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.    

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!    

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

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!

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!

My recent talk with Jordan Rich at the Needham Free Public Library was a HUGE success and I want to thank all of our food friends who donated treats for our guests. We had chocolate from Red and Flava Naturals, crackers from Effie’s Homemade and Mary’s Gone Crackers, cheeses from Vermont Creamery, Jasper Hill Farm, and Birdie’s, and delicious nuts from Q’s Nuts and I hope to offer more when my author interview series reopens in September.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to hosting a game night at the library on June 20 featuring award-winning designer Gene Mackles.

In addition to introducing me to his amazingly fun games, Gene also introduced me to Brelundi – an Italian-inspired (and I mean “inspired”!) eatery that has locations in Waltham, Tewksbury, and Billerica.

Helmed by native Sicilian Michael Colomba, who left a career building air traffic control towers around the world to go back to his familial farm roots and open his popular places, Brelundi offers next-level editions of such familiar favorites as pasta and eggplant parm, as well as over 60 types of arancini (some of which you have probably enjoyed at other restaurants), and many items that are apparently unique to Michael’s native region, including selections from his famed line of Italian Ready Meals. 

Once you start a day with a cast-iron padella, snack on fried chickpea panelle with Michael’s vinegar-soaked caponata (which is great by the spoonful as well), dig into his prosciutto rollatini (which has been called “Italian sushi”), or sweeten any meal with made-in-house (right down to the ricotta) cannoli and his signature eye-popping Iris desert, you will be sure to spread the word and hope that he continues to spread his locations.                 

I was recently in Harvard Square having lunch and promoting my book on the glory days of the Ivy League at Dudley Café when owner Solmon Chowdhury told me that he had recently opened yet another new eating establishment at Hub Hall near the TD Garden in Boston.

As I’ve been such a long-time fan of Dudley Café and Shanti (which is my favorite Indian restaurant in the area), I was very excited to hear the news, and am even more excited to share it with you all!

The latest space is called BATI Indian Kitchen by Shanti. As is true of Shanti, it will offer a creative combination of traditional Indian flavors and Chowdhury’s contemporary twists.
Among the new early favorites are the chickpea and chicken tikka masala Bati, sweet kheer and savory puff pastries that are filled with pulled chicken or vegetables and topped with Shanti’s famed masala sauce. The true star of the new venture, however, is surely the Naanwich, a combination of Shanti’s worth-the-trip Naan bread, fillings like chicken and lamb, and tasty toppers like creamy yogurt-based raita and tangy cilantro chutney. If you want to start your day in a subcontinent way, try the spicy egg sandwich or the Roxbury Deluxe, which combines fresh egg with housemade seasonal jam, spinach and cheese.

As Shanti and Dudley Café have been favorites for years, I look forward to visiting BATI soon and to seeing what Solmon and his talented team have in mind next!