Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Quick Bites & Picnic Provisions
Takeout food particularly appeals to two kinds of out-of-towners: eat-and-
run sightseers and picnickers looking to take advantage of the acres of
waterfront property in Boston and Cambridge. Here are some suggestions.
If you're walking the Freedom Trail, pick up food at
Faneuil Hall Market-
place
and stake out a bench. Or buy a tasty sandwich in the North End at
Volle Nolle,
351 Hanover St. (
&
617/523-0003
), or
Il Panino Express,
266
Hanover St. (
&
617/720-5720
), and stroll down Fleet or Richmond streets
toward the harbor. Eat at the park on Sargent's Wharf, behind 2 Atlantic
Ave., or in Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, overlooking the marina
(which is also an option if you stocked up at Faneuil Hall Marketplace).
Two neighborhoods abut the Charles River Esplanade, a great destination
for a picnic, concert, or movie. In the
Back Bay,
stop at
Trader Joe's,
899
Boylston St. (
&
617/262-6505
), for prepared food, or
Spike's Junkyard
Dogs,
1076 Boylston St. (
&
617/266-0909
), for some of the tastiest hot dogs,
chicken sandwiches, and “poodle” (curly) fries around. At the foot of
Bea-
con Hill,
pick up all you need for a do-it-yourself feast at
Savenor's Market,
160 Charles St. (
&
617/723-6328
). Or call ahead for pizza from the original
location of the
Upper Crust
chain, 20 Charles St. (
&
617/723-9600
), or
Figs,
42 Charles St. (
&
617/742-3447
), a minuscule pizzeria that's an offshoot of
the celebrated Olives. The upscale fare at these places isn't cheap, but
avoiding the lines is worth the price—as is the delectable pizza.
On the Cambridge side of the river,
Harvard Square
is close enough to the
water to allow a riverside repast. About 5 minutes from the heart of
the Square and well worth the walk,
Darwin's Ltd.,
148 Mount Auburn St.
(
&
617/354-5233;
www.darwinsltd.com), serves excellent gourmet sand-
wiches and salads. Take yours to John F. Kennedy Park, on Memorial Drive
and Kennedy Street, or right to the riverbank, a block away. Nowhere near
the Charles, there's a branch at 1629 Cambridge St. (
&
617/491-2999
), in
Inman Square.
local Tex-Mex counter. The food is excellent, with generous portions of spicy-hot and
milder dishes; the friendly staff will help you navigate the menu. To start, count your-
self lucky if the soup of the day is garlic, or try a refreshing cactus-and-tomato salad.
Main-dish specialties include several kinds of enchiladas, traditional preparations of
fresh fish and shellfish, at least two vegetarian options, and the restaurant's signature
dish, succulent pork tenderloin marinated with oranges and chipotle peppers. The
walled garden is the “find” here; on a summer evening, it's a peaceful retreat.
30 Gloucester St., side entrance.
&
617/536-4341.
www.casaromero.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses
$15-$28. DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm; Sun noon-10pm (brunch until 2:30pm). Validated park-
ing available. T: Green Line B, C, or D to Hynes Convention Center.
La Voile
FRENCH/MEDITERRANEAN Talk about authentically French: The
owners created La Voile by shutting down La Voile au Vent in Cannes and shipping it
to Boston, complete with chef and decor. Red velvet banquettes soften the tile-floored
