The Brook Kitchen and Tap has been open for just over a month. We headed over to Maynard to check it out for lunch last week. Located on Main Street, the restaurant has a great bar area, a sun filled front room with banquets and a small private room in back. Jose, the General Manager, greeted us when we arrived. Such a nice guy and a real asset to this team. He walks us through the menu: what’s popular and his personal picks.

We start with the Brussels sprouts ($8) served crispy with sriracha ranch dressing. A nice warm spice to give these a little kick – so tasty!

They have a great selection of salads on their menu: The Brook house salad, the Caesar, the Napa and the garden salad. Here is the chipotle chop salad ($9) romaine lettuce tossed with roasted corn, pico di gallo, shredded cheese, avocado, tortilla strips, and black beans topped with chipotle ranch dressing.

Me, I went straight for the comfort food. The steak tips ($16) are very popular. They give you a pound of steak tips and TWO sides. Of course I’m going carbs on carbs, so waffle fries and onion strings it is! The meat was cooked a perfect medium with a cool pink center and had a really nice flavor to them.

How could we NOT order the bacon dog ($9) a 1/2 lb all beef hot dog wrapped in bacon and topped with spicy mustard and fried onions. Hard to see the bacon here, but trust me, it was there! Gave the dog good flavor and crunch.

The meatloaf ($13) was going to be my second choice, good thing Kim stepped in an ordered it! It was topped with a mushroom demi and was packed with flavor. I usually don’t get meatloaf at restaurants because so many things can go wrong: either its too mushy and it falls apart or its just a brick. This one however was perfect, and the mashed potatoes just melted in your mouth.

We were stuffed from our meal, but had to try the Ghirardelli brownie sundae with vanilla ice cream and house made whipped cream. Decadent and delicious. A perfect way to end our meal.

The Brook Kitchen and Tap is open Sunday – Tuesday from 11:30am to 11pm and Wednesday – Saturday 11:30am – 1am. They have a kids menu and offer take out as well. Parking is at meters on the street or in a lot just next to the restaurant. Not close to Maynard, you can visit their sister location in Holbrook at  200 S. Franklin Street as well. They offer some good options for reasonable prices, so stop in soon and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest of The Brook Kitchen and Tap to sample their menu. My food was provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

The Brook Kitchen and Tap

51 Main Street, Maynard, MA

http://www.brookkitchenandtap.com

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NewBridge is the kind of place that you might hesitate to go into if you’ve never been before. It’s old school-townies at the bar, wood paneled walls, and dimly lit. The bar is always packed and the dining room is bubbling with noise-a lot of families come here. (They also do take-out!)

NewBridge is best known for their steak tips. They are excellent-and that should mean something from a gal who doesn’t crave meat. They have a nice char on the outside and are so amazingly tender on the inside-I wonder how they keep them so juicy! For $13.95 you get a heaping portion of their sirloin tips as well as a side (salad, potato, fries, rice-pictured, ziti or linguine). Other favorites include the chicken parm and the ribs.

They get their rolls locally, which are soft and tasty, but be prepared not to get a bread plate (this is a no frills kind of place-checkered table cloths, plastic cups and paper napkins). The meals I’ve had here have been consistent-everything is good-they haven’t changed much over the years and that is certainly a good thing ( note on their website that they haven’t added many items to the menu since opening).

Leave your credit card at home, because this place is cash only.

New Bridge Cafe

650 Washington Ave.  Chelsea, MA 02150

Phone: 617.884.0134

www.newbridgecafe.com

Hours:
Sun. 12-10PM Lunch&Dinner, Bar till 1AM

Mon-Thurs 11AM-10PM Lunch and Dinner, Bar till 1AM

Fri-Sat 11AM-11PM Lunch and Dinner, Bar till 1AM

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