A Boston Insider’s Guide to A Fabulous Food-Filled Day
If there’s a Boston food voice worth listening to, it’s Jeff Nace’s.
He opened up Neptune Oyster nearly two decades ago, but it still drives a mania like it’s opening weekend. You can regularly find a line out the door to get a table (they don’t take reservations), and whether it’s a visitor’s first or hundredth visit, the wait is always worth it.
Jeff feeds hundreds of customers a day, but even he gets hungry now and then. And when a born and raised Bostonian is ready to eat, you better believe he’s going to make it a feast worth remembering.
Here’s how Jeff Nace recommends spending a full food-filled day in and around Boston.
“It’s okay to dream, right?”
9:00 AM – The Back Bay
Kick off your Boston day of dining at the Raffles Hotel in the Back Bay area. Head up to the 17th floor to take in the Long Bar and Terrace. Jeff recommends the Rolled Omelet stuffed with gooey Jasper Hill Farm Harbison cheese, tarragon, chives, and summer lettuces. To take it up a notch, add lobster…after all, you’re in one of the best seafood cities in America.
As you’re enjoying your meal, you can look out the window and get a good feel for the city as you prepare to embark on what Jeff calls your “moveable feast.”
11:00 AM – South End
Take Tremont Street down south to the aptly-named South End.
First, stop at Bar Mezzana, a love letter to coastal Italian cooking. They have a magnificent weekend brunch, but Jeff recommends you beeline to the crudo; the two to get are the Tuna Tartare and the Yellowtail. While their wine list is one of the finest in town, their brunch cocktails are a worthy late morning substitute.
After this, take the half mile walk to digest and prepare yourself for B&G Oysters, the classic oyster bar from Chef Barbara Lynch. No need to overthink your order… get a plate of the Oysters of the Day with their cocktail sauce and prosecco mignonette. And while you’re living the oyster lifestyle, get a glass of whatever champagne is being poured.
2:00 PM – Charles Town
Take a trip across the Boston Harbour and venture into Charlestown.
Jeff loves Brewer’s Fork, a pizza spot also known for its craft beer selection. While their pizzas are indeed delectable, this Boston food tour is a marathon, not a sprint, so check out their Charcuterie Board, with meats, mustards, pickles, and more.
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4:00 PM – Somerville
Now it’s time to venture northwest to Somerville, sitting just above Cambridge.
When in Somerville, Jeff eats at Sarma, where Chef Cassie Piuma serves “modern Middle Eastern mezze” so you can nosh on a few different items without getting too stuffed but being plenty satisfied. Just because the dishes are small doesn’t mean the flavors have to be.
Jeff recommends you get the Pork Belly Biscuits, topped with jalapeño whipped feta, membrillo, and cider, as well as the Octopus Bruschetta with garlic confit, celery gremolata, and mushroom, both with a glass of wine.
6:00 PM – Back Bay / Fenway
At this point the sun is starting to set, so make your way back across the river to the area where the Back Bay and Fenway meet. Jeff recommends you check out UNI, a classy Asian street food restaurant in the Eliot hotel, adding “[Executive Chef and Owner] Ken Oringer is doing some exciting things.” In the spirit of longevity, get Jeff’s favorite nigiri: Toro (fatty tuna with foie gras and caviar). And maybe another glass of wine while you’re at it.
7:00 PM – South End
Speaking of Toro, go ahead and visit another one of Chef Oringer’s concepts called (you guessed it) Toro, specializing in Spanish tapas. You can’t order wrong because everything is a slam dunk, especially the pintxos and whatever the specials might be that day (especially “anything with bone marrow”).
Start to work your way north back towards the hotel but not before making one last stop. “Hopefully I’m full at this point,” Jeff says, but you can enjoy Beehive even with a full stomach. Take in some live music, maybe even enjoy a nightcap. Either way, you’ll sleep well after your action-packed, food-packed day of eating your way through Boston.
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