Five of my Favorite Places to Eat in Boston
Sweet Cheeks Q
Walking into Sweet Cheeks is absolutely intoxicating. If you’ve been, you know what I’m talking about. They could literally bottle that smoked meat scent and sell it in a jar. I would buy it.
Sweet Cheeks has only been open a year, but we’ve probably been at least 10 times. It’s that good. We always order a 1/4 lb of pork belly for the table. It’s just enough for everyone to have a bite and not feel overwhelmed. We also always order biscuits. These biscuits are amazing. I was excited to hear that they’re now serving the biscuits at lunchtime and they’re available for carry out.
My order is pretty weird at Sweet Cheeks, but it works. Unless Hubby is in the mood to share a tray with me, I order 2 ribs and the farm salad. The salad comes with seasonal veggies and a light dressing. The ribs are smokey and after a biscuit and some pork belly, it’s just the right amount of food to enjoy. Another great thing about Sweet Cheeks is the outdoor seating and their new outdoor beer garden.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
The first time we went to Island Creek Oyster Bar was shortly after it opened. We went for our friend’s birthday dinner and I ate my first oyster. I wasn’t a huge fan of them after that first taste, but I didn’t hate them either. Throughout the past few years, I have learned to love oysters.
Not only does ICOB serve oysters, they have some amazing seafood and cocktails. The Lobster Roe Noodles are amazing and Hubby almost always orders that dish. The biggest downside of this restaurant is just that it’s hard to get in to. Securing a reservation is a good idea, but you’re probably going to have to do it a bit in advance. Or just head over and be prepared to wait.
Anna’s Taqueria
This place is an institution in Boston. Everyone loves it. Anna’s Taqueria is known for their Super Burritos, but I have to admit, it’s just too much for me. I get a regular burrito on a whole wheat wrap. I also enjoy the Mexican plate which is basically all the filling of a burrito without the wrap. That plate can feed me for two generously sized meals.
I remember when Anna’s was cash only. Since I never have cash, I only went on rare occasions. Ever since they started taking credit, Hubby and I go at least once a month.
Cutty’s
Cutty’s is another fairly new restaurant in the area that Hubby and I have fallen in love with. I’m pretty sure Hubby would eat there every Saturday if I let him. Cutty’s is a small deli down the street from us that is only open until 3pm.
So the only time we can go is on Saturdays (they’re closed Sundays). The first few times we went there, we’d order two different sandwiches and split them. Now that we’ve tried them all, we have our favorites and just order a Roast Beef 1000 and a Greens Bacon and split them both. Sometimes I get the salad instead and Hubby eats his Greens Bacon himself.
We’ve also tried their breakfast sandwiches, which are also amazing. Cutty’s uses local ingredients and has a chalkboard wall that lists where everything comes from. They were featured on Diners, Dine-Ins, and Dives a couple weeks ago too!
Cognac Bistro
This place is on my list for 1 reason: $1 Oysters from 3-5pm. On a nice day, we love to head over to Cognac Bistro, sit outside and order a dozen (or more) oysters to split. It’s usually pretty easy to convince others to join us for the outing. They also do $3 Narragansett’s. Nothing beats an afternoon sitting outside, eating oysters, and drinking beers with friends.
All these pics are from Instagram. Apparently I really like taking photos of my food!
One Year Ago: Massaged Kale with Pear and Pumpkin Seeds and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranates and Vanilla-Pecan Butter
Two Years Ago: Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Patty Frosting and Homemade Green Bean Casserole
Three Years Ago: Cookie Dough Brownies
Four Years Ago: Lumberjack Cookies and Peppermint Sandies
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
What a great and yummy idea! I wish I lived closer and could have joined. I need to research the bakeries in Phoenix and find some delicious cupcakes.
What an amazing idea and post, awesome.
what a great post and a fun idea!
You did SUCH a great job with this. I’m so happy it went well for you! And no rain? Double bonus!!!
How neat, all the cupcakes look yummy to me!
Very cool! Your group must have been exhausted at the end of the day. I am from Boston but now live in PA, your post made me want to head home for a visit. 🙂
Thanks everyone. We definitely lucked out with the weather. It was a bit hot, but not unbearable.
It was an exhausting day. I think we left the last bakery around 8:30. Hubby and I grabbed some dinner and got home around 11:00. We were exhausted!
I am jealous! This is right up my alley. I need to get myself out to Babycakes ASAP!
I used to live in Quincy and a stop into Babycakes was mandatory at least once a week for DH and me.
i live in the north end and have been wondering about the new lyndell’s!! great info for a fellow bostoner!!
What a great crawl! Glad to see you had fun and I hope to make a stop to check these out when I’ll be visiting in a few months! I’ve been on a slight commenting hiatus with my busy schedule lately… but it’s great to catch up and see what’s cooking in your kitchen!
Such a fantastic idea – I love Boston… and cupcakes.
What a great idea! I am in Boston and I am amazed at all of the cupcake shops that keep popping up. And another one: I just read that Todd English is opening “Curly Cupcakes” on Charles street!
kitchenbelle.com
fabulous idea for 24,24,24! i’m hungry for cupcakes now….
Great post! I can’t wait to try some of these places out the next time I’m in Boston.
Love this idea! Great post and pictures. The straw in the Pink Lemonade cupcake at Sweet is so cute!!
Thank you SO much for this! Although, I wish I had all of this info on Friday when we were wandering around town just for fun! I am SO going to have to try some of these places!
I love the fact that you did this crawl – I wanted to do the same thing after reading a Boston.com article a few months ago but never got off my lazy butt to do it. You’ve inspired me to start visiting some of these places.
From a wedding standpoint, I love all the pictures of the cupcakes – this is because I want them as a part of my wedding reception and need to find the right bakery to get them from.
As always, great post!
You forgot to try the the only cupcake store that would have scored a 5.0. Sensational cupcakes in saugus just 10 mins from boston. You really should try them they are simply sensational. http://Www.sensationalcupcake.com
Thanks for the note about Curly Cupcakes, I’ll have to check that out too.
As mentioned in the post, we were only trying cupcake bakeries that were accessable via the T. We wanted to be able to rate bakeries that anyone could get to in the city. There are quite a few other bakeries that don’t meet that criteria. I’ll definitely have to try Sensational Cupcakes next time I’m in the Saugus area though.
you should have gone to Lyndell’s – the *real* Lyndell’s – in ball square close to Davis. their cupcakes are great. there is also an adorable cupcake-related story about Lyndell’s: http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/homepage/x418534015/Groom-to-be-My-love-is-like-a-Lyndell-s-cupcake
I agree with everyone that this was a great idea and I love reading the reviews. I also second the idea of going to the real Lyndell’s in Somerville, it is the same place, but the original store. However in my opinion the best thing at Lyndells is their black and white cookies. They are like flat cupcakes more than cookies and the frosting on them is at least an inch thick. Their chocolate frosting is A-MA-ZING!!!
I have to give a nod to Lyndell’s in Somerville.I ended up with a ton of goods from them at The taste of Somerville.
If you’re out on the T again you have to check out Sweet Tooth in South Boston just up Broadway from the Broadway T stop. Their cupcakes are enormous and are the absolute best I’ve ever had.
http://www.sweettoothboston.com/
They are also available at Lamberts in downtown Boston.
I love the idea of the Boston Cupcake Crawl. All the cupcakes look amazing and makes me want a cupcake!
VERY cool! I haven’t been to a bakery for cupcakes (anything, really) here in FL.
Have you come down off your sugar high yet? 🙂
~ingrid
It sounds like a lot of fun! Thanks for the recommendations and ratings – it’s always good to get another perspective (other than yelp)!
that’s the cutest idea ever!!!
i really enjoyed one of kickass cupcakes vegan pumpkin spice cupcakes once, and I hear that sweet has vegan offerings on Mondays! I can’t wait to check it out!
How fun! Man I wish we were neighbors. I’d love to cupcake crawl with you! I totally have to jank this idea for my hood. Complete with your cute little scorecards and goodie bags. J’dorable!
/Clara
Please come see me as part of your next cupcake crawl, Sugar Bakery… I am the cupcake lady ask for me. Always loooking to know if people enjoy my cupcakes:)
Please come by sugar bakery ask for me, I would love to be part of your next adventure. Always looking to see what people think of my cupcakes 🙂
What a great 24,24,24 theme!!
I just got selected for this month and am very excited!
I also just got back from Boston where I did a great walking tour of the North End Market area:
http://www.eatlivetravelwrite.com/2009/08/north-end-market-tour-boston-1.html
(and the two posts that follow it!)
What a brilliant idea! I think I’ll try and organise a cupcake crawl now! Loving the little bags you made 🙂
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