Tabocas is closing for a week (this week) for a staff retraining session. I applaud this effort, but was it really that bad? We had a fine meal at the Andover Street Brazilian steakery when they first opened and the waiters were as friendly and attentive as can be. Besides tip-top service, diners will be treated to a midnight buffet as part of its reinvention. Anyone crave brisket right before bed? Me neither.
Garcia Brogans opens in early July on Middlesex St., in the JAM area. The Mexican/Irish restaurant has two bars for dual tastes. A good place to go when your man craves shepherds pie and you want a margarita. Make sure you go with a plan, chips and salsa and a Guinness could be the palate wrecker you weren't looking for. In za news, Zesty's Pizza will be moving into the former Infusions Bistro in Chelmsford. And Chelmsford, by the way, is now accessible by bike.
Took a spin on the new Bruce Freedman Rail Trail and noticed that Fishbones, Moonstones and the soon-to-relocate Cafe Madrid are now an invigorating bike ride away. I admit I sometimes avoid the traffic triangle becuz it messes w/ my head. But if I can pedal in and out, Im there.
I was ecstatic to find your blog! I live NW of Boston so most of these places are in my backyard. Good drinks in Ayer? You are just the investigator I need! Looking forward to checking out some of your finds. Lowell is a favorite spot so I'm glad to see all the coverage. Let me know if I can ever help you find tea spots. That's my true love.
Some friends and I took in several late night Caparinha's on the deck at Taboca's this past weekend, and we were all both amazed at the ambiance of the place and the service we received and shocked that we were practically the only ones there. The restaurant was closed, and sadly, the bar was almost empty. Luckily, several groups of younger patrons slowly trickled in around midnight or so. This restaurant and bar is definitely a hidden gem in Lowell. If the new manager is improving the service as he says he is, it will only be icing on the cake in my opinion. And a high-quality late night meal in Lowell? All I can say is, FINALLY!!!!!
I never knew there was a rail trail in Lowell! Where does it start?
BC,
Roger that. The Tabocas deck, overlooking the rolling Concord River, is SEO — Social Event Optimal. Let's throw a Tweet up here this summer!
Rail Trail just opened a week or so ago. Still under the radar. It starts in Crosspoint Tower's parking lot. Head straight for the tunnel facing Industrial Ave. A nice wooded ride to Westford with several walking trails here and there.
The bike trail is the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (Google it). I think the plan is to eventually connect the bike trails north of Boston to the Minuteman Trail such that one could conceivably ride from Lowell to Boston without ever hitting a major road. Let's hope I still have legs that are strong enough to cycle by the time that happens.
The newest leg in Chelmsford/Lowell/Westford is not technically scheduled to open until the fall. There is NO signage out right now (except for "No Trespassing" signs) and there are still a few rough patches. GG was BREAKIN' THE LAW, BREAKIN' THE LAW in the name of toning up. Trust me, though - when the trail officially opens, it'll be worth the wait. Without a doubt it rivals the Nashua River Rail Trail and even the Minuteman for beauty and tranquility.