An Atlantan's two months in Boston (Worcester, Cambridge: condos, homes, living)

[stanley-88888888]

i came into this thread with the opinion that fooding in boston is average and not horrible like a few posters said.

but now my post-51 makes me think that its much deeper than i thought. bookmarked for next time i pass thru to try them out. i grew up in somerville so i am biased toward my 5-mile radius; but, several of those places are in the d.r.m.

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Naw Boston proper is just the city of a Boston but people who don’t think of West Roxbury as city of Boston use it to refer to the 5square mile core. Which is pretty ridiculous given how small Boston proper already is.

Boston Proper today often used to mean city of Boston but in the old days it meant the core of the city rather than all the annexed districts like Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, etc. For example, I remember Dept of Public Works notices in the newspapers in advance of holidays informing residents that trash would be picked up only in Boston Proper and Roxbury.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

I hear what your saying about not excluding Camdrige Somerville but when 80%+ of all the places were saying are in 3/4 TINY areas-that’s a huge red flag and workin in Atlanta or Philly advantage-big time. I think Bostonians and especially folks on C-D see that As normal and okay but I think it’s actually quite shocking to people from other metros. Itsfar from normal for a city of Boston’s stature. The way we concentrate all the smaller offering in 2 places seems more on par with Baltimore or Charleston or maybe maybe Denver and not on par with Atlanta Philly Sf (I.e. cities we think of as piers). It’s also not acknowledging that depending where you are Boston area cuisine really is ho-hum. Throughout ALOT of the area

If we are talking in terms of a balanced metro vs. one that isn't, then yes that would be a huge red flag. I'm not familiar with Atlanta or Philly, but I think there are a number of large cities that have similar disparities to Boston...Detroit, Nashville, D.C. (although that might have changed). Closer by, Providence is a classic example of it.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by massnative71

If we are talking in terms of a balanced metro vs. one that isn't, then yes that would be a huge red flag. I'm not familiar with Atlanta or Philly, but I think there are a number of large cities that have similar disparities to Boston...Detroit, Nashville, D.C. (although that might have changed). Closer by, Providence is a classic example of it.

DC is definitely not like that as of 2019. Similar dining in Rockville Silver Spring Hyattsville Largo Bowie Oxon Hill/Alexandria Arlington Fall Church NWDC and NEDC

NWDC has the most upscale and Oxon Hill and Hyattsvile have the least- but sit down, alcohol serving, non-chain, ethnic and or unique restaurants founded in the past 10-15 years is very much the norm in the DMV. This is especially the case in Atlanta. Maybe less so in Philly-im not in the Philly burbs often especially not the PA side.

Still it leave us with peers like Detroit and Nashville..

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

DC is definitely not like that as of 2019. Similar dining in Rockville Silver Spring Hyattsville Largo Bowie Oxon Hill/Alexandria Arlington Fall Church NWDC and NEDC

NWDC has the most upscale and Oxon Hill and Hyattsvile have the least- but sit down, alcohol serving, non-chain, ethnic and or unique restaurants founded in the past 10-15 years is very much the norm in the DMV. This is especially the case in Atlanta. Maybe less so in Philly-im not in the Philly burbs often especially not the PA side.

Still it leave us with peers like Detroit and Nashville..

Yeah well the DC burbs are far more dynamic and diverse than Boston's so makes plenty of sense, but I think the big question here (and point of the conversation) is the urban areas...Boston (S of Mass. Ave.) vs. NE/SE DC vs. N Philly, etc. Is NE DC worlds above Dorchester/Roxbury/Mattapan?

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Yeah well the DC burbs are far more dynamic and diverse than Boston's so makes plenty of sense, but I think the big question here (and point of the conversation) is the urban areas...Boston (S of Mass. Ave.) vs. NE/SE DC vs. N Philly, etc. Is NE DC worlds above Dorchester/Roxbury/Mattapan?

Oh absolutely-like by far. South NBay has closed the gap a little but yes-by far NEDC blows DRM out of the water.

H Street (my favorite), Ivy City, Rhode Island Row and University Heights alone put anything in DRM to shame. There are few dozen artisan type restaurants and lounges out there, serviced by public transit both trolley and heavy rail. Heavy rail blast right through city boundaries and doesn't end halfway through the city either.

Theyre not even comparable. Try DRM to SEDC, thats a more apt comparison. SWDC would also blow them out of the water due to the Waterfront.

Also Boston burbs that are as diverse if not more than DCs, dont have many appealing restaurants. Ever gone to Lynn to eat? or Methuen? Or Randolph? Stoughton?

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Oh absolutely-like by far. South NBay has closed the gap a little but yes-by far NEDC blows DRM out of the water.

H Street (my favorite), Ivy City, Rhode Island Row and University Heights alone put anything in DRM to shame. There are few dozen artisan type restaurants and lounges out there, serviced by public transit both trolley and heavy rail. Heavy rail blast right through city boundaries and doesn't end halfway through the city either.

OK, I see we have a little catching up to do (imagine that).

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Theyre not even comparable. Try DRM to SEDC, thats a more apt comparison. SWDC would also blow them out of the water due to the Waterfront.

Well SE DC in reality is a small area in comparison to DRM as a proportion of Boston, so that doesn't say a whole lot.

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Also Boston burbs that are as diverse if not more than DCs, dont have many appealing restaurants. Ever gone to Lynn to eat? or Methuen? Or Randolph? Stoughton?

Eh, Randolph has a couple good restaurants (more so if I'm in the area kind of places, not stuff I would go too far out of my way for). Town Line Pizza in Stoughton is OK, again if I am "hungry and close by"). They might be diverse but don't meet the "dynamic" element so much. Lynn and Methuen aren't really suburbs, displaced ghettos...

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by stanley-88888888

the radio said about 1,100 restaurants serve liquor in boston and only about 100 of them are black owned.

100? I doubt that

Could we even crowdsource 25? We probably couldn’t come up with 15 on this forum. Maybe maybe 10.

[btownboss4]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Oh absolutely-like by far. South NBay has closed the gap a little but yes-by far NEDC blows DRM out of the water.

H Street (my favorite), Ivy City, Rhode Island Row and University Heights alone put anything in DRM to shame. There are few dozen artisan type restaurants and lounges out there, serviced by public transit both trolley and heavy rail. Heavy rail blast right through city boundaries and doesn't end halfway through the city either.

Theyre not even comparable. Try DRM to SEDC, thats a more apt comparison. SWDC would also blow them out of the water due to the Waterfront.

Also Boston burbs that are as diverse if not more than DCs, dont have many appealing restaurants. Ever gone to Lynn to eat? or Methuen? Or Randolph? Stoughton?

Lowell has some great restaurants and Lawrence too.

[edwardsyzzurphands]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Yea, but I’m more talking comfortable sit down spots. I could name many places better than Singh’s of the same ilk

Definitely Singh’s would do well to expand and find a larger space to create more of a real dining experience but you know of better trini spots than Singh’s? They make some of the most authentic food outside of trini. Seriously it’s tough to find better Palourie, Pelau and curry dishes than Singh’s. My trini wife swears by them.

Boston needs more spots in those areas and Jah know there needs to be more liquor licenses for black and brown owned businesses, but something I appreciate about Boston is that while there may be less of those places at least the ones that are open are the real deal and not dumbed down for American tastes. I’ve lived in cities with massive West Indian populations but the majority of what they put out is toned down, beginner eater bull**** that us born and bred West Indians would spit out if it showed up in our plate back home. I respect that a lot of the restaurants in Boston keep it real regardless, even though that may not be the best business plan at the end of the day.