Boston Essentials
A laundry list of Boston's activities, eateries, walks and freebies
By Kimberly Blanton, The Boston Globe | Published: 11/18/2008
Boston's Newbury Street is lined with restaurants, salons and boutiques.
Food and Drink Essentials: Best Places to ...
EAT OYSTERS
There are a dozen varieties at Neptune in Boston's North End neighborhood, a cozy place with 26 seats and 16 bar stools.
B&G Oysters in Boston's South End neighborhood, a small venue overseen by celebrity chef Barbara Lynch. Lynch also cooks a mean soft-shell crab on those nights she's working behind the bar.
STOP FOR HOT CHOCOLATE
Burdick's in Harvard Square, a local spot that looks a bit like a Starbucks and is just as crowded. Selection includes chocolate cakes, homemade candies and enormous cups of hot chocolate.
STOP FOR A BAGEL
Kupel Bagels in Brookline, the favorite spot for true New York quality bagels and hands-down favorite among this suburb's large Jewish population.
BUY ITALIAN PASTRIES
On weekend nights, there is always a long line at Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street, because loads of tourists cram into the bakery on the main drag in Boston's North End.
Though Mike bakes a mean ricotta pie, insiders know there are wonderful, authentic pastries nearby at Maria's Pastry Shop, a tiny shop on Cross Street.
Also try Modern Pastry a few steps down Hanover Street from Mike's.
EAT CLAM CHOWDER
Legal Sea Foods is a Boston institution, and it's milky clam chowder is subtle and superb. Also, try the Blue Fish plate, a specialty using a local fish.
Proprietors of corner bars and unpretentious restaurants all over the city -- including the Steamship Authority Ferry to Martha's Vineyard -- pride themselves on their clam chowder. Give any of them a try, and it's unlikely you'll be disappointed.
BUY CHEESE AND WINE
Formaggio's in Cambridge is as good as any Italian cheese shop, with hundreds of cheese, as well as prosciuttos, olive oils and other delicacies. The staff is extremely helpful with selections, too.
Walk into the Wine & Cheese Cask in Somerville and tell one of the store's staff you're having for dinner or celebrating a big birthday and they'll recommend the perfect wine or champagne.
BUY ITALIAN SPECIALTIES
Bella Pasta in Medford is a half-mile from the Somerville border and makes fresh pasta daily.
Sessa's in Davis Square in Somerville has prosciutto, dried pasta, pepperoncinis, Italian cold cuts -- you name it. It's a few steps from the Davis Square subway stop.
BUY VEGETABLES
The open-air vegetable stands at Haymarket Square -- near Boston's waterfront and North End -- offer loads of inexpensive vegetables and an old-fashioned city atmosphere every weekend.
A. Russo & Sons is a half-hour drive from downtown Boston, but it's worthwhile. Russo's has every imaginable fruit and vegetable, all of superior quality. Avoid Saturdays which are a mad house. Founded more than 75 years ago by Antonio Russo, it is still a family business.