Since my beloved Scullers went underground, there is no place in Cambridge to take in great food (let alone music!) and a beautiful view of the Charles River.

Fortunately, the recently raved-about Monteverdi at the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge recently opened its patio for dining, so now people can check their Instagram for hours and then go enjoy some of the best food in the area while enjoying one of the best views as well!

As it is the latest brainchild of hospitality hero Seth Greenberg, Monteverdi has been taking the Great Boston food scene by storm and attracting people from far and wide, so you better make reservations soon (and often) so you can get your favorite seat on the patio – especially as New England weather does not always cooperate with personal plans. If you want to hedge your bets and increase your chances of the perfect view, you can always plan a staycation at the Sonesta, but even if you have to eat inside, the menu and bar scene are worth the trip!

With its combination of authentic Italian foods and locally-sourced favorites including fresh seafood, as well as wood-fired pizzas and house-made pastas, as well as a full bar that offers seasonal spritzes and other signature sippers (including a rose that Seth crafted with beverage queen Bethenny Frankle), Monteverdi is a great place to bring or make friends while enjoying amazing food and spectacular views.

If you needed even more reasons to visit, Monteverdi is also hosting special events, including wine tastings themed meals, and cocktail showcases, and live music and is available for rental to make your event even more special!

See you on the veranda!

As if the news that superstar comedian (and HUGE Tom Brady fan) Nikki Glaser dined there after six sold-out shows a the Boch Center was not big enough, the uber-popular plant-based dining establishment Lulu Green is about to open in Kendall Square!

This means that you can now get their delicious and enjoy their café-by-day / restaurant/lounge-by-night vibe whether you are on one end of the Red Line or the other!

But don’t let even the cool vibe fool you- Lulu’s main thing is delivering delicious, nutritious, organic, and sustainably plant-based food and drinks that are all freshly-made with minimal sugar, oils, and other icky stuff in a fun and efficient manner that allows you to truly enjoy eating healthy without having to worry about it.

From sharable starters like their signature hummus with seven-spice za’atar and their warm and refreshing lemony lentil soup to their signature brunch sandwich with chickpea “egg” and tofu “bacon” to their house-made Lulu burger with grain mustard truffle oil or a warm quinoa bowl that is packed with superfoods, Lulu has what you want at pretty much any time of day. And if you just need a quick boost of sweet energy, their freshly-baked croissants, cookies, and macarons or their meaty menu of acai bowls and smoothies are the perfect pick-you-up!

Speaking of drinks, Lulu has a full coffee bar all day and a full bar bar all night, making it a great place to drop by after work for a Bloody Lulu, international wine, local beer or cider, or driver-friendly mocktail or digestion-friendly kombucha. 

Did I say it’s all plant-based? Sorry- it is so yummy, I forgot!

In any case, you heard it here first- Enjoy!

With so many people working from home, neighborhoods like Boston’s Downtown Crossing have taken a hit and this can be especially felt in the food scene.

Recently, a new restaurant group has emerged to lure people back to Boston from near and far.

BCB3 Hospitality represents the union of the team behind BiNA Family Hospitality (including Family Head Babak Bina and his partner Andy Cartin) and super-chef Jaimie Bissonette. 

While Bissonnette already has his own James Beard award (thanks to local legends like Coppa, Toro, and Little Donkey), the new group’s Somaek has already been named a finalist for this year’s awards! Informed and inspired by Bissonnette’s Korean mother-in-law, the Asian eatery was also named one of the best new spots in the country by the New York Times

Not satisfied to sit on laurels, the group has also opened the already popular Temple Records and Sushi @ Temple Records, which is helmed by Japanese native and long-time sushi student and master Kenta Katagai. 

All of these eateries represent not only the latest triumphs of industry legends but also the reemergence of Boston’s Downtown Crossing as a foodie’s favorite neighborhood. And as Bina is such a champion of local neighborhoods, it is well in keeping with his legendary ethos and will surely enhance his legacy and that of the Boston food scene.

Even if you are not going back to your office anytime soon, these three new eateries supported by three restaurant stars will surely be reason to return to downtown Boston again and again.

TURNING OVER NEW LEAVES

I recently raved about the renovated and renamed Irish eatery (which is now known as Sweeney’s) at the historic Lenox Hotel http://www.lenoxhotel.comin downtown Boston and wanted to follow up with an update regarding one of the Hotel’s other dining establishments.

City Table was a favorite of hotel guests and visitors alike for years, but now that the Hotel has taken its dining service in-house and handed the reins to Chef Daniel Kenney (who local food fans and visitors may know from his masterful menus at The Liberty Hotel), the lobby restaurant has been renamed Willow & Ivy and, when it reopens in March, will feature a menu that features Kenney’s fresh takes on New England-inspired American cuisine.  

Among the signature dishes at Willow & Ivy are a Maine lobster pie made with Cognac and sweet corn, an orange blossom honey-glazed duck breast with grilled stone fruit and ginger carrots, and a Harissa-rubbed spring lamb chop and loin combo. 

As with Sweeney’s and the recently-renovated and renamed Irving bar, there is also a new cocktail program that combines locally-sourced botanicals and house-made infusions that can be customized for any taste.

As it sits on the corner of Boylston and Exeter in the heart of Back Bay, the Hotel and its restaurants make for perfect stops for locals and visitors alike and the floor-to-ceiling windows framing Willow & Ivy will allow guests to take in all that Boston has to offer while they enjoy gatherings with friends and family or business meetings in the main space or in the private dining room that seats up to 32 guests. True to its name, the main dining room includes a live tree right in the middle, so not only does the space let in the outside it truly brings the outside in!

Whether you are new to Boston, just visiting, or come from Brahmin stock, the Lenox Hotel is always a great place and the new dining options make it even better!