Good Eating at the Big Fresh (A Restaurant Review)

I thought the Big Fresh would be just another chain restaurant like all its neighbors. Quite the opposite. Big Fresh supports the locavorian movement with organic foods, and high quality produce from Land Sakes Farm in Weston and Heirloom Harvest in Westborough.

The menu is posted above the open kitchen area. I was blown away by the variety of cheaply priced seafood dishes. Should I order the Seared Alaskan True Cod, the Blackened Wild Alaskan Salmon with Jasmine Rice, or the Salmon Wrap? There were a variety of wraps (including their famous falafel wrap), salads, fish plates, and stir fries.

I settled on wild salmon and my boyfriend, Oliver, chose the Salmon Wrap. We could have gone for more variety… on the other hand I would be able to compare two forms of their salmon.

We sampled a buffet of iced teas, including Crimson Berry, Orange Rooibus, and Black Tea Mango. The café also offers unique sodas and lemonades.

We took our tea to a booth by the window and looked the place over: purple walls, eclectic lanterns hanging above each booth, pictures on the walls, stained glass art by the cook station. It was a relaxing venue.

Within a few minutes, our food was ready, and I ordered a side of hummus and pita, along with a slice of freshly made Sweet Potato Pie.

Even though I ordered the lunch portion, the salmon platter was enormous. There was a sizeable filet, perfectly pan seared and blackened, covered in a tangy creole sauce. The salmon was tender. Its peppery taste was complemented by the spicy, sweetness of the sauce. Contrary to tradition, the sauce tasted more of carrot than tomato.

The side dishes were a generous portion of jasmine rice and a hot succotash salad of fresh organic greens, red pepper, lima beans, purple onions and small black beans. The salad was slightly blackened and tossed in vinaigrette. The textures balanced quite well.

Oliver’s wrap was composed of a warm tomato tortilla, salmon, dill mayonnaise, jasmine rice and organic greens. Tangy dill complemented the salmon pieces, which were fishier than my filet but equally delicious. The hummus was the creamiest I’ve ever had and made a great dipping sauce for the wrap.

I was so full I had to take the Sweet Potato Pie home. It made a delicious dessert later. Pureed to perfection, the sweet potato had the consistency of pumpkin pie. The crust was delicate and moist and every bite, though so packed with taste, was light and fluffy.

I highly recommend Big Fresh and will definitely start frequenting the café myself. The majority of dishes are under $10, which struck me due to the quantity, quality, and variety. Seemingly, it is an anomaly in the Framingham community, made even more apparent by the chain mall it’s in, as mentioned earlier. I truly hope that this little treasure gets more exposure!

The inexpensive, full course meal provided by Big Fresh warmed my stomach and my spirit on a cold, rainy day.