom go next in his quest for the best Italian food.  Find out in his next review.

Comments or questions for Phantom – email – at FatPhantom@londonderrynh.net

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By Fat Phantom | Posted in Around Town, Columns | Tagged , , | Comments (7)