SUMMER DINING
When we first hit a nice stretch of summer-y weather, we wanted to take every single DigBoston reader in town out for a meal to clink glasses together and celebrate being alive in Boston. But then the staff collectively pulled their pockets inside out and shrugged and batted away moths and realized we couldn’t afford that. (Sorry.) So instead, we decided to present you with a beautiful and delicious photo essay highlighting some choice locales for summer dining. Maybe it’s because we wanted to give you a look inside a hot new restaurant. Or maybe it’s because a photograph of a giant plate of fritos covered in wild game chili reminds you that it’s all going to be okay. Doesn’t matter. It’s summer. So here’s to eating your feelings around the Hub all season long.
CLUCKIT!
What: Chef Brian Poe’s just-rebooted Estelle’s Southern Kitchen space, this time focusing on Portuguese-African chili-based marinades and dishes of Piri Piri anything. 782 Tremont St., Boston. cluckitboston.com
LOYAL NINE
What: Cambridge “East Coast revival” rustic restaurant from Marc Sheehan, a vet of both the fine dining scene (Menton) and supper-club pop-ups (Brasstacks), now in the throes of its first summer. 660 Cambridge St., Cambridge. loyalninecambridge.com
RINA’S PIZZERIA AND CAFE
What: Brand new North End house of killer espresso, paninis, and Neapolitan-style pizzas courtesy of local budding restaurant tycoon Nick Varano (Strip by Strega, Nico). 371 Hanover St., Boston. rinasnorthend.com
COMMITTEE
What: The gorgeous new 300-seat addition to Fan Pier, barely a week or so old, courtesy of Bijou and Cafeteria owner George Aboujaoude. Greek and Mediterranean flavors and dishes divided up between hot and cold plates, with banquettes constructed from wood reclaimed from the old Anthony’s Pier 4 (RIP). 50 Northern Ave., Boston. committeeboston.com
STEINBONES BBQ SAUCE AT COMMONWEALTH
What: Call it a preview to some of the flavors that will arrive when Commonwealth and former Fenway Park chef (and Bravo TV alum) Steve “Nookie” Postal opens his long-awaited Jewish BBQ and deli, Steinbones. The sauces have just been bottled and stocked at Commonwealth in Cambridge, ready to liven up your next backyard cookout. Or slather on your toast. 11 Broad Canal Way, Cambridge. commonwealthcambridge.com
SELECT OYSTER BAR
What: Neptune Oysters vet and newcomer to the Back Bay Chef Michael Serpa’s lunch-only twist on the lobster roll, best enjoyed on the patio or at the slick bar for that “Let’s go have lunch in an eclectic old brownstone” feel. “It’s a polished take on the kind of summer lobster sandwich you’d slap together from a cooler at the beach,” says Serpa. 50 Gloucester St., Boston. selectboston.com
LULU’S ALLSTON
What: The barely year-old Allston bastion of junk food done with a twist (not to mention a healthy craft beer selection) has been sating the appetites of all who pass through the doors and belly up to the bar for some of Sarah Wade’s pure-fun foodie inventions. 421 Cambridge St., Allston. lulusallston.com
COPPERSMITH HALL
What: The long-simmering cavernous foodie complex entering into the ever-changing Southie dining scene that will involve a coffee shop, multiple patios, a roof deck outfitted with a classic Airstream trailer-turned-massive raw bar, indoor food trucks (and food truck pop ups), and a lot of sustainable and from-scratch everything. A project long in the works (and delayed), it’s currently eyeballing a July 2015 opening. 40 W 3rd St., Boston. coppersmithboston.com
Dan is a freelance journalist and has written for publications including Vice, Esquire, the Daily Beast, Fast Company, Pacific Standard, MEL, Leafly, Thrillist, and DigBoston.
