Lying at the edge of Main Street in the heart of downtown Marlborough is one of those much sought after, yet often hard to find restaurant mirages: Quality and cheap Chinese food. Panda House is a family run and operated restaurant that serves up large and steaming dishes of Mandarin, Szechuan and Hunan cuisine. Because the restaurant boasts just five tables, most patrons order their food "to go." Begin your meal with an order of hearty steamed dumplings, which are a slightly more healthy option than their fried counterparts. The dumplings were also more desirable than their traditional egg …

You catch glimpses from the office window of yet another perfect fall day. Perhaps your skin briefly feels the warmth of the sun as you hop in and out of the car to grab a quick sandwich. Fall is a favorite season among New Englanders and should not be experienced through a pane of glass. Grab some colleagues and escape the office for a leisure lunch on the patio of Allora Ristorante. The restaurant's patio is situated so that patrons can gaze across Williams Lake while sipping on a glass of Chardonnay or nibbling on fried calamari. Although busy Lakeside Avenue snakes between the restaurant …

Apple picking season is upon us. Halloween candy already fills the aisles of local stores. Temperatures are slowly creeping down the thermometer. The kids are back in school. Fall has finally arrived, and we must embrace the last warm days of the year. Nothing compliments sunshine and warmth better than ice cream. Treat yourself and friends and family to some decadent ice cream from Westside Scoops. Choose from nearly 20 flavors, including lobster tracks (not made from actual lobster) and raspberry sorbet. And don't forget to try their seasonal pumpkin ice cream, which one guest noted as the …

Kennedy's Pub has been home to family dining and good eating in Marlborough for a long time.  Kennedy's started as a family business in 1981 and has grown to become a local landmark over the years. The restaurant is hidden behind Kennedy's Market at 247 Maple St. Its aged, dark, wood accented interior is similar to what one might expect to find inside a country pub on the back-roads of rural Ireland, but with its own flair of fare, it is decidedly not Irish in the traditional sense. Kennedy's menu fits more easily inside the confines of continental cuisine. First off, I must commend the …

With a long dining counter complete with swivel stools and a section devoted to tables, Jake's Restaurant feels like a marriage between a traditional diner and a cozy eatery. The menu boasts all of the staples of a hearty breakfast such as a variety of eggs benedict, breakfast sandwiches and omelets of which the claim is posted on the menu that they will make any type of omelet one might crave. For some early morning carb loading, try the giant portion of french toast combined with a steaming side of freshly made hash browns. Dress up the hash browns with bacon bits, scallions, sour cream and…

The menu at Chez Siam reflects the cuisine of most Thai restaurants, offering a range of curry and pad Thai dishes, along with a generous variety of tofu dishes. The restaurant is small with limited seating that might be tight for large groups. Two different menus are offered for lunch (11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) and dinner (5 - 10 p.m.). For the price and quality of food served at the restaurant, Chez Siam seems to walk the middle of the road regarding Thai cuisine. Although some might consider the food overpriced, the large portions can be eaten for multiple meals. First sample the restaurant'…

Nestled among houses, the Sandwich Co. is in a small, nondescript building on the corner of Church Street. There are few tables and even less decor. But the staff is friendly, knows the neighborhood regulars and has been serious about sandwiches for the 10 years it's been in business. Quality Boar's Head meat is paired with fresh ingredients to create a variety of designer sandwiches. Vegetarians will enjoy The Ali Baba, a combination of hummus, mixed greens, roasted peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes on your bread of choice ($6). The portions are large and prices are reasonable. If desiring …

Dive right into some good old fashioned Southern cookin' without ever leaving Marlborough. Once glance at the menu will confirm Firefly's dedication to southern cuisine with the four different styles of ribs, five varieties of barbeque sauce and a selection of 40 different hot sauces. Owner Steve Uliss has won more than 20 national barbeque awards and knows great barbeque. The debate isn't whether the barbeque will be high quality, but rather which style to sample. The meat is slow cooked for up to 12 hours, which helps to perfect tender, moist ribs and pulled pork. But there are many other …

Sometimes you just need quick, cheap hassle free Chinese food. The more grease, the better. True, often times this insatiable craving occurs late at night. But Flaming Wok will be there to satisfy those Chinese fast food urges. And they deliver. The menu is very extensive, offering everything from boneless spareribs and General Gau’s Chicken to shrimp with lobster sauce and moo shu pork. The lunch menu (from 11:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.) offers more than 15 combo varieties for as little as $4.95. The prices are low, but the quantities are not. However, realize beforehand the cuisine at Flaming Wok…

Pleasant Pizza & Deli is inconspicuously tucked away in a plaza with Honey Farms, across the street from the Boys & Girls Club. Sure, the pizza spot covers the basics found at most pizza joints, such as the spinach and feta calzone, meatball sub, meatlovers and veggie delight pizzas. But Pleasant Pizza takes its cuisine several steps past the average buffalo wings. Mediterranean and hummus wraps, listed among an extensive gourmet sandwich selection, offer more healthy alternatives to a large pizza. An appetizer of grape leaves or a seafood salad and a generous helping of baklava for dessert …

Flaming volcanoes, juggling knives and twirling eggs are all part of the dining experience at Fu Ji Steakhouse. Well, the flaming volcano is actually a stack of onion slices set on fire, but the effect is memorable. With Teppanyaki, guests' tables transform into the chef's kitchen. Although the Teppanyaki prices are somewhat steep, the meal does include soup, salad, rice (white or fried), grilled vegetables and several grilled shrimp. Come hungry and be prepared for large amounts of food. The flavorful and juicy filet mignon pairs well with the tender chicken teriyaki and satisfies most …

With the name Fish (formerly known as Coral Seafood), one would expect the menu to be leaning heavily towards exactly that, fish. But this is not the case. Patrons will find the same variety of seafood selection here as in other seafood restaurants. That being noted, the lunch and dinner menus do offer palette-intriguing medleys of fresh seafood for indecisive guests, such as the mix grill (swordfish, shrimp and salmon) and fried seafood platter (haddock, whole clams, shrimp and scallops). The shrimp, scallop and mussels scampi dish blends butter garlic, olive oil, diced tomatoes and spinach …

Weekday mornings at Sunny Side Cafe seem as sleepy as the regulars dragging themselves inside for a morning cup of Joe. The cafe is peacefully quiet. The regulars, most of whom look retired, line up at the counter stools, joking with one another and the staff while enjoying waffles or eggs and coffee. The server is attentive, yet not as overtly friendly to newcomers as with the regulars she knows by name. Yet it's somehow comforting that a spot like Sunny Side exists in Marlborough — a community within the community that has formed around an affinity for early mornings and breakfast food. …

The buffet at Labaredas Brazilian Barbeque puts a unique twist on the traditional all-you-can-eat buffet. Rather than paying a set rate, Labaredas weighs each plate once the food has been piled on, so guests pay by the weight of the food. This is a great option for those who feel they can never eat their money's worth at the all you can eat restaurants. But the uniqueness doesn't end with the pay-per-weight feature. Brazilian barbeques typically draw patrons for one main reason -- fresh meat and lots of it. Once loading up on items from the buffet such as beans and rice, cooked bananas and …

In a parking lot sits one lonely food cart. Its "open" flag ripples in the wind. Strangers mill about, absent-mindedly opening and closing wallets and jingling change. At this moment, the crowd of workers on lunch break is at the mercy of a teenage boy in a cart. "Two Russians, one Sicilian and a dog bowl please," a customer orders. This is not the average hot dog line-up. Of course Diezy Dogs does offer the hot dog staples -- chilidog, slaw dog, and good old-fashioned hot dog with mustard and ketchup. But take a break from the ordinary at Diezy. The Sicilian hot dog is topped with tomato …

The outward appearance of Taqueria La Tapatia can at first be confusing, situated in what appears to be the back of a large white house transformed into apartments. Most likely many have driven past, never noticing its existence on the corner of Pleasant and Lincoln Streets. Taqueria La Tapatia is the definition of "a dive," which translates to hole-in-the-wall establishment. Experience has proven eateries falling under the "dive" category are either a delightful gem or a frightening foray into the darker side of culinary exploration. Luckily, this Mexican eatery is the former -- a well-kept …

Stephen Anthony’s Restaurant is not what one would refer to as a hip brunch spot. The large one dining room looks as if a small army of grandmas decorated it — the chair and booth cushions are floral, drawings and photos documenting life in the early 1900s line the walls. Yet the atmosphere is one of comfort, and peacefulness if folks are able to snag one of the tables overlooking the pond and woods. Although the restaurant does serve lunch and dinner, breakfast/brunch seems to draw the large crowds. According to the staff, if you want to beat the Sunday rush, arrive before 10 a.m. And it’s …

The best way I can describe the food at Yummy Kitchen is: cheap, classic, and most importantly, pretty darn good. When I think about going out for Chinese food, I don't necessarily always want the pricey, high-end product I might get at a PF Chang's (or something of that caliber). I want the spicy, delicious chunks of General Gao chicken in a sweet, savory sauce, or the simple goodness of some beef and broccoli all at a good price. These are things that Yummy Kitchen does very well. The lo mein is also very good with a variety of options, though the shrimp isn't always deveined. The steamed …

Bumpy’s Restaurant, also known as Main Street Café, is located in the epicenter of Marlborough. Vinyl booths and counter service give the restaurant more of a diner than café atmosphere. Multiple tables provide ample space for larger groups to descend on the location. Although one would not want to travel great distances to dine here, the comfort diner cuisine combined with the friendly staff creates a setting conducive to passing a lazy afternoon catching up and relaxing with old friends. When entering the establishment, be sure to look over the rotating specials located on a board by the …