10 classic Boston dishes, and 5 places to find each one

Readers Say

Plus, what readers needed to say about every dish.

With a wealthy colonial historical past, worldwide influences (North Finish, we’re speaking to you), and a seaside locale, Boston actually has a seat on the big-name eating desk. By means of the years, town has morphed its easy native taste into globally acknowledged and universally liked traditional dishes.

We rounded up 10 traditional Boston dishes and asked readers to weigh in on their favorites. Greater than 150 readers responded and instructed us about menu gadgets which are iconic to the world, from lobster rolls to cannoli. They voted on their favorites, with clam chowder coming in as the highest decide, incomes 22% of the reader vote.

Right here’s your important information to diving fork first into Boston’s proudest moments within the kitchen, and what readers needed to say about every dish.

1. Boston baked beans

They don’t name it “beantown” for nothing. With a historical past of being served throughout Native American meals, beans slow-baked in molasses usually are not solely a nod to instances of yore, but additionally to when town was awash in molasses throughout its half within the “triangular commerce.” The dish is historically served in a small crock, with brown bread sitting sidecar. 

Reader Matt from Holliston mentioned, “It’s the perfect Boston dish as a result of it’s the oldest, and it’s named after town! … I used to love to get baked beans at Durgin-Park (RIP) and The Fours (RIP), however now the perfect baked beans are at Menotomy Tavern in Arlington. Have them with the cod desserts for a real Boston deal with.”

Beantown Pub

Whenever you’re situated alongside Boston’s Freedom Path, it’s a no brainer to dish out a traditional plate or two. The Beantown Baked Beans is a conventional recipe with brown bread on the facet. (100 Tremont St., Boston)

Rebel’s Guild

Chef Suraj Chopra takes two days for this heirloom recipe, starting with an in a single day soak of dried beans. After six hours of simmering in molasses and brown sugar and an in a single day relaxation, the North Nation Smokehouse bacon taste comes by means of like a insurgent’s yell. (200 Stuart St., Boston)

Menotomy Grill and Tavern

When a restaurant’s identify harkens again to its metropolis’s authentic 1600s settlement, the menu is bound to be traditional New England. Such is Menotomy Grill — an homage to yesteryear when Arlington was often known as Menotomy. Its Boston baked beans are a sweet-meets-salty bowl due to the bacon and caramelized brown sugar. It’s obtainable as a piping sizzling facet dish or to accompany the New England cod cake entree. (25 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington)

Oak Long Bar + Kitchen 

This high-end restaurant serves a duo of Boston baked beans and eggs as a hearty reply to what’s for breakfast. Served Monday by means of Friday, the hearth-baked forged iron skillet is crammed with eggs, pork andouille, spinach, and parmesan and is served with ciabatta. (138 St. James Ave., Boston)

Union Oyster House

America’s oldest restaurant has its sights on the normal beans as a facet dish. Beginning with navy beans, browned salt pork, onions, molasses, water, brown sugar and mustard, they’re baked for a number of hours till the beans are tender. (41 Union St., Boston)

2. Boston cream pie

Because the story goes, Omni Parker Home is the birthplace of this dessert, which identifies extra as a cake than pie. Candy custard is layered between yellow butter cake, and glazed with chocolate. 

Virginia S. from Vermont instructed us that the deal with, which she orders from the Parker Home for particular events and birthdays, is the “good mixture [of flavors] for a dessert or celebration.” 

Flour Bakery & Café 

Joanne Chang’s Boston cream pie is a moist sponge cake crammed with a fluffy combo of vanilla pastry cream and whipped cream, soaked in espresso syrup, and topped with glistening, pure chocolate ganache. Try your personal with the recipe in her “Flour, Too” cookbook. (a number of areas)

Omni Parker House

When legendary French chef and Parker Home’s chef de delicacies Augustine Francois Anezin drizzled chocolate ganache onto French sponge cake crammed with vanilla custard, he created a slice of native historical past. (60 College St., Boston)

S&S Restaurant

This near-century-old deli recognized for piled-high sandwiches and “grandma’s favourite” matzo ball soup additionally offers Inman Sq. with nice desserts. Feast on the Boston cream, which options layered wealthy golden cake and candy vanilla custard with chocolate ganache. (1334 Cambridge St., Cambridge)

Cocorico

Fortunately, the café within the Omni within the Seaport simply returned its Boston Cream Pie donuts to the menu. Made with Valrhona darkish chocolate glaze and crammed with vanilla pastry cream, they use ultra-fluffy dough made with cultured butter for a tiny little bit of tang. (450 Summer season St., Boston)

Bova’s Bakery

The Boston cream pie at this almost 100-year-old North Finish mainstay is a wealthy layered dessert that’s created with each vanilla and chocolate cream fillings. Topped with a thick layer of chocolate ganache, it is going to fulfill your candy tooth craving regardless of when you have got it (bonus: Bova’s is open 24 hours a day, daily). (134 Salem St., Boston)

3. Cannoli

With an Italian neighborhood just like the North Finish inside its metropolis limits, it’s no marvel Boston loves these pastry and cream masterpieces. And as dwelling to one of many metropolis’s largest culinary rivalries (Mike’s versus Trendy), Boston is aware of: The place you get them is simply as essential as what form you get. 

Readers who picked cannoli as a favourite dish beneficial each of the famed bakeries, Mike’s Pastry and Trendy Pastry, with an equal variety of votes.

Eataly

This mega maze of Italian delicacies will be intimidating, however its cannoli choice is price it. Suppose raspberry, pistachio, tiramisu, chocolate, and ricotta. A mini trio makes the choice much less annoying. (800 Boylston St., Boston)

Mike’s Pastry

Diehard loyalists know the signature white field with vibrant blue font and string bow. These cannolis are legendary, with Nutella, peanut butter, amaretto, strawberry, mint chocolate, and extra sitting within the large case alongside conventional. (A number of areas)

Modern Pastry

The opposite Boston cannoli king. Crew Trendy Pastry finds themselves noshing on the crisp, deep-fried pastry tubes crammed with scrumptious yellow or chocolate cream or ricotta. Flavors will be chocolate-dipped with chocolate chips, almond, or pistachio. (A number of areas)

Nebo Cucina and Enoteca

There’s no tunnel imaginative and prescient at Nebo in terms of this Italian confection. As an alternative of a tube, the dessert is a deconstructed layering of the cannoli shell and ricotta crème topped with powdered sugar. (520 Atlantic Ave., Boston)

Parm

Served three to an order, “Mario’s Cannolis” are crammed with whipped mascarpone cream then dipped in chocolate chips, and completed with a heavy dusting of confectioner’s sugar. (100 Huntington Ave., Suite K006A, Boston)

4. Clam chowder

True New England clam chowder (pronounced chowdah, in the event you please) is a wealthy and thick concoction of shellfish, salt pork or bacon, potatoes, and cream. Don’t overlook the oyster crackers. 

Todd Z. from Peabody beneficial a spot to get the soup in Marblehead, saying, “Get onto the dock, and stroll all the way down to The Barnacle for a piping sizzling dish of deliciousness!”

The Boston Sail Loft

Its thick and creamy clam chowder put this family-owned restaurant on the map by successful a number of native “better of” awards over time. Served in an overflowing mug, it’s loaded with recent chopped clams and potatoes, and copious quantities of dill to chop by means of the richness. (80 Atlantic Ave., Boston)

Legal Sea Foods

No chowder record is full with out this seafood large’s. Salt pork and cracklings up the ante and mix with wealthy cream and clams. It’s so celebrated, the chowder is offered on-line. Mug not included. (A number of areas)

Mooncusser Fish House

Mooncusser provides smoked scallops and skate in with recent clams. The piping sizzling bowl is accompanied by bobbing, house-made moon crackers. (304 Stuart St., Boston)

Puritan and Company

Chef Will Gilson makes use of mussels and clams to impart a deeper taste to his chowder at this historic Inman Sq. spot. He additionally blends in pinches of herbs from his household’s Herb Lyceum in Groton. (1166 Cambridge St., Cambridge)

Saltie Girl

Among the many crudo, caviar, and tinned fish at this seafood-centric Again Bay restaurant sits a steaming bowl of the Holy Trinity of Clam Chowder: entire and fried clams with a trifecta of marble potato, salsify, and bacon. (279 Dartmouth St., Boston)

5. Frappes

Milk and syrup make up a milkshake, however add ice cream, and it miraculously turns into a frappe. Thick and filling, this dessert drink is an train in dwelling your finest life. 

Ann from Easton referred to as the frappe “good” and beneficial Sharon-based Crescent Ridge Dairy.

Boston Burger Company

The Freak Frappe menu is not any joke. A puff-inducing instance of those blended monstrosities is the S’Extra Than You Can Deal with, a frozen sizzling chocolate frappe with graham cracker rim, chocolate syrup, and a depraved huge s’extra. (A number of areas)

J.P. Licks 

Flip any of your favourite flavors (even dairy free and onerous yogurt) into a correct frappe, from common to further thick. There’s additionally an espresso frappe choice, profiting from the in-house roasted espresso. (A number of areas).

Sullivan’s Castle Island

Sully’s seasonal opening brings the masses for its sizzling canine, however the thick shakes have their very own fan base. Seize a frosty frappe in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, espresso, mocha, or black and white from this seasonal Citadel Island concession stand, and head for a stroll by Pleasure Bay. Or get them organized year-round at Hub Hall, or out of the Hood Milk Bottle on the Youngsters’s Museum. (A number of areas)

Veggie Galaxy

If it’s indulgence you need, this vegetarian diner and vegan bakery goals to please. Their vegan frappe menu is a baker’s dozen of concoctions made with native FoMu coconut-based ice cream. The Matcha Frappe is a favourite – vanilla, MEM Tea matcha, and oat milk, topped with coconut whipped cream and toasted coconut. (450 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge)

Wahlburgers

At Wahlberg-owned eating places, milk and ice cream are the bottom for shakes. Kiddos sip on chocolate, strawberry, chocolate mint, and mocha, whereas the over-21 crowd can order frappes just like the Mud Pie with espresso ice cream, Pinnacle vanilla vodka, Créme de Cocoa, Kahlua, vanilla frosting, and crushed Oreos. (A number of areas)

6. Lobster mac ‘n cheese

Whereas we wouldn’t name this American traditional a Boston authentic, including lobster to its melty goodness is a current New England custom that’s certain to stay round. As a result of lobster and cheese. 

J.T. T. from North Quincy mentioned of the dish that they “haven’t had it for years however take pleasure in lobster and mac collectively.”

Capital Grille

Billed as a dish “for the desk,” this four-cheese mix (mascarpone, parmigiano, havarti, and white cheddar) is so decadent it’s possible you’ll not need to share. Oven-baked with campanelle pasta and delicate poached lobster meat, it’s topped with buttered and toasted crumbs. (A number of areas)

Ocean Prime

The Seaport restaurant’s new lobster mac and cheese is an up to date tackle one among their hottest and decadent sides, that includes entire Maine lobster, Tillamook cheddar, and luscious noodles. (140 Seaport Blvd., Boston)

Summer Shack

The legendary New England chef Jasper White pairs elbow pasta with a sauce created from aged cheddar from Vermont cheddar and succulent meat from a one-pound lobster. The heaping bowl is topped with garlic bread crumbs toasted till golden brown. (A number of areas)

Tonno

Whereas the setup adjustments seasonally, Chef Anthony Caturano’s weekend-only dish all the time boasts lobster, brief minimize rigatoni, and a decadent cheese sauce. This winter, friends benefit from the additions of roasted squash, pancetta, and mascarpone. (A number of areas)

Yankee Lobster Co.

Counter service, a harbor patio, and disposable dishes are the tremendous informal velocity of this waterfront staple. The lobster mac and cheese has large chunks of succulent lobster and a seasoned bread crumb topping. Seize a dwell lobster from the marketplace for DIY at dwelling. (300 Northern Ave., Boston)

7. Lobster roll

This seemingly easy Boston favourite sparks large debate: Ought to the lobster be blended in mayo or melted butter? 

The dish will be “deceptively easy, but simple to screw up,” reader Mark T. from Pembroke mentioned. “When it’s finished proper, there’s nothing higher. I moved to California years in the past, and I dream of a recent lobster roll.”

B&G Oysters

Barbara Lynch’s Maine lobster roll is piled excessive with freshly-shucked meat chilly with mayo. It comes with French fries, coleslaw, and a heap of butter pickles that minimize by means of all that richness. (550 Tremont St., Boston)

Eventide

When Eventide brought its famous name down from Maine to Fenway, with it got here its extremely acclaimed lobster roll. The steamed bun is mildly candy, and it’s filled with items of brown butter lobster. (1321 Boylston St., Boston)

James Hook and Co.

Whenever you’ve been trapping your personal lobsters since 1925, your lobster rolls are epic. Notice that this feast on a bun is made with lobster blended with mayo. (440 Atlantic Ave., Boston)

Pauli’s

This North Finish nook performs it protected with each variations — sizzling with drawn butter and chilly with mayo — in seven, 14, and 28 (“the Lobstitution”) ounces. The smallest comes on a grilled New England-style sizzling canine roll, whereas the bigger ones are piled onto sub rolls to accommodate all that meat. (65 Salem St., Boston)

Row 34

Chef Jeremy Sewall’s cousin Mark Sewall, who helms his personal lobster boat in Maine, sources the lobster at Row 34. The nice and cozy buttered lobster roll is simply that, whereas Ethel’s creamy lobster roll (named for the chef’s grandmother) is conventional chilly mayo prep. (A number of areas)

8. Roast beef sandwich

Not for the faint of urge for food, the world’s roast beef sandwiches are stacked with heaps upon heaps of roast beef. Custom dictates slices are sandwiched into an onion roll, however guidelines are made to be damaged. 

Jay M. from Westford mentioned the “North Shore Beef” has many choices and needs to be launched to the lots. “Beginning with a crunchy, grilled, buttery bun, with cheese, roast beef, and loads of James River sauce,” he mentioned. “If it ain’t a homicide scene, you would possibly as effectively toss it within the trash.”

Bricco’s Salumeria

Tucked down a North Finish alley behind its sister restaurant, Frank DePasquale’s salumeria shaves and piles housemade roast beef onto onion-topped buns, following up with a hefty drizzle of selfmade barbecue sauce. (11 Board Alley, Boston)

Cusser’s Roast Beef and Seafood 

Wagyu eye spherical is roasted to medium-rare every day and served on fluffy house-made buns out of an old-school lunchtime takeout window. Strive the North Shore Three-Method (barbecue sauce, mayo, and cheese) or 80T type (with cheddar, pickled pink onions, and spicy aioli aka Thoreau sauce). (A number of areas)

Cutty’s

This diminutive Brookline Village sandwich store hits its huge with the Roast Beef 1000 — a meaty masterpiece full of slow-roasted beef, crispy shallots, Thousand Island, and sharp cheddar on brioche from Iggy’s. (284 Washington St., Brookline)

Harrison’s Roast Beef

The specialty sandwich at this family-owned spot is shredded Grade A first-rate beef served on a toasted onion roll with a zesty barbecue sauce. Add a dollop of the recent pepper relish for an additional kick. (80 Chickering Rd., North Andover)

Kelly’s Roast Beef

This store has carved out its place as one with, arguably, Boston’s most well-known roast beef sandwiches. Skinny slices are piled on a grilled sesame seed roll. Head to Revere Seashore to go to the unique location. (A number of areas)

9. Conventional clambake

Coastal and informal, a typical clambake contains lobster, clams, corn, and pink potatoes wrapped collectively and steamed over a fireplace. Think about it seashore time minus the sand. 

Rose F. from Brookline mentioned, “I like the completely different meals gadgets that make up a clambake. … It’s the quintessential summer time meal!”

The Banks Fish House

This individual-sized clam bake is served with chorizo, lobster, clams, mussels, shrimp, potatoes, and charred corn in your personal little style of summer time by the ocean. (406 Stuart St., Boston)

The Barking Crab

This Boston Harbor establishment simply matches the invoice for waterfront eating. Picnic tables and buoys set the scene, and whenever you pair a Cucumber Cooler cocktail with the 1.25-pound lobster, clams, corn, and potato salad combo, that is what life on the water is all about. (88 Sleeper St., Boston)

Bootleg Special

The eponymous “Bootleg Particular” is that this South Finish eatery’s signature boil serves three individuals with 1.5-pound lobster, a half-pound every shrimp, crawfish, mussels and clams, corn on the cob, potatoes, and andouille sausage. (400 Tremont St., Boston)

Little Whale Oyster Bar

Served in a person pot, the clambake features a alternative of chowder or a salad adopted by a one-pound boiled lobster, clams, pink bliss potatoes, linguica, and corn on the cob. (314 Newbury St., Boston)

Neptune Oyster

The N.O.B. Clambake boasts an entire two-pound Maine lobster, clams, chorizo, and candy summer time corn. The North Finish spot doesn’t take reservations and, because it has wolfed up its share of awards for seafood, be ready for a wait. (63 Salem St., Boston)

10. Yankee pot roast

Common in frugal New England kitchens, Yankee pot roast of yesteryear included robust cuts of beef roasted for hours to tenderize, and was served with root greens (assume: carrots, potatoes, parsnip, and turnip). 

Whitney S. from North Easton instructed us, “It’s the right dish for chilly New England winters and my go-to when there’s a Nor’easter.”

The Dubliner Irish Pub

The hours-long course of for chef Aiden McGee’s Sunday feast is all about sluggish bone-on roasting. The dish serves up roast pork shoulder on a mattress of carrots, onions, apples, roast potatoes, and braised cabbage for an ideal winter hotter (2 Heart Plz., Boston)

Henrietta’s Table

A simmer in veal inventory offers this pot roast its fork-tender enchantment. Within the wintertime, it’s served with a facet of regionally grown roasted carrots, crispy shallots, and gravy to finish the hearty meal. (1 Bennett St., Cambridge)

The Loft

The New England pot roast at this north shore restaurant is slow-cooked till tender and is served up with a pile of creamy mashed potatoes, crisp asparagus, and wealthy gravy. (1140 Osgood St., North Andover)

Merchants Row

This Yankee pot roast comes with butternut squash, mashed potatoes, pot roast gravy, and Revolutionary Battle tales that passed off minutes from the 300-year-old Colonial Inn’s door. Additionally of be aware are the tales of British and colonial soldiers’ spirits said to roam its rooms. (48 Monument St., Harmony)

Pleasant Café

Tuesday evening is Yankee pot roast evening at this Parkway authentic. It’s all about easy simmering and hand slicing, creamy, selfmade mashed potatoes, seasoned, sliced carrots, and gravy. Bonus: The old-school vibe interprets to being referred to as “honey” whenever you order. (4515 Washington St., Roslindale)