Tag: lunch

Where to Dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2014 in Boston: Here’s What’s Open
Where can you dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Boston area? There are a few great choices! But, if you're planning to dine at one of Boston's fine restaurants over the holidays, make a reservation!

UPDATE: Where to Dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2015 in Boston

Don't be surprised if a deposit is required to hold your reservation or if there are special menus and seatings for these special holiday meals. Unfortunately, restaurants have been forced to do this because of people who make multiple reservations so they can decide at the last minute where to go. This leaves other diners without choices and the restaurants with empty tables.

Here is our resource page on opening and closings, other than dining, at Christmas.

What's Open in Boston on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 2014 Plus MBTA Schedules, Parking, Trash, & More

What's Open on Christmas Eve?

There are more choices on Christmas Eve than on Christmas Day. Some of our favorite, special places have wonderful holiday meals planned for those who reserve for the 24th.
- The legendary team from L'Espalier normally offers a prix fixe Christmas Eve menu.
- La Morra in Brookline is an ideal spot to meet friends or family from that side of the Boston area. They are offering family style dining, "sharing traditional dishes of Piedmonte."
- Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel has a four course prixe fixe menu set for the 24th.
- Petit Robert Bistro locations will be open with regular meals and specials. We like the one on Columbus Ave in the South End.
- Here is the Christmas Eve list from Boston Chefs. Be sure to check back, because this list may grow.
- Here is the Christmas Eve List from Open Table. Be sure to check back, because this list may grow.
At the early date of this posting, some places have not announced their traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes events for Chistmas Eve. Check back or follow us on Twitter for updates on this fun, holiday dining option.
- Coppa Enoteca is one of our favorites and they're offering their version of this tradition.
- Dante in Cambridge will present Chef Dante de Magistris' version of the feast with other menu items available.
- Grotto was one of the first to present this holiday tradition. Kitchen and Marliave, Grotto's siblings in the South End and Downtown, quickly joined in the festive fish feast. This year Kitchen will be open offering the regular menu for those who prefer an al la carte choice. At Grotto and Marliave will continue the feasting on fish.
- Here is a great article from Edible Boston on this traditional meal.
What Boston Area Restaurants Are Open on Christmas?

Hotel restaurants, since they must serve the hotel's guests, are normally open on holidays.

In Boston, hotel restaurants open both the 24th and 25th include some excellent choices:
- Bar Boulud at the Mandarin Hotel is serving a three-course prix fixe menu from Noon-8 p.m.
- The Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel
- Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel gives you a choice of a Christmas Day Buffet Brunch in the Atlantic Room from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., or their 4-course prix-fixe dinner in Meritage Restaurant from 5-9 p.m.
- Brasserie JO at the Colonnade Hotel
Other places open on holidays would include chain restaurants and some places in Chinatown. We once asked a longtime Boston cabbie where we could get something we needed on Christmas, and he said Chinatown was the place to go.

Here are some conversations on Chowhound.com and Trip Advisor about Christmas dining. We'll add more as we see them pop up this year and we'll link to lists from other Boston food sites.

Boston Restaurants Not Open on Christmas Day (2014) is a Trip Advisor conversation started by a visitor from London who was trying to find a top Boston restaurant to enjoy on Christmas Day and was surprised to find so many choices closed.

Trip Advisor on Christmas Dinner (2013)

Eater Boston's Christmas Map (Updated 12/16/2013)

What Chinese Restaurants are Open On Christmas Day– (2012)

Christmas Day Brunch (2012)

Open on Cape Cod on Christmas Day (just in case you're going there) (2012)

Xmas Lunch in Boston (2012)

Restaurant open Christmas Day in Newton or nearby (2012)

Other resources:

The reservation site Open Table has a feature list of its member restaurants with Christmas Eve Specials and Christmas Day Dining.

But, you can also input information on the reservation you want on Open Table and come up with a list of restaurants open at that hour. Change the hour and the list will change and some are not on the featured lists. It's a good place to start.

The Boston Chefs site has posted a list of its participating member restaurants with special features for the holidays. Here's the Christmas Eve List & the Christmas Day list.

From Last Year: Eater Boston has a list of What's Open in Boston Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We'll update with the new one when it's available.

They have many good choices to add to your holiday options. We'd particularly like to recommend:

Island Creek Oyster Bar for Christmas Eve. It's one of our favorite places, and I can just imagine what a happy scene it will be on that evening.

Eastern Standard: They will normally open Christmas Day for breakfast and then for a special 3-course prix fixe meal.

Follow us on Twitter for notice of updates to this post.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photo: from iStockphoto.com

Related articles

Greeting November with a Special Treat: Champagne H. Billiot Fils Rosé

You Never Know What's Under Boston Streets
December 2, 2014
At The Market: Seta’s Cafe from Market to Brick and Mortar
Seta's Mediterranean Foods has quickly become a favorite with many farmers' market customers during the past few years. Now, she has opened Seta's Cafe at 271 Belmont Street in Belmont (map), and we want to wish her great success!

In a recent update on her facebook page, she announced, "If you happen to drive by and the mums are out- we are open for business." She has some lovely pots of mums she's placing outside the door when the cafe is open.

The menu will include the favorite items fans have taken home from the markets and those items will also be available for take out at the cafe. And, with the cafe it will be easier for Chef Seta to make a new batch when she sells out!

We were happy to see her Spinach Boreg better known around here as fabulous Seta Spinach Pie.

The cafe will also let her spread her wings and expand the options she can offer for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or brunch.

If you would like to learn more about this talented woman and add reasons why you should get to Belmont soon, read Edible Boston's article about her, Seta's Rules to Cook By. They cover it in greater depth, but on her about page Seta explains:
- "Use no more than five ingredients to make a dish
- Buy from local farmers
- Eat/cook within season"
Sounds like a woman who grew her business at farmers' markets to us!

Seta, may all our readers find your new place and enjoy your food as much as we do! Congratulations on reaching this new phase of your business.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a birthday or wedding gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Top photo courtesy of Seta's Cafe, © 2011-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
October 17, 2013
At The Market: Seta’s Cafe from Market to Brick and Mortar
Seta's Mediterranean Foods has quickly become a favorite with many farmers' market customers during the past few years. Now, she has opened Seta's Cafe at 271 Belmont Street in Belmont (map), and we want to wish her great success!

In a recent update on her facebook page, she announced, "If you happen to drive by and the mums are out- we are open for business." She has some lovely pots of mums she's placing outside the door when the cafe is open.

The menu will include the favorite items fans have taken home from the markets and those items will also be available for take out at the cafe. And, with the cafe it will be easier for Chef Seta to make a new batch when she sells out!

We were happy to see her Spinach Boreg better known around here as fabulous Seta Spinach Pie.

The cafe will also let her spread her wings and expand the options she can offer for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or brunch.

If you would like to learn more about this talented woman and add reasons why you should get to Belmont soon, read Edible Boston's article about her, Seta's Rules to Cook By. They cover it in greater depth, but on her about page Seta explains:
- "Use no more than five ingredients to make a dish
- Buy from local farmers
- Eat/cook within season"
Sounds like a woman who grew her business at farmers' markets to us!

Seta, may all our readers find your new place and enjoy your food as much as we do! Congratulations on reaching this new phase of your business.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a birthday or wedding gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Top photo courtesy of Seta's Cafe, © 2011-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
October 17, 2013
At The Market: Seta’s Cafe from Market to Brick and Mortar
Seta's Mediterranean Foods has quickly become a favorite with many farmers' market customers during the past few years. Now, she has opened Seta's Cafe at 271 Belmont Street in Belmont (map), and we want to wish her great success!

In a recent update on her facebook page, she announced, "If you happen to drive by and the mums are out- we are open for business." She has some lovely pots of mums she's placing outside the door when the cafe is open.

The menu will include the favorite items fans have taken home from the markets and those items will also be available for take out at the cafe. And, with the cafe it will be easier for Chef Seta to make a new batch when she sells out!

We were happy to see her Spinach Boreg better known around here as fabulous Seta Spinach Pie.

The cafe will also let her spread her wings and expand the options she can offer for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or brunch.

If you would like to learn more about this talented woman and add reasons why you should get to Belmont soon, read Edible Boston's article about her, Seta's Rules to Cook By. They cover it in greater depth, but on her about page Seta explains:
- "Use no more than five ingredients to make a dish
- Buy from local farmers
- Eat/cook within season"
Sounds like a woman who grew her business at farmers' markets to us!

Seta, may all our readers find your new place and enjoy your food as much as we do! Congratulations on reaching this new phase of your business.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a birthday or wedding gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Top photo courtesy of Seta's Cafe, © 2011-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
October 17, 2013
Farmers’ Markets Opening Dates Spring 2013

Pull out your calendars and mark the dates when you can go and see our farmers' market friends at their summer spots.

With additional food trucks located nearby, many stands offering lunch items, and the Boston Public Library outdoor seats and courtyard close by, Copley Square is a great place to meet someone for lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays.

If you have confirmed dates for your favorite farmers' market, please tell us in a comment or send us an email and we'll add it as an update to this post.

Here are the opening dates for some of our favorite markets. The links are to maps of the locations.
South End/SOWA: May 5th (Sundays)
Jamaica Plain (677 Centre Street): May 11th (Saturdays), (Saturdays & Tuesdays after June 11th)
Allston Village Farmers Market, 500 Cambridge St.: May 11th (Saturdays)
Copley Square: May 14th (Tuesdays and Fridays)
Cambridge Center (Kendall MBTA) Cambridge: May 15th (Wednesdays)
Prudential Center: May 16th (Thursdays)
Cambridge/Charles Square: May 19th (Sundays), June 7th (Fridays)
Boston City Hall Plaza: May 20th (Mondays and Wednesdays)
Central Square, Cambridge: May 20th (Mondays)
Davis Square, Somerville: May 22nd (Wednesdays)
South Station/Dewey Square: May 21st (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
Union Square, Somerville: June 1st (Saturdays)
Roslindale/Adams Park: June 1st (Saturdays)
Kendall Square (500 Kendall Street): June 6th (Thursdays)
Cambridgeport: June 1st (Saturdays)
Brookline/Coolidge Corner: June 13th (Thursdays)
Harvard University Farmers' Market, Cambridge: June 11th (Tuesdays)
Allston/Harvard Farmers Market (

N. Harvard St & Western Ave) June 14th (Fridays)
Boston Medical Center BMC Lobby:

June 14th (Fridays)

We'll be telling you more about some of these markets in the weeks ahead!

See our review of The Boston Homegrown Cookbook: Local Food, Local Restaurants, Local Recipes. It's full of chefs, farmers, and food producers you know, and we highly recommend it. Remember, always click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

May 3, 2013

Farmers’ Markets Opening Dates Spring 2013

Pull out your calendars and mark the dates when you can go and see our farmers' market friends at their summer spots.

With additional food trucks located nearby, many stands offering lunch items, and the Boston Public Library outdoor seats and courtyard close by, Copley Square is a great place to meet someone for lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays.

If you have confirmed dates for your favorite farmers' market, please tell us in a comment or send us an email and we'll add it as an update to this post.

Here are the opening dates for some of our favorite markets. The links are to maps of the locations.

South End/SOWA: May 5th (Sundays)

Jamaica Plain (677 Centre Street): May 11th (Saturdays), (Saturdays & Tuesdays after June 11th)

Allston Village Farmers Market, 500 Cambridge St.: May 11th (Saturdays)

Copley Square: May 14th (Tuesdays and Fridays)

Cambridge Center (Kendall MBTA) Cambridge: May 15th (Wednesdays)

Prudential Center: May 16th (Thursdays)

Cambridge/Charles Square: May 19th (Sundays), June 7th (Fridays)

Boston City Hall Plaza: May 20th (Mondays and Wednesdays)

Central Square, Cambridge: May 20th (Mondays)

Davis Square, Somerville: May 22nd (Wednesdays)

South Station/Dewey Square: May 21st (Tuesdays and Thursdays)

Union Square, Somerville: June 1st (Saturdays)

Roslindale/Adams Park: June 1st (Saturdays)

Kendall Square (500 Kendall Street): June 6th (Thursdays)

Cambridgeport: June 1st (Saturdays)

Brookline/Coolidge Corner: June 13th (Thursdays)

Harvard University Farmers' Market, Cambridge: June 11th (Tuesdays)

Allston/Harvard Farmers Market (

N. Harvard St & Western Ave) June 14th (Fridays)

Boston Medical Center BMC Lobby:

June 14th (Fridays)

We'll be telling you more about some of these markets in the weeks ahead!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

May 3, 2013

Farmers’ Markets Opening Dates Spring 2013

Pull out your calendars and mark the dates when you can go and see our farmers' market friends at their summer spots.

If you have confirmed dates for your favorite farmers' market, please tell us in a comment or send us an email and we'll add it as an update to this post.

Here are the opening dates for some of our favorite markets. The links are to maps of the locations.

South End/SOWA: May 5th (Sundays)

Jamaica Plain (677 Centre Street): May 11th (Saturdays), (Saturdays & Tuesdays after June 11th)

Allston Village Farmers Market, 500 Cambridge St.: May 11th (Saturdays)

Copley Square: May 14th (Tuesdays and Fridays)

Cambridge Center (Kendall MBTA) Cambridge: May 15th (Wednesdays)

Prudential Center: May 16th (Thursdays)

Cambridge/Charles Square: May 19th (Sundays), June 7th (Fridays)

Boston City Hall Plaza: May 20th (Mondays and Wednesdays)

Central Square, Cambridge: May 20th (Mondays)

Davis Square, Somerville: May 22nd (Wednesdays)

South Station/Dewey Square: May 21st (Tuesdays and Thursdays)

Union Square, Somerville: June 1st (Saturdays)

Roslindale/Adams Park: June 1st (Saturdays)

Kendall Square (500 Kendall Street): June 6th (Thursdays)

Cambridgeport: June 1st (Saturdays)

Brookline/Coolidge Corner: June 13th (Thursdays)

Harvard University Farmers' Market, Cambridge: June 11th (Tuesdays)

Allston/Harvard Farmers Market (

N. Harvard St & Western Ave) June 14th (Fridays)

Boston Medical Center BMC Lobby:

June 14th (Fridays)

We'll be telling you more about some of these markets in the weeks ahead!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

May 3, 2013

Friday Links to Free Music!

Summer in Boston is full of opportunities to enjoy free and low-cost concerts. Today, we're linking to some of the free ones but we invite you to add links to other low cost options in the comments section.

DSC_5900 - Version 22012-06-12-shannon-selig-prudential-concert-berklee-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

Click on any small photo to see a larger version in the space above.

Shannon Selig (photos above) opened the Prudential Center Lunchtime Concert series on Tuesday. This free concert series is part of the Berklee Summer in the City program.

Keep your eye on Shannon and get out and see her whenever you can. She's piling up awards and we think this young singer/songwriter has a very bright future. These and few additional photos of this concert are in our Smug Mug gallery.

Berklee Summer in the CIty

Berklee will be treating us to music at dozens of locations in and outside the city. If you get out to one of the concerts be sure to pick up the Berklee Summer in the City brochure. It features concerts by series, by location, by date and featured artists. You can also find the information on line here.

Boston Public Library Courtyard

Bacchante and Infant Faun are dancing on water in the courtyard of the Boston Public Library. Mark your calendars! The popular, free, Friday lunchtime concert series has returned to the courtyard and continues through the end of August. Here's a link to details of the full schedule.

Hatch Shell Concert Series 2012

In 1939, the trustees of Maria E. Hatch’s estate entered into an agreement to give the Commonwealth of Massachusetts $300,000 to build a concertorium, or music shell, on the Storrow Memorial Embankment in Boston. It would be a memorial to her bother, Boston real estate auctioneer, Edward Hatch.

The agreement was very specific as to the use of the structure. It would be for “musical and artistic purposes… of general public interest and entertainment, except, however, that it shall not be used for sectarian, political or controversial purposes.” Here's this year's list of musical presentations!

More Series at More Locations

Boston: City Hall Plaza and Christopher Columbus Park Series

Boston: Boston Harbor Hotel Free Entertainment Series on Rose Wharf

Boston: Downtown Crossing Street Music Series

Boston: Post Office Square Summer Lunch Concert Series

Cambridge: Regattabar Courtyard Series with Berklee College of Music

Cambridge: Club Passim/Berklee Summer Concert Series at Kendall Square and Harvard Square

Okay, we have the list started. Add your favorite free, or low-cost, summer concerts in the comments.

Related Posts: For our Friday link collection click here.

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon – Get Ready for Summer – Everything You Need and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

June 15, 2012

Farmers’ Markets Opening Dates Spring 2012

Our weekly calendars are marked with the dates when we can go and see our farmers' market friends at their summer spots. SOWA and Jamaica Plain have already opened for the season, and today is opening day for the Copley Square Market.

With additional food trucks located nearby, many stands offering lunch items, and the Boston Public Library outdoor seats and courtyard nearby, Copley Square is a great place to meet someone for lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The Prudential Center Market has been open all winter, indoors, but will move outside to the Boylston Street Plaza on May 17th.

Here are the opening dates for some of our favorite markets. The links are to maps of the locations.

South End/SOWA: May 6th (Sundays)

Jamaica Plain (677 Centre Street): May 12th (Saturdays), (Saturdays & Tuesdays in mid-June)

Copley Square: May 15th (Tuesdays and Fridays)

Cambridge Center (Kendall MBTA) Cambridge: May 16 (Wednesdays)

Prudential Center: May 17th (Thursdays)

Cambridge/Charles Square: May 20th (Sundays)

Boston City Hall Plaza: May 21st (Mondays and Wednesdays)

Central Square, Cambridge: May 21st (Mondays)

Davis Square, Somerville: May 23rd (Wednesdays)

South Station/Dewey Square: May 24th (Tuesdays and Thursdays)

Kendall Square (500 Kendall Street): May 31st (Thursdays)

Union Square, Somerville: June 2nd (Saturdays)

Roslindale/Adams Park: June 2nd (Saturdays)

Cambridgeport: June 9th (Saturdays)

Swirl & Slice: Union Square Gourmet Market: June 14th (Thursdays)

Brookline/Coolidge Corner: June 14th (Thursdays)

Harvard University Farmers' Market, Cambridge: June 19th (Tuesdays)

We'll be telling you more about some of these markets in the weeks ahead!

Watch for our upcoming review of The Boston Homegrown Cookbook: Local Food, Local Restaurants, Local Recipes. It's full of chefs, farmers, and food producers you know, and we highly recommend it. Remember, always click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those add a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

May 15, 2012

Wasn’t it a Great Weekend?

PMC_7416 - Version 22012-02-20-crocus-shoots-back-bay-boston-massachusetts-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

We saw:

Newbury Street filled with shoppers on Sunday.
Happy diners eating outside at La Voile and at Tasty Burger. (Warning: There's music on La Voile's site.)
Students studying on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
Lots of spring plants sprouting in Back Bay gardens. The snowdrops have been up for weeks and some crocuses, pansies, and heather are already in bloom.
(Click a thumbnail to choose an image in any order you like. You'll stay right here on this page.)

Sometimes the freelance life lets you stretch your long weekend by an extra day or, at least, fit in more fun around your work hours. It was that kind of weekend for us.

We began with a trip to Central Square, Cambridge for lunch on Thursday. The afternoon began at Mary Chung Restaurant for a bit of Szechuan heat. (Stay tuned! Details on that will pop up tomorrow.)

We strolled home with stops at Central Bottle to stock up on cheese, bread, beer, and wine for the weekend and Flour Bakery for two pieces of their fabulous Boston Cream Pie cake to honor a friend's birthday. (And, to tease him with another reason to miss Boston from his new home in San Francisco!)

Friday afternoon found us at Coppa enjoying a few of our favorites– including this Italian Grinder.

Saturday, we shared a tray at Sweet Cheeks Q and added a new favorite side dish that will also be featured here in the days ahead.

We ran into lots of friends in lots of places and had some down time at home with a bit of great wine and home cooking. It was a good weekend to spend in town enjoying some of the great things Boston has to offer.

Related Posts:

Sweet Cheeks Q- Great Northern Brisket

Sweet Cheeks Q: A First Look

Friday Lunch at Coppa, an Italian Seduction

Bourbon Beer? at Sweet Cheeks

Celebrating the Start of Summer at La Voile

How to Extend >>> Your Birthday!

And The Winner is….

What a Weekend!

What's on your weekend get-away shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those add a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

February 21, 2012

Tag: lunch

What's Open on Christmas Eve?

What Boston Area Restaurants Are Open on Christmas?