It is true that many things can be said about the Mandarin that cannot be said for other Chinese restaurants. For example, it is clean. It is well lit. The food is usually served hot. I give them kudos for these things... but don't we usually expect this from a restaurant? Can this really constitute five stars? The reality is that the cuisine is just as oily, fried, and un-original as every other mid-level Chinese restaurant. So... three stars it is.

The Sea Witch is definitely a good hit. The food isn't stellar, but it is decent. The area (the infamous rte. 1) doesn't have many seafood options. In fact, if you're eating seafood in the area, don't eat anywhere but here... The fried seafood platters aren't exactly cheap for an order-at-the-counter style restaurant, but if you go in for the specials, you'll end up with haddock and two sides for 6.99. That can't be beat! Note: Sit at the raw bar if you have a chance... I trust them; the place also sells seafood and has a lot of fresh stuff on hand.

The Dockside is a good, but not great, family dining option. The menu has a nice variety, extending a few options beyond standard pub fare here and there. The prime rib is actually good (surprising!), but the fried clams I had (although gigantic) were all belly and a bit soggy. The portions leave a bit to be desired (I only got a handful of buffalo shrimp), but the prices and atmosphere are reasonable. Although the Dockside cannot be held accountable for poor parenting, be leery about families with loud, obnoxious kids; they seem to frequent the place.

Fire and Ice is a great spot for a date. The process of selecting meats, vegetables, and sauces can tell you a lot about a person and creates immediate conversation. Watching the staff prepare the food can be a bit nerve racking, especially when you know how to cook and feel as though you might do a better job... Overall, the variety of food, all-you-can-eat portions, and unique experience make Fire and Ice a good take.

A good way to judge a mexican place is by its salsa, and don't let the carrots fool you; this place makes a mean salsa! The standard dishes are prepared well, inexpensive, and very popular among the locals. A good hit if you're in the area. Be warned, though, they are closed one random day per week... (I showed up one (Monday I believe?) and found the place closed...)

I am absolutely shocked to see positive ratings for this place. In my youth, I worked in sub shops, and this place barely deserves the title. NOTHING is fresh, everything is packaged and processed, no attention is paid to presentation or preparation. It is as though they serve food without realizing another person must consume it, steak and cheese subs leaking water, cold cut subs stuffed with obscene amounts of lettuce. Everything you want to avoid in a sub shop...

Despite being run by a tree-hugging cult, the Common Ground offers a unique, organic dining experience. The restaurant has the feel of a giant hollowed oak tree, or even the tiny corridors of Bilbo Baggins' "bag end." The food is all organic, made fresh, and simple, consisting of soups, sandwiches, and appetizers. These are complimented with organic beverages like hibiscus tea and fresh daily desserts (the pecan pie is amazing). Overall, an interesting experience that should be tried at least once. You'll even have a chance to read through their leaflets while you wait...

The food is not bad at Bentley's, but for what you end up with, it is quite overpriced. I hate to ridicule the service since the owner/manager seems like such a nice guy, but most of the hosts, bartenders, and wait staff are incompetent. Service is slow and the attitudes are generally apathetic and unapologetic. I had this experience once, went back to give them a second chance, and went through the routine a second time. Not worth it considering the other great options in the area.

Islamorada Fish Company's most endearing attributes are its outdoor seating, waterway filled with tarpon and nurse sharks, and beach area with tiki torches. The food is good, not great, but the atmosphere easily makes up for any lapses. The shrimp were well done, but the tuna was overcooked and not as flavorful as it should have been. In spite of this, though, the place is a great spot and deserves a visit if your in the area.

Without a doubt, Helen's serves some of the best blueberry pie around. Stopping in is a must. The specials are usually good, including the baked chicken and turkey dinner, but for the most part, the food is average. Certainly a must for any tourist, at least once!

The best blueberry pie in Maine... average entrees. Try the specials, though, they are usually a notch better. Definetly a must if your in the area (especially given the limited options).

Not a bad breakfast spread, but if you head to tall Barney's, be prepared for the glares of 10-15 grizzled lobstermen, each looking at you as though you were the giant crustacean that snipped off his left index finger some twenty years ago. Now that's grizzled.

A great spot for breakfast. Everything is well prepared and affordable. Don't expect anything to arrive in a hurry, though; its not the Mainer way.

This place is a solid Chinese food joint. The bar is usually packed and occasionally (Thurs. perhaps?) has a Kareoke night that gets packed (mostly by Salem regulars and Salem State students). The food is acceptable, though, and it is worth the trip. But don't expect too much more than the usual...

From the street, Su Chang's could easily be mistaken for a beautiful white Colonial home. When you round the corner from Lowell Street, the packed parking lot is the only thing that gives it away. Despite its out-of-the-ordinary look, the food is what we have all come to expect from the Chinese restaurant. The crab rangoon uses imitation crab meat, the meats are a bit fatty, nearly everything is fried (including the spring rolls). But this is what we have come to expect from all Chinese food establishments. Because of the decor, it earns three stars, but per usual, do not expect anything above and beyond the standard for Chinese food.

The place has an interesting look and has become a landmark on the famous Saugus strip of rte. 1. The interior only serves to reenforce the building's traditional Chinese architecture. Koi and bamboo abound and almost outnumber the tipsy locals spilling mai-tai on the carpet. The steaks are good, I'll give them that, but otherwise, the food is, well, what you have come to expect from every single Chinese food place you enter.

A local favorite... for high school kids. The beef isn't bad, neither are the clams, but they are overpriced. Last time I tried ordering a salad... bad idea. It had been marinating in the fridge for a week, was wilted, and the red onions had fermented into poison. Good for a quick beef, otherwise, move on.

Great diner. The atmosphere you are looking for in an establishment like this... a piece of Americana. They're open late (early for breakfast), so the local nightowls usually find refuge here.

Perhaps the ONLY Chinese restaurant (scratch that, P.F. Changs fits into this category as well) that goes above and beyond the call of duty. They actually CARE about their food. They use quality ingredients, pay attention to presentation, and serve a few variations on the standard fare. We got the Dragon & Phoenix, which includes a portion of General Tso's chicken and a poriton of lobster meat separated by a wall of vegatables. Great choice!

Now called Vinny T's, this place offers little to any lover of Italian food, besides a view of the water. If you feel like looking out at the water, having a drink, and perhaps sharing an appetizer, it is worth the trip. Otherwise, look elsewhere for great Italian food.