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Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Thinking about the food in New England as I'm relocating back there again after seven years away. Focus is on these four cities, as they are in their own corners of the region and I feel they are the standout ones that have their own thing going from Maine seafood in Portland, Italian neighborhoods like Federal Hill and culinary institutes like J&W in Providence, New Haven pizza and historical places like Louis Lunch, or the craft beer, cheese, and local agricultural scene in Vermont as represented in Burlington. Places that pop up on the Food Network every now and then.
No disrespect to NH, Worcester Springfield or Hartford, I know places like Worcester are full of divey treasure troves (like Holy Canoli: ok:..). For "other" option one could include touristy towns like Portsmouth or Newport or gritty ones like Worcester and Springfield. Boston would no doubt dominate a New England food discussion, so going outside Boston, what do you think would be the best food city in New England?
New Haven always gets acknowledged for its Pizza and Providence for it other Italian food. For seafood its Probably Gloucester, Portsmouth or Portland.
Last edited by The_General; 12-10-2018 at 11:32 AM..
For me it's Providence by a good margin, then Portland. Portland has a handful of media darlings (most of whom have been there for a decade+ and a few of whom have changed hands a few times and lost a bit of their punch), but it has neither the volume or variety of Providence. If we're talking the metro area, it's Providence by an even bigger margin. Especially once you add the little dining mecca of Warren as well as Bristol, Newport, etc. Fall River and New Bedford bring in a lot of Portuguese options too. Portland has only a handful of decent places outside of the city limits.
I guess I would put it this way... if you want to live in a city where you have both top tier restaurants as well as a wide variety of cuisines and price points, you go with Providence easily. But Portland can keep even the most pretentious of foodies busy for a week-long getaway. After that it gets stale. I lived there for a while and found myself traveling quite a bit for something new/different. You don't have to do that in Providence.
Also, I've never experienced hype for restaurants like I have in Portland. If you talk to locals, a restaurant is "great" simply by virtue of being in Portland. Yelp and similar ratings are hardly anything to take to the bank, but nowhere have I felt ratings to be more "fluffed" than in Portland. Don't get me wrong, there are some remarkable restaurants there, but a lot of what gets rave reviews is a dime a dozen somewhere else.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
10,756 posts, read 23,840,029 times
Reputation: 14671
Quote:
Originally Posted by JMatl
I'm in love with Portsmouth when it comes to excellent seafood.
I'd agree Portsmouth, NH is a fantastic food town. One could easily get their Maine seafood fix there, and the Gas Light is one of my favorite pizza joints in New England. Great place for a pub crawl too.
I'd agree Portsmouth, NH is a fantastic food town. One could easily get their Maine seafood fix there, and the Gas Light is one of my favorite pizza joints in New England. Great place for a pub crawl too.
Absolutely! And it's just a beautiful little city as well.
We go here every year, and eat outside on their riverfront deck. There's a great view of Maine across the river, and working tugboats are so close you can almost touch them. If you ever go, you have to try their famous 'Jimmy Juice.'
Providence by a mile. It's one of the best restaurant cities in the country, nevermind New England.
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