Outdoor Seating and Patios in Each Boston Neighborhood

After the dreadful winters we as Bostonians are put through year after year, it’s wonderful to finally be able to enjoy the nice summer weather while it lasts. A great way to appreciate the city during this sunny season is to eat at one of its many first-rate restaurants out on the patio! We’ve compiled a list to help you do just that. Neighborhood-by-neighborhood, BEELINE has picked out the best restaurants with the best patios in and around Boston:

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Allston/Brighton

Oleana - Turkish restaurant featuring an award-winning patio adorned with a water fountain, herb garden, and fig tree.

The Red House - European/Mediterranean restaurant that features an al fresco raw bar.

Back Bay

Atlantic Fish Co. - Some of the best seafood in Back Bay, offering outdoor seating that allows you to people-watch on Boylston while you dine.

Abe & Louie’s - A heated patio and retractable front windows to the dining room make this Boylston Street steakhouse perfect for summer.

Casa Romero - enclosed patio in the back of the restaurant decorated in an authentic mexican style that will make you forget you’re actually in Boston.

Beacon Hill

Scollay Square - This bistro is located right on Beacon Street and features a “Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar” to accompany Sunday brunch.

Downtown

Marliave - Historic restaurant in Downtown Boston known for oysters and cocktails.

Fenway/Kenmore

Eastern Standard - Great location, right off the Kenmore stop on the green line. The restaurant offers a garden-like patio that’s even heated for those chillier summer nights.

Jamaica Plain

Canary Square - Sit in the sunshine while enjoying the craft beer and comfortable atmosphere.

James Gate - This Irish pub’s Shepherd’s Pie is raved about, and likely best enjoyed on the patio surrounded by greenery.

North End

Aragosta Bar & Bistro - Italian restaurant voted “Best Outdoor Dining” by Boston OpenTable. Dine with beautiful waterfront views on their famous terrace.

The Living Room - This North End seasonal patio gives great views of the water and the park.

South End

Beehive - The popular South End bar’s patio was just recognized by Boston Magazine as one of the most “fantastic al fresco dining spots.”

Masa - known for their outstanding brunch, Masa allows for reservations of their in-demand outdoor tables.

Fort Point

Row 34 - This Waterfront oyster bar recently debuted a new 44-seat outdoor patio.

Legal Harborside - Recently named one of the Top 10 Outdoor Dining Restaurants in the U.S. By Gayot.com, the Legal Seafoods at Waterfront has a rooftop lounge and deck with a retractable glass roof as well as an outdoor patio on the first floor.

Nebo - With a 75-seat patio and fantastic Italian cuisine, Nebo is a great date spot in one of the city’s most popular dining neighborhoods.

Cambridge

ArtBar - This half-art collection, half-bar features outdoor seating looking over the Charles River.

Restaurant Dante - Located right in Davis Square, Dante’s patio is raved about as being one of the most beautiful in the city.

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Keep in mind that outdoor seating is in high demand during these beautiful summer days, so remember to make reservations letting the staff know your seating preference! This can all be done quickly and easily through the BEELINE app, where your user profile tells the restaurant your preferences as soon as you purchase a Skip The Line or Anytime pass. Be the first to download BEELINE by signing up here.

Tips on Making the Best Impression During a Business Lunch

Taking a business connection out to eat can be intimidating. It’s a lot of pressure trying to attend to business, make a good impression, and make sure your guest has an enjoyable experience all at the same time. Here’s some quick pointers on how to make your business lunch a success:

1. Check the menu ahead of time

Know what you’ll order, you don’t want to seem indecisive when you get to the restaurant. Be sure not to go with the most expensive item on the menu or the cheapest, it’s important to make your guest feel that price doesn’t matter! Also, make sure the menu suits your guest’s dietary restrictions. If they’re vegetarian, you obviously want to rethink taking them to a steakhouse.

2. Stay away from messy foods!

Spaghetti, ribs, and lobster are not ideal dishes to choose if you want to keep your shirt clean through the lunch. Keep up your professional appearance by going for a dish that you can eat with a fork and knife, bite-by-bite.

3. Start with small talk

Don’t delve into business talk as soon as you sit down, wait until you and your guest have at least ordered to turn the conversation over to business. Make them feel comfortable and build trust between you with some lighter small talk as you settle in. However, don’t delay too long, you do still have business to conduct.

4. Always take care of the bill, you’re the host.

Handle the bill pay with a credit card (it looks more professional than cash) and of course, tip well.

5. Make a reservation

If it’s last minute or you want VIP treatment, use the BEELINE app to get premier access to a network of top restaurants instantly. With a BEELINE pass a table will be ready for you when you arrive, you and your guest can show up any time you’d like, and you’re sure to impress with your preparedness.

Be among the first to try BEELINE by signing up here: www.beelinenow.com

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What To Do After the Sox Game

Happy start of the baseball season, Boston! Our beloved (World Champion!) Red Sox played the home opener two weeks ago, and if you don’t already have tickets, you will definitely want to catch a game this year whether you consider yourself a fan or not. The Fenway experience is always an exciting one, but what do you do after the game? Popular nearby spots like Boston Beer Works, Game On!, and the Lansdowne are all insanely crowded right after any event at Fenway Park. That’s why we’ve thrown together a few suggestions for what to do and where to go after watching the Sox.

This local ice cream chain makes some of the best and most interesting treats imaginable. This month they have a Sox-themed special, the minty and delicious Green Monster Frappe, as well as the Slider Sundae, served in a plastic Red Sox helmet! Check out the Boylston Street location after a Sox win (or even a loss) for some ice cream and coffee.

For an authentic Mexican experience right near the Park, check out El Pelon on Peterborough Street. My recommendation are the Tacos Caramelos and the Fried Plantains, and if it’s a little chilly out, their Mexican Hot Chocolate is amazingly sweet and spicy. El Pelon is super inexpensive and has plenty of options on their menu.

Located on Hemenway St, in walking distance from Fenway, Woody’s is known for great pizza and beer. The bar has 14 drafts on tap and 25 varieties of bottles, and the atmosphere is very relaxed, unlike the crazy and crowded sports bars closer to the Park.

For a more upscale choice, check out the Petit Robert Bistro on Commonwealth Ave. Petit Robert serves French cuisine and is great place to take a date, your parents, or anyone else you’d like to treat to a lovely dinner after a game. Try the flank steak and the fresh desserts!

Sweet Cheeks is my favorite barbecue in Boston. Order a tray of any meat of your choosing and you get a hefty portion of meat accompanied by sides of your choosing. The atmosphere is comfortable, the food is amazing, and the drink list is even longer than the dinner menu!

Food takes new forms: The growing trend of molecular gastronomy in Boston

Have you ever seen a cocktail in the form of a marshmallow? Potato as a froth? How about transparent ravioli? If so, you may already be familiar with the fast-growing culinary trend of molecular gastronomy, which has recently been permeating Boston’s restaurant scene. Don’t be intimidated by the fancy name, molecular gastronomy is simply a new, avant-garde style of cuisine that embraces science as a creative tool in the kitchen. Ingredients are put through chemical or physical transformations to produce a dish unlike anything else! Presentation is as much a key part to molecular dining as innovation and experimentation is. The dishes are works of art in themselves, and some are finished at the table as part of the experience.

More and more of Boston’s restaurants are picking up on the modern and trendy cuisine. Spots such as Comm Ave’s Clio, L’espalier down on Boylston, and the Leather District’s O Ya are an adventurous foodie’s dream come true. At Clio, dishes such as roasted beets with aerated molasses and a bacon emulsion offer restaurant-goers a contemporary way to experience these ingredients. The options at sushi restaurant O Ya include unique and surprising items such as Hamachi with spicy banana pepper mousse and fried Kumamoto oyster with squid ink foam. L’espalier is known for intricate and imaginative desserts, like the “Through the Forest,” a candy cap mushroom parfait with maple roasted walnuts and cardamom mascarpone ice cream. The pictures accompanying this post are all menu items available at these local restaurants.

Often offered as tasting menus at steep prices, these experimental dishes are not for those who are looking for a quick, cheap bite to eat. Molecular gastronomy is for the more experienced food connoisseur who has a broad palette, adventurous mindset, and an appreciation for inventiveness and presentation. Reviews of the previously mentioned restaurants have included comments such as “complex and beautifully presented dishes,” “unbelievable and creative,” and “best food experience I’ve ever had.” If you have the time, money, and willingness to try something completely different, try out a molecular gastronomy spot around town for a modern and unusual experience.

Other gastronomical spots to check out: Deuxave, Journeyman, Salts, Garden at the Cellar, EVOO, Mistral.

Or, check out this article for some DIY molecular gastronomy!: https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2013/06/10-easy-molecular-gastronomy-recipes.html

Healthy Eats to Ring In the New Year

Hopefully you’ve stuck with your New Year’s resolution this far, January isn’t even over yet! And if you vowed to yourself to eat healthier in 2014, we’ve got recipes for your next meal covered. Check out the delicious and guilt-free dishes below.

1. Walnut and goat cheese is a delicious combination, add pomegranate vinaigrette dressing for extra flavor.

Beet, Walnut, Goat Cheese and Baby Greens Salad via myrecipes.com

2. This vegan take on Pad Thai will treat you to the taste of takeout without the crazy amounts of fat! And because the noodles are made of zucchini, it’s also gluten-free.

Zucchini Noodles in Thai Peanut Sauce via eatingbirdfood.com

3. This pudding recipe doesn’t use cornstarch or heavy cream to thicken it, and has a soy-free option too.

Banana Pudding via chocolatecoveredkatie.com

4. Use light OJ or sugar-free pomegranate juice to mix into this fruit-filled champagne punch.

Champagne Sangria Punch via iowagirleats.com

5. Make smart choices while eating out!

Not much of a cook? Just want to enjoy a night out in Boston with your friends or family? Make the healthy choice, like the Citrus-Marinated Roasted 1/2 Chicken at Tavern Road or the Vegan Raviolotti at Gennaro’s 5 North Square. Grab a same-day reservation at these restaurants through BEELINE to ease the trouble of planning your night out!

Revolutionizing Your Night Out

BEELINE lets you skip the line at top restaurants and nightlife venues, so you never have to waste your time. The current reservation system requires planning and often sells out, so we decided to change that. We’re revolutionizing your dining and nightlife experience. Want a same day table? You got it. Running late? You can skip the line whenever you arrive.

Plus, when you dine with BEELINE, your table gets the “Chef’s Touch,” a complimentary item prepared exclusively for your table. Impress your guests and guarantee the perfect night.

Own Your Night.

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