I was going to try Monte's on Eastern Ave. the other day. I had locked myself out of the house, my cell phone was dead, I had no cash, and I was hungry. So I decided to try out Monte's, a little red restaurant just under the Commuter rail tracks. It looked nice enough inside. I had their pizza once before and it was OK. (Others have raved about it.) The focus is on Italian cuisine, I think.

They do not take checks or credit cards! What? They lost my business that day.

So I biked down to a little subshop called Giovanni's on Lewis St., across the street and down a way from Christophers Cafe. Not bad. Friendly service. I hadn't had a hot pastrami in a while, so I decided to give it a try. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Hot and cold subs as well as pizza are made here.

Monte's loss was Giovanni's gain.