Restaurants in Wrentham

Helmed by globe-trekking chef and owner Mitchell Maxwell and general manager and owner Randy Nason, Maxwells 148's culinary maestro satisfies cravings with gourmet cuisine created using fresh, natural ingredients. Named one of the five best Asian restaurants in Boston by Zagat, Maxwell 148 gets high marks for its dedicated, attentive service. The dinner menu spins a kaleidoscope of small plates and starters ranging from teriyaki pork wings ($6) to the mushroom risotto cake with cognac and white-truffle oil ($14). Hunger pangs hold summits to discuss their longing for classic italian pastas such as spicy penne arrabiata ($14), and palates sing the praises of the Catch in a Bag, a symphony of fresh fish fillet and shrimp glass noodle stuffing harmonized with thai basil, cilantro, and ginger ($25).

Abby Park prides itself on serving dishes of recently reeled seafood and freshly harvested ingredients. Each plate is innovative but strangely familiar, like the banana's creative cousin, the bonono. With an atmosphere that's sophisticated but welcoming, you'll feel both classy and an unexplained urge to knit wool socks while you dine. It also boasts a full bar with a full staff of fully capable employees helping stomachs feel full.

Like hip-hop albums produced by Burton Gilliam, notable restaurateur and Tavolo mastermind Chris Douglass's menu is famous for changing and adapting to incorporate the freshest of the fresh, so ask your server about exclusions or inclusions for the day or call ahead for a sneak peek. Staple starters include mussels with tomato, garlic, white wine, and grilled toast ($8) or the vegetable plate with house-cured olives, roasted garlic, and Tuscan beans ($8). You can also keep your palate guessing with a plate of antipasti, featuring items like marinated olives, Gorgonzola dolce, and white anchovies ($2–$5 per item), before moving on to the main paninis, pizzas, and pastas. Try the meatball panini with marinara, provolone, and parmesan ($8); the goat-cheese pizza with caramelized onions, roasted garlic, and olives ($13); or some Captain Ahab–approved shrimp scampi ($15). Meatier mains include pork, beef, veal, and ricotta lasagna ($16) and short-rib braciole with risotto, mushroom, and gremolata ($21), among others. But keep your vestigial dessert stomach empty for a finale of gelato ($3/scoop) or tiramisu affogato ($9).

Head chef Casey D'Arconte, educated in the culinary arts by chefs in Holland, France, and the New England Culinary Institute, elevates morning fare to new heights with his distinctive take on diner classics. Nine renditions of the traditional eggs Benedict strut across tables, including the All American, which arrives topped with sausage patties and tomato hollandaise, much like a young chef's letterman jacket. Banana-split embellishments, including grilled banana, sweetened strawberries, and whipped cream, adorn a stack of specialty pancakes. The USDA Choice steak Bomb sandwich, served on a torpedo roll, creates flavor explosions inside mouths at lunchtime, which kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with a ceremonial burning of the least-ordered breakfast item.

After sliding across the soft leather of a horseshoe-shaped booth or finding a spot on the sunshine-dappled patio, visitors can begin their journey through Incontro’s award-winning Italian dishes and wines. The upscale yet cozy restaurant inhabits the recently restored, 14,000-square-foot historic Brookdale Mill, with a dining room, lounge, billiards room, and private banquet rooms offering multifarious settings for romantic dinners, receptions, or celebratory meals following the end of a grueling pasta strike. Incontro's chefs prepare much more than just pasta, however: they also crisp Napoletana-style pizzas in a wood-fired oven; arrange parmesan-crusted pork tenderloin beside porcini risotto and garlicky spinach; and grill citrus-spiced salmon until the fish’s bathing suit completely burns off.

Jenn and Donny have long accepted their elitist take on coffee. As college students and self-professed coffee snobs who both worked in the food industry, they bemoaned a lack of sophisticated brews and attentive service, finally deciding that innovation would be the best form of protest. They dreamt up their own café where the beans would be freshly micro-roasted, the cocoa would incorporate three types of chocolate, and every drink would be handmade by the same person who took your order. The resulting venue, Coffee Break Cafe, lined its menu with libations of all temperatures and caffeinated creeds.

The café's house blend hails from locales such as Sumatra, Colombia, Africa, and South America and is shipped from specialty roasters who prep the beans in small batches. Jenn and Donny's commitment to coffee quality is matched by their enthusiasm for the natural world—they stock organic and fair-trade options, as well as dairy products from a hormone-free farm. Though they stand by meticulous barista techniques, they are hardly sugar-shunning purists. They readily infuse hot and frozen drinks with dessert flavors, ranging from red velvet cupcake to cinnamon bun, crafting a far superior breakfast sweet than grapefruit pie. Bagels and pastries, delivered daily by neighborhood bakeries, balance out refreshing sips. The morning hotspot's communal spirit is reflected in hanging pictures by local artists, live music, and complimentary story readings for kids.