Spice up your fall.

Everyone knows that the best part of October is that you can eat pumpkin 3 meals a day. And, yes, I do actually mean normal things flavored with cinnamon and sugar. Even Dunkin' Donuts becomes festive and special this month.

Thanks to my friend Meera, I have a new October obsession (Whatever, the Red Sox, you've been replaced (But don't get mad, we're OK, you're going to be my February obsession)). Sunset Grill & Tap in Allston has a great soup called "Pumpkin Harvest". It is October in a cup. Unlike, other pumpkin soups, it's savory with chunks of chicken. And unlike some other "pumpkin" goodies, this one contains actual pumpkin.

Also, at the Sunset, you can order one of their many pumpkin beers with a cinnamon sugared rim. Because, mmmm, sugar.

More Cheap Eats

Thanks to the Boston Globe.

Check out these Happy Hours around town.

Deals Deals Deals

The lovely people at the Boston Globe have compiled a list of restaurant deals going on. Check it out here.

I found that if you click on the name of the restaurant, and visit their site, you can often find even more deals. Such at $1 oysters and charcuterie plates at Sel De La Terre on Boylston on Mondays 5-7.

A great find that is listed is 50 cent Tapas and $5 Sangria pitchers (!) at Masa.

Roadhouse BBQ

I'm moving into a new neighborhood. I'll be in Brookline right between Coolidge Corner and Washington Square. I know there are tons of great restaurants there that I can't wait to try.

Last night I went to Roadhouse BBQ for the first time. I'm already a big fan of their other place, the Publick House. The prices looked pretty high (many plates around $20) but I was happy that I ordered the $10 half rack of ribs because they filled the plate and came with two huge sides. Just like the Publick House, they had tons of great beer on tap. I had the Dog Fish Aprihop which is one of my favorites and hard to find on draft. This would be a great place to go with a group because of the casual atmosphere and sharable sides.

Know of any great places I should try in Brookline? Let me know!

Little Bobby

You probably already know about it. But just in case you don't....Petit Robert is fabulous. It's been a favorite of mine for a few years but I just went back for the first time in a while. We usually go to the one in Kenmore Square but there are two more locations. Check out their website: www.petitrobertbistro.com/

OK, let's talk about food! My favorite thing on the menu is the Trio of Pates. It comes with mustard and teeny pickles. The three pates are each different and taste fantastic on the piping hot baguettes the servers keep bringing. The bread is also great dipped in the garlicky oil the escargot are cooked in.

Entrees are just as good, but the best part is that they are all under $17 with most around $14. It's nice to know that even if you're trying to watch your money you can still go out for a fancy French dinner.

Also, it's not just the frugals who love the little bobby. Last time we were there, who walks in but Larry Lucchino.

Another restaurant?!

Yes. And it was awesome.

My friend Trevor works at Toro in the South End (corner of Washington and Mass. Ave next to Mike's Diner). Even though he works at Toro he never really gets a chance to eat their amazing food, so my friend Beth and I met him for drinks and Tapas on the patio.

Drinks wise, Toro is known for their Sangria, but they also have great wine and cocktails. I had the Summer Smash which included Hendrick's Gin (my favorite!) with cucumber and mint. Crazy good.

OK, here's the thing: back in middle school when, like, 90 percent of the students signed up for Spanish, I signed up for French class. So I was in the one class of kids repeating, "Ou est, Jacque? Jacque est a la piscine avec Madeline," while the other 5 classes of 13-year-olds were making "Devil's eyes" and learning the Mexican hat dance. I'm still not over it. Anyway, for that reason, I don't remember the Spanish names of the plates and will describe them in English. Starting with...

Corn on the cob smothered with cheese and spices! And shrimp with a sweet and spicy creamy red sauce! And in a cross-town date-wrapped-in-bacon smackdown...date, stuffed with an almond AND stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon! OK, I must admit that the cheese adds a certain something. But the value at Orinoco is superior (4 dates for $4 vs. 2 dates for $6. Ouch.) but still-cheese. We had green peppers roasted in salt and olive oil and cod cakes with a fried candied lemon peel garnish. Everything was fantastic and just the right amount to share with friends.

There is typically an hour wait (even on a Monday) so when you go plan on having a drink at the bar while you wait for your table. It's a great date place because of the fun of sharing all of the dishes. The decor is simple which is fine when all you can do is look at the food glistening in front of you.

Oh, and Churros. Churros, people!

Orinoco in Brookline Village

I couldn't be a food critic. I just love restaurants and going out too much. My reviews would read like, "They had booths (booths!) and served the bread with olive oil and sprinkle cheese (omg!). The chicken was good but I had just had chicken for lunch so I wasn't so in to it. But they had mashed potatoes(!)! " Not so helpful. But one thing I love to do is pass on good news.

Orinoco in Brookline (22 Harvard St. next to Pomodoro) is fantastic! They have a lunch menu with gourmet sandwiches around $7. Their dinner menu hovers around $13 for entrees. The food is Venezuelan and features such wonders as an almond wrapped in a date wrapped in bacon(!), and fried plantain hunks sliced open and stuffed with cheese(!).

OK, enough of me talking about food. The decor has an air of a South American farm house without feeling cluttered or kitchy. There are small tables and booths along the side walls and a gorgeous long wooden table in front of the open kitchen. There's also a bar by the windows, perfect for sipping caipirinhas while thinking about what to order when it all smells so good.