19 Strong Avenue
Northampton, MA  01060
(413) 586-3347

The Dish With Dean had the wonderful pleasure of visiting Northampton, Ma. this past week and for the second time felt the pang of hunger to visit Eastside Grill.

Located in the Pioneer Valley in an amazing town called Northampton, this gem of a restaurant exhibits the true feeling of warmth and quality that made me return for more. 

First recommended by Stollie and "The Hick man", I can honestly say that this place is 

"Top Notch" 

This amazing find celebrates the joining of New England and New Orleans all under one roof. From the home made chowders to the home made salad dressings, everything is fresh and created from the finest ingredients. 

Our Server was Matt and on this occasion he was very helpful in the choices he offered to me. Not your typical server who looks to upsell a menu for the benefit of the restaurant. On the contrary, I don't think the cost of the dish came into effect here but the fact that he wanted our experience to be a lasting one. 

Starting out with a cup of lobster corn chowder, I was shocked that the chunks of fresh lobster were not just small chopped up pieces and I did in fact have a lobster in every bite. The soup was a chowder consisting of corn and potatoes along with the lobster layered in a light pink broth tasting of sherry but not creamy or heavy. 

The other appetizer chosen or suggested to us was the Louisana fried oysters.  

Crisp yet light cornmeal dusted oysters served with chipotle tartar and bearnaise dipping sauces. 

These little darlings were so moist and tender that I could have ate them as an entree if there were more of them. 

All entrees are accompanied by a house or ceaser salad.

The house dressing is a gorgonzola vinaigrette that is just the right amount of zip from the gorgonzola and a perfect tang from the vinaigrette. The house salad is a mix of mesclun greens with red onions and cucumbers. Ask for tomatoes and like our server, Matt, you will receive a beautiful display on a plate of sliced tomatoes garnished with chopped green onion.

  My dinner was a recommendation from Matt. I had the tournedos of beef tenderloin smothered in mushrooms and smoked bacon, finished with a truffled brandy demi glaze and perched on top of grilled asparagus and buttermilk mashed potatoes and topped with fried onion strings.

This description says it all. It was amazing!

My wife had another special dish that was directly from the 

New Orleans side of the map.

She had a blackened mahi mahi served with a strawberry salsa. The heat from the fish along with the sweetness of the fresh salsa actually did a tango on your tongue. Visiting this local treat was sure a treat for "The Dish"

I am so looking forward to going back. 

After dinner the town is a must to walk through. It is one of the best artsy type towns that I have ever been to. 

Locals playing music on the street and little art galleries that take your breath away. From what I heard this town boasts about the musical performers it hosts at the 

Iron horse Music Hall 

and

Calvin theater.

    

Masterpiece!

Enjoy 

"The Dish With Dean"