Restaurant News

Last spring chef Andre de Waal reinvented himself by closing Andre’s restaurant at 188 Spring St, Newton, and reopening a redecorated space named Dre’s, a month later, at the same location.

DRE’S, NEWTON
Dre’s is a neighborhood restaurant where you can grab a beer, cocktail, burger, pizza or entrée. Prices are reasonable for the food and wine, and gluten-free items and a children’s menu are available, making this a family-friendly place. Think of it as the local Cheers with class.

Wood floors, handcrafted wood plank tables with cloth napkins, brick walls, blackboard menus and local art add to the casual ambiance. Our dinner started with hot, house-made, crispy focaccia rolls. Our waitress told us that everything was made in house and local and organic ingredients were used whenever possible.

There is some whimsy on the menu. Soup of the day is listed, as well as soup of yesterday for 50 cents less. We had a fish chowder (today’s) and a sunchoke potato leek (yesterday’s); both pleasant starters. A large offering of super-fresh baby spinach salad was dotted with apricots, almonds and slices of brie dressed in a refreshing cider vinaigrette. The classic steak-house wedge was scattered with crisp bacon but the blue cheese dressing was thin and tasteless.

Whimsy showed itself again with the Everything Crusted Salmon, Sour Cream & Chives, a play on bagels and lox. All of the seasoning that is found on an “everything” bagel is coated on the salmon, which is topped with sour cream; a clever and appealing dish. Perfectly cooked striped bass, came with a nutty, caper brown-butter sauce, smashed potatoes, broccoli and carrots. Peppercorn sauce added interest to a sliced flat-iron steak accompanied with roasted potatoes. A most comforting creamy mac & cheese served in a cast iron skillet was topped with veal meatballs.

Opt for a vanilla or chocolate milkshake (adults can add a shot of hooch), a root beer float, brownie sundae, cheesecake or for the “kid” in all of us, cotton candy with sprinkles for dessert. We shared an apple crisp with honey-cinnamon sauce and addictive walnut brittle, which was a hit at our table.

Chef de Waal has recently announced that Andre’s will relocate in the old Zoe’s By the Lake space as Andre’s Lakeside Dining, 112, Tomahawk Trail, Sparta, in the late winter or early spring. The restaurant will feature fine dining and will be BYO.


Spinach salad.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein

Dre’s
188 Spring Street
Newton
973-300-4192

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