The only place we ever went in Wallingford was Jake’s Tavern. Joe, the bartender, remembered us at our first Parent’s Weekend from the martini’s we ordered at first dropoff. He called us by our city name, "Hey, Parents, two Sapphire martini’s cold as the arctic? Jake’s became our Cheers. We never strayed.
We are SO going there. Someone needs to keep the tradition going, @choatiemom!
1 Like
@ChoatieMom , so you’re saying Joe is a good bartender – can remember heat and sleet and shake it up on demand?
He was able to shake a martini that poured with a microfilm of ice on top; not many can do that. Ahhhh… The food is pretty good, the nachos are huge(!), the bar ambience is great, but I think Jake’s is more of a townie place. Most Choaties/parents seem to like to hang at Archie Moore’s (for the wings).
@GoatMama Yes the world famous Georgetown Cupcake should not be missed when in D.C.
As a former DC resident, in the Holy War of cupcakes, my money is on Baked and Wired, just a few blocks from Georgetown Cupcake.
I wanted to enjoy afternoons at the beach, but what I got from 3 days visit to Carpinteria is a five minutes solo walking in the beach, and one late dinner out at IHOP. Daughter and wife wanted to just rest and sleep whole afternoon and evening after school visits. The visits were nice and friendly, but no less stressful for them.
Saw someone name-check Agricola. It’s fine enough, IMO. But the real find in Princeton is Ajihei (a subterranean sushi spot).
+1 on Moxy in Portsmouth. Love that place.
Well, one is farm-to-table and one is Sushi. Kind of apples and oranges. Or more like seaweed and kale.
Lots of good dining Portsmouth to Portland. IDK any boarding schools in Portland but it’s worth the trip to eat! Central Provisions… sigh.
I live in Portland now and Central Provisions is one among a ridiculously large number of great restaurants for such a small town. Alas, no boarding schools in the area, except for Hyde in Bath, which is just now transitioning from a therapeutic orientation to a more main stream model.
Ahem. Where can we get a decent slice of pizza to eat in the car?
Portland, ME favorites: Duckfat, Boda, Gelato Fiasco, Honeypaw, Eventide
Portland and the Maine Coast is a great long weekend break trip, or a great place to spend time when visiting the Maine LACs - Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby.
Love Duckfat!
Boarding schools in Maine (there’s 12 actually)
Kents Hill, Fryeberg Academy, Hebron Academy, Gould Academy, Thornton, Lincoln …
Besides what’s posted above here’s some very affordable eats
I cannot resist sharing some favorites
Moe’s Italian sandwich (Portsmouth)
Black Birch in Kittery (across river from Portsmouth)
Palace Diner (Biddeford)
(Portland) Cafe Ohno, Hella Good Tacos , Mi Sen, Ten Ten Pie, Standard Baking, Rosemont Market, Empire, Figgy’s , Gorgeous Gelato (family run from Italy,) Salvage BBQ, Pie Men Miyake, Local 188,
…or just order a steamed lobster to go from Scarborough Fish and Lobster and take it straight to the beach and eat it in the surf.
@jdewey OMG - Black Birch is the best, especially the donuts (for dessert)! Plus you can bring your own album to play.
@doschicos Yes, Duck Fat.
Also add Grace in Portland, ME and Surf Restaurant and Flatbreads (Organic Pizza) in Portsmouth, NH.
There is a fabulous dumpling restaurant that opened last year in South Portland. Wish I could remember the name. I think it’s “Bao” or something similar… wait-- I 've got it! Bao Bao Dumpling House. 
Does anyone know the name of the BBQ place that someone praised near Loomis?
Getting hungry. . .
Wow- thanks everyone for the great suggestions. Now that I live in New England, I find that I never know where to eat. My office is in Portland and I spend a few days a month there- I will be trying many of your suggestions!
I live a little north of Portland and have been stunned by the number of great restaurants in the area. If anyone is visiting Bowdoin try and eat at Tao Yuan. Same Chef/Owner as the dumpling restaurant @cameo43 mentioned. Simply fantastic.