My friend Amanda and I were meeting for lunch. And I started looking at our options.
There was sushi, of course — gleaming platters of California rolls, saucy spicy tuna rolls and fancy dragon rolls with crunchy topping. Perhaps freshly made pizza, all gooey and hot with cheese and loaded with all the fixings. What about pasta, cooked to order with your choice of sauces, meats and veggies? And we couldn’t go wrong with a meat ‘n’ two or three, or maybe a hot barbecue sandwich.
The good thing was, we could sample these all in one place: FreshTake Grocery.
FreshTake opened earlier this year in the former Whole Foods location in the HomeGoods shopping center on Washington Road. It’s a grocery store, with all the brands you love plus more, including an upscale food court with plenty of seating, a bar, large TVs, Tuesday night trivia, and even a mini putt-putt course outside.
MORE: Dine and Dish: Happy Garden
Amanda and I checked out the whole length of the dining options, which also includes a bakery with a huge assortment of cakes, fancy pastries, fudge, mini pies, macarons, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and so much more. We resisted ordering dessert for lunch though and then started back at the beginning. Sushi was a no for me since I’d had it recently, and pizza too — but then I saw that the pasta was prepared fresh for you. All you do is choose the noodles you want, plus the sauce and any add-ins, and it’s all cooked up in pan and served up hot and steaming.
I was all in. But the scent of the fried chicken on the hot bar caught me — and I started looking at the rich orange carrots, the mashed potatoes loaded with shredded cheddar, green onions and bacon, the creamy mac and cheese, and the hot barbecue sandwiches wrapped in foil. Osso buco was also on the menu, and the server said the hot bar regularly offers special options — the other special that day was deep-fried pork ribs. FreshTake also has its own smoker for its pulled pork.
Amanda and I quickly conferred, and she generously offered to share. So, while she ordered up some chicken tenders with carrots, roasted potatoes and green beans, I stepped up to the pasta counter.
The chef gave the pan a quick twirl as she asked what I’d have. The menu includes chicken or shrimp alfredo, spaghetti marinara, tortellini and a Bolognese — and all priced at $9.99 a pound. (Question to self: Could I really eat a pound of pasta? The answer, I would learn later, was yes.)
You can also easily customize what you’d like. The bar had penne, shells, spaghetti and tortellini; vodka sauce, pesto, marinara, alfredo, Bolognese, shrimp, chicken, Italian sausage, sliced meatballs, bell pepper, roasted red pepper, tomatoes, onions, spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, and sun-dried tomatoes. Then, you can end with a dash of Italian seasoning, or your choice of shaved, shredded or grated Parmesan.
I knew I wanted to start with a base of the cheese tortellini with vodka sauce, and at my request, the chef added some diced chicken, a few slices of meatball, just a bit of onion and two generous handfuls of spinach. She deftly tossed it in the pan with a quick motion, and soon, carefully dished it up and topped it with some shredded Parm.
Amanda and I then grabbed our choice of beverage from the cold case, did a quick self-checkout, and headed upstairs to a cozy corner in the modern dining space. We spread out our feast on our white table, and first I sampled a few bites of Amanda’s.
The chicken tenders earned their name — super tender white meat in a thin, crispy breading that was just a touch salty and with a slightly earthy undertone to the seasoning. Amanda’s plate included three enormous tenders — she ended up bringing two home for a second meal (or possibly a snack for her teenage son). The peppery green beans were thin and delicate, speckled here and there with cooked diced onion, which gave a hint of flavor. The jewel-like carrots were buttery, sweet and tender, and the rough brown potatoes (with skin on) were nicely roasted and well-seasoned, perhaps with a little garlic powder, paprika and rosemary along with the salt and pepper.
“I could have just the vegetables,” said Amanda, and I agreed.
Next, I opened my plastic container of pasta. It was still piping hot, and it was delicious. Creamy soft pillows of cheese tortellini, in a tangy tomato-based sauce. Here and there, a bit of onion added a nice gentle crunch and flavor, while the spinach was some welcome green. Heartiness was added with the very tender chicken and the fluffy meatballs. It was a bowl of comfort with all the flavors I loved.
I think FreshTake is a bit of an undiscovered gem. If you shop the sales, you can get some good grocery deals, and the food court has so much variety that it makes an easy choice for a quick lunch or for a night out (or take out).
So, here’s my next question: Who’s up for trivia? See you on Tuesday at FreshTake.
Make Your Reservation
FreshTake
2907 Washington Road, Suite 102
Entrée cost: Pizzas start at $7.49 for a seven-inch; other meals start at $9.99 a pound. Sushi starts at $6.49 per platter, but $5 sushi is every Friday.
