From chicken soup to empanadas, a miracle under the radar
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.
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.
TASTY ON THE HILL, MEDFORD
A little cafe that features a big (and hard-to-find) sandwich
EATS: DOGWOOD CAFE, JAMAICA PLAIN
A laid-back neighborhood spot that gets little notice beyond JP
FIRST LOOK: BEST BURGER BAR IN BROOKLINE
A recent look at the Washington Street eatery soon after its opening indicated that this spot has some real potential, and not just for its burgers.
ATWOOD’S TAVERN, CAMBRIDGE: FOOD, BEER, AND MUSIC IN A RUSTIC SPACE
Well, it’s none of these, really, instead being a good, solid, midlevel place that oozes charm inside, with lots of dark woods, a bar that looks like it has seen its share of history, a small stage in the back that is integrated nicely with the rest of the space, and a hidden side patio that is accessed by a door beyond the bar.
