From chicken soup to empanadas, a miracle under the radar
FAIRMOUNT GRILLE, HYDE PARK
The Fairmount Grille had once been home to a beloved spot called Townsend’s, and while that place was unusual in that it was basically an Irish restaurant with global influences, the Fairmount Grille is probably just a touch more familiar-feeling to most, being a casual upscale bistro of sorts with a mix of classic American, New American, and Mediterranean offerings.
EL PALMAR, EAST BOSTON
A street food spot that even the food nerds don’t know about
ITALO, MEDFORD: BAKERY SLICES AND BREAD ON THE CHEAP
Inside Italo you’ll find a no-frills place that is strictly meant for takeout, with display cases of pastries and baked goods along with bread and pizza sitting behind the counter, while some Italian products such as olive oil, cookies, and pasta are displayed along the walls.
FIRST LOOK: CHILI SQUARE IN QUINCY
Spicy duck heads, chicken gizzards, and pig’s ears in chili oil, oh my!
PLEASANT CAFE, ROSLINDALE: OLD SCHOOL BOSTON AT ITS BEST
The vintage feel continues inside with the almost obligatory wood paneling, hissing radiators, narrow diner-like restaurant section, and old-fashioned bar area complete with a wood-paneled partition that separates the actual bar from another narrow dining area.
POWDER WALKING (A WINTER HIKING SPECIAL)
Five snowshoe hikes and walks inside Route 128
THE YEAR IN HIDDEN EATS
A look back at some dining and drinking faves for 2017
FIRST LOOK: CHIHARU SUSHI & NOODLE (BROOKLINE)
Chiharu Sushi & Noodle on Boylston Street (Route 9) has the makings of a real winner while also bringing to light a little-known section of Brookline.
SKAMPA, CAMBRIDGE: A LITTLE TASTE OF THE NORTH SHORE ONE MILE FROM DOWNTOWN BOSTON
The junior, large, and super beef sandwiches here rival the best that the North Shore has to offer, with the thinly sliced meat being slightly warm, the onion rolls being soft and fresh-tasting, and the BBQ sauce having a rich flavor but not so much as to overwhelm the other ingredients.
