You can find hidden culinary delights on just about any block in the city. by Karen Hofreiter
In a city as diverse and eclectic as Boston, it's hard to pick just 10 places that are delicious hideaways. So, we’ve done all the research for you! The restaurants below are well worth the effort to find, with outstanding food and entertaining ambience. From Italian in the North End to Mexican by the ballpark to Afghan specialties in Cambridge, you'll find hidden culinary delights on just about any block of the city.
AL DENTE 109 Salem St., Boston, MA 617-523-0990 Hours: Su-Th 11:30am-10pm, F-Sa 11:30am-11pm
Bostonians know that to find hidden gems in the North End you have to wander off the main drag—Hanover Street—onto the side streets, where you'll discover the true heart of this famous Italian neighborhood. Here you’ll find the small and cozy Al Dente, where simplicity rules over the atmosphere and the menu of good ole’ Italian home-cooking. Start your meal with the lobster ravioli and continue with the shrimp scampi over Fusilli pasta or veal marsala, while sipping a glass of wine from the well-chosen selection.
EL PELON 92 Peterborough St., Boston, MA 617-262-9090 Hours: daily 11am-11pm
This cute taqueria, located just behind Fenway Park, specializes in big Mexican flavor for astoundingly little denaro. The bursting burritos are a steal at around $4.50 each, and the feisty fish tacos are famously sought-after. Other authentic options include quesadillas, enchiladas and tortas (a kind of Mexican sandwich on a toasted roll). If you go, make sure to grab an order of the tasty fried plantains, and quench your thirst with a Horchata (cinnamon and almond rice drink). In the summer, take an opportunity for prime people-watching and have a seat on the outdoor patio.
GREAT CHOW INC. 15 Beale St., North Quincy, MA Hours: Su-Th 11am-11pm, F-Sa 11am-11:30pm The name says it all. Hands down, this is some of the best Chinese food you’ll ever taste. Located 10 minutes south of Boston, you can enjoy your meal in the pleasant dining room or have it for take-out. This is a no-frills joint where the food takes center stage, prepared in a large open kitchen with many chefs working in perfect sync. The service is quick, food always hot and portions generous. The menu features "Americanized" Chinese food like spare ribs, teriyaki, chicken fingers and wings, but don’t hesitate to order one of the Chef's Choices, such as the Great Chow Delight (beef, chicken and shrimp sautéed with veggies) or the Imperial Pork Loin (breaded pork stir-fried in a sweet and sour sauce).
Avg. Price (pp): $10-$20 Closed Christmas.
HARVARD GARDENS 320 Cambridge St., Boston, MA 617-523-2727 Hours: Su-W 11:30am-10pm, Th-Sa 11:30am-11pm; brunch Sa-Su 11am-3pm; bar daily until 2am
The chic and retro Harvard Gardens is perfect for a gathering of friends, with its lounge atmosphere and the music of Frank Sinatra playing in the background. A black-and-white photo of Old Blue Eyes hangs on the door to the men’s room, and Audrey Hepburn adorns the ladies’ room door. Situated around the corner from Beacon Hill’s elegant Charles Street and a few blocks away from Government Center, Harvard Gardens attracts a mixed crowd, from happy hour revelers to exhausted shoppers looking to refuel. Highlights of the menu are the creative gourmet pizzas—make sure to try the baked Brie pizza with wild mushrooms and asparagus. You’ll also find a wide choice of pasta dishes and juicy burgers, and the mac ‘n’ cheese is arguably the best in the city. High-top tables line the bar area, and the comfy booths and tables are usually filled with chattering young professionals. On the weekends, check out their excellent brunch.
Avg. Price (pp): $15-$25 Closed Christmas.
THE HELMAND 143 First St., Cambridge, MA 617-492-4646 Hours: Su-Th 5-10pm, F-Sa 5-11pm
The exotic cuisine may be rooted in a country far away, but step into this charming Afghan restaurant, and you’ll feel right at home. The smell of fresh-baked flatbread greets you at the door, wafting from an impressive wood-fired oven situated in the dining room. Have a seat, relax and prepare to be pleasantly overwhelmed by a spectacular spectrum of flavors and spices, from cinnamon to cardamom to cumin. An order of Mantwo (homemade pastry shells stuffed with onions and beef and topped with yogurt, carrots, split-peas and beef sauce) is perfect for whetting the appetite. Follow with one of the expert entrees, such as the Seekh Kabob (char-broiled leg of lamb marinated in a puree of onion, sun-dried baby grapes and garlic) or the Kaddo and Banjan Challow (pan-fried pumpkin and eggplant in a tomato sauce with ground beef and challow rice). End the meal with a cup of Helmand’s special spiced green or black tea, and then ready yourself for the best part of the evening—an inexpensive check.
JP SEAFOOD CAFE 730 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 617-983-5177 Hours: lunch Tu-Sa 11:30am-2:30pm; dinner M-Su 5-10pm
With its minimalist décor, airy spaciousness and fresh vibe, JP Seafood Café is everything a sushi restaurant should be—cool, clean and ultra-fresh. Located on hip Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, this neighborhood nosh spot is popular with the locals and serves up some of the best sushi and seafood in the city. Raw fish not your thing? Rest assured, there are plenty of other tasty treats on the Japanese/Korean-influenced menu, including tempura, noodle soup, stir-fry, teriyaki and bibimbop (vegetables, meat or fish and egg on a plate of rice with Korean chilli paste). Celebrating with friends and family? Try the festive sushi or sashimi party boats. All orders also available for take-out.
SHANTI 1111 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 617-929-3900 Hours: daily for lunch and dinner
Shanti is Sanskrit for “peace,” and peaceful is how you will feel dining at Dorchester’s top Indian restaurant. Soft candlelight and warm tones of orange and red create a stirring and romantic atmosphere, and the light-footed wait staff glides from one table to the next in an intricate—yet efficient—dance. However, it’s the meal that is worth meditating on. Each dish is spiced to your taste, from the stuffed naans (Indian flatbread) to the crispy samosas to the complex curries. It’s a good idea to bring friends—that way, you can order several dishes to pass around the table and share, as well as pop the cork on a bottle of impossible-to-find Indian wine.
SQUEALING PIG 134 Smith St., Roxbury Crossing, MA 617-566-6651 Hours: daily 10am-midnight Tucked away on a short side street just off Huntington Avenue, this beloved tavern is worth squealing about. Low ceilings, rich wood tones and sturdy furnishings lend a sense of warmth, even on those freezing Boston winter days. The food is upscale comfort fare—try the Pig burger with thick-cut bacon, gorgonzola and spicy chipotle onion on a chewy bun from a local bakery. Or, share a pizza topped with unique ingredients like braised leeks, squash puree, sage and goat cheese. The toasted sandwiches are big and thick, with yummy fillings such as Black Forest ham and cheddar or Brie and cranberries. Still hungry? The Mars Bar Toastie—with Irish Mars bars, Belgian waffles, fresh cream and strawberries—is a must. An extensive selection of beers on tap complements the menu nicely, making this restaurant and pub worth the effort.
TULLIO'S 150 Hancock St., Quincy, MA 617-471-3400 Hours: daily for dinner; lunch W-F from 11:30am
When you tire of the hustle and bustle of the North End, head south of the city to this classic Italian grotto that is the picture of quaintness. Its dim setting is inviting and charming, providing the ideal backdrop for a night of romance. The menu consists of Old World Italian specialties served with a modern twist. The special parmigiana offerings—chicken, veal and eggplant—are slow-cooked in the big brick oven that is visible from the dining room. Steamed mussels make a great appetizer, and the seafood fra diavlo is a fresh-from-the-sea specialty. Each dish is meticulously prepared and presented, making it almost too beautiful to eat. Tiramisu for dessert is the perfect ending.
Avg. Price (pp): $20-$30 Closed Christmas, New Year’s day.
VENEZIA RESTAURANT 20 Ericsson St., Neponset Circle, Boston, MA 617-436-3120 Hours: lunch M-F 11am-3pm; dinner M-Th 5-9pm, F-Sa 5-10pm; Su 4-9pm
Venezia restaurant is a salute to Venice, Italy. It is a true hideaway, tucked on the waterfront just south of the city. Follow the signs as you take a ride through the neighborhood to this hidden culinary delight. A 48-person gondola can be rented May through October for special occasions, and the restaurant has a dock for customers arriving by boat. Offers a sweeping view of the Boston skyline and live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night. The menu has classic Italian offerings like shrimp scampi, fettuccini alfredo, linguini carbonera and pollo piccata. Its relaxed atmosphere is the perfect setting for a celebratory dinner.
Avg. Price (pp): $25-$35 Closed New Year's day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
The Top List of Delicious Hideaways - Boston, MA