Adrians, Truro

We went to Adrians in Truro today. The Italian resturant on the hill, with the interesting but slightly run down motel surrounding it, and also great views. For breakfast. Nice energy, open setting, art on the walls, tons of windows, happy people, attentive waiters, people laughing, people themselves. Oh god, I got an Italian Frittata (like an omelet) with garlic and other delights, and it was to die for. Except for that last bite of crunchy eggshells. Still, it WAS good. The home fries (a particular test favorite of mine) were scrumptious. The dinner menu we checked out was $22 a plate-ish, but they also had pizza for $13-ish, so that was useful. Everything looked like it would be GOOD. Ok for kids, too. The sunny Memorial Day drive up there in the late am was totally groovy. No traffic!

The Brazilian Grill in Hyannis

Lovely sunny day, we decided to check out the much talked about Brazilian Grill in Hyannis on Main St. All my friends who are meat pigs can't say enough about the place.

It's just before the rotary on the right, westerly direction. They have a little patio where you can sit, but don't go out there if you want the BBQ or all you can eat meat (specialty) buffet. So we went into the resturant.

Dark, dark place, chuck filled with people. Basic tables, everything wood and dark. Brazilian waitresses, busboys, men in costume carving the BBQ meat, people talking, kids running around, WILD. Serious movement going on in that place, it almost had an ethnic block party feel to it. Brazilian music blaring in the background on the outside deck, Brazilian soccer on the TVs inside. Very interesting.

Anyway, the buffet consisted of salad stuff (unremarkable), your typical (but good) Brazilian rice dishes and fried bananas, some fish, and then MEAT. All kinds of MEAT. Meat cooked GOOD. The specialty appeared to be the Brazilian BBQ. Our waitress gushed over it. This guy in a Brazilian costume comes to your table with this long stick with a hunk a meat on it, and procedes to carve pieces for the folks on the table. Didn't get that, but from the drooling going on at all the tables around us, I suspect it's pretty good. Even the regular ol' beans were good, and the ice tea is not that crap with citric acid and corn syrup from a corporation pump. It was like, REAL.

My last big surprise was the ladies room. Did my mouth drop open when I walked into a "Bold Look of Kohler" designed bathroom? Complete with mocha colored, above the counter basins, with facets coming out of the wall -- ! Who woulda thought?

All your senses are activated in this place, and if they aren't, you need to quit your job.

Joes Beach Road Bar & Grille in Orleans

Joe's place is great. The place to sit is the little side room on the right. I like to call it the Right Room. It's got big overstuffed chairs in it, and is cozy as all get out. The napkins are bandanas in various colors, and in that little room, there is a menu on the wall from the 1930s: Steak = 55 cents, coffee 5 cents! Ah the good old days.

There is the big dining room with a fire place and a bar. It's loud and busy and crowded. Local, over 30-ish singles are known to drink beer standing in the bar area, chatting up a storm. Joe will walk around at times, asking how ya feel, and lightly touching your shoulder as he moves off, like you are good buddies. The wait staff is friendly, attentive and efficient. We had a wobbly table, and so to fix it, I took the silverware wrapped in a bandana and stuck under the edge. Very tacky move. Unfortunately, this caused major tipping problems, much to the whole Right Room's amusement and my loud squeals. The hostess rushed in, removed the offending piece, and inserted a little coaster. Perfecto. No troubles after that.

The menu is funky and a real dilly. All sorts of neat stuff on it plus the specials. Kids can get by here, too. Prices are from $5-$22ish. The raw clam appetizer makes your tummy whistle a happy tune, and the dinners are big and tasteful, all direct from the yum-yum tree. If you are able to fit dessert into your gut after those meals, you deserve some serious cudos.

The general ambiance is colorful, busy, friendly, and at least in the Right Room: cozy. You can't go wrong here, if you've got relatives to feed or a bewildered date to impress, this is your card to deal a soft, easy blow to the gustatory nerves.