"New American cuisine" with a romantic twist. 80 Thoreau, on 80 Thoreau Street Concord, clever, I know, but don't judge a book by its cover on this one, offers fine local dining at its best. The food is fantastic and their atmosphere is perfect for a one-on-one date or a group gathering. Interesting dishes to try: First course I would go for their Pork & Rabbit Terrine, then their Grilled Sirloin for the main course and their Warm Corn Pudding to top it all off for desert. Drinks: Whether you're at your table or at the bar, they offer a wide variety of wines, liquors and beers.

As we have been running a weekly restaurant highlight, and most of them consisted of locally owned and operated businesses, we thought we'd take a bite out of the chain restaurants of the area. Out of these four chains, which would you choose to be stranded on a deserted island with you? Acton: Bickford's Family Restaurant – If you're in the mood for breakfast no matter the time of day, Bickford's offers a family friendly dining experience and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner meals.  Bickford's is located at 20 Nagog Park, Acton. Sudbury: Friendly's – You can't go wrong with this…

The healthy ice cream: Yogurt. Everyone loves it and as summer is coming to an end, why not head over to Wayland's Frozen Yogurt Innovations for a soft frozen treat. Locally owned and operated, Frozen Yogurt Innovations offers a fun dining experience and a variety of goodies. Yum Factor: You can't go wrong ordering the cheesecake flavor with crushed candy toppings. Cool factor: Frozen Yogurt Innovations cares about your health and the quality of their product. See their explanation of the health benefits of their yogurt. Location: Frozen Yogurt Innovations is located on 131 Main Street, …

If you ever happen to be passing through West Acton, be sure to stop by the old fashion and whimsical candy shop, Mia Bella Candy Box. Mia Bella has a funky Willy Wonka feel inside and offers just about every type of candy you can think of from the baby boomer generation to generation Y. Located at 583 Massachusetts Avenue, Mia Bella offers a fun candy shopping experience that is sure to bring you back. In a previous interview with Patch, owner, Julie Carroll said, "I want to sell an experience for everyone to just come in and really have fun. You’re never too old for candy."

The closest thing Acton, Sudbury, Wayland and Weston has to a Disney Land – Kimball Farm brings out the kid in all of us — and their fried food and heaping ice cream scoops are to die for. Before get into the food, let's just cover the fun: Bumper boats Mini Golf Video game arcade 9-hole pitch/put Batting cages Hot air balloon Petting zoo Pony rides Country store driving range Picnic areas OK – now the food: Kimball Farm offers great dishes – seafood, hamburgers, pulled pork and french fries. Their ice cream has been homemade since 1939 and more than 40 flavors are offered. Location: 400 …

Patch recently relaunched the Best of Patch Readers' Choice competition and in this week's Bites Nearby we wanted to know who you think has the best burger in Acton, Sudbury, Wayland and Weston. Chances are, you dine outside your home town. If you have a favorite burger, click on the highlighted links that will navigate you to our voting page. The voting period will end at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 17 and the winners will be announced on Aug. 24. In Acton, it is a close call between: The Local Table Not Your Average Joe's Crossroads Cafe In Sudbury, Bistro 20 has a big lead. In Wayland, Prime131 and…

Warning – if you're lactose intolerant, leave this page. But Weston's Dairy Joy is much more than ice cream and not to be mistaken for a Dairy Queen. Dairy Joy offers organic ice cream and burgers and dogs.  What to order: Ice cream and burgers aside, I'd say try their sweet potato fries. Cool Factor: Dairy Joy is a great spot for kids and adults alike to have a quick stop for some ice cream or burgers.

Got a sweet tooth? Get ready to make a dentist appointment because Beyond Beans is worth the visit. Located at 171 Commonwealth Road Wayland, Beyond Beans offers a wide variety of tasty pastries, great coffee and espresso. Didn't know they served... Breakfast! Beyond Beans has a yummy egg sandwich. Cool Factor: Beyond Beans is connected to JJ McKay's pub and restaurant. Check out the Patch interview with owner, Sean McKiernan.

Tired of the same old slice? Sorrento's Brick Oven Pizzeria is the spot to change it up. Dine-in, take-out or delivery. Sorrento's offers tasty wood-fired pizza. Sorrento's also offers a variety of platters for corporate events. What to order: You really won't go wrong ordering any type of pie here. Check out their full menu. Cool Factor: Sorrento's has a huge picture mural on their wall of their loyal customers. Who knows, maybe you'll get hooked and find yourself hidden in the picture decoupage.  

Don't have the time for firing up your grill at home? Why not head to Po's BBQ in Acton, where a great variety of BBQ classics awaits your palate. What to order: Well, you can't go wrong with ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken, skewers and a side of fries. Cool Factor: Have yourself a beer at their comfortable lounge bar. Location: 344 Great Road, Acton Phone: 978-264-3100

You may want to designate a sober driver for this bite. Sierras in Sudbury is known for its wide variety of strong, but tasty margaritas. Sierras offers a family lounge, a kids' menu and a bar. Food to order: Best quesadilla around. Check out their full menu here. Cool factor: Sierras looks like a hole in the wall from the outside but offers upscale Mexican dishes and a family-friendly dining environment. Location: 70 North Rd Sudbury. 

If you have a sweet tooth you're in luck. Sweet Bites offers a variety of fresh pastries, cupcakes and tasty coffee.  What to try: Sweet Bites offers breakfast sandwiches, bagels and omelets. You can't go wrong "creating your own omelet" for $9. Cool Factor: Everything is made from scratch and Sweet Bites provides you with a comfortable atmosphere to enjoy sweets and coffee with your friends. Location: Sweet Bites is located on 5 Spruce St, Acton Phone: 978-263-2233

If you're like the average frog in any given pond, you enjoy the sun sitting on a lily pad and catching your grub from the flies buzzing by. The Water Lily in Wayland is a good spot to let out your inner frog. What types of food you'll find (Chinese Cuisine): Phantom Gourmet recommends their Macadamia Shrimp with Baby Spinach. The Water Lily offers a great spot to dine-in comfortably, and makes it easy to dine-out. Location/Phone: 309 Boston Post Rd, Wayland - 508-358-2288.

Do you love subs, pizza, burritos and calzones? TC Lando's Sub Pizzeria is your spot. Established in Acton in the 1990's, Lando's has become a huge staple in the community and is craved by others outside of town.  Food Suggestions: Well, you can't go wrong with their cheese steak, and if you're an average eater and your palate never fully evolved, their pizza is great, too. Cool Factor: See what VB from Fox25 News had to say about Lando's during last summer's Zip Trip. Menue: Click here for a look at their menu. Location: 297 Main St Acton

Acton's Bella Famiglia offers a classic and comfortable dining experience whether you're coming to dine or to have a drink at the bar. As the weather is blooming Bella Famiglia's patio seating under umbrellas and awnings almost makes you forget you're on a busy road.  What types of food you'll find: Obviously, you'll find a wide variety of Italian cuisine. I'd like to suggest their Fried Ravioli for an appetizer and their Lasagna with homemade Marinara. Cool Factor: Owner Joseph Motzi's customer services is worth mentioning. A quick example: Back in 2011, a staple restaurant in Acton (Scupper…

In the mood for breakfast or lunch? Mel's Commonwealth Cafe offers a great variety of breakfast and lunch classics with your choice to dine in or out. Mel's has a feel like you're surrounded by regulars - just visit their website and you'll hear their theme. What types of food you'll find: Breakfast: Try their 'Famous Eggs Benedict' for $9.99 Lunch: Give their new 'New Philly Steak Rollup' for $8.99 Cool Factor: Although Mel's has come a long way from when they were known as the Elmwood Donut Shop in 1958, somethings never change like their customer service. Location/Phone: 310 Commonwealth …

If you're ever at a crossroads as to where to grab a good bite to eat that offers a comfortable atmosphere but the game is on... look no further than the Crossroads Cafe in Acton. It's by no means a serious sports bar, but they'll usually have the games on their HD TV's at the bar. It's also a great place to dine comfortably, quietly and affordably with family, friends and a date. What types of food you'll find: All around American cuisine.    Give their Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin a shot. For an appetizer, why not try their Pisano Bruscetta.  Cool Factor: Crossroads Cafe has been an Acton …

A bar, good food, coffee and live music... what more could you ask for? Concord's Main Street Cafe offers a vibrant atmosphere for a night out to dine and drink.  What types of food you'll find: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try their: Pulled Pork Flat Bread Panini with a side of fries. For a more fancy dish, give their Mussels Marinara a shot.  Cool Factor: On a nice night, Concord's Main Street can be a happening place with lots of foot traffic. Sneak into the Main Street Cafe for a drink and a bite while enjoying some acoustic-style live music. Location: 50 Main St, Concord.

What's better than a Spinach Pesto Lasagna, some red wine and live jazz? The Acton Jazz Cafe offers a wide variety of diverse jazz musicians each night, a great dining atmosphere and a satisfactory bar. Yum: App: Six Cheese-stuffed Jalapenos $9.95 Main: Linguine with Marinara and Meatballs $13.95 Dessert: The Ultimate Chocolate Cake $6.95 Cool Factor: Live music every night except Monday. Location: 452 Great Rd Acton Schedule: Check out April's lineup.

If you're in the mood for good sushi, Chef Kung has got you covered. Oishii Too Sushi Bar has been a Sudbury staple for over 10 years, serving a full Japanese and sushi menu. Oishii's offers casual dinning and also take-out. Yum: Why get a California roll when you can get a taste of the ocean with the Oishii's Sushi Sashimi Special (tuna and salmon with sea bass, shrimp and Crabstick). Location/Phone: 365 Boston Post Road, Sudbury - 978-440-8300 Click here to view their full menu.