Some years ago the Aquarium passed on the opportunity to move to the East Boston waterfront. Would have afforded them a lot more space. Not a wise decision, I think.
So I can get fried seafood down here in NC. In fact, I think that that is all we do some times and my cholesterol and sodium levels are indicative of that.
Two more questions and a list
- Whats the deal with steak tips and are turkey tips better?
- Is there any place that does Conch?
The latest season of Somebody Feed Phil has a Boston episode. They went to
Galley Diner
Bricco Alimentari
Modern
La Royal
Comfort Kitchen
Viviene(?) Bakery
Sarma
Neptune Oyster House
Boston Common (cider donuts, Mo Rockin’ Fusion and Cedar Ridge(?) Ice Cream)
and then they did two spots in RI.
I just came across some tabs that were hiding on food places I opened
Alcove
Barking Crab
Sail Loft
Oak Long Bar
Daily Catch
La Familia Giorgios
Boston Chops
Gene’s Flatbread Cafe
Lan’s Feast
Orinoco
My Mother’s Cutlets
Double Chin (may just go for asian desserts but seems they offer a lot for bubble tea shop)
Cutty’s in Brookline
Oh before we got a good italian bakery down here. I would on my previous two visits get a box of mike’s just for myself. Cannoli, Lobster Tail, Sfogiatelle, and a few cookies and maybe something else that looked unique. So seeing everything no… maybe trying to EAT everything.
Mo Rockin’ Fusion and Crescent Ridge ice cream are at the Boston Public Market and also apple cider donuts can be bought at Red Apple Farm, also at the Boston Public Market.
Yes I know. That’s what I meant to indicate. No idea if any of them are good seems like ice cream is all over the place (any place that does a great tartufo?) just that they were show.
Steak tips are the local parlance for bavette or sirloin flap meat. They take a marinade really well and grill up nicely. I prefer them to turkey tips (which I believe are turkey tenderloin), but that’s just personal preference.
Ice cream! Good call, @Madrid.
I had overlooked the relative absence of ice cream on this thread. For the OP, New England style ice cream is a thing that we take for granted—not labelled as such. It’s just the “good” ice cream that you get at local places. Think of the richness of something like a Ben & Jerry’s, and you have the idea. I’ll wager Crescent Ridge’s is a promising bet (haven’t had it myself).
If I were the OP, I’d want to try the JP Licks ice cream in Coolidge Corner because that location may be close to where they are staying. And most places I have been will let you order a kid cone/cup if you want a smaller serving, no problem. Myself, I mostly stick to seasonal ice cream stands outside Boston these days, so HO friends please chime in if you know of other good ice cream places on the OP’s route.
Now for the OP’s questions:
-
Steak tips are indeed a thing here that I mostly see at neighborhood-style restaurants and pubs. Turkey tips aren’t nearly as common or popular. Steak tips get my vote, especially if you’ve never had either.
-
Conch—not fished here, so it’s not in the New England repertoire. The closest thing I can think of from our regional repertoire would be fried calamari, specifically if you happen upon some sourced from/prepared in the Rhode Island style (my ideal plate includes hot peppers and an anointment of olive oil). That said, most of the time the calamari dishes I find are meh. Here I will refrain from hyping whole belly fried clams, which are really my favorite.
Wishing the OP a wonderful time—and the same level of culinary enjoyment that I once got from freshly caught North Carolina shrimp and crab when we used to vacation on the Outer Banks!
Two things I miss from North Carolina (other than barbecue) are fried okra and fried oysters. Only a few places do fried oysters.
Crescent Ridge products are all fantastic (when I need heavy cream, I get theirs.) Apple cider donuts are a New England specialty. Red Apple Farms are good, especially if you get them when they are still warm.
Sarma is my favorite restaurant of all time. “Sister” places are Oleana in Cambridge and Sofra Bakery/cafe in Brighton and Cambridge on the Belmont line.
The last time I went to the Barking Crab, the food was horrible. That was a couple of decades ago and I haven’t been back.
Orinoco is really good… Food from Venezuela and delicious arepas.
Cutty’s has fantastic sandwiches and I also love their fresh squeezed limeade.
The Daily Catch (several locations) is a very unique restaurant that I wish I could go to much more frequently. Garlic, squid ink pasta…the North End location accepts cash only. Same for Neptune Oyster in the North End…I wish I got there often. No reservations, very small, very popular, usually long wait outside, go mid afternoon or just when they open. We prefer the bar. Depending on size of your party, you may end up sharing a table with strangers.
Verveine is a gluten-free bakery and cafe in Cambridge, named after the owner’s daughter. Owner is Ken Oringer, very well-known Boston area restauranteur (Toro, Coppa, Little Donkey, etc.) I haven’t been there but have heard good things about it.
What’s the good Italian bakery down here??
I had my first cider donut this past year. Maybe I had gotten too much hype, but I was underwhelmed.
I really liked the pizza at Galleria Umberto in the North End when I lived in Boston, decades ago, and I see they’re still around.
It would work for an anniversary place you could bring your kid to, though I prefer The Abbey for food and overall vibe.
I’ve had a few mediocre cider donuts in New England, but for the most part they are decent to excellent. There has been at least one newspaper article reviewing them from various apple orchards. People have very strong opinions about their personal favorites. I’m not a donut fan in general and hate Dunkin’ for anything, but the cider taste is really special in the good ones.
I first got clued into WST by Limster on CH. If I remember correctly, one of his favorite meals was a burger and wine from the owner’s reserve wine list, at the bar, naturally.
A lot of it is time and place. I would not recommend getting a cider donut even at the best place during a heat wave in June. It’s a fall thing.
I found it easier to answer in-line. Apologies if I’m repeating others’ advice (all good; the BostOnions are a great crew).
If you check out Charlestown/USS Constitution, then in addition to Dovetail, which another wise Onion advised, there is Pier 6. I haven’t been to Pier 6 in ages, but sometimes, you just need to be on the water with a view and a cool beverage. The Anchor is in a cool spot next to the ship, but DO NOT EAT THERE. Only drinks. You’ve been warned. Maybe bring a bathing suit for the kid? There are fun splash pad opportunities on the Rose Kennedy Greenway and North Point playground across the street from the Museum of Science. The ICA is much smaller than other contemporary art museums we’ve frequented (our favorite is MASSMoCa in the Berkshires) but maybe that’s good for potential short attention spans; I love the museum shop
Utica
Well our plane was an hour late arriving which means by the time we got to Coolidge Corner most places were closed including LAN Feast which I had eyed as a close and late dinner. Hamilton looked too heavy and like garbage.
This morning son and I walked up Harvard to Tatte Bakery as that was going to be our turnaround point. We got some goodies there and then took a look in Kupels and Bakey on the way back. I’ll have to make room next time I go up that way for a shawarma or sabbich pita at Rami’s or try Omurice at… Bel86? Stoked might a bit of trek but I walked solo South on Harvard to a Walgreens without realizing a CVS was closer. However I now know how far it is to Merai and Mohaniyom
Not sure what we are doing today. I know it said mill around the commons and that area but honestly who knows.
Unfortunately neither Sarma nor Oleana have reservations and I’m not sure my wife wants to tempt walk in. So I’ll have to call and beg or see about a separate spot.
Glad you arrived. A small point but it’s the Common, singular. Much prettier is the Public Garden. Check out the swan boats and the ducklings statues if you go there.
If you are prepared to get there at 5 and wait till they open at 5:30 you will almost certainly get a table in the garden – preferable to indoors, anyway. There are no reservations possible for outdoors. If you get there at 5 and there are more than 20 or so people on line, I’d suggest a plan B.