It's no secret that the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood has deep roots in baseball. Its central location in Boston also makes it a great home for college students. But did you know it's rapidly becoming a culinary destination as well? That's right, power players from all over the city are snatching up real estate on the neighborhood's bustling streets and turning its food scene into a real home run.
Baseball season may not be a year round event, but the incredible dining options around Fenway Park sure are. Check out these restaurants to get a taste of what the neighborhood has to offer.
Tiger Mama
If you’re looking for a tropical oasis in the middle of Boston, look no further than Tiffani Faison’s
Tiger Mama. The Southeast Asia-inspired menu is designed for dish-sharing so you get a sampling of all its exotic flavors.
Basil-lovers will adore the Pad Gra Pow made with spicy ground chicken, garlic, chili, and Thai basil, and topped with a fried egg. Break the yolk on top and you’ll think you’ve gone to heaven. The crispy Singapore Street Noodles are also a real treat, and Tiger Mama's okra, wok-roasted with garlic and shrimp paste, is bursting with flavor.
If the food isn’t enough, the tiki cocktails will surely delight, and the lush interior will transport you far away from the bustle of Boylston Street. Faison understands that dining should be an encompassing experience. Delicious of course, but also an adventure.
1363 Boylston St., Boston, 617-425-6262, tigermamaboston.com
Also featured in Taking Over Boylston Street One Cuisine At A Time
Eastern Standard
In a sports and student-centered neighborhood, the elegant
Eastern Standard is an institution where you can enjoy both a glamorous night out or leisurely brunch. The brasserie-inspired space is welcoming and feels both grand and intimate at the same time.
The menu also embraces the neighborhood's duality and has something for everyone. On it, you will find traditional brasserie dishes like Tuna Niçoise and Steak Frites, as well as sandwiches, burgers, and plenty of seafood options including a full raw bar. And late-night diners delight, in a city with so few night owl eateries, Eastern Standard’s late-night menu is one of the best (open) secrets in the city.
528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-532-9100, easternstandardboston.com
Also featured in Where Do Ice Cream And Inspiration Collide?
Sweet Cheeks
Sweet Cheeks, Faison's first venture in the Fenway-Kenmore area, is serving up the American dream: large amounts of delicious smoked meat in a communal and casual environment.
The Texas BBQ-inspired menu is no-frills but bursting with Southern charm. Mainstays—like slow-cooked pork belly, brisket, pulled pork—come on paper-lined metal trays with your choice of hot and cold sides including collard greens, mac & cheese, and potato salad. And don't forget the fluffiest, butteriest, most scrumptious biscuits in town. Bless your heart if you haven't had one yet.
The cocktail menu also pulls its flavors from the South, with ingredients like tea, honey, mint, and whiskey in the drinks. And the décor is urban and modern, yet very respectful of the humble tradition of its cuisine.
1381 Boylston St., Boston, 617-266-1300, sweetcheeksq.com
Also featured in Taking Over Boylston Street One Cuisine At A Time
Saloniki Greek
In a city that moves as rapidly as Boston, fast-casual restaurants are a necessity. And everyone, including acclaimed chefs like Jody Adams, is getting into the game.
Saloniki Greek serves up Greecian-inspired hospitality and dishes using local ingredients. The combination adds up to a delightful modern dining experience.
Every dish is an explosion of flavor. Diners can choose from pitas, platters, and salads including the Mt. Olympus made with oregano-marinated chicken thighs, greens, local tomato, cucumber, onion, feta, Greek olives, fresh herbs and a house vinaigrette. Make sure you leave room for dessert, the Nutella baklava loukoumades (Greek donuts), made to order, are out of this world.
4 Kilmarnock St., Boston, 617-266-0001, salonikigreek.com
Eventide Fenway
For years,
Eventide Oyster Co. has been Portland, Maine's premier destination for oysters and modern seafood. We're so lucky that Boston gets a taste, right next to Fenway Park! Eventide takes a fast-casual approach where you’ll order at the counter and receive a text when your meal is ready.
They're known for their brown butter lobster roll served on a slightly sweet bao-style steamed bun instead of the traditional hot dog bun. And for good reason, it's a game-changer. We also love the salmon crudo which comes adorned with scallion-tofu purée, furikake, and citrus-infused yuzu kosho. And if you have a sweet tooth don’t miss the brown butter soft serve for dessert. Drizzled with bourbon caramel sauce and topped with maple pecans, it'll immediately become a favorite.
1321 Boylston St., Boston, 617-545-1060, eventideoysterco.com/eventide-fenway
Also featured in Simply The Best Seafood Restaurants In Boston
Hojoko
Bet you didn't expect to find a Japanese izakaya (pub) with graffiti-covered walls next to Fenway. But that’s exactly what you get with
Hojoko in The Verb Hotel. The unique decor is just the beginning of a guaranteed fun dining experience.
The themed menu is ideal for sharing among parties. Spice things up with the Wasabi Roulette, a platter that includes five unmarked pieces of sushi stuffed with extra wasabi, and horchata in a baby bottle to soothe the pain for the unlucky diners. The Lazy Bones Handrolls is also a group favorite. To the table comes a lazy susan carrying a rack of bigeye tuna ribs served with sushi rice, avocado, cucumber, shiso, nori, scallion, tempura bits, spicy mayo, sesame sauce, ponzu, ginger, wasabi, and lemons. That's right, you're rolling your OWN hand rolls.
And while you’re at Hojoko check out The Groove, a recently-opened Japanese vinyl bar with stellar cocktails and music.
1271 Boylston St., Fenway, Boston, 617-670-0507, hojokoboston.com
Orfano
This year, Tiffani Faison and Kelly Walsh cemented their status as the rulers of Fenway with the opening of their Italian-American restaurant
Orfano, where everything from the elegant menu to the interior's tribute to strong women flaunts a unique point of view.
Orfano gives nods the foundations of Italian cooking while forging its own creative path. The menu has traditional items, like hand-pulled mozzarella and Nona's garlic bread. But you'll also find innovative pasta dishes like the Cacio e Pepe, a Taleggio tortellini with a salsa verde, and the Lobster Buccatini, with freshly shucked lobster, basil and chili, with brown butter lobster sauce.
In a way, Faison is getting back to her roots. Before Tiger Mama and Sweet Cheeks, her culinary career in Boston began at Rocca Kitchen & Bar’s Italian menu and we are forever grateful.
1391 Boylston St., Boston, 617-916-9600, orfanoboston.com
Time Out Market
Boston has been loading the bases on the food hall trend, the most recent addition being
Time Out in Fenway-Kenmore. The company launched its first hall in Lisbon, Portugal, and it's been non-stop growth ever since.
The Boston edition on Brookline Avenue has 15 restaurants, two bars, and a smorgasbord of the very best of the city's food scene. While there you will find seafood from Saltie Girl, deli sandwiches from Mamaleh’s, and donuts from Union Square Donuts, among many other things. It's hard to know where to begin when choosing what to eat. Exploring this culinary paradise is the perfect way to spend an afternoon.
401 Park Dr., Boston, 978-393-8088,
timeoutmarket.com/boston
