Restaurants

LENNNNNYYYYY!’

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Fans of a certain age will certainly remember the legendary television commercials featuring Anthony Martignetti running through the streets of Boston’s historic North End doing his best to get home to his mother’s traditional pasta dinner- a dinner that was on and made more delicious by the Prince Spaghetti Company.

These days, the Prince company is best represented by the replica leaning tower of Pisa along route, one in Saugus that stands as the marker of their famous Prince Pizzeria restaurant, which has served as the house-made home of the Castraberti family since 1961

While the ads claimed that, “Wednesday is Prince spaghetti day,” these days you can get that famous flavor any night of the week! And not just pasta- Prince also serves up freshly-made bruschetta, their famed Caesar salad, toasted ravioli and baked lasagna with their signature sauce, and even shrimp scampi and multiple parmigianas. As the name implies, Prince’s is also the prince of pizzas and offers combinations like the shish-kebab pizza (with their “Bianco famous” sausage, peppers, tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms) and a “Green Monstah” (with broccoli and spinach) that is great when watching the game or anytime.

Whether or not the game is on, another great draw at Prince’s is Giggle’s Comedy Club, which hosts such local and national faves as Tony V, Jackie Martling, Steve Sweeney and Lenny Clarke (who I recently had the honor of interviewing for Fifty-Plus Advocate)!

So whether Anthony’s ads used to make you smile or you want a reason to laugh while enjoying great locally-sourced food from a locally-sourced family, Prince is still the king!

AROUND THE WORLD IN ONE VENUE

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Formula One racing is one of the most popular entertainments in the world.

Unfortunately, not everyone can access it as easily as the privileged few who line the courses and drive the cars.

And while Boston may not have a racecourse design coming anytime soon (Heck- We even bungled an Olympic bid!), area fans can now feel as if they’re in Pit Row and enjoy delicious food while there.

F1® Arcade is the world’s first F1® experience restaurant and it is debuting in the U.S. (as so many great ideas have) in Boston!

With 16,000 square feet across two floors, F1® Arcade offers guests opportunities to get behind the wheels of nearly 70 full-motion simulators. They can also create personal driver profiles and earn prizes like exclusive merchandise!

When you need a break from zipping around the track, grab a position at the nearly-40-foot-long bar to enjoy foods that have been inspired by F1’s international venues and that will surely inspire multiple visits as well! From Wagyu beef sliders and Ahi tuna tostadas to a set of unique burger, taco, and flatbread options, and (in honor of the Seaport location) a raw bar menu that includes an impressive seafood tower, the dining at F1 Arcade lives up to the legend and even includes ‘Designated Drivers’ mocktails that work great for kids or those who want to take on the track with the full focus that F1 demands.

If you want to design your own course, F1 Arcade also offers a 2,400-square foot private room for up to 200 guests. Of course, there are also plenty of screens for everyone to take in the real F1 action from around the world and many races will feature exclusive events with VIP packages and more special surprises!

With plans already in the works for Washington, DC, F1 Arcade in Boston could set off another revolution, so be sure to get in soon!  

BABKA BLUE-Y!

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Though I still miss Galit’s Treats in Newton Centre, the growing family of Bakey bakeries has helped ease the pain with their delicious menu of babkas and other bodacious baked goods.

I really can’t get enough of this place and have made their locations in Boston, Brookline, and Newton regular hosts for business meetings and social gatherings. I have also brought their colossal creations to many friends and colleagues and they are always a hit!

While many line up at Bakey for their freshly-made chocolate babka, I recently found an alternative that rivals this fan favorite.
Made with locally-sourced fresh fruit and evident love, Bakey’s blueberry babka is a sweet treat that is good from mouth to bloodstream. I often pick one up to nibble on (Who am I kidding? It is gone in a flash!) for dessert after enjoying one of Bakey’s great bowls and salads (like the scrumptiously healthy lentil and beet or chicken spinach) or when I am picking up treats for family and friends and have been known to buy more than one so I can enjoy one when I reach my destination.

While I heard that an apple babka is also in the works, you really can’t go wrong no matter what you choose!

If this latest addition to a line of glutened greatness that also includes Bakey’s famed broissants (babka-based croissants) and their nutrition-packed Muesli roll inspires you, perhaps you might want to try your own hand under the tutelage of Bakey’s master bakers at an upcoming class. On September 24 and November 6, challah will be the theme and December 4 will be the next babka workshop. All classes take place from 6:30-8:30 PM and tickets and information are available at www.bakeybabka.com.

POST TIME

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I love to talk about independent restaurants, especially when they are run by a family!

That is why I am so excited to share the news about the recent opening of the Post 1917 steakhouse in Reading.

Located within the former home of Reading’s century-old post office, Post 1917 combines local charm with city quality, both of which are aptly addressed by chef/owner Jason Carron.

As he has been in hospitality for two decades, Chef Carro has been able to gather a team of fellow award-winners and harvest ingredients from the many family farms he has come to know and love that guests will surely come to love too!

From creative starters and sides like the foie gras grilled cheese bites, Wagyu dumplings, dirty fried rice, and twice-baked sweet potato to hand-cut meats from Brandt Farms and hand-picked local seafood, to house-made desserts that include cannoli zeppoles, a strawberry shortcake sundae, and one simply called “the cake,” Chef Carron’s menu is sure to combine local favorites with an ever-expanding set of surprising servings that are sure to satisfy!In addition to attracting people from his native neighborhood and far beyond, Chef Carron also hopes to spotlight Reading with his large patio, where guests from all over can come together to enjoy al fresco dining in the fresh suburban air while listening to live music and taking in what is sure to be a bustling scene. If the weather is not conducive, guests can still get to know each other at the large, quartz-topped bar, where they can also enjoy Post 1917’s international wine selection and creatively cool cocktails, including their signature takes on the popular Cosmo, Martini, and Old Fashioned. But that and the façade will be the only old fashioned part of Post 1917. The rest will all be contemporary and creative and sure to spread Chef’s fame even further.    

COME FOR THE MUSIC- STAY FOR THE FOOD!

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I recently went to another new restaurant to hear the Winiker Brothers play.

As they had played at such favorite spots as Brothers in Brookline and Cook in Needham (and my wedding), I was sure that the latest stop on their legendary tour would be worth the trip as well.

Boy was it!

Neroli in Westwood not only offers a beautiful back room where the Winikers performed (and where they are scheduled to again June 27 and July 18), but an entire front market that features hot and cold coffee drinks made with one, two, or even three shots of fresh espresso, a hearty breakfast sandwich crammed with fresh cheeses and meats, customized subs packed with everything from their famous eggplant, chicken, or meatball parm to tuna and steak tips, or a fresh salad or soup to tide you over until dinner.

When you come back for dinner, stop to sip an Italian margarita made with Amaretto or choose from the selection of spritzes at the hopping bar and be sure to save room for freshly-made cannoli and gelato. In between, enjoy Neroli’s famed lasagna, their deliciously different vodka-sauced mozzarella sticks, freshly-sliced meat and cheese boards, creatively-prepared seafood, house-made pastas (many of which can be prepared Senza Glutine as my cookbook-writing friends Cindy Coddington and Jo Provenzano Hoppe would say), and steaks that stand up to any downtown dining room. 

Though I plan to come back for the Brothers, it is safe to say that any night at Neroli will be a night enjoyed!    

GRAZIE, SETH!

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Seth Greenberg has long been known as the man behind Mistral, Mooo, M80, and many more massive hits.
His latest splash on the banks of the Charles River is the recently-opened MonteVerdi at the Four Diamond Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge.

Turning the German into Italian, MonteVerdi pays tribute to the Greenberg’s family’s time near Venice, where Seth’s late father owned a clothing factory and where his mother was dubbed “Signora Monteverdi.” 

Combining views of the Charles with flavors of the Po and Tiber, MonteVerdi will also bring together the titanic (and locally-spourced) talents of former Ashmont Grill and Rendezvous Chef Christian Ellis, Serafina Back Bay and Verb Hotel manager Jared Hall, and Seth’s favorite designer, Petra Hausberger of Somerton Park Interiors.

Greenberg’s menu is apparently going for the “less is more” philosophy that is the mark of great Italian cooking. With flatbread pizzas and freshly-made pastas to locally-sourced seafood, a new edition of legendary chef Gordon Hammersley’s roast chicken, and an amazing homemade sauce, MonteVerdi will offer everything your Nonna did…and more! 
Opening just as the weather warms, Monteverdi will not only offer an al fresco raw bar but also one of the largest terraces in town, making it the perfect place for a beautiful brunch, a dreamy dinner, or an Italian-inspired evening. This is such a scoop that there is not even a website yet, but you can try

MAZAL TOV, STEVE!

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I know that there are few people we talk about more than Steve Peljovich of Michael’s Deli in Brookline. However, as this meat-minded mensch just ran through another Relay for Life to raise funds for the American Cancer Society and is also celebrating his 13th year as the King of Corned Beef, I wanted to wish him a mazal tov on his personal passion and productivity and his business bar mitzvah.

In addition to offering the best in traditional deli in the area (including meats that are “imported” daily from Brooklyn), Steve has maintained a menu of masterfully mishegas-ed knishes that have offered ingredients that have ranged from traditional potato and kasha to Fruity Pebbles and Nutella, with the only consistent theme being their deliciousness.

While it is always fun to drop by and be treated like family at Steve’s Coolidge Corner location, my family always loves it when I bring things home and we have often asked Steve to use his favorite family recipes (including Auntie Bev’s noodle kugel and his mother’s heavenly homestyle meatloaf) to serve and satisfy our family and many others. From finger sandwiches to yard-long subs, Steve has everything you need to bring more flavor and fun to all sort of events – including bar mitzvahs!

When not supporting his friends and neighbors with food (which he also readily donates to area shelters and sports teams, including the Boston Bruins and the Shawn Thronton Foundation), Steve also supports cancer patients and other neighbors and is always ready with a warm smile and friendly greeting, which somedays is more sustaining than even his delicious food.Thanks again, Steve!                   

PAREVE PARTY PLACES

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While I remain a loyal fan of Michael’s Deli (having grown up with Michael on the North Shore and having been a devoted friend of super-mensch Steve Peljovich for years), when I am not near Brookline’s famed Coolidge Corner, there are few places that slake my insatiable thirst for deli like Mamaleh’s!

For years, Mamaleh’s has been piling on some of the most authentic shmears and cold cuts around. And while nothing beats a fleishig fressen at Mamaleh’s, as they are ever eager to serve their guests, they are introducing a new vegan pop-up Thursdays through Sundays at their recently-revealed test kitchen and event space called Mamaleh’s Kibitz Corner. 

In addition to featuring plant-based lox and egg-free challah, the Corner will also host classes (like the babka baking one with pastry chef Rachel Sundet June 20 that is also available on Zoom for ambitious home cooks) and will be rentable for brisses, bat mitzvahs, birthdays, and any other simchas you can name.

If you want to get more into meat or just enjoy summer in a white meat way, Mamaleh’s sister spot, State Park, will host its first Summer Camp Fried Chicken Picnic on June 12 on its outdoor patio. At this finger lickin’ good event, guests can gorge themselves on juicy chicken and all the fixins’ for just $36 and also enjoy sno cones and special summer cocktails while enjoying and making friends.

Whether you like brisket or burgers, egg creams or espresso martinis, the dynamic duo of Mamaleh’s and State Park have all you want. And this summer, they will offer even more of it!

HUB HALL GETS EVEN MORE DIVERSE

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Whether you have tickets to a game or concert or just want a great selection of some of the area’s best eateries, Hub Hall at the TD Garden is always a great choice!

From Cusser’s Roast Beef and Seafood to Lily P’s Fried Chicken, the Mexican mastery of Naco Taco and Hellenistic hits from Greco to the CT-inspired Italian treats at Mida Apizza, and from Southie’s famed Sulivan’s to the North End’s legendary Mike’s Pastry (which I once snuck into a Genesis concert- totally worth it!!), Hub Hall has long offered an impressively diverse menu of menus that truly has something for everyone!

In its enduring effort to engage even more eaters, the Hall recently added the amazing arancini and other authentic Italian street food treats from Cini’s, soulful servings from Adriano’s and inspired Indian ingredients from Bati, the latest concept from my food friends at Shanti.

Another development this year is the opening of a patio space for Hall anchor Momosan which is held down by Iron Chef Morimoto. With the addition of the seating areas, people will not only be able to take in more of the vibe of pre- and post-event crowd at the Garden, they will also be able to enjoy more of the garden-fresh foods and authentic Asian ingredients that Momosan serves in Chef’s famous “bowls of happiness.”

Whether or not you have tickets to the Garden, HubHall is always a great place to visit to see what is new on the Boston food scene while enjoying flavors from around the world all in one place! Be sure to drop by often as there are always new tastes and faves to find!

TIME TO RE-KONNECT

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Before inclusion and diversity were buzzwords, Boston’s Queen of Connection Colette Phillips was forging relationships across neighborhoods, aisles, and other barriers- both real and perceived.

On July 30, Boston’s savviest soiree-ers and supporters will gather at Big Night Live to celebrate her pioneering work and the contributions of her Get Konnected network at the 10th anniversary edition of A Taste of Ethnic Boston. 

Though Boston may be known for its Italian North End (which was originally a Jewish and African-American neighborhood) and its still somewhat Irish Southie, there are neighborhoods and flavors that are just as important that may not get the same publicity (at least not on other media platforms). Get Konnected is out to change that!

During this premiere showcase of Boston’s diverse dining destinations, chefs from all over the area will share their stories and their recipes in a celebration of culinary community.

As part of the decade-marking celebration, the event will include the naming of Get Konnected!’s Top 25 Ethnic Restaurants and Top 10 Chefs of Color in Greater Boston, most of whom get little recognition from most other media outlets. It will also kick off the first A Taste of Ethnic Restaurant Week in Boston, which will encourage diners to expand their restaurant repertoires with special meals and deals at participating venues.

In addition to supporting area chefs and eateries, Phillips’ event will again spread the wealth around by donating part of the proceeds from Get Konnected to The GK Fund, a nonprofit social impact fund dedicated to funding BIPOC entrepreneurs.

Boston is an incredibly diverse city. Especially as so much of the world is falling apart, it is surely time to Get Konnected. And if you can eat great food at the same time- all the better!