Latest news with #ErinClark
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- General
- Boston Globe
I worked a lunch shift at Woodman's of Essex and survived
'As the tickets come up, you want to check things off,' she explains, arranging a Get Winter Soup Club A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter. Enter Email Sign Up Orders including clam plates, lobster rolls, and other fried seafood awaited pickup at Woodman's in Essex. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Advertisement I've been on the clock for barely an hour, and I'm already feeling overwhelmed. It seems every ticket has seven plates. I don't know the difference between a scallop boat and a scallop plate, and I'm not sure where the cocktail sauce or oyster crackers are. But there's no time for handholding. Zoe is on to the next order. 'I need a crabmeat roll and a hotdog!' she hollers over her shoulder. This was my idea. Inspired in part by Advertisement Ally Rzesa/Globe Staff 'I'll put you on the window,' the restaurant's co-owner offered. 'You can probably handle that.' I've marveled at Woodman's since my first haddock sandwich and order of steamers at the North Shore landmark 20 years ago. I enjoy the restaurant's A portrait of "Nana Bessie" from circa 1950 hangs among historical displays at Woodman's in Essex. Bessie Woodman, wife of founder Lawrence "Chubby" Woodman, helped develop the first fried clam recipe in 1916 when the couple experimented with different batters after a fisherman jokingly suggested they fry clams like potato chips. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Maggie Reynolds (left) and Chanelle Jordan-Davis fill plates with fried food at Woodman's of Essex. They are "do-up girls," who quickly pile cardboard plates with fried clams, scallops, and other seafood from giant steel colanders, working in overdrive to keep up with customer demand. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Mostly, though, I just appreciate the hustle of the place. From the instant the doors open at 11 a.m., business can be extraordinarily brisk, and it's remarkable to watch plate after heaping plate emerge from a cramped kitchen staffed mostly by kids – many of them fourth- and fifth-generation Woodmans – doing a sweaty job for minimum wage. (Employees also get deep discounts on most menu items and eat mistakes for free.) Touting my experience – I'd spent a year in my 20s frying tater tots and churros at a Taco John's in Iowa City – I wanted to work the fryer. But Woodman, whose husband, Doug, is the youngest of 'Chubby' Woodman's 14 grandchildren, balked. I'm glad she did. When I arrive for my shift, I find head fryer Bobby Barrett dredging a batch of clams in a tub of corn flour. He's surrounded by scalding fryolators – 11 of them – and four coworkers who narrowly avoid each other as they drop endless baskets of clams, scallops, shrimp, haddock, fries, and onion rings into the cauldrons of lard. Advertisement Head fryer Bobby Barrett checks the order screen while working among the 11 scalding fryolators in Woodman's cramped kitchen in Essex. Erin Clark/Globe Staff 'It's a dance,' Barrett says, his right ankle bandaged as a result of a recent burn. 'You gotta have eyes in the back of your head.' That's not a superpower I possess, so in my white apron and mandatory Woodman's T-shirt and cap, I join Zoe at the window. She warns me the kitchen can get oppressively hot – the temperature has topped 125 degrees at times this summer – but it's a mere 97 degrees at the moment. 'I'm OK with that,' I say, lying. There are a dozen of us in the galley kitchen: a towheaded teen taking orders; me and Zoe; four fry cooks; three 'do-up girls' scooping just-fried seafood from giant steel colanders using a slotted utensil that resembles a 'Game of Thrones' weapon; the 'grill guy' cooking hotdogs, hamburgers, and chicken; the 'backup girl' who hurries to butter and grill rolls and fill chowders; the steamer; and a dishwasher. The goal is to get the food out as fast as possible, but sloppiness, I'm instructed, is a no-no. Sean Doherty smiles at his daughter, Bailey, 3, while having lunch with his family, which also includes his son, Jason, 3, and wife, Cari, at Woodman's in Essex. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Cooked lobsters sit on ice at Woodman's in Essex. Erin Clark/Globe Staff 'Every time you drop a clam on the floor, you're dropping a dollar bill,' says Woodman. 'When the clam goes from the bed to the shucker to the fridge to the fryer to the counter to the customer – what do you think that costs?' Clams are indeed a precious commodity, especially during the summer when increased demand strains finite supply. (On the North Shore alone, Advertisement The result is higher prices for customers – a clam plate at Woodman's (which comes with ample fries and onion rings) costs $40.99 at the moment – and yet people still make the pilgrimage. 'It's a destination,' Andrew Krivak, a Somerville writer having lunch with his wife and three teenage children, tells me. 'We go to Crane Beach in the morning, Russell Orchard to get doughnut, and then Woodman's for lunch. That's the ritual.' Mollusks are on menus from Maryland to Santa Monica, but the soft-shell clams harvested from nutrient-rich mud flats in Massachusetts and Maine are a singular, to-die-for delicacy. 'They literally take in bits of their environment and make it part of their belly,' says the Boston-born Charlie Mannal takes orders at the register during the lunch rush on Saturday, July 12, at Woodman's of Essex. Erin Clark/Globe Staff My shift ends when no one is waiting to order, so, warily, I wander outside to inspect the line. Not too bad for a Saturday afternoon; the queue can sometimes stretch 100 yards down Main Street. On particularly hot days, customers will collapse on the sidewalk or inside the restaurant (there's no air conditioning at Woodman's). It happens about a dozen times a summer, says Eian Woodman, Doug's nephew. 'They come off the beach after drinking beer all day and they wonder why they don't feel good.' As a result, Woodman's started setting up an outdoor 'hospitality table' with free water and oyster crackers. Advertisement 'We feel bad that you're in the line. We really do,' says Maureen Woodman. 'But it's the heartbeat of the business. We'd probably feel worse if there wasn't a line.' The 'do-up girls' are now in overdrive, quickly piling cardboard plates with fried goodness and passing them to me and Zoe. Even as she's rushing to fill trays and call tickets – '671! 672!' – I can tell Zoe is keeping an eye on me. Sending out wrong or incomplete orders is another no-no. Most customers are at tables waiting to hear their number called, but some aren't; they're standing near the counter staring expectantly at every tray. It's unnerving. I'm reminded of the unblinking gulls at Good Harbor Beach that wait for people to drop a potato chip in the sand. Globe reporter Mark Shanahan works the pickup window during his shift at Woodman's in Essex. He embedded with the restaurant's crew to experience firsthand the demanding work in the cramped kitchen, which is staffed mostly by young workers, many of them fifth-generation Woodmans. Erin Clark/Globe Staff In all, 34 Woodmans, ages 14 to 74, currently work at the restaurant, but this isn't ' clam -pire. 'We're so ingrained to be respectful of the previous generations,' says Kristi Swett, a 'G5' (fifth-generation) Woodman whose first job, at 12, was helping her grandmother, Patti, a 'G3,' file invoices. At 42, Swett oversees the restaurant's robust catering business and new 'There are enough headaches that everyone can have four a day,' she says, laughing. Finally, at 3 p.m., no one is at the register. I race to untie my apron before anyone walks in the door. Done! Erica Woodman, a 'G4' who has been toasting the top-split hot dog buns used for lobster rolls, thinks I got off easy. Advertisement 'Today's busy, but not crazy,' she says. 'Crazy is nonstop tickets – like, nonstop . No break. But you get the idea.' Brian Williams displays a lobster tattoo on his arm while working at the lobster tank outside Woodman's in Essex. Williams has worked at the restaurant since he was a teenager. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Mark Shanahan can be reached at
Boston Globe
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Nine thrift stores and vintage shops for treasure hunters
.bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Diversity Consignment Diversity is an apt name. On the ground floor, you'll find a mixture of clothes that toe the line between trendy and timeless. In the basement, there's a lounge area complete with a couch and a retro gaming console, plus clothes and books for purchase by the pound. Diversity also has an appealing pricing system: The longer an item goes without being sold, the lower the price drops. If you like a piece out of your price range, check back a few weeks later. Address: 713 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } 40 South St. Vintage Fashion Hilken Mancini 'Because corporate shopping still sucks.' That's part of 40 South St.'s tagline, and the shop will make you believe it. The shop is the singular vision of owner Hilken Mancini. She knows how to catch your attention the old-fashioned way — with a great window display. Step inside and you'll find some true statement pieces, such as camo jumpsuits and fur-lined winter hats. Most of the items in the store are truly vintage, stocked with gems from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. Address: 40 South Street, Jamaica Plain Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } The Garment District Erin Clark/Globe Staff This place — along with sister stores By-the-Pound and Boston Costume — has it all. Mascot heads for rent? Yep. A large selection of 1970s-era Hawaiian shirts in every color and size imaginable? You got it. A multicolored heap of clothes priced by the pound and ripe for the picking? Absolutely. The second floor is sprawling and neatly sorted by style, decade, and color, with separate rooms for contemporary and vintage clothing. It's the best place for a flamboyant Halloween costume, a pair of deadstock pants, a sparkly dress for a night out, and truly everything in between. Address: 200 Broadway, Cambridge Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Goodwill Store (Davis branch) Mona Miri for The Boston Globe Thrift-lovers know that not all Goodwill locations are created equal. Some feel sprawling and chaotic, but the Davis Square branch is one of the best, especially after recent renovations. Unlike some of the national chain's other stores, it's small, clean, and well-organized. Plus, it gets plenty of high-end clothing and housewares rejected from the buyers at resale retailer Buffalo Exchange down the block. Address: 230 Elm Street, Somerville Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } SoWa Vintage Market If you know vintage in Boston, you know SoWa, an underground trove of vintage sellers hawking clothing, jewelry, art, and collectibles of every variety. Every week vendors return with refreshed goods, making it a Sunday must-see if visiting the South End (it's also open the first Friday of the month). Be sure to set aside plenty of time — vintage lovers could easily spend several hours combing through the collections. And don't miss the summertime outdoor market, which features local food trucks and vendors from May to October. Address: 450 Harrison Avenue, South End Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } The Thrift Shop of Boston Keilani Rodriguez/Globe Staff This nearly 100-year-old nonprofit in Roslindale Square is a proper Roslindale thrift: community donations sold at affordable prices to support a good cause. The Thrift Shop of Boston is small, but packs much inside: lots of clothing, including shoes, in addition to kitchen and housewares, tons of books and magazines, a wall of DVDs, CDs, and vinyl, and a dedicated kids' corner. Prices are low, with many items under $15 (proceeds help support family services agency The Home for Little Wanderers). You're equally as likely to find a recent best-selling novel, a funky vintage baseball cap, or a chair someone built by hand in their garage. Address: 33 Corinth Street, Roslindale Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Vivant Vintage David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Where Vivant Vintage in Allston really shines is accessories. Jewelry, sunglasses, hats, and belts are abundant at reasonable prices. The quality of the clothes at Vivant is also always high — it's rare to find holes or stains on the pieces — and the selection is clearly carefully-curated. Here's a pro tip: Vivant puts on 'secret location' pop-ups to sell off-season clothes at discount prices. Plus there's a new offshoot on Newbury Street. Address: 318 Lincoln Street, Allston, and another location Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } We Thieves Ella Rinaldo The shop's two Cambridge locations are small, well-decorated, and perfectly curated with a mix of vintage clothing and newer, luxury items from up-and-coming designers. Walking into the store feels a bit like raiding your stylish older sister's closet, complete with enviable cool-girl denim and butter-soft vintage T-shirts. It's also worth attending its annual charity clothing swap and repair day, where tailors are available on site for clothing fixes and customizations. Address: 1307 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, and another location Phone: Find online: Boston Globe Best of the Best winners for 2025 were selected by Globe newsroom staff and correspondents, and limited to Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline. 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Boston Globe
09-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Boston's best cheap eats: 19 places to grab a bite for $20 or less
.bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Bova's Bova's Erin Clark/Globe staff/File This iconic 24-hour bakery has no end of Italian sweets, but don't sleep on the savory offerings, including thick Sicilian slices and arancini, gooey in the center and the size of a fist. But the real stars are the half-calzones, $12 (if you order in person) but hefty, stuffed with chicken parmesan; sausage, pepper, and onion; spinach and cheese; and more, all enveloped in a golden, glistening crust. One makes two meals, at least. Address: 134 Salem Street, North End Phone: 617-523-5601 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Buenas Empanadas at Buenas Adam DeTour for The Boston Globe. Food styling by Sheila Jarnes. Argentinian-American owner Melissa Stefanini — a transplant from Los Angeles, like her Buenas partner Sebastian Galvez — started selling empanadas because she couldn't find authentic ones close to home. Purists will be happy with her classic ground-beef-and-onion version, but creativity, and affordability, is what makes Buenas shine: trios of moon-shaped dough — stuffed with everything from saucy Frito pie bursting with enchilada sauce, to chicken and waffles, and even Cinnamon Toast Crunch — can be had for about $13, and make the ideal lunchtime sampler. Address: 1 Bow Market Way, Unit 14, Somerville Phone: Not available Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine Shakshuka, red lentil soup, dolma (stuffed peppers), and other specialties are on the menu at this Turkish restaurant in Brookline. Yesim Otsuz, from Antalya, Turkey, along the Mediterranean coast, cooks the food of her homeland for guests, who can sit at tables inside or out. Address: 5 Kendall Street, Brookline Phone: 617-487-5852 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Dumpling House Dumpling House Come with a small and hungry group and be prepared to share. The staff are efficient and professional, buzzing through this perennially busy Cambridge staple with plates of piping hot fresh dumplings. It would take months to move through Dumpling House's entire menu. But to start, order up braised eggplant, steamed soup dumplings, and Szechuan dried crispy spicy chicken. Address: 950 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge Phone: 617-661-8066 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } El Peñol Restaurante El Peñol Restaurante Lane Turner/Globe staff/File Almost nothing is over $20 at this trio of Colombian restaurants in East Boston, Brookline, and Revere. The dishes range from crisp, compact beef empanadas (a savory steal at $1.50), to cornmeal-crusted stewed chicken turnovers ($3.50), to thinly pounded fried chicken drenched in a velvety mushroom cream sauce, enough for three people at just $17. It's friendly and family-run; Marina Balvin opened the first restaurant in 1998, and her family still oversees the kitchens. The staff hasn't changed much, and neither have the prices. Address: 54 Bennington Street, East Boston Phone: 617-569-0100 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Evergreen Eatery + Café Evergreen Eatery + Café We have mixed feelings about letting this secret out, but here goes: Evergreen, right off the Orange Line's Green Street Station, is a delicious and affordable spot with something to delight everyone. The egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on an English muffin comes in under $5 — and is exponentially better than the similar offering at a certain ubiquitous local chain. A weekend splurge is the Golden Avocado Toast, with hard-boiled eggs and balsamic glaze, at about $13. There's ample seating, including a biergarten-style patio that fits couples, friends, families, and groups. It's the perfect spot for Jamaica Plain's eclectic mix of residents — or a quick to-go bite on your way downtown. Address: 154 Green Street, Jamaica Plain Phone: 617-477-9573 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Flavor Boom! Flavor Boom! Lane Turner/Globe staff/File In a lunchtime landscape of assembly-line bowls, Flavor Boom! breaks the mold with tall cartons of rice, vegetables, and meats from around the world — Indonesian-inflected, milky beef rendang; Thai-inspired shrimp curry; a garlicky Moroccan blend of stewed eggplant and chickpeas. Founder Jim (Jun) Tao is a compulsive traveler; he's been around the globe and longed to recreate the healthy, cheap fast food he devoured on his trips. These one-tub meals are about $11: cheaper than a plane ticket (and most sandwiches), and a transportive midday pick-me-up. In addition to a downtown location, find outposts in Jamaica Plain, Kendall Square, and Watertown. Address: 155 Milk Street, Downtown, and other locations Phone: 857-330-2846 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe Adam DeTour for The Boston Globe. Food styling by Sheila Jarnes. Gene Wu's hand-pulled noodles had already won a following when he opened this, his second restaurant, in 2013. (He now has branches in Woburn and Westford as well.) They are magnificent: thick, chewy, rustic, and topped with chili oil, cilantro, and drifts of raw garlic or cumin-laced lamb. You can also get them in steamy soups. The Downtown Crossing restaurant serves flatbread sandwiches (hence its name) for around $6, plus spicy lamb skewers, and other specialties from Wu's native Xi'an. Address: 86 Bedford Street, Downtown Crossing Phone: 617-482-1888 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Gyro City Gyro City Jonathan Wiggs/Globe staff Gyro City achieves velocity with some of the best (and, importantly, largest) gyros in Boston. Fast and affordable, the sandwiches feature tender meat, crispy fries, and delicious sauces — tzatziki with pork and mustard sauce with chicken. Other classics such as the Greek salad, the souvlaki, and the spanakopita are also hits, or venture deeper into the menu for under-the-radar gems like the kolokithokeftedes (zucchini fritters) or gemista (stuffed pepper and tomato). Address: 183 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Brighton Phone: 617-903-4248 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Hemlock Grill Hemlock Grill Barry Chin/Globe staff/File You don't have to play (or even like) golf to go wild over Alex Sáenz's restaurant inside the Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course, which is open to the public. A 1930s clubhouse with wood paneling is the setting, though you can sit outside overlooking the links. The chef is known for his fried chicken sandwich ($13), fish and chips ($16), pulled pork ($12), and more — all at prices you don't usually associate with food at the 19th hole. Address: 1281 West Roxbury Parkway, Chestnut Hill Phone: 617-879-5687 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Hot Box A pretension-free ode to an only-in-Massachusetts rivalry: South Shore bar pizza versus North Shore roast beef. Bar pizza is the burnt-edges exemplar of the form, coated to the edges with burbling mozzarella and cheddar; the roast beef here is best savored 'Arbeez' style, piled onto a griddled roll and folded into puddles of American cheese sauce. Take either to go from Bow Market for under $15. Address: 1 Bow Market Way, Unit 6, Somerville Phone: 617-284-9600 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Life Alive Organic Cafe Life Alive Organic Cafe Herbaceous, umami-packed ingredients tie together the grain bowls, wraps, and noodle soups that have made this local vegetarian chain a staple for the health-conscious. Finish your meal with a fruit smoothie or cold pressed juice; it's affordable fast-casual fare at its most nourishing. There are locations around the Boston area, as well as more in Dedham, Lowell, and Salem. Address: 765 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, and other locations Phone: 617-354-5433 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } M&M Barbecue M&M Barbecue Adam DeTour for The Boston Globe. Food styling by Sheila Jarnes. Maurice and Marion Hill (they're the M&Ms) started the family barbecue business in 1982, but their grandson Geo Lambert took over and took it to new heights with his food truck, catering business, and, since 2020, his restaurant inside Dorchester Brewing Co. The ribs, brisket, and pulled pork are justifiably famous – and make their way into towering sandwiches like the Geneva Ave (brisket, pickled onions, smoked cheese sauce) and Columbia Rd (pulled pork, crushed red peppers, pickled red cabbage). But don't ignore the mac and cheese, barbecue baked beans, and other sides. Salads and a plant-based chicken sandwich are on the menu, too. Address: 1250 Massachusetts Avenue, Dorchester Phone: 617-307-7674 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Mi Pueblito Restaurant Mi Pueblito Restaurant Vincent Alban for the Boston Globe/File The bonus at this family-friendly East Boston gem is that it offers delights from three culinary traditions. Mi Pueblito's Mexican food, such as the chiles rellenos and fajitas, is sublime, as are Guatemalan and Salvadoran dishes including a cheese and loroco pupusa that has an intoxicating aroma from its edible flowers. There's also a wide range of breakfast dishes at each of the restaurant's two locations. Address: 333 Border Street, East Boston, and other location Phone: 617-569-3787 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Pho Viet's Pho Viet's Josh Reynolds for the Boston Globe/File Originally located at Super 88 food court near Boston University, Pho Viet's settled into a nearby storefront several years ago (and there's a second location in Newton Centre). But it's still run by the Tran family, and counter service is just as fast. The Vietnamese menu is interlaced with some Chinese and Thai ideas. When it's hot out, go for cooling fresh spring rolls, rice vermicelli bowls, and a plump bánh mì. Address: 1022 Commonwealth Avenue, Brookline Phone: 617-562-8828 Find online: Related : .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Pure Cold Press Pure Cold Press Looking for a fast casual place in Coolidge Corner with omelets, sandwiches, salads, and pizza – packed with fresh ingredients? We've got you covered here in Coolidge Corner. The restaurant's name, Pure Cold Press, suggests a trendy juice bar, but it's much more than that. Owner Haim Cohen's all-Kosher menu includes shakshuka, a spicy Asian quinoa wrap, and a burrito with vegan Impossible meat. Grab take-out or, in a room filled with local artwork and colorful plants, share smoothies with a friend or feed the family. Address: 326 Harvard Street, Brookline Phone: 617-487-8948 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Shanti Shanti Handout/File Savin Hill boasts some great restaurants, and one of the oldest spots in this close-knit Dorchester neighborhood is this cozy and serene eatery that has been serving reasonably priced Indian and Bangladeshi fare for more than 25 years now. The space — much like its other location in Roslindale — has an intimate old-world feel, making for a great date-night experience where diners can choose from outstanding takes on aromatic biryani, red-hot vindaloo, and smoky tandoori chicken, in what could be one of the quietest restaurant spaces in all of Boston. Address: 1111 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, and other location Phone: 617-929-3900 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Sullivan's Castle Island Sullivan's Castle Island David L. Ryan/Globe staff/File It's not officially the end of winter in Boston until Sullivan's opens on Castle Island. Enjoy a juicy burger or snappy Kayem hot dog (add chili and cheese, because why not?) while taking in the gorgeous views, all without breaking the bank. Don't miss the hand-cut onion rings, and top off your meal with a soft-serve ice cream. The iconic food stand has been around for more than seven decades, and there's a reason for the constant lines out the door. Find a sister location in Hanover. Address: 2080 William J. Day Boulevard, South Boston Phone: 617-268-5685 Find online: Boston Globe Best of the Best winners for 2025 were selected by Globe newsroom staff and correspondents, and limited to Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline. We want to hear from you: ? Advertisement @font-face { font-family: BentonSansCond-Regular; src: url(" format('woff2'), url(" format('woff'); } @font-face { font-family: BentonSansCond-Bold; src: url(" format('woff2'), url(" format('woff'); } @font-face { font-family: 'Miller'; src: url(' format('woff2'), url(' format('woff'); } @font-face { font-family: "Miller Headline Bold"; src: url(" format("eot"), url(" format("woff"), url(" format("truetype"), url(" format("svg"); } @font-face { font-family: "Miller"; src: url(" format("woff2"), url(" format("woff"); } @font-face { font-family: Miller-Banner; src: url(" format("woff2"), url(" format("woff"); font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; } .bofb__container { display: block; max-width: 690px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } .bofb_hed { font-family: "Miller-Banner", "Times New Roman", Times, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.2; font-size: 28px; font-weight: 200; text-align: center; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000; display: block; margin: 16px 15px 16px 0px; text-decoration: none; } .darklinetop { width: 100%; display: block; border-bottom: 0px solid rgba(86, 132, 155,1); height: 2px; background: #005DC7; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } .bofboverline { font-family: "BentonSansCond-Regular", "Impact", "Arial Narrow", "Helvetica", sans-serif; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5; font-size: .75rem; letter-spacing: .45px; color: #9e1511; padding: 8px 0px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; } { font-family: "Miller-Banner", "Times New Roman", Times, Georgia, serif; text-align: left; line-height: 1.25; font-size: 1.75rem; letter-spacing: .25px; color: #000; padding: 8px 0px 10px 0px; } .bfbblurbcopy { font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", Times, sans-serif, serif; text-align: left; line-height: 1.8; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: .25px; color: #000; padding: 8px 0px 0px 0px; } .bfbphotocredit_caption { font-family: "BentonSansCond-Regular", "Impact", "Arial Narrow", "Helvetica", sans-serif; text-align: right; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: .25px; color: #000; padding: 8px 0px 0px 0px; } .bfbphotocredit_caption span { font-family: "BentonSansCond-Regular", "Impact", "Arial Narrow", "Helvetica", sans-serif; color: #666; text-transform: uppercase; } .dipupnext__content { width: 100%; display: grid; grid-template-columns: 3fr; grid-column-gap: 40px; /* Adjust the gap between columns */ margin-top: 10px; } .dipupnext:not(:last-child) { border-right: 1px solid #fff; /* Add your desired border color and style */ padding-right: 20px; /* Adjust padding if necessary */ margin-right: -1px; /* Compensate for the added border width */ } @media screen and (min-width: 500px) { .dipupnext__content { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr; grid-column-gap: 40px; } .dipupnext:not(:last-child) { border-right: 1px solid #005DC7; /* Add your desired border color and style */ padding-right: 20px; /* Adjust padding if necessary */ margin-right: -1px; /* Compensate for the added border width */ } } .bofbaddress { font-family: "MillerHeadline-Bold", "Times New Roman", Times, Georgia, serif; font-weight: 600; text-align: left; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1; margin-top: .5rem; letter-spacing: 0px; color: #000; width: 100%; } .bofbaddressblurb { font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", Times, sans-serif, serif; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5; font-size: .95rem; letter-spacing: .25px; color: #000; padding: 2px 0px 0px 0px; } @media (min-width: 650px) { .bofb_hed { font-family: "Miller-Banner", "Times New Roman", Times, Georgia, serif; line-height: .8; font-size: 28px; font-weight: 200; text-align: center; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000; display: block; margin: 16px 15px 6px 0px; } } .theme-dark .bofb_hed { color: #fff; } .newsletter{ display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; } .theme-dark .bofbblurbhed { color: #fff; } .theme-dark .bfbphotocredit_caption { color: #fff; } .theme-dark .bofboverline { color: #fff; } .theme-dark .bfbblurbcopy { color: #fff; } .theme-dark .bofbaddress { color: #fff; } .theme-dark .bofbaddressblurb { color: #fff; }
Boston Globe
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
17 neighborhood restaurants we can't live without
.bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Brassica Kitchen + Cafe Erin Clark/Globe Staff Delicious weirdness and wonderfulness are the order of the day at this cafe and restaurant in Jamaica Plain, serving up house-made hot sauces, fermented ingredients, and all kinds of fun drinky-drinks. You might have Brussels sprouts with maple umeboshi and miso, koji risotto, or crab fra diavolo with black gnocchi and parsnip — or you might just have that incredible fried chicken again, and again. (Don't miss it with waffles at brunch.) Address: 3710 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Brewer's Fork Katherine Taylor for The Boston Globe Tucked away in a quiet part of this mostly residential Boston Charlestown, Brewer's Fork is your consummate local hangout, and one known in part for its extraordinary wood-fired pizza with toppings including clams, salami, and smoked chicken. In the warmer months, regulars can be found in its private-feeling beer garden, enjoying pizza, and wood-fired meatballs, and mussels while also perusing one of Boston's better beer lists. Address: 7 Moulton Street, Charlestown Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Comfort Kitchen Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff In a former comfort station (a.k.a. public bathroom) in Dorchester, Comfort Kitchen explores and expands upon the African diaspora through dishes and drinks. Plates such as brown butter okra, jerk jackfruit sliders, and goat ragu with cassava gnudi trace maritime spice routes, bringing together cultural influences and the personal stories of its chefs and owners. They're also just flat-out delicious. Address: 611 Columbia Road, Dorchester Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Delux Cafe Mona Miri for The Boston Globe In this kitschy, kaleidoscopic jewel box of a bar, '50s and '60s paraphernalia adorn the walls and a jukebox emits a soft glow from the corner. But for a restaurant that resembles an Elvis impersonator's fever dream (in a good way), the food is shockingly great. We would bribe someone to give us the recipe for the honey-thyme vinaigrette adorning a simple green salad, and the fresh pasta rivals that of the North End (vegetarians beware: the tomato sauce has chicken stock). Address: 100 Chandler Street, South End Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } The Druid Emma Haselhuhn Date night, out-of-town visitors, solo drink, and dinner at the bar — whatever the occasion, this Irish pub in Inman Square is the real deal. The lightly battered, tender cod heaped on newsprint is hands down the best fish and chips around. We also love the flavorful beef stew, and oxtail soup, offered seasonally, is a local favorite. To set the mood, you're often greeted by lively Irish songs performed by musicians seated at a corner table. Address: 1357 Cambridge Street, Cambridge Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Eastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe Some old-school style can be found in this second iteration of a beloved hangout once on Comm Ave.: Waitstaff in white collared shirts are friendly and attentive, tables aren't atop one another in the deceptively large space, and the popular marble bar has seating to spare. The bavette-cut steak frites delivers, the roasted bone marrow is almost Flintstones-sized, and the Niçoise salad with seared tuna slices is inviting. The brasserie classics didn't get lost in the move. Address: 775 Beacon Street, Fenway Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Field & Vine Leonard Greco A thoughtful, seasonal menu from owners Andrew Brady and Sara Markey draws date-night couples, family celebrations, and clusters of friends for fish carpaccio, house pickles, kale salad, or chilled beets. At the end of an alley, enter an inviting space with twisted hanging branches interwoven with tiny lights and inviting aromas from a wood oven. It's all extremely charming. Vegetarian and shared-plates friendly. Address: 9 Sanborn Court, Somerville Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar Erin Clark/Globe Staff Join the party on the patio or in the dining room decorated with vintage Cuban movie posters and swelling with laughter and the sounds of Latin jazz. 'Gustazo' means 'great pleasure,' and it is indeed, to be at this Cambridge restaurant tucking into chef-owner Patricia Estorino's soulful modern Cuban dishes. Enjoy bright ceviches, vegetable small plates, and re-created classics such as ropa vieja and arroz con pollo alongside rummy cocktails. There's a branch in Waltham, too. Address: 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Porter Square Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Kaju Korean Cuisine Adam Bodein, Sung Ming Media On a freezing cold night, when you're tired and don't want to cook, there is no better balm for the soul than the bubbling soft tofu stews at this welcoming Allston restaurant. Other tasty Korean dishes — pajeon, irresistible kimchi-scallion pancakes; sweet and spicy pork — round out the meal. Take home leftovers and some house-made kimchi. Now you don't have to cook tomorrow, either. Address: 56 Harvard Avenue, Allston Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Mooncusser and Moon Bar Brian Samuels Everybody wins with this upstairs-downstairs setup. On the third floor, with a view of the city, Mooncusser's tasting menus combine world flavors and seasonal New England ingredients in unexpected, delicious ways. At the street-level, Moon Bar brings casual, a la carte excitement via curry fries, Jamaican beef patties, and black bass wrapped in banana leaves. The playful cocktails are made with ingredients from curry leaf to golden raisins. A meal at either is an occasion. Address: Mooncusser, 304 Stuart Street, Back Bay; Moon Bar, 129 Columbus Avenue, Back Bay Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Myers + Chang Kristin Teig It's striking how busy Myers + Chang remains on any given night. Christopher Myers and Joanne Chang (of Flour fame) opened their South End dim sum diner nearly 20 years ago, and so much cooking talent has passed through its kitchen. Some secrets of its success: a fun time, reasonable prices, and a steady stream of tasty classics, from Mama Chang's pork and chive dumplings and tea-smoked ribs to wok-charred udon and nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice). Address: 1145 Washington Street, South End Phone: Find online: Advertisement .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Prairie Fire This is essentially the perfect Brookline restaurant, with something delicious for everyone: oysters and salads and excellent sourdough from sister bakery Steel & Rye, squid ink pasta and fennel-sausage pizza from the wood-fired oven, elegant fish dishes and juicy cheeseburgers. Kids get crayons and paper; adults get cocktails and glasses of wine. In warm weather, the outdoor beer garden beckons. Address: 242 Harvard Street, Brookline Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Restaurante Cesaria Keith Bedford/Globe Staff Given our server's rapturous description of the stewed goat with yucca, we were sad it wasn't available when we visited this Cape Verdean gem. But the katchupada, a creamy, comforting bowl of hominy, beans, collard greens, and pork, lifted our spirits, as did the grilled octopus in a tangy vinaigrette and a whole branzino with salty, crackling skin. Live music on the weekends, a fruit-forward cocktail list — and goat! — add to the many reasons we'll be back. Address: 266 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Sarma Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff A Mediterranean-meets-Marrakesh revelation on the edges of Somerville's last ungentrified corner: From an unassuming storefront, star chefs Ana Sortun and Cassie Piuma serve jewel upon jewel, from electric-pink beet tahini to honey-kissed corn bread designed for sharing (but you won't want to). Dinner reservations are justifiably hard to secure, but a vibrant walk-in bar scene — with joyous noise levels to match — brings this transformative mezze parlor back down to earth. So does a roving fried chicken cart. Address: 249 Pearl Street, Somerville Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Tres Gatos Cameron Harris This wonderfully quirky and comfortable Jamaica Plain tapas bar/book and music store has been around since 2011, long before the listening bar trend arrived. Come for the vinyl and great reads, stay for the blue cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in ham and the grilled prawns, lamb bocadillos, and sangria. Or is it the other way around? Either way, Tres Gatos is a local gem. There's live music sometimes, too. Address: 470 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Tu Y Yo Mona Miri for The Boston Globe Blocks from the fast-casual bustle of Davis Square, Tu Y Yo is a sit-down staple with dishes you won't spot at trendy taquerias: chopped cactus in rich green mole; grasshopper tacos; a poblano pepper smothered in a cinnamon-walnut sauce that subtly marries sweet and savory. These flavors push boundaries, but the service draws you in: warm, unhurried, soothing. Pass the sangria. Address: 858 Broadway, Somerville Phone: Find online: Boston Globe Best of the Best winners for 2025 were selected by Globe newsroom staff and correspondents, and limited to Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline. We want to hear from you: ? @font-face { font-family: BentonSansCond-Regular; src: url(" format('woff2'), url(" format('woff'); } @font-face { font-family: BentonSansCond-Bold; src: url(" format('woff2'), url(" format('woff'); } @font-face { font-family: 'Miller'; src: url(' format('woff2'), url(' format('woff'); } @font-face { font-family: "Miller Headline Bold"; src: url(" format("eot"), url(" format("woff"), url(" format("truetype"), url(" format("svg"); } @font-face { font-family: "Miller"; src: url(" format("woff2"), url(" format("woff"); } @font-face { font-family: Miller-Banner; src: url(" format("woff2"), url(" format("woff"); font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; } .bofb__container { display: block; max-width: 690px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } .bofb_hed { font-family: "Miller-Banner", "Times New Roman", Times, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.2; font-size: 28px; font-weight: 200; text-align: center; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000; display: block; margin: 16px 15px 16px 0px; text-decoration: none; } .darklinetop { width: 100%; display: block; border-bottom: 0px solid rgba(86, 132, 155,1); height: 2px; background: #005DC7; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } .bofboverline { font-family: "BentonSansCond-Regular", "Impact", "Arial Narrow", "Helvetica", sans-serif; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5; font-size: .75rem; letter-spacing: .45px; color: #9e1511; padding: 8px 0px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; } { font-family: "Miller-Banner", "Times New Roman", Times, Georgia, serif; text-align: left; line-height: 1.25; font-size: 1.75rem; letter-spacing: .25px; color: #000; padding: 8px 0px 10px 0px; } .bfbblurbcopy { font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", Times, sans-serif, serif; text-align: left; line-height: 1.8; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: .25px; color: #000; padding: 8px 0px 0px 0px; } .bfbphotocredit_caption { font-family: "BentonSansCond-Regular", "Impact", "Arial Narrow", "Helvetica", sans-serif; text-align: right; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: .25px; color: #000; padding: 8px 0px 0px 0px; } .bfbphotocredit_caption span { font-family: "BentonSansCond-Regular", "Impact", "Arial Narrow", "Helvetica", sans-serif; color: #666; text-transform: uppercase; } .dipupnext__content { width: 100%; display: grid; grid-template-columns: 3fr; grid-column-gap: 40px; /* Adjust the gap between columns */ margin-top: 10px; } .dipupnext:not(:last-child) { border-right: 1px solid #fff; /* Add your desired border color and style */ padding-right: 20px; /* Adjust padding if necessary */ margin-right: -1px; /* Compensate for the added border width */ } @media screen and (min-width: 500px) { .dipupnext__content { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr; grid-column-gap: 40px; } .dipupnext:not(:last-child) { border-right: 1px solid #005DC7; /* Add your desired border color and style */ padding-right: 20px; /* Adjust padding if necessary */ margin-right: -1px; /* Compensate for the added border width */ } } .bofbaddress { font-family: "MillerHeadline-Bold", "Times New Roman", Times, Georgia, serif; font-weight: 600; text-align: left; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1; margin-top: .5rem; letter-spacing: 0px; color: #000; width: 100%; } .bofbaddressblurb { font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", Times, sans-serif, serif; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5; font-size: .95rem; letter-spacing: .25px; color: #000; padding: 2px 0px 0px 0px; } @media (min-width: 650px) { .bofb_hed { font-family: "Miller-Banner", "Times New Roman", Times, Georgia, serif; line-height: .8; font-size: 28px; font-weight: 200; text-align: center; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000; display: block; margin: 16px 15px 6px 0px; } } .theme-dark .bofb_hed { color: #fff; } .newsletter{ display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; } .theme-dark .bofbblurbhed { color: #fff; } .theme-dark .bfbphotocredit_caption { color: #fff; } .theme-dark .bofboverline { color: #fff; } .theme-dark .bfbblurbcopy { color: #fff; } .theme-dark .bofbaddress { color: #fff; } .theme-dark .bofbaddressblurb { color: #fff; }
Boston Globe
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Book lovers take note: These are the 10 best bookstores around Boston
.bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Brookline Booksmith Brookline Booksmith Ellen Johnson No Boston book lover needs to be told about six-plus-decade-old Brookline Booksmith — it's beloved for a reason. It's huge, with more than 50,000 books including the used book cellar, and holds stellar events in-store or across the street at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Buy a book recommended by the veteran staff or a gift from the way-above-average bookstore tchotchke section. Then hit the cellar and join the people standing, heads cocked, scanning the classics bookcase for something they've been meaning to read. Address: 279 Harvard Street, Brookline Phone: 617-566-6660 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Frugal Bookstore Frugal Bookstore Erin Clark/Globe staff/File In the heart of Roxbury, Frugal is the place to buy popular anti-racist titles, deep dives into the history of the African diaspora, and children's books that feature characters of color. Come for the readings with poets and thinkers, then stay for the expansive clearance section. Frugal also regularly hosts clothing drives, library story times, and book club meetups for the community. Address: 57 Warren Street, Roxbury Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Harvard Book Store Harvard Book Store Michael Casey No, this 93-year-old stalwart is not affiliated with the Ivy League school across the street that shares its name. But the 5,500-square-foot shop — co-owned by John Henry, owner of the Globe — still has a hallowed, scholarly feel, thanks to floor-to-nearly-ceiling shelves packed with bestsellers, academic titles, and much more. For extra credit, catch a big-name author doing a reading near the sizable children's section, or descend into the used book cellar, where the walls are festooned with bookmarks and other relics discovered inside pre-loved titles. Address: 1256 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } JustBook-ish Lane Turner/Globe staff It's easy to spend an afternoon in the cushioned window nooks at this Dorchester bookshop cafe, the brainchild of former Boston poet laureate Porsha Olayiwola. Its collection — a curated hodgepodge of fiction, philosophy, and children's books — is a celebration of writers of color whose work 'challenges political paradigms.' Not in the mood to read? Swing by for a poetry open mic that goes well into the evening. Address: 1463 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Katherine Small Gallery Katherine Small Gallery Devoted to graphic design and typography, this bright and tiny bookstore/art space is curated by designer and proprietor Michael Russem, who brings an eye for the elegant to a selection of books you won't find elsewhere — such as a gorgeous Soviet-era children's book collection of typographic messages of protest, or a colorful look at the lunar cycle. It's a singular jewel on the Boston bookstore scene. Address: 108 Beacon Street, Somerville Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Lovestruck Books Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff The primary feeling sparked by Harvard Square's Lovestruck Books is joy. The joy of a quiet patio, tucked under a cheerful floral trellis, offering space for conversation and coffee (or wine and charcuterie). The joy of a selection curated to both its core audience and general readers — there's Emily Henry and Alice Walker on these shelves. Among romance's core tenets is the HEA — happily ever after — and Lovestruck delivers. Address: 44 Brattle Street, Cambridge Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } More Than Words More Than Words Tucked near Chinatown, the industrial South End storefront is a treasure trove of leather-bound finds (in the back), carts of $1 used paperbacks (outside), and the usual slate of new releases (everywhere else). Each purchase benefits underprivileged youth from foster care or those coming out of the court system, who also help run and manage the $4 million enterprise. The shop has a second location in Waltham. Address: 242 East Berkeley Street, South End Phone: 617-674-5565 Find online: Related : .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Papercuts Bookshop Papercuts Bookshop Behind Papercuts' unmissable lavender front door is a nook piled high with feminist literature and buzzing with uber-friendly staff. The woman-owned bookshop in Jamaica Plain offers an unmatched lineup of events with female and queer authors. Plus, it runs the indie Cutlass Press (with several in-house titles available for purchase) and sells adorable merch emblazoned with the Orange Line and Papercuts' signature chickadee. Address: 60 South Street, Jamaica Plain Phone: 617-522-3404 Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Porter Square Books Porter Square Books We miss the slightly shabby old Porter Square Books location, but the newer, shinier store on the Lesley University campus is still a delight: a menagerie of trinkets, cards, and, of course, books. You'll find handpicked reads, new releases, and themed sections that rotate regularly. Many of the staff are writers themselves and give fantastic recommendations. Oh, and the store offers complimentary gift wrapping. (PSB also has a second location in the Seaport.) Address: 1815 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge Phone: Find online: Boston Globe Best of the Best winners for 2025 were selected by Globe newsroom staff and correspondents, and limited to Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline. We want to hear from you: ? 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