LINK: www.yelp.com

REVIEW: What a cool place, you'd never even know it from the outside. They have a piano turned into a table!

On that note, I'm mildly confused by the theme. Route 66 maybe? There are all these roadsigns everywhere but yet the tables and linens are nice, all graced with a pretty candle. I dunno?

Maybe the menu has changed since other reviewers have come, but the menu is NOT small, it's five pages long plus a lunch menu. The lunch menu is much cheaper ($7-$10) whereas the dinner menu is ($8-$18).

In addition to appetizers, burgers and entrees, they have the Boston Baked Pizza which supposedly originates from a chef that Rick met in Italy. They also have a Grill menu that let's you pick a meat, sauce, and two side dishes. Pretty neat.

We got the chips and salsa with a "crock of chedder" for five bucks. It was pretty good, definitely canned cheese and jarred salsa but plenty of it.

Got a burger with bacon, cheese and BBQ sauce and it was divine.

Overall a pleasant surprise and glad we didn't go to our other choices of Outback or Bertuccis in the same plaza.

LINK: www.yelp.com

REVIEW: Last time I was here I had the broiled schrod with rice and fresh steamed veggies - DELICIOUS!!! Also, there was a pianist in the background playing - very nice. Moderately priced, but not super expensive.

LINK: www.yelp.com

ARTICLE: They call it a cafe, but its fancier than Chili's, and a little more expensive than Chili's too. I had pizza when I was there, and it was really good. Calamari was fried really well, so I'd recommend that as well. They have a bar with live piano music (on weekends, I think). Good date place.

LINK: Globe Archive Article

ARTICLE: Located hard by the high-volume Randolph multiplex, Rick's lures movie fans with its parking and discount cinema tickets as much as with its evocative allusions, via decor, to the immortal film "Casablanca." The felicitous juxtaposition to the 18-month-old theater, which owner Rick Doherty says was not in the plan when he opened three years ago, keeps this 200-seat restaurant busy. But happily, Rick's Cafe doesn't seem to take its clientele for granted, and everyone, from waiters to chefs to bus help, hustles to provide food and service that will bring the customers back the next time they go to a flick.

One recent Sunday suppertime, our party of six arrived hungry, with a movie 80 minutes hence. We waited less than 10 minutes for a table, then perhaps 15 more for our server's undivided attention. During this time we explored the C-shaped dining area, ogling details of its "Casablanca" mural and, near the bar, the clever signs and mementos of a road-loving culture, including a motorcycle hanging from the ceiling.

Beginning to be anxious about our schedule, we shared its details with our server, when she did attend to us. With a matter-of-fact apology for our wait, she assured us we could still do it all and also told us about a $1.50 discount on adult-rate movie admission (which must be arranged through the servers in a cash-only transaction separate from the bill of fare).

Because she was as good as her word, we were able to relax and enjoy the meal. Fusilli Mediterranean ($11.95) exceeded our hopes: curly pasta and tender white chicken meat in a flavorful broth bearing button mushrooms and bits of tomato and red pepper, with plenty of fresh-grated Parmesan. The dish, generous enough to provide lunch the next day, was also available meatless ($9.95) and with shrimp ($13.95).

A Rick's combo ($12.95) featured steak tips grilled to order (medium well, in our case), a teriyaki chicken breast, and garlic seared shrimp, with a scoop of savory rice-mushroom pilaf. Fettucine Alfredo ($9.95 meatless) boasted five cheeses to comfort the palate, and fresh slivers of basil and parsley on top pleased the eye and tongue.

A youthful member of our group wanted buffalo chicken and was prepared to order it as an appetizer ($6.95) along with a side of French fries ($1.95), but our waiter advised a switch to chicken fingers from the children's menu, where all items are $3.95 including fries and a small drink. She brought along a dipping cup of buffalo sauce to complete the approximation, and everybody was happy. A wide variety of pizzas ($4.95-$6.50) also might have filled the bill.

Lo and behold, we finished our entrees with just enough time to consider dessert and spent the savings from our small economy (and many dollars more) to share a hot-fudge sundae ($2.95, $1 more with nuts), a heart-warming apple cobbler ($4.25), and the ever-fascinating fried ice cream ($3.95) laced with fudge sauce.

Needless to say, at the movies a few minutes later, we felt no urge to carry a box of popcorn into the show.