If you ever get the chance to go to Boston, take it. And if you’re reason isn’t already for the city itself, at least take advantage of all the delicious food just waiting for you. The purpose of my trip was pleasure, not business, and I had high expectations to be pleased with Boston’s seafood, being on the East Coast and all. However, if seafood isn’t your style, you’ll still have no problem finding something else to satisfy your stomach. Let’s just say my first ever visit to this city was satisfying indeed.
Now, how did I decide where to eat? I did some digging on Spoon University chapters from Boston universities while Instagram’s mouth-watering photos came in handy too. Don’t forget to ask your hotel concierge for restaurant suggestions, too.
Wednesday
Photo by Marissa Sherman
My first night was spent indulging over one of my favourite meals: sushi. Genki Ya was the perfect fix for sushi and served up some rolls that I didn’t even know existed. My favourite was the Fresh Summer Roll: tuna, salmon, cream cheese, and avocado rolled up in cucumber (can you say healthy?). If you don’t already do this, green tea accompanies your sushi chow down quite well, and their green tea is as good and authentic as it gets, especially when you spy the matcha powder at the bottom of the cup as you finish your drink. Let me say Boston sushi has earned a special place in my heart.
Thursday
Photo by Kara Hawker
Dinner was served at the fancy and delicious Atlantic Fish Co. restaurant. Beyond the food, the highlight of this restaurant was the service. Our server was kind, always on top of everything, and very helpful. To start, we ordered the lobster bisque and the grilled calamari, pictured above (you can choose between deep-fried, breaded calamari or plain, grilled). The grilled calamari came tossed with jalapeños and grated cheese with a side of tomato sauce. This combo sounds weird, I know, but I shortly became absolutely addicted earning this dish the winning title for the best calamari I’ve ever had.
Photo by Kara Hawker
Once again, if you love seafood, absolutely order the fish. I ordered the yellowfin ahi tuna steak, a catch of the day, which came with my choice of sides which included roasted sweet potatoes, sweetened with a hint of brown sugar, and roasted brussels sprouts. The main course too met the standards of the appetizers and restaurant experience, but the calamari definitely came in at #1 that evening.
Photo by Becky Hughes
For dessert, we ran over to Ben & Jerry’s for a scoop of ice cream. Who can go wrong with Ben & Jerry’s? Or their delicious banana peanut butter ice cream?
Friday
Photo by Kara Hawker
If this açaí bowl doesn’t already have you looking at flights to Boston, I don’t know what will. Stopping at Jugos to taste one of their creations a MUST-DO.
Açaí, banana, lucuma, passion fruit, almond milk, granola, coconut, blueberries, and fig. These yummy ingredients made up my bowl that surely beat any bowl I’ve ever made at home. Although Jugos may be considered pricey for a bowl, it’s certainly worth it. They also sell smoothies, pressed juices, chia pudding bowls, fresh fruit, salads, and more. There’s no doubt you won’t find something your taste buds will fall in love with. The location is pretty tough to find as it does not stand out and catch your eye. It’s to the left of the entrance to the Back Bay train station along Dartmouth Street.
Photo courtesy of @rachaelemelia on Instagram
Hands down, B&G Oysters is a must-visit when in Boston and was my favourite food experience of my visit. Their raw bar beats all others, and if the word “raw” creeps you out, there are plenty of options that will still satisfy your appetite.
Photo by Kara Hawker
The Short Stack, pictured above, is a perfect starter for two. The presentation of each dish definitely stood out to me this night. Of course, I ordered the fish for the main source, which was perfectly cooked salmon. Be sure to order their fries to share between your party as they are hand-cut right in the restaurant.
#SpoonTip: Sit up at the bar. Watching the cooks prepare the dishes provides your experience at B&G with a little bit of entertainment.
Saturday
Photo courtesy of @legalseafoods on Instagram
The last day’s dinner was spent at a chain restaurant (there are quite a few of them all over Boston) called Legal Seafood. The restaurant is big and would even be a great place for large parties to go out too. But don’t let the phrase “chain restaurant” steer you away. This is still a delicious must-try.
Photo by Kara Hawker
Pictured above is the Cioppino, which was lobster, scallops, shrimp, calamari, littlenecks, mussels and whitefish in a light tomato broth. It’s a dish for full-blown seafood lovers. Legal Seafood is also very accommodating to celiacs and even had their manager handle the gluten-free dishes to truly prevent any sort of contamination. Not to mention their gluten-free bread rolls were not crumbly or stale like some others. They’ll make you forget you’re eating gluten-free bread in the first place.
Finding amazing places to eat is a task in itself, but it’s all the fun in discovering new places. If you’re in Boston for the first time and struggling with finding where to eat, this article will guide you into taste bud heaven.