For those looking for an immersive tourist experience, food tours combine traditional sightseeing with a taste of local gastronomy.
One of the oldest cities in the United States, Boston’s cuisine offers a unique mixture of traditional English cooking influence and seafood-based recipes. Here, we propose a guide through its most iconic, not-to-miss-out-on plates.
Table of Contents
Boston: where History meets the present
Today, it is one of the most populated cities in New England, and it is considered an economic and cultural center. It was once the settlement of the newly arrived British. This greatly impacted the local recipes, which were also determined by the city’s proximity to the sea. However, new cultures that came to inhabit the area contributed to the lifestyle, so gastronomy now offers an exceptional blend of the old and the new. If you are looking into starting a Boston’s food tour, here is a list of dishes that you cannot leave out of your schedule:
-
Boston Lobster Roll
This lobster-and-bread delicacy, one of Boston’s most renowned ones, is diversely combined: from different twists in the preparation of the lobster to the use of various kinds of bread (from the brown butter bun in The Banks Fish House to the fluffy bun that is Eventide Fenway’s plate main feature, without missing out on Alive & Kicking Lobsters’ Scali bread). Simple yet tasty, grab a bite of this local icon before leaving the city.
-
Clam Chowder
Also known as “New England Clam Chowder,” it must be differentiated from its Manhattan Clam Chowder relative, for it is thicker, creamier, and whiter. Its ingredients include a clam-based soup, onion, bacon, milk, potatoes, and some spices (some variations include adding oyster crackers to make it thicker). This compulsory stop in any food tour in Boston goes back into History, and it is known that even in 1826, the still-standing restaurant The Union Oyster House had it on its menu (since 2003, this culinary landmark has gained the title of National Historic Landmark and it is the oldest operating in the United States).
Its fame has reached the status of a yearly “Chowderfest,” an event in which different restaurants offer their approach to this classic plate.
-
Baked Beans
If Boston gained the nickname “Beantown,” it was because of this dish. Slowly cooked with a low fire, it was a recipe that helped the native Americans fight the cold winters. The settlers quickly copied the formula, which consisted of white beans, bacon, molasses, or syrup, often served with brown bread. An after-church Sunday favorite, it was cooked throughout the whole night. Nowadays, you can try it in restaurants such as Beantown Pub or Bostonia Public House.
-
Fish and Chips
White fish dipped in a mixture of flour and black beer and then fried make this a simple yet tasteful and practical recipe. It is often served with chips on the side, which makes an overall crunchy and light dish.
It was already a highly demanded dish in the British Islands, but its popularity grew notably when it arrived in America.
Restaurants like Dubliner or Druid are known to serve some of the best fish and chips in the area.
-
Roast Beef Sandwich
Thinly cut roast beef inside an onion roll, with the optional mayo, white American cheese, or barbecue sauce—this combination is a gastronomical landmark in Boston’s cuisine and can be found in places like Cusser’s Roast Beef & Seafood.
-
Fenway Frank
You may have tried hot dogs, but have you tried them in the Boston way? Born at Fenway Frank (closely associated with the Boston Red Sox), this hot dog is boiled, grilled, put into a bun, and topped with mustard and relish.
-
Yankee Pot Roast
This is yet another recipe to get warm during winter. It is based on slow-roasted beef mixed with root vegetables and sauce. It might be served with mashed potatoes and gravy on the side. Its notoriety has made some restaurants, like Pleasant Café, include a “Yankee Pot Roast Day.”
-
Boston Brownies
The Boston brownie is the most celebrity option for those with a sweet tooth or who want to include a local dessert in their course. Creamy, made out of chocolate and nuts, is either hot or with a vanilla ice cream with chantilly cream on top.
-
Boston Cannolis
As the name suggests, this recipe has a strong Italian influence. The ricotta cheese fills the pastry pipes, which are topped with nuts, fruits, or chocolate. These can be found in almost any restaurant and cafe in Boston. Some variants replace the ricotta filling with whipped cream or dip the borders in chocolate. You can try it in places like Modern Pastry, Mike’s Pastry, and Eataly, among others.
-
Boston Cream Pie
Vanilla cake, cream filling, and chocolate topping—the combination of simple elements that makes a powerful and iconic Boston dessert. At first, the distinction between “pies” and “cakes” was not so clear, so throughout the 19th century, this recipe was also known as “cream pie,” “chocolate cream pie,” or “custard cake.” You can have a go at this plate in Omni Parker House, Flour Bakery & Café, or S&S Restaurant, to name a few.
Some Notorious Neighborhoods
Chinatown, North End, and South End are the city’s best-known areas. As the name suggests, Chinatown is famous for its Asian restaurants and spice vendors. At the same time, North End is commonly referred to as “Boston’s Little Italy” for its diversity of Italian restaurants, a list that includes sites like Mike’s Pastry.
Boston is also popular for its open-air markets, with sites like the Haymarket (which opens two days a week and sells fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish) and events like the Boston Local Food Festival.
From dishes that trace back to the city’s origins to the most recent culinary incorporations, you can get to know Boston through its recipes. Taste the local culture, where the old meets the new, to unlock tasteful combinations.