|
Serving: Tuesday-Saturday 5-9 p.m., Sunday 1-7 p.m. Cuisine: German/American Scoring: Our Gourmet and The Dining Companion each grade a restaurant in six categories, for a combined total score of up to 100 points. (Note a slight change to the scoring system: Ambiance and service now will count for five points each per diner. A new “value” category — worth 10 points each — has been added.) Visit the Dining section of NewHampshire.com to read previous Our Gourmet reviews listed by town. |
The Dining Companion: Most folks have probably never heard of Monson. It lasted as a township for 24 years before being divided between Hollis, Amherst, Brookline and Milford. It is said Monson failed because the land was barren. After eating at the Mile Away, I can say that part of town is barren no more.
Ambiance: 7.5/10
OG: In a word: Rustic. Mile Away is barn-like inside with German/farm décor. My one complaint is that the many tables are a little squished together. TDC was seated almost in the walkway to the kitchen; when we moved our table and chairs back, I was almost in someone else’s lap. 3.5.
TDC: Nice building, great grounds and a garden from where some of the evening’s ingredients came. 4.
Appetizer: 17.5/20
OG: All dinners include appetizer, salad, main course and dessert. If your meal is $22.95, that price includes all of the above. The nice thing is, Mile Away gives you a good range of choices so that you’re sure to find something you like. I ordered shrimp cocktail from the short list of appetizers that cost extra ($7.95). The shrimp were large, quite fresh and tasty with a standard dipping sauce.
I opted for the Caesar salad, but the dressing was thin, flavorless and a bit disappointing. 8.5.
TDC: The included appetizers ranged from a fresh fruit plate to vichyssoise. I ordered the veal & pork country pate, which consisted of two slices of nicely seasoned pate, whole wheat crackers, a cornichon and a dollop of Dijon mustard. It was delightful, and made me want more.
I ordered the mixed green salad with a blue cheese dressing; it was fresh and not drenched in dressing, but could do without store-bought croutons. 9.
Entrée: 18.5/20
OG: Being in a seafood kind of mood, I heard the Seafood Sophia ($24.95) calling out to me. The dish was chock full of lobster, large shrimp and big, fresh scallops, all sautéed with garlic and spinach in a tomato cream and served over fettuccini. It was delicious. The sauce was not too rich, but creamy, with just the right touch of tomato. This one is a winner. 9.5.
TDC: I needed a beef fix, and the menu, had all types of possibilities from nice cuts of beef to short ribs. The charbroiled filet mignon ($22.95) I decided upon was cooked as requested (medium-rare) and was charred just like I love it. It was served with a well-baked potato and a string bean dish with a dill cream bacon sauce that was very disappointing, bringing the score down just a tad. 9.
Dessert: 18.5/20
OG: The restaurant offers ice cream rolls, ice cream puffs and meringue ice cream cake, but the rum-soaked chocolate cake encased in a dark chocolate glaze from the pastry tray was the dessert for me. Dark, rich and delicious, it was just large enough not to be too much after a good-sized dinner. 9.
TDC: Since I was dining at a restaurant with a touch of the Alps in its decor, I went with the delicious apple-blueberry strudel. The crust was flaky and light and the fruit had just the right mix of sweet and tart. 9.5.
Service: 8/10
OG: The Mile Away was quite busy, but our service was still top-notch. Our waitress got the orders right and they came out hot and at a good pace. She was personable and explained everything about the menu to us up front. We weren’t rushed, but we weren’t ignored, either. 4.
TDC: There were groups of both older diners and younger couples, all looking like they were out for a nice romantic night out. This place is a perfect fit for both and the servers seemed to be attending to their needs nicely. My water glass was never empty (important to me), our waitress was helpful and there as needed. 4.
Value: 18/20
OG: Mile Away was an excellent value. Our tab came to just about $82 – that was for appetizers, entrees, desserts and a few drinks (and remember, I ordered a premium appetizer) — not a bad price at all for the quality of the meal. 9.
TDC: I agree that the Mile Away was a value for the meals we had. Any restaurant where we can get dinner for two, with all the items we need to order to write this column for under $100 — and enjoy it — is a winner in my book. 9.
Total score: 88/100
Have any comments for Our Gourmet or a suggestion for a restaurant you’d like to see reviewed? E-mail gourmet@unionleader.com
