I know the last thing we need is another *best of* list. We all know who pours the best Guinness. It’s easy to find a compilation of Boston’s best burgers. Beer gardens? Yeah yeah, we know about those too. So where do you take that cool friend visiting from out of town who’s hard to impress? Speakeasies that make heavy use of the blowtorch are now ubiquitous. Every medium-sized town has a brewery in a former warehouse by now.

Boston does not always get the credit it deserves for it’s diverse and interesting culinary offerings, so I’m here to enlighten you. Below I’ve aimed to compile a list of bars/restaurants you might not know about because they’re a bit off the beaten path – or, they’re hidden in a basement underneath a dentist’s office. I suppose a better title for this post might have been “Places that rule but are annoying to get to, but don’t be a baby about it, because they’re worth it.”

 

Lithuanian Kitchen

IYKYK. And if you don’t, I’ll tell you about it. The South Boston Lithuanian Club operates a bar/restaurant in their basement open to the public on weekends. Pre-COVID, hours were 12-7 Saturday and Sunday but these days it’s a bit more irregular (follow them on the gram for announcements/updates). But find a time they are open, because the food is outstanding. The potato pancakes are the best I’ve ever had, and I’ve been to Poland. Wash it down with an Ekstra from the bar, or order a Kas on the rocks (Lithuanian fireball, let’s say – but better).

A few words on the vibes, which are immaculate: You need to get buzzed in – don’t be intimidated by that! Then head down to the basement where you will absolutely not have cell service, so plan accordingly. Settle in to the church basement seating (the good kind of church chairs – the cushioned kind – not Catholic school cafeteria metal chairs). Order up at the bar. Bring cash, because of course this is cash only. Get ready for a feast.

 

Gray’s Hall

Ok, this is not exactly hidden, but it is a bit of a hike from the red line and unless you wander deep into Southie, you won’t just stumble upon it. But it is absolutely worth the trip. Grays Hall is a neighborhood wine bar with some of the best food in the city, IMO. I do not know wine, so normally a place like this would intimidate me, but the staff are happy to make recommendations and let you taste something before committing to it Or, you can also just sip a High Life and eat a smash burger while enjoying Vinyl Sundays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tambo 22

Depending on where you live, this Peruvian restaurant can be a haul – off of Rt 1 where Chelsea, Revere, and Everett all collide – but you will be rewarded for your efforts. Limited parking, but you’re going to want to try several of these cocktails, so just go in on an Uber. Order the Northern Peruvian lamb shank (wearing pants with some give will help here) and the spicy margarita. You can also sample various piscos if that’s up your alley. Go early (or make a reservation) and you’ll have no problems, but 8pm onward this place will fill up with locals and flight crews in town for the night looking to blow off steam.

 

Short Path Distillery

If you’ve been to Night Shift in Everett then you have basically been to Short Path Distillery. It’s around the corner. I love this place. They make all of their own spirits (some you may have seen around town) which they use in their cocktails. In the back they have a great patio with covered and uncovered seating, perfect for when those summer storms roll through. Each fall they shut down the street for their annual Apple Booze Bash where they release their apple brandy and other apple liqueurs. Food trucks, music, etc. Keep an eye out for the 2024 Bash on their website. It’s a bit of a walk from the Orange Line (but totally doable!), or, you can combine it with a trip to Costco – located just across that horrible traffic circle. (You know the one.)

 

Belle Isle Seafood

Ok, this one is consistently cited as one of the best seafood spots in the region and was literally mentioned in the NYTimes today (NYTimes must be trolling Boston Week for ideas…), so, OK, maybe not so hidden after all – but most likely out of your way over in Winthrop. Grab an outdoor table when the weather allows for outstanding views of the city and catch planes landing at nearby Logan. While you’re out there, you can head to Deer Island to walk off that plate of scallops!

 

OK, I hope I have inspired you to branch out and see what else the city and surrounding communities have to offer. There are so many other dining gems throughout out region, and I love to explore corners of the city that the tourists will never get to see. So tell me what I’ve missed, and I’ll go check it out!