Surf and turf, malasadas, prime rib: New Bedford Eats:

Faith Harrington, Standard-Times
·4 min read

Calling all New Bedford area foodies, this one is for you! There are endless choices for eating in the area. For your dining pleasure we have compiled a list of meal deals, snack options, and specials sure to entice any palate.

It can be overwhelming trying to answer the age-old, often frustrating question of "where do you want to eat?" Thankfully in Greater New Bedford there are many restaurants offering a slew of choices to make that decision just a little easier.

Whether you are heading out for night on the town, finally getting a date night, or looking for some family fun here are some places dishing out great food at even greater prices.

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Build your own surf and turf

Build your own surf and turf at Cove Surf and Turf.
Build your own surf and turf at Cove Surf and Turf.

When heading to Cove Surf and Turf you usually have a hankering for the best of both worlds — something from the sea and something from the land. When you order the build your own surf and turf you get to choose your options. It starts at $19.99 and will increase depending on your choices of seafood and meat, then you select your two sides and dig in. Located at 1500 Cove Road, New Bedford.

Silmo Syrup & Portuguese Malasada Pop-Up

Don’t miss out on $2 malasadas! Troop 24 of New Bedford is hosting its annual Portuguese Malasada fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, February 12, at the Holy Name Church Annex, 122 Mount Pleasant St., New Bedford. Silmo Syrup is getting in on the action by selling their pints for $10 with a portion of proceeds going to the troop.

On Tap

Quick Eternity is on Tap at Moby Dick Brewing Co.
Quick Eternity is on Tap at Moby Dick Brewing Co.

Looking for a new IPA to try? This week's cask-conditioned offering from Moby Dick Brewing Co. is Quick Eternity, dry-hopped in the cask with a blend of South African hops. It is a medium-bodied, unfiltered ale with an assertive hop character. Its full flavor is accentuated with citrus hop notes. Goes perfectly with spicy food like the Fra Diavlo Calamari, crispy calamari, banana peppers, parmesan cheese, and spicy beer-infused marinara, with a roasted jalapeno aioli for $15. Located at 16 S Water St., New Bedford.

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Locally sourced cheese

Rustico locally sources blue cheese from Great Hill Dairy for its salad.
Rustico locally sources blue cheese from Great Hill Dairy for its salad.

Store brand blue cheese? Not at Rustico. When you start off with the Waterfall Wedge, a wedge of iceberg topped with chopped smoked pork belly, diced tomato, red onion, Great Hill Blue Cheese crumbles, curled celery, and drizzled with cilantro ranch dressing ($15) you are supporting two local businesses. They locally source many ingredients and their blue cheese crumbles come from Great Hill Dairy right in Marion. Located at 62 Marion Road, Mattapoisett.

Mariachi Band Mondays

Mariachi Band Mondays at Frontera Grill.
Mariachi Band Mondays at Frontera Grill.

Enjoy your Mexican food accompanied by some amazing tunes from the Mariachi Band at Frontera Grill Fairhaven. Every Monday night the Mariachi Band is in full swing creating a must-see experience with your dinner. Located at 214 Huttleston Ave., Fairhaven.

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Happy Hour

Happy hour at The Black Whale.
Happy hour at The Black Whale.

Not quite lunch, not quite dinner — the perfect time for happy hour at The Black Whale. Enjoy specials from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday such as popcorn scallops, sushi rolls, shrimp ceviche, grilled octopus, and more. The perfect time to order multiple apps to share with the table. Located at 106 MacArthur Dr., New Bedford.

Pastel de Nata Throwdown

Pastéis de nata are Portuguese custard cups.
Pastéis de nata are Portuguese custard cups.

Throughout the month of February, local foodies are tasked with taste-testing Portuguese custard cups at nine participating bakeries and choosing the best one.  In New Bedford, there's Goulart Square (413 Rivet St.), Economy Bakery (1685 Acushnet Ave.), and Sunrise Bakery (506 Bolton St.). In Fall River, you can pop in at Barcelos Bakery (695 Bedford St.), Europa Pastries & Coffee Shop (65 Columbia St.), Leddy's Bakery (1481 S Main St.), Modern Bakery (351 Alden St.), Portugalia Marketplace (489 Bedford St.) and United Liberty (1173 Stafford Road). Voting will be available online at nbfoodtours.com/throwdown.

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Sunday Family Prix Fixe Dinner

The prime rib entrée at Fireside Classic American Grille.
The prime rib entrée at Fireside Classic American Grille.

Sunday family dinner just got a whole lot better with the help of Fireside Classic American Grille. For $26.99 per person get a three-course meal from noon to close every Sunday. Start with soup or salad, choose from prime rib, cedar plank salmon, chicken ala carte, chicken tenders, or fresh haddock, then end with a delicious dessert. Located at 30 Bedford St., Middleboro.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Food, music, and IPA: New Bedford eats finds food deals