An Atlantan's two months in Boston (Worcester, Cambridge: mall, food, designer)

[bjimmy24]

To be fair, quite a lot of Cambridge (most) is not Central Square and gets pretty leafy and suburban pretty quickly.

[Boston Shudra]

^ Doesn’t change the fact that leaving Downtown or Back Bay to go to Cambridge isn’t a bigger trip than leaving Center City to get to University City like Maddie has been implying.

Remember this whole conversation started when that poster insisted they shouldn’t have to leave Boston proper to find good food.

Bostonborn brought up a good point earlier, saying that from a residents perspective the southern neighborhoods in Boston should have better offerings. I agree with him on that.

However from a tourist’s perspective (like Maddie), there shouldn’t be any hang ups over venturing into Cambridge or Somerville for food or entertainment.

[stanley-88888888]

sorry for sounding condescending. i debate with my friends the same way while talking about preseason basketball.

Originally Posted by Maddie104

What's with the big overreaction/offense and then insulting comment to an innocuous comment? I don't know if cambridge/somerville is a "city", "town" or suburb, nor do I care. Where did I imply Cambridge is like King of Prussia? You really think I am concerned about the history of Boston's failure to annex these towns? Please, don't tire yourselves from explaining to out of towners.

you brought up regional rail lines.

Originally Posted by Maddie104

To me YOUR post was obtuse:

the t goes to somerville, cambridge, quincy, ... unlike philly whose broad street line/market street line are finite within the city borders for some reason.


I was simply explaining why the broad street line/market street line terminate at the city's boundaries and that there is public transportation beyond into the suburbs.

Philly has the regional trains from center city to the suburbs.

i brought up the t because i cant think of any suburbs that have subway stops ? subways tend to be a very urban characteristic as well as population density.

Originally Posted by Maddie104

But, Philly's restaurant scene is large enough within the city boundaries. No need to go beyond.

no offense but my opinion is that it is weird to draw imaginary lines for tax jurisdiction purposes and communities within or outside the lines are magically city x-or suburb.

Originally Posted by Maddie104

But, taking it from a Bostonian point-of-view, I guess that was your attempt at a dig toward Philly mass transit. Should I taken that as an insult? Who knows why it was even brought up?

You are the one to bring Philly into it; not me.

Get over yourselves. I'm done here.

non-sequitor, but outside of broad street and market street, riding the t in philly is kinda' hard.

Originally Posted by stanley-88888888

i mean referring to places like cambridge/somerville, miami beach, inglewood, brooklyn, las vegas (suburb of paradise, nv), ... as suburbs is stupid because they are among the most urban cities in the country.

in certain cities, annexation is mostly illegal; so, places once part of the city, secede. other cities annex like crazy so that rural farmland areas are now part of inner-city jacksonville. basing definitions on an imaginary arbitrary line is stupid.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by Brave Stranger

Agree about the pizza. Uniformly weak. Though I'm sure there's a hidden gem here or there.

If anyone can tell me where the hidden gems are, I'd love to hear.

Originally Posted by massnative71

Come on is the pizza really that bad???


I agree that there is an overabundance of sh#$%y Greek joints, but there is still some pretty good pizza if you know where to go. I highly doubt anything in Atlanta matches Santarpio's, for instance.

Yes it is.
I don't know the pizza scene in Atlanta, as I haven't been there enough. When I lived in Durham, NC, there was actually a good pizza place run by some guy who moved there from New York. Unfortunately, it didn't open until a few months before we left.

I have not been to Santarpio's, but I'm putting it on our list to go try.

Originally Posted by Ne999

Reginas is quite good

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usa...amp/1662679002

Usually like waypoint or coppa for more gourmet

No it isn't. I do give it to my son, who will eat almost any pizza, even frozen. It's fine for him.

Originally Posted by Brave Stranger

I'm sure there's some good pizza out there, somewhere Between travel & work I don't get out like I used to. When I get over to Portland, Maine on business I get spoiled on the choices of excellent pizza offered.

Which places do you like in Portland?

Originally Posted by stanley-88888888

weird that 2 posters said that boston has horrible pizza. its usually critically acclaimed:
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2018/10/...visor-ranking/

My husband and I saw that and wondered who the heck came up with that? They must've been enjoying our new laws re: cannabis sales a bit too much. And it's based on TripAdvisor, whose food ratings I'm not sold on.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by iAMtheVVALRUS

Wow.

People from Boston are so pretentious. I can't believe you actually think this. I'm going to start a new thread on this sub-forum and write an 11 paragraph rant about this particular interaction.

I think he's being sarcastic; try reverse psychology...

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by Maddie104

What's with the big overreaction/offense and then insulting comment to an innocuous comment? I don't know if cambridge/somerville is a "city", "town" or suburb, nor do I care. Where did I imply Cambridge is like King of Prussia? You really think I am concerned about the history of Boston's failure to annex these towns? Please, don't tire yourselves from explaining to out of towners.

To me YOUR post was obtuse:

the t goes to somerville, cambridge, quincy, ... unlike philly whose broad street line/market street line are finite within the city borders for some reason.


I was simply explaining why the broad street line/market street line terminate at the city's boundaries and that there is public transportation beyond into the suburbs.

Philly has the regional trains from center city to the suburbs. But, Philly's restaurant scene is large enough within the city boundaries. No need to go beyond.

But, taking it from a Bostonian point-of-view, I guess that was your attempt at a dig toward Philly mass transit. Should I taken that as an insult? Who knows why it was even brought up?

You are the one to bring Philly into it; not me.

Get over yourselves. I'm done here.

I lived in the Philly suburbs for 15 years, and commuted into CC, as did my husband for years. SEPTA f-ing SUCKS. It is way worse than the MBTA. It is not as easy to get out into the burbs from Philly as it is from Boston. The issue of whether a restaurant is within the city limits is irrelevant. What matters is whether it is easy enough to get to from the suburbs. However, if you live within Philadelphia, it is nice that you have lots of restaurants to choose from. Going to the restaurants from the suburbs is a huge pain in the tuchus. (Although it's easier if you're coming from the NJ burbs, rather than PA.)

I do miss the restaurant scene in Philly, though. I love Tallulah's Garden (and also Table). Love Amada, Zahav, Buddakahn...

[darkone]

To back up the OP - having lived in Atlanta for more than a few years, the ethnic food scene is a lot better in quality, variety and abundance in the following categories: Indian, Authentic Chinese, S.E. Asian, Persian, Mediterranean, Pizza, Authentic Mexican, BBQ, Southern Food.

Also Atlanta suburbs are meant for the masses and actually look nice and are well-manicured. Less of the run-down and or countrified feel of Boston suburbs. The area is less segregated than Boston area as well.

[porterhouse]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

If anyone can tell me where the hidden gems are, I'd love to hear.

I'm not sure about hidden gems and I don't know what type of pizza you prefer, but some places that make excellent pies include:
- Picco (South End)
- Galleria Umberto (North End) Sicilian (also try the arancini)
- Pizzeria Regina (original North End location ONLY) best to order your pie stretched and well done, though they might not want to do this at peak times unless they know you (not enough room in oven)
- Brewers Fork (Charlestown)
- Ciao (Everett) Neapolitan style
- Gran Gusto(Cambridge) Neapolitan style
- Area 4 (Cambridge)
- Max & Leos (Netwon Corner)
- Santarpios (East Boston)
- Pinocchios (Harvard Square) Sicilian
- Frank Pepes (Chestnut Hill)
- Bianchis (now Renzos) (Revere Beach)


Would I like to see more good New York style pizza that isn't $20+ designer pizza garbage? Yes! However Boston has its share of good pizza. Enjoy.

[GeePee]

As someone who travels to Naples quite often I can tell you that every region has something different about their pies. You will never authenticate what you can get there. the Mozzarella is way different, The tomatoes are different, the oil is different, the basil......
That being said. Boston has some great pies. Once you stop seeing life as who has a better better what, than you can enjoy what your region does well.
Santarpio is probably my favorite in it's uniqueness. You can't even find a pie like that in Naples. is it better? why not? Maybe?
as stated above, a lot of those pies mentioned are awesome. I love Gran gusto's. Pinocchio's is always a favorite.

la Befana in Allston is a great take out pizza joint and I crave it sometimes. The Pleasant Cafe in Roslindale has a good thin minimal crust pie that I like. Sometimes I am in the mood for Greek pie.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

If anyone can tell me where the hidden gems are, I'd love to hear.


Yes it is.
I don't know the pizza scene in Atlanta, as I haven't been there enough. When I lived in Durham, NC, there was actually a good pizza place run by some guy who moved there from New York. Unfortunately, it didn't open until a few months before we left.

I have not been to Santarpio's, but I'm putting it on our list to go try.


No it isn't. I do give it to my son, who will eat almost any pizza, even frozen. It's fine for him.


Which places do you like in Portland?


My husband and I saw that and wondered who the heck came up with that? They must've been enjoying our new laws re: cannabis sales a bit too much. And it's based on TripAdvisor, whose food ratings I'm not sold on.

Lazzari, Otto Pizza & Portland Pie are 3 of the better places. Portland is a cool foodie day trip no matter what you like to eat