910 Washington St. Dedham; (617) 329-0097
1657 Hancock St. Quincy; (617) 770-2592
Is there a greater thrill than sitting down to a meal you can’t finish only to have free dessert and coffee forced upon you? It happens at this pair of friendly establishments.
Sink into a comfy booth in the spacious bar, done up in dark wood, and take your time ordering. First scan the blackboard specials, such as vegetarian fajitas ($4.50), a turkey dinner ($7.50), or Cajun catfish ($8.50). Super-specials, available Mondays and Tuesdays, include prime rib ($9.95) and barbecued beef ribs ($7.95). All entrees come with your choice of potato, plus soup or an enormous salad.
Mine conjured up a hearty London broil in mushroom gravy, $7.95, one of several options from the stockyard. Chicken selections run $7-$8, while seafood entrees are around $8-$12. Speaking of fowl, be an early bird and visit between 3 and 5 p.m. to get that free coffee and des- sert deal. And in Quincy, cap off your day with a movie at the nearby cinema; any food purchase gets you a half-price ticket to that evening’s show.
Finian’s, whose kitchen closes at 10 p.m. five days and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, is popular with both the locals and, in Dedham, guests of the adjacent Holiday Inn. This branch offers an all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch, which costs $5.95 before 10 AM. and $7.95 thereafter. That’s no blarney.
Also in Dedham, the Halfway Cafe at 174 Washington St. telephone (617) 326-3336, is yer great American sports bar. Memorabilia completely obscures the walls; the newspaper-style menu unfolds to reveal a broad selection of sandwiches, grilled entrees, and pastas, mostly in the $5-$7 range. Open from 11 am. six days (noon on Sundays) until 11 P.M. nightly.
