Dorchester-Milton Restaurant Week kicks off on Monday, Jan. 17, and lasts through Monday, Jan. 31. Participating in this year’s event are Dorchester’s 224 Boston Street, Ashmont Grill, The Blarney Stone, dbar, Ledge Kitchen & Drinks and Tavolo, and Milton’s 88 Wharf and Abby Park. Each will offer a unique and inspired three-course meal on Sunday through Thursday evenings for just $30.11. While all eight restaurants will still offer their usual menu selections during Restaurant Week, the special menu that each has crafted for this event is a showcase of their culinary creativity and a perfect way to discover what each restaurant is all about.

Ashmont Grill

555 Talbot Ave., Dorchester
617-825-4300
Ashmont Grill offers its diners a taste of traditional American comfort food. Typical dinner items include Fish and Chips ($18) and a childhood favorite, a Pearl Hot Dog with hand-cut fries ($6). A fun, friendly and lively destination, the restaurant is no newcomer to special events. Every Monday at 6:30 p.m., Ashmont Grill hosts a wine club, complete with a four-course meal for just $35. Items from this year’s Restaurant Week menu include Split Pea Soup with smoked ham, Pan Seared Mackerel with poached potatoes and a decadent Banana Upside-Down Cake.

The Blarney Stone

1505 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
617-436-8223
Legendary as America’s first bar to sell draught Guinness, The Blarney Stone is a must for anyone craving hearty classics such as tangy Buffalo Chicken Tenders ($9) and Chicken Parmesan served over pasta ($14). Their Restaurant Week menu offers soul-warming fare such as Maine Lobster Bisque, Chicken Milanese served with herb roasted potatoes and warm swiss chard and a traditional Italian Tiramisu.

dbar

1236 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
617-265-4490
dbar dishes out fine cuisine and offers a happening nightlife. At dbar, a French influence works to transform classic American comfort foods into totally unique dishes, pairing familiar favorites with sophisticated ingredients. Items from their standard menu include Brioche French Toast ($7.95), a Melted Leek and Chevre Omelet ($9.95), and Seared Diver’s Scallops ($21). Their Restaurant Week menu features elegant selections including Crispy Duck Confit served with wild mushroom salad, Truffled Mac and Cheese and a Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee.

Ledge Kitchen & Drinks

2261 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
617-698-2261
Ledge Kitchen & Drinks offers a massive selection of satisfying dishes, including an Irish Breakfast ($12), Ledge Crab Cakes ($16), and a Stuffed Pork Chop ($18). Their Restaurant Week menu mirrors their usual hearty fare: Stuffed Golden Onion Rings, Braised Osso Bucco with crispy polenta, Passion Fruit Crème Brulee and Spicy Hot Chocolate served with homemade cookies.

Tavolo

1918 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
617-822-1918
Tavolo is a true neighborhood joint; it’s a “comfortable spot where everybody knows your name.” In addition to its relaxed atmosphere, Tavolo offers its diners a selection of refined Italian dishes. Tavolo’s dinner menu features tasty appetizers such as their Spreadables with Tuscan beans, whipped ricotta, roasted garlic and grilled toast ($12), meat-filled Lasagna ($18) and a vegetarian lasagna layered with ricotta, tomatoes and braised greens, all slathered with a creamy béchamel sauce ($16). Their Restaurant Week menu will feature scrumptious Italian fare, including Risotto flavored with Prosecco, foraged mushrooms and pecorino cheese; Roasted Rainbow Trout served with potato salad, capers, anchovies and a radish-dill crème fraiche; and a Ricotta Pound Cake with fresh fruit compote.

88 Wharf

88 Wharf St., Milton
857-598-4826
The menu at 88 Wharf presents a variety of sophisticated cuisine. 88 Wharf is open for brunch, dinner and Social Hour. The latter takes place on weeknights from 5 to 6 p.m. and after 9 p.m. when the kitchen offers elegant bites such as roasted olives and truffled potato chips ($1 to $5) The regular dinner menu stars the 88 Grill selection, a choice of three cuts of all natural, grass-fed beef from Brandt Farms served as the customer likes with a choice of sauces and sides ($18 to $27). Their Restaurant Week menu maintains the same level of European sophistication, with options including Pumpkin Tortelloni with foie-gras truffle butter; Duck Confit Risotto with cranberries, roasted mushrooms, chives and marsala; and a Chocolate-Caramel Brioche Bread Pudding.

Abby Park

550 Adams St., Milton
617-696-8700
Incorporating a selection of fresh, local seafood, produce and dairy into its cuisine, Abby Park is an avid supporter of its community and a proponent of local, natural and organic ingredients. The restaurant offers weekly specials such as $2 Tapas on Tuesdays and $1 Oysters at the bar on Wednesdays. Abby Park serves up an eclectic mix of modern American fare fused with Mediterranean and European flavors, such as the Meze Plate ($11) and Short Ribs of Beef braised in red wine and Guinness ($28). Their Restaurant Week menu includes Crispy Shrimp and Calamari with lemon aioli; Salmon Aqua Pazza seared with spicy tomato caper basil sauce; and a choice of any dessert from their regular menu.

224 Boston Street

224 Boston St., Dorchester
617-265-1217
224 Boston Street serves up contemporary American cuisine prepared with fresh, high quality ingredients. The standard menu features such comforting American classics as Herb Baked Meatloaf served with sour cream and chive potatoes ($15.50) and the Boston Street Cod Cakes with shoestring fries and homemade tartar sauce ($16.50). Their Restaurant Week menu includes select dishes from their regular menu, including Grilled Center-Cut Lamb Loin Chops with Roasted Plum Tomato, Eggplant and Manzanilla Olive Coponata; Pistachio Crusted Chicken Breast with an Orange Marmalade Cream Sauce and Goat Cheese Ravioli; and a Death By Chocolate dessert.

MILTON — The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy Tuesday on the body of a young man found butchered on an upscale street.

But officials, even with results in hand, still don’t know how the young black male met his demise.

“Following that examination, the OCME has informed the Norfolk District Attorney’s office that the cause and manner of death in this case remain undetermined pending additional testing, including toxicology testing,” said David Traub, a spokesman for the Norfolk District Attorney’s office.

The man’s identity was still unknown late Tuesday.

The victim was found outside a home on Brierbrook Road, and additional body parts were found several feet away. Police said he may have been run over by a street sweeper after he was dumped on the road. Brierbook is a secluded, dark street with large single-family homes lined by trees.

Passersby found the victim around 9:30 p.m. Monday. Police were on scene all night, into Tuesday, as state and local authorities investigated.

Police do not believe the killing is connected to any activity in Milton, a normally quiet and safe town. The body was found in one of the most upscale neighborhoods in the town.

Milton does border the troubled Mattapan neighborhood of Boston, where homicides and gang violence have spiked this year.

In March 2009, Milton was rocked in one of the most horrible incidents of violence in recent memory on the South Shore, when 23-year-old Kerby Revelus murdered two of his sisters, decapitating his 5-year-old sister Bianca and nearly killing a third sister before police shot and killed him.

I usually refrain from using the word hip, what with being a New Yorker born in the mid-80s and all. But I’m going to say it now, Dorchester Center’s Ashmont Grill restaurant is one hip and happening spot. I mean damn, the place simply oozes charisma. It’s just hip, there I said it.

Arriving an hour before our table will be ready, my dear friend Gina (yes, we rhyme) and I head to the bar area to the only two remaining seats. You’ve got to be hip if your Dorchester restaurant is kicking at 6:30 p.m. on a random and freezing Thursday in early January.

The bartender even had pizzazz, a fiery woman serving up drinks, laughs and snide jokes to her regulars seated next to us. The best part was being made to feel like a regular during our first visit. Gina started out with an Antioxitini, a fun and colorful tongue-twister made with pomegranate and berry liquors and juices. Light, refreshing and good for you what more do you really need in a cocktail? I myself started out with a Pineapple Cosmpolitan which was also too good to be true. The bartender, and mistress of ceremony it seemed, served up everything with flare and even pointed out her beloved award hanging up on the side of the bar that named her as Best Bartender for two recent years in Boston Magazine. As we chatted with the friendly locals and each other we were at ease, truly enjoying a slowed-down night out, something I rarely get and something that is hard to find in Boston.

We ordered a second round, a Peartini for me and Christmas Punch for my buddy topped with a mint leaf and pomegranate seeds to resemble mistletoe. The bartender overheard me saying how much I love pomegranate seeds in salads and whipped out her Tupperware and placed a spoonful in my hand, talk about feeling like a regular. My delicious pear cocktail was perfect and tasted like real pear, legitimately one of my all time favorite fruits and was adorned with a giant wedge of Bartlett. Yum-my.

We were shown to our table by the hostess and met our delightfully upbeat and hilarious waiter (I guess I just think he’s hilarious because he laughed at all my ridiculous comments and chimed in with his own jokes). We had been studying the menu for awhile, a few days before our visit actually to get technical (what else are you going to do at work) and decided we were going to have to get the Train Wreck Fries ($8), a hefty portion of hand-cut fries smothered in melted jack cheese, with bacon, jalapenos, sour cream and scallions. I think the "smothered" part of that sentence is a bit of an exaggeration as it was more "lightly coated" with melted jack cheese. And I ordered a side of sour cream to make up for the amount given which between two sour cream lovers is most definitely not enough. I also was intrigued by the sound of the Beer Battered Shrimp with creole tartar sauce appetizer offering ($10). These are not your ordinary battered and fried shrimp, these are ample crustaceans fresh, delicious and battered to perfection and served with a tangy and slightly smoky dipping sauce I couldn’t get enough of. Yes there were only four shrimp with the order, but the quality of the seafood makes the price understandable and is worth coming back for.

I don’t usually eat red meat since I honestly don’t have the time or patience to make it on any kind of regular basis so I decided to indulge, as I often do when someone else is cooking for me, and ordered the 12 oz Flank Steak ($20). I wanted medium rare but since I knew my dear friend Gina would be needing a bite or two I went ahead and ordered it medium. Much to my delight it was cooked perfectly and while I would’ve personally enjoyed it rare it pleased both of us and had enough pieces with beautifully near-pink centers that I was happy. It was seasoned-well and cooked perfectly to our desire, the two most attractive characteristics I look for in a desirable steak (and mate but that’s a whole other story). My entree was served with a huge portion of creamy garlic mashed potatoes, red wine butter and sauteed baby spinach. There wasn’t one aspect of my meal I didn’t like except I do wish there was a bigger portion of the spinach it was cooked so well and I loved it. And while I couldn’t finish the entire serving, I had the perfect amount of leftovers for lunch the next day.

Gina got the New England Pasture Raised Burger ($12), made with local pasture raised beef and served with cheese, mushrooms or grilled onions. Having not realized the "or" in the description meant she would have had to ask for mushrooms and grilled onions in addition to the cheese her burger arrived sans accouterments, but when she asked the waiter if she could have some he promptly was able to fulfill my needy friends wishes. She also got a side of the garlic mashed potatoes ($4) because she couldn’t resist, and who honestly could if it doesn’t come with your meal. We also decided to indulge in the Classic Macaroni and Cheese side ($5) which was served piping hot, so hot in fact we had to let the air circulate and let the dish settle for more than five minutes before we could jump in. It’s a classic, no-fills macaroni cheese that was good, but not stellar as was nearly everything else thus far.

For dessert I was all prepared to order the Chocolate Pear Upside Down Cake which I had seen on the online menu but alas they were not serving it. I settled for a new Lemon Tart served with Blueberry Compote which was delicious. I’m not a huge fan of crust and there was a substantial amount, but the tart lemon filling was balanced perfectly with the sweet and not-to-rich blueberry topping. We also ordered the Chocolate Brownie Sundae, nothing short of a delight. Rich, thick brownie topped with two kinds of ice cream including coffee was decadent and reminiscent of childhood desserts and frivolity. Oh, to be young again. Sigh.

Replicating the successful model used bi-annually by American Express, eight participating restaurants will each offer "show off" three-course dinners for $30.10 in addition to their usual menu offerings. This reasonably-priced restaurant experience is one that I know well, and something that could really help boost the visibility of not only Ashmont Grill but some of the other great under-known spots in both Dorchester and Milton. The Dorchester-Milton Restaurant Week will run January 17-31 excluding Friday and Saturday nights. Other restaurants participating include 224, 88 Wharf, Abby Park, Blarney Stone, Dbar, Ledge, and Tavolo. I highly recommend booking early for the upcoming Restaurant Week.

So indulge in a new hot spot at a great price for a three-course meal. Who knew these couture-quality gems were hiding in Dorchester Center and Milton, the unlikeliest of places. Now you do, so live long, prosper, and eat well.

BOSTON — Norfolk County District Attorney WIlliam R. Keating’s office has ruled that the March 28 fatal police shooting of Kerby Revelus as he murdered two and wounded another of his sisters was justified.

“The evidence clearly indicates that the actions of Milton Police that day spared the life of this young girl from the brother who had already succeeded in killing two of his sisters,” Keating said. “These actions were not only necessary and justified, but heroic and demonstrative of a high level of professionalism, integrity and bravery.”

Keating’s office reviewed evidence from the state and local police and the state Chief Medical Examiner’s office. Investigators also interviewed 9-year-old Saraphina Revelus, who survived the attack.

The following is an excerpt from the Massachusetts State Police investigation:

“From the initial 911 call made to Milton Police, until “¦ [the] reports, “Ëœshots fired suspect down’ a total time of approximately five minutes and fifty-two seconds had elapsed. In that span of time, Milton Police responded to the scene, gained entrance into the apartment, faced the above described situation, found the suspect in the bedroom, forced the bedroom door open and made several attempts, by shouting commands for him to give himself up, that can be clearly heard on the 911 tape, which he did not comply with. It was only when he lunged in a threatening manner towards the screaming nine-year-old child, cowering in a bedroom corner that officers were forced to use deadly force. It is reasonable to infer that had the Police Officers not acted in that manner, using deadly force, [the nine-year-old], who had already been stabbed approximately ten times and bleeding profusely, would have suffered additional grievous bodily injury or death at the hands of the suspect, Kerby Revelus.”