Tag Archives: Dining

The original fish market storefront serves as the space in which patrons order their meals; a small bar occupies a back corner.

When Peter and Sandy Ruggeri opened Pete’s Fish Market back in 1985, they probably had little idea that what they’d conceived of as a retail venture would eventually morph into one of Greenfield’s most popular casual dining spots.

Added onto over the years, Pete’s School Street location sprawls across two adjacent buildings. The original fish market storefront serves as the space in which patrons order their meals; a small bar occupies a back corner.

A much larger, two-level dining area is located next door. Seating is utilitarian (a picnic table or two figures into the mix), and the walls are decorated with an assortment of nautically themed art.

A sunny, sheltered courtyard is available for those Indian Summer afternoons when al fresco dining is still an appealing alternative.

Not surprisingly the menu at Pete’s is focused on seafood; the kitchen’s repertoire is resolutely “clam-shack classic.”

Fried favorites such as haddock, clam strips, scallops, oysters, and shrimp can be enjoyed as “rolls,” “boats” (with fries), or as “dinners” (fries and slaw). Prices range from $4.99 for a Clam Roll to $17.50 for a Scallop Dinner; some items, like lobster, are priced on a “market” basis.

The restaurant offers a Lobster Roll ($17.99) as well as a Grilled Swordfish Sandwich ($12.99), and their Salmon Burger ($7.49) comes in teriyaki or tomato-basil variations.

Those not in the mood to enjoy fish are accommodated with grilled chicken sandwiches like a Buffalo style with Fries ($8.49). Pete’s also prepared a selection of “Wild” burgers that also go for $8.49.

We began our Pete’s Dinner with a cup of Clam Chowder ($2.99). A credible enough effort, we decided, with a creamy texture and subtle onion presence. Plenty of diced potatoes and minced clams gave the soup body, but we would have enjoyed a bit more briny brightness in the flavor department.

A Crab Cake ($2.50) was equally satisfying. Golden crusted and generously sized, the cake had a reasonable proportion of crabmeat to breadcrumb binder. Its spice profile landed somewhere near the mild end of that particular spectrum.

A Fried Haddock Boat ($8.49) is the fish-and-chips option at Pete’s. The single filet portion was large enough to satisfy, and its golden brown, tender-crisp crust made a pleasant contrast to the moist haddock within.

French fries at Pete’s are of the old-fashioned, no-coating variety and thus deliver unsullied fried-potato satisfaction.

As the demand for clams has put pressure on a limited supply, whole-belly clams have become quite the delicacy, so most places now only offer them as a “market priced” option. That’s the case at Pete’s; our Whole-belly Clam Dinner was pegged at $20.99 the evening we stopped by.

The clams were worth the tariff, we decided. The portion was more than adequate, and the whole bivalves were breaded just enough to give them a bit of contrasting crunch. Like all the fried items at Pete’s, they’d been prepared using fresh fryer shortening, an operating practice that ensure the food doesn’t pick up “off” flavors from overused oil.

Dinners at Pete’s include, along with fries, a side of fresh coleslaw.

Our third entree, a Scallop Roll ($6.25), featured a half dozen deep-fried scallops spilling out of a butter-grilled hot dog; fries were included in the price. “Simple but satisfying” best summed up our assessment.

Pete’s is licensed for the sale of beer and wine and maintains a selection of mass-market and craft brews. The house also stocks individual-serving bottles of generic varietals along with a selection of soft drinks and bottled juices.

Dessert options at the restaurant are limited to packaged Cookies ($1.50) and Brownies ($2.50).

In addition to deep-fried seafood, Pete’s prepares a number of pasta-based alternatives. The selection varies from day to day but is likely to include choices such as Lobster Mac & Cheese ($12.99)

The restaurant maintains a weekly calendar of specials, which includes a Tuesday all-you-care-to-eat Clam Strips and Fries ($8.49), a $7.99 Shrimp Dinner on Wednesdays, and a Friday Haddock Boat ($7.25).

Name: Pete’s Seafood Restaurant
Address: 54 School Street, Greenfield
Telephone: (413) 772-2153
Website: petesseafood.com
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Credit cards: MasterCard, Visa
Handicapped access: Accessible; rest rooms up one flight
Reservations: Not taken

The sushi bar at the back of the restaurant specializes in a typical assortment of nigiri and sashimi favorites.

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At a time when most Far Eastern restaurants are taking a menu-expansion approach to the choices they offer, Kobe Hibachi Sushi and Bar in Greenfield is pursuing a more focused strategy.

Housed in a repurposed coffee shop chain location at the foot of the Mohawk Trail, Kobe is a specialist, limiting its offerings to sushi and teppanyaki cookery.

The restaurant itself is spacious; a large rectangular bar greets patrons as they enter. Off to one side are a half dozen grill-equipped tables; a separate dining room for those not interested in hibachi is also available. The decor is nondescript, with a few examples of East Asian artwork setting the mood.

Nearly a dozen hibachi possibilities are described on the menu. These range from a teppanyaki preparation of assorted veggie ($14.55) to a top-of-the-line “Land & Sea” ($27.55) that features shrimp, scallops, steak, and chicken. Other grilled-to-order selections feature Calamari ($16.55), Red Snapper ($17.55), and Steak ($19.55).

The sushi bar at the back of the restaurant specializes in a typical assortment of nigiri and sashimi favorites – Ebi (shrimp — $4.25), Saba (mackerel — $4.75), and Maguro (tuna– $5.25), to name a few.

Maki choices include the commonplace (California Roll –$5.25) as well as a few more creative options, such as the Fashion Roll ($6.25) that brings together grilled eel, avocado, cream cheese, and flying fish roe.

Rounding out the restaurant’s offerings are several Udon (wheat noodle selections) as well as a customizable “Chef’s Special” in which diners specify meat, tofu, or seafood in one of four sauces.

Among the “Kitchen Appetizers” at Kobe can be found everything from a Spring Roll ($3) and Seasoned French Fries ($3.50) to a Pu Pu Platter ($16.95).

To begin we chose an order of steamed Gyoza ($5.25). Simply but dramatically arranged around a small black bowl of sauce, the eight half-moon-shaped dumplings had a pleasing chewy exterior and a pork-based filling flavored with ginger and garlic.

Our second starter selection, Crab Rangoon ($5.95) were similarly presented, the eight crunchy packets surrounding a dish of duck sauce. Biting into the deep-fried wonton crust released a burst of seasoned cream cheese filling.

A bit more decorative effort was put into the maki we ordered. Our Crazy Roll ($9.95) arrived with greenery tucked under it, while the roll itself feature tempura shrimp wrapped up with avocado, “crab” stick, and julienned cucumber. A generous drizzle of spiced-up mayonnaise did, indeed, lend a measure of “crazy” to the proceedings.

“Sizzling plates” are the restaurant’s entree surrogate for those not inclined to indulge in a hibachi chef’s tableside tomfoolery.

The Scallop Sizzling Plate ($14.95) we decided on was a tasty-looking piece of work. Served on a cast-iron sizzle platter, the dish came to the table sputtering and hissing, a teriyaki glaze lending it flavor and shine.

Carrots, broccoli, zucchini, and summer squash dominated, while scallops sliced in half crosswise served as focal point. Likeable enough, we decided, but not particularly memorable.

The visual artistry that’s characteristic of traditional Japanese cuisine was a big part of the Chirashi Dinner ($16.95) that we enjoyed. An assortment of a half-dozen varieties of sashimi (raw fish) arranged into a colorful abstract, the plate also include a scoop of sushi rice.

Portioned out into the traditional lacquered tray, our Shrimp Tempura Bento Box ($11.95) incorporated five different elements. In addition to the namesake panko-crusted shrimp, the box included fried rice, four pieces of California roll, and some shrimp shumai. All were competently prepared and attractively presented.

Sushi bar entrees at Kobe come with a simple green salad and miso soup. The salad, we observed, had a particularly tasty version of pickled ginger dressing, while the miso soup soothed with its understated miso flavor.

As is customary for restaurants serving East Asian fare, Kobe offers an array of budget-friendly luncheon specials with prices starting at $6.99.

Name: Kobe Hibachi Sushi and Bar
Address: 254 Mohawk Trail, Greenfield
Telephone: (413) 772-8888
Website: kobemass.com
Hours: Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday noon to 9:30 p.m.
Entree prices: $ 7.95 – $27.95
Credit cards: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Handicapped access: Accessible, with rest rooms equipped for wheelchairs
Reservations: Accepted