10 perfect date spots to spark a fall romance
From a first date coffee shop to a first anniversary Italian restaurant.
During fall in Boston, the trees change from green to red and orange, students and residents bustle along Boston’s streets, and local produce like apples, squashes, and herbs are abundant. It’s beautiful and it’s romantic—what better way to celebrate than by taking a date to one of the many recently opened restaurants in the area? Here are 10 new date spots in Boston and beyond, plus a couple of ideas for what to do before or after dinner.
The Smoke Shop
Start your date at one of the best-kept museum secrets in Cambridge: the MIT Museum (265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge; 617-253-5927), which showcases tech and science discoveries at the historic university and recent projects from artists and students, blending art and cutting-edge technology. Afterward, discuss the exhibits over dinner at The Smoke Shop (1 Kendall Square, Cambridge; 617-577-7427), the city’s newest barbecue restaurant, located in Kendall Square. Chef Andy Husbands, who has won several competitive barbecue championships, opened the Cambridge restaurant earlier this year and serves regional barbecue specialties like pulled pork, ribs, and brisket.
A full slab of pork ribs at the Smoke Shop by Andy Husbands restaurant.
Waypoint
Chef Michael Scelfo’s sophomore debut, Waypoint (1030 Mass. Ave, Cambridge; 617-864-2300), was one of the most anticipated restaurant openings all year. Two months in, it’s already solidifying itself as one of the best places to take a date. The menu at this restaurant is perfect for a couple-y night out, with options like homemade pastas, pizzas, and an entire section of the menu dedicated to roasts that can be shared between two or three people. There’s also a full section of the cocktail menu focused to the hard-to-find liqueur absinthe. After dinner, take a walk along the Charles River to view the fall foliage, or check out a show at American Repertory Theatre’s Oberon venue (2 Arrow St., Cambridge; 617-547-8300).
Bit Bar
Under normal circumstances, the idea of taking a date to a former jail sounds like a surefire way to never see that person again, but at Bit Bar in Salem (50 Saint Peter St., Salem; 978-594-4838), it’s guaranteed to be a good time. This new arcade, restaurant, and bar literally opened in a former jail specializes in inventive bar food and vintage arcade games. All of the classic are here: Asteroids Deluxe, Donkey Kong, Mortal Kombat, and more. Challenge your date; loser buys a round of drinks.
Bit Bar Salem, an arcade and restaurant in Salem, Massachusetts.
BLR by Shojo
Start your date with a trip to the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston (25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston, 617-478-3100), and discuss the finer points of the art exhibits. Afterward, walk into Boston and along the Greenway to Chinatown. Tuck into the tiny and aptly named BLR, formerly known as Best Little Restaurant (13A Hudson St., Boston; 617-338-4988). The space was revamped and reopened in June by the same team that runs Shojo (9A Tyler St., Boston; 617-423-7888), an Asian-inspired cocktail bar, a block away. The menu is full of fun mash-ups of different cuisines, like Szechuan Bolognese made with ground pork and Szechuan peppercorns and the duck confit moo shu with charred Brussels sprouts.
Juliet
This tasting-menu only restaurant in Somerville (257 Washington St., Somerville; 617-718-0958) is less than a year old but has been racking up accolades in Boston and beyond because of chef Josh Lewin’s take on local fare. Before heading over, be sure to check out the website because some days of the week are theme nights—for example, steakhouse Saturdays. Afterward, stop by Lizard Lounge (1667 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge; 617-547-0759) by Porter Square for some live music.
A meal at Juliet.
Haley.Henry Wine Bar
A stroll through the Public Garden is one of the most romantic things you can do in Boston at any point during the year, but it feels even more picturesque during the fall. Golden leaves fall at the feet of sculptures and dot the surface of the pond, while willow trees blow in the breeze. Finish your stroll with a trip to Haley.Henry Wine Bar (45 Province St., Boston; 617-208-6000), which opened in August in Downtown Crossing, focusing on small plates, crudo, and canned seafood. Note: This isn’t the canned seafood you’ll find at your local grocery store. Here, tins of seafood are imported from countries like Portugal and Spain, where you can find excellent quality fish packed in oil and stored in aluminum. If canned seafood isn’t your thing, though, you and your date can also make a meal out of the charcuterie and cheese options that change regularly.
Suya Joint
When the temperature drops, we naturally crave hearty, warming food. At Suya Joint (185 Dudley St., Roxbury; 617-708-0245), the menu focuses on Nigerian cuisine and has a section dedicated to traditional stews made with okra, peanut, or crushed mango seeds. All stews come with your choice of fufu, or dumplings, to use to soak up all of the delicious sauce. Suya is a traditional shish kebab that is served at the beginning of the meal, and here, the beef and chicken suyas are must-orders. Make a day of it by adding a trip to the Arnold Arboretum to view the fall foliage. (Suya Joint had a Roslindale location that closed in 2014; its Roxbury location opened in January.)
Moona
Moona (243 Hampshire St., Cambridge; 617-945-7448), a brand-new Cambridge restaurant in the Inman Square neighborhood, is getting a lot of buzz thanks to the food’s Mediterranean and Arabic influences and the space’s intimacy and coziness. The menu emphasizes warm and cold mezza, which are perfect for sharing and allow you and your date to try a lot of different options. Moona’s chef, Mark McMann, has worked at beloved restaurants like Shepard and Ashmont Grill, and it shows. After dinner, take in an experimental live show at the Lilypad (1353 Cambridge St., Cambridge; 617-955-7729).
Moona’s interior, which combines Arabic design with modern details like copper accents.
Green T Coffee Shop (Roslindale)
This coffee shop opened its second location in Roslindale (873 South St., Roslindale; 617-790-5777) in May, and it’s the perfect place to have a daytime date. The cozy space has a neighborhood feel and even has bookshelves and a small fireplace to help set the mood. Be sure to order the house blend, made with fair trade coffee sourced from South America, and pair it with one of the housemade bagels.
SRV
At the edge of the South End lies SRV (569 Columbus Ave., Boston; 617-536-9500), a wine bar inspired by the ‘bacaros’ of Venice, serving some of the area’s best Italian food. Chefs Kevin O’Donnell and Michael Lombardi have created a menu with Italian classics alongside surprising combinations like skate wing with sea urchin and peppers. After dinner, stick to the Italian vibe by heading to a show at the Boston Symphony (301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston; 617-266-1200) or Wally’s Cafe (427 Massachusetts Ave., Boston; 617-424-1408) for live jazz and blues.
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