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Stay warm at these Greater Boston restaurants this winter
Plus: A hot chocolate guide, comedy dating show at Sam Adams Taproom, and mushroom bánh mì.
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There was something comforting about the small talk I had with a stranger, soon after I moved to Boston. It was about weather, my go-to topic when I have no other ideas for conversation.
“You never get used to the cold,” she told me. Cool, so I’m not alone in my loathing of below-freezing weather.
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Temperature extremes are no fun for anyone. I grew up in some of the hottest places in the country, where summers were swampy, sticky, and regularly 90+ degrees. I never got used to liking it, the way I’d get a third-degree burn sitting in my family car’s leather seats, or the immediate sweat you’d produce just going outside to the mailbox, only to then feel cold and damp once you return to the air-conditioned indoors.
I hate the cold, too. I hate how long it takes me to leave the house, as I strategically apply layers that I immediately want to tear off when I get on the heat-blasting T. I hate slipping and sliding on sidewalks covered in ice. I hate getting hit in the face by wind that makes it feel even colder.
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But in the South, I never let the unbearable heat stop me from living life (read: eat at restaurants). And despite the agony it brings me to go outside right now, I’m braving the cold for a little treat all winter long. Here’s how:
🍲 Slurp down soups: When I’m not eating this Chicken and Rice soup for an entire week, I’ll stand in line to wait for what many will argue is the best ramen in Greater Boston, Ganko Ittetsu (here’s a Reddit thread for proof). Also in Brookline, there’s usually a hot bowl of something on The Abbey’s menu that beats these winter blues. Want more options? I’ve got a handy guide.
🍹 Drink an adult beverage: It is possible to still go to open-air markets in winter. Take Bow Market, for example, which offers fire pits. But when I need an extra dose of warmth, I head into Rebel Rebel for a glass of mulled wine. I also discovered recently that Remnant Brewing has a hot toddy on their cocktail menu, and The Burren (just a short bus ride away) offers an extensive menu of hot beverages.
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🔥 Sit by the fire: There’s nothing more warming than literal fire (even if it’s not an open fireplace), and I didn’t want to leave my comfy spot in front of The Lexington’s fireplace. Pair that with Geppetto’s Tortellini en Brodo, and you might break a sweat.
This is a slow time for restaurants, yet many are putting in the effort to get you out of the house despite the awful weather. My colleague Kelly Chan and I put together an anti-hunker down list of ideas to stay warm at restaurants this winter, and I hope you’ll find somewhere cozy to grab a nice meal.
Now go live your life — but make sure to grab a scarf and beanie before you do.
For your reading list
- 🛒 Somerville gets an H Mart
- 🍸 This Boston cocktail is among the best worldwide
- ☕ Hot chocolate season is here
- 🍀 McGonagle’s, a next-generation Irish pub (Boston Magazine)
- 🫶 How LA restaurants are feeding displaced Angelenos (LA Times)
For your calendar
- 😘 Watch a comedy dating show at Sam Adams Taproom
- 🍸 Buy a martini, get a stuzzichini
- 🛍️ Pop-up market at Aeronaut
- 🤤 Eat a Bay Scallop special
What I’m eating this week: Mushroom Bánh mì from 3 Little Figs ($12)
It’s hard to convince myself to grab breakfast or lunch during the work week — for money reasons, mainly, but also because of work. But I’m so happy that 3 Little Figs reminded me of what it’s like when we leave our work desks for a change of scenery and a bite to eat. Their mushroom bánh mì, a special on their menu, caught my attention immediately. This vegan alternative to one of my favorite kinds of sandwiches had the fresh ingredients, sweetness, and tangy punch a bánh mì should have, and the bread was pillowy-soft. Get it while you still can, on Monday through Friday.
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One last thing: My heart hurts for Los Angeles, one of my favorite cities, especially for its food and culture. While it’s certainly a bright spot to read about how restaurants are stepping up to help their community (as restaurants always do during natural disasters or other tragic events), some restaurants have been completely destroyed, and their employees are out of work. Consider helping the recovery efforts of these small, local staples.
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