A mellow and very eclectic spot that’s deep under the radar
HOW TO WALK THE BOSTON COASTLINE
A long seaside walk that you can do without leaving the city, and one that’s really more known to locals and longtime Bostonians than newcomers.
FIRST LOOK: ZO GREEK
The Greek dining scene in the Boston area continues to be more focused on casual and inexpensive spots, unlike in New York where a lot of high-end Greek establishments can be found. Taking a cue from their other locations, the star of the show here is your classic cheap-eats item …
FIRST LOOK: BATES BAR & GRILL
Setups such as these also tend to indicate that dining might be taking a backseat to drinking, but this spot does seem to put a little more emphasis on food, so the atmosphere leans just a touch more toward subdued than rowdy.
END TO END: ON THE BLUE HILLS’ SKYLINE TRAIL
By now, you’re probably pretty tired, but you’ll need a second wind because the hike from Route 28 up to Buck Hill is a bear of a climb, though it is so worth it once you emerge from the woods and realize that you have a nearly 360 degree view
DEEP ELLUM: AN OLDIE BUT GOODIE FOR BEER AND COCKTAIL LOVERS
The word “gastropub” gets bandied about way too often these days, but this Cambridge Street establishment is in some ways your classic gastropub that’s worthy of the title, and one that’s more unpretentious and unassuming than some of the newer options out there.
HOW TO WALK ACROSS BOSTON HARBOR WITHOUT GETTING IN TROUBLE
The original Thompson Island hike, which included Thompson Island itself, was something I’ll never forget for several reasons, but this perfectly legal walk includes mostly similar sights and may also give you a bit of cachet, since saying that you walked across Boston Harbor sounds like the stuff of legend.
FIRST LOOK: GRAPE LEAF MEDITERRANEAN GRILLE IN NEWTON HIGHLANDS
Between the friendly folks behind the counter, the tasty and inexpensive food, the easy parking and access from the Green Line, there’s definitely a lot to like about one of the Boston area’s newest Greek restaurants.
NOT ALL SHOPPING CENTER RESTAURANTS ARE CREATED EQUAL
This generic retail space just off Route 3 is actually home to a sleek new(ish) restaurant called Precinct 10 that wouldn’t be all that out of place in downtown Boston and is run by a group that also operates a few highly rated dining and drinking spots south of the city.
ONE FOR THE TEAM: A LOCAL’S JOURNEY INTO BOSTON’S SEAPORT DISTRICT
Walking down to the dock brought us to extraordinary views of the harbor and the islands, and since it was around 7:30 pm, a sunset over the water that made our knees weak.
